Cooking For Engineers

[Dilbert]

apparently you did not make the recipe.

as for teaspoon/tablespoon, I agree it's a arcane measure - started in England as I dimly recall, but in the USA, being an advanced civilization, they put little marks on the paper wrappers of the butter sticks.

I'm forced to presume you're not in USA as you have not seen a clever invention such as an index mark.

>>I believe my 20 years experience as a confectioner is ample qualification to pass these comments,

nope. the problem in dealing with engineers is they actually think, engineers can actual decipher what a teaspoon or tablespoon measure means in context as opposed to a 20 year professional who opts to balance a kilo of butter on a spoon and call it a "tablespoon"

[Guest]

Everything turned out great when I followed the recipe, except some family members found it too sweet. Anybody know a good way to adjust it so it's not quite so sweet? thanks

[Guest]

[Di]

I tired it and it is in the fridge---seems to "runny" to set but I will know later. It was easy and fast tho!!!

[guest]

Recipes are always calling for chips instead of cocoa or even bakers chocolate.
Why? chips are soo much more expensive per ounce, and why use something that is more processed?
It does not make sense to me to use chips as a substitute.

[Catherine]

I made this and the kids LOVED it!! It makes LOADS... the children are going to take some for their friends for Xmas in some little boxes.

Its not granular like other fudge cos there is no sugar in it, its more like a soft fondant/nougaty kind of chocolate but is still scum diddly umptious!!!!!!

So quick and easy to make - all I have to do now is experiment with it!!

[Fudgester]

This fudge is the best in the world.

[Guest]

I was rather wondering if, as engineers, anyone could point out whether in the old fashioned fudge (heating, cooling and beating method) would be effected by the use of cream in lieu of milk.

[Michael Chu]

[Guest/Kristin]

Thank you for your input I'll let you know how it turns out.

[cjenn@ptd.net]

Nigella Lawson says she uses 12 ounces of Bakers Chocolate{12 squares] to 24 ounces of sweetened condensed milk BUT I only have 8 Squares of Bakers Chocolate..& 14 ounces of sweetened condensed milk also
2 tblsp of butter
pinch of salt
TSP Vanilla?
BUT I use Salt Sense same salt but 1/2 the bite not important,right?
BUT I have 8 ounces {8 Squares}{ I will chop us to melt..}BUT
How much Condensed Milk do I add to 8 ounces from a 14 ounce can of Condensed Milk so she uses both the same amounts of each..using 12 ounces of chocolate to 24 ounces of "Sweetened Condensed Milk" BUT I only have 8 OUNCES OF CHOCOLATE so
How MUCH MILK DO I ADD?
AND DO I ADD VANILLA
Can I add coconut AFTER OR BEFORe IT COOLa
Having such a problem because how does one know how much milk to add to 8 ounces of Squares melted Please help!

[cjenn@ptd.net]

[Dilbert]

if you're short on choc - 8 oz vs 12 called for,

just use 2/3 of the ingredients called for
example two-thirds of 24 ounces of condensed milk = 16 oz
which is problematic, since you only have 14 ounces of that anyway.

you could add 2 ounces of something else - cream perhaps, or whole milk, but you have to realize you are running a risk as most candy recipes are pretty well 'fixed' in their proportions.

[Vince]

I like the Following recipe...

3 oz of cream cheese
2 packages of chocolate chips
1 can (small can of sweetened condensed milk)

melt ingredents together like other fudge recepies, pour into a disposable 9x9 aluminum pan with wax paper covering the bottom before pouring in. let cool, and chill before cutting.

Variations -
I like to use the darkest sweetened chocolate I can get, and add about 4 tablespoons of expresso roast beans that have been turkish ground into a very fine powder.

also adding things like toffee bits or nuts to the origional receipe are good. also consider rasberry chocolate chips, dried cranberry or dried cherry's are good too...

[Guest]

did you microwave it? if so, you probably burned it -- did this once reheating a chocolate ganache sauce [hit 10 min instead of 1 min] -- oil and cocoa solids separate and the resulting sticky solid mess is very toffee-like