Do it your self

[katrina1987]

Love the soups

I made the most amazing fudge yesterday. It was my first attempt and I didn't have a sugar thermometer, and it turned out so well I have to share the recipe.


Crumbly sea salt and vanilla fudge

400g (1lb) brown sugar
50g caster sugar
85g (3oz) salted butter
150ml (¼ pt) milk
175g (6oz) evaporated milk
Few drops of vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon of fine sea salt
A little vegetable oil



Tip the sugar, butter, milk and evaporated milk into a heavy based pan and heat gently, stirring frequently, until the sugar has dissolved. Takes about 5 mins, just keep stirring until you can't feel the sugar grains.


Then bring to the boil stirring as little as you can, and continue boiling until a temperature of 116°C (240°F) is reached on a sugar thermometer. If you don't have one of these, you can test if the fudge is at this temperature by spooning a small amount of the syrup into some iced water, it should form a soft ball. Have attached a picture of what this looks like. It took much longer than I thought, and was bubbling away for about 20 minutes before it reached the soft ball stage.

Take off the heat, and once it has stopped bubbling carefully beat the mixture with a wooden spoon for about 3 mins, until it has thickened and lost its gloss. Beat the vanilla and sea salt into the mix.


Pour into a shallow dish, greased with a little oil or butter. I used a shallow glass pyrex dish, but you can use a tin.

Leave to cool for at least 30 mins, probably more. I cut mine into long bars using a pizza cutter and then snapped into rough blocks. Remember this is crumbly fudge and not soft and squidgy.


It is quite honestly the loveliest fudge ever, it's crumbly, creamy, melts in the mouth and is very moreish.

Wow looks lovely and so yummmmmmmy. Ill be making this but getting hubby to give me a hand, the littelest things stress me out now. I was making everything in the evening when DS was asleep but so tired by the evening andache like crazy. I think I am addicted to this thread though, its the first one I look at everyday without fail lol. Going to have a go at sock monkeys shortly but need to find some stuffing for them lol, haven't got any teddies I want to pull apart

 

[RedRose]

Ahh bless you. Just think about how lovely it will be once it's all done and you can concentrate on your LOs over Xmas

I got a big bag of stuffing from John Lewis for £6, but I didn't think it was great value to be honest. I'm sure you can get it online for cheaper.

 

[sophxx]

you can get stuffing on the local market for 1.50 a bag

 

[Snuffy]

Yep I got some from our local wool shop for about £1.25.

 

[Roxie]

Actually I have just discovered pots of gold on MSE - I think I'll do them for the guys at work and save the snowman soup for hampers with the muffin mix, etc.

Has anyone done pots of gold? As I understand it you get a cheap pot and fill it with gold covered chocolate or sweets (like chocolate coins) and tuck a scratch card inside.

thats a really good idea

 

[katrina1987]

Well I got some stuffing today and mad eone sock monkey and I think its awful lol! But DS likes it even though its cerise pink lol. Made all my bath salts lastnight, they are in the jars ready. Ill photograph all I have done so far later on, but prob not the sock money

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

OMG I forgot about pot of gold. I did this in 2007 yey thanks for reminding me!

 

[Doodlepants]

Quick question for all you crafty experts

If I make the following now- will they keep for Christmas? (I'm new to all this!)

Sweetie vodka?
Lavender soap?
Bath salts?
Snowman soup- if ingredients are all poured into a cellophane cone?

Or should I wait a while?

Thanks

 

[katrina1987]

Quick question for all you crafty experts

If I make the following now- will they keep for Christmas? (I'm new to all this!)

Sweetie vodka?
Lavender soap?
Bath salts?
Snowman soup- if ingredients are all poured into a cellophane cone?

Or should I wait a while?

Thanks

The recipe for my bath salts said it best for them to be sat in a jar for a few weeks and they will smell nicer and take better so I have made mine last night, all my snowman soups are almost done in cello wraps, aslong as they are sealed properly they will last fine.

 

[Doodlepants]

Thanks hun!!! I'm soooo excited to make everything!
Thanks for the fab ideas!!!
x

 

[Shabutie]

Well I hope the snowman soup will be fine, I made mine the other day

Also making the sweetie Vodka, but thought it best I leave it until begginning to middle of November. I am doing fruit salad for my friend, rhubard and custard for my sister and not sure what else for my brother.

 

[Doodlepants]

Cool- Martyn (my DH) wants me to do him a drumstick lolly one (without the sticks LOL) and I was going to do my bro a sherbert lemon one or skittles...... I've heard the werthers originals one is meant to be good too has anyone tried it? x

 

[Shabutie]

I was gonna do skittles, but i think its best if you separate all the colours. I have heard *dont quote me on it* that if you are mixing them all together, then you need to removed the green ones. It gives it a vile colour and I think it did affect the overall taste.

 

[Doodlepants]

I'll make sure to eat the green ones then- and do a trial run first

 

[tiggertea]

I probably wouldn't do snowman soup so early. I'd be scared of the chocolate drops going a bit white or the mallows hardening when they're taken out of their original packaging.
That might just be me over thinking it all though!

I just spent the evening making pineapple bath fizzers. Just leaving them to set overnight now and see if they work as well as they smell. I want to eat them! Made them in silicone cupcake moulds too so had to leave a big sign on for hubby in the morning "Bath Bombs - Do NOT Eat!"

 

[lynne192]

i agree anyting food related i do the first - second week in december

 

[Doodlepants]

Woooo loads of my stuff came today!! I have just finished decorating my mugs for the sweetie mugs! Very pleased with them yay!

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

pics plz Doodlepants D

 

[lynne192]

woohoo do share xx

 

[sophxx]

I probably wouldn't do snowman soup so early. I'd be scared of the chocolate drops going a bit white or the mallows hardening when they're taken out of their original packaging.
That might just be me over thinking it all though!

I just spent the evening making pineapple bath fizzers. Just leaving them to set overnight now and see if they work as well as they smell. I want to eat them! Made them in silicone cupcake moulds too so had to leave a big sign on for hubby in the morning "Bath Bombs - Do NOT Eat!"

where did you get the instructions for the bath fizzers from?