Oh Fudge!

P2030010This Christmas, a friend of ours brought us two containers full of delicious fudge.  It was cut already, and not in tiny pieces, either.

We have been enjoying it.  She mentioned we could freeze some, but that it will even make it to the freezer is doubtful.

The most notable days that commemorate fudge (May 12th– Nutty Fudge Day,  June 16th-Fudge Day) are not until late spring, but Christmastime is really an appropriate backdrop for this discussion.

Although it won’t last long around our place, fudge, itself, has been in existence for quite some time.

We know this delicious substance has been around since 1886, but its exact origins are unknown.  At that time, fudge sold for 40 cents a pound out on the east coast.  Some say it started with a batch of caramel gone awry.

Before this, to fudge meant to clumsily adjust or fit together.  Later it evolved into meaning to cheat or trick, or even “nonsense.”  By the time of the caramel adventure, the expression: “Oh fudge” had come into use as a mild explicative for something having gone wrong.  Thus, when the caramel did not come out as planned, “Oh, fudge” was a logical reaction.  Somehow, the name stuck and we still have fudge today.

American fudge seems to be akin to its Scottish predecessor, called tablet.  The Canadians, however, boast the largest fudge slab, weighing close to three tons (2010).

Resources:

http://www.darbysfudge.com/fudgehistory.htmlhttp://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/candy/old/history-of-fudge.asphttp://mentalfloss.com/article/81158/15-rich-facts-about-fudgehttps://mobile-cuisine.com/did-you-know/fudge-fun-facts/https://www.hebertcandies.com/blogs/news/119859713-fun-fudge-facts