My mom has no dietary restrictions, and she likes her desserts. When she first came to live with us I rationed her sweets, substituting fresh fruit and things like carrot and celery sticks for the crackers and cookies Mom preferred.
What was I thinking? Was I concerned about long-range ill effects? The woman is 91 years old and is suffering from a terminal disease! Though I do pay attention to her nutrition and make sure she receives balanced meals each day, Mom's happiness and the impact the food she receives has on her perception of well-being need to influence my decisions about the snack foods she is provided.
This is how I've come to have a stash of emergency fudge in the freezer. When Mom is in a dark mood, I bring her a generous piece of fudge and a cup of decaf. This cheers her up Every. Single. Time! The only problem with this system is that my husband and I also like the fudge very much, and thus it is difficult to keep a dependable supply on hand.
We think my fudge recipe is delicious, and it is lower fat than most. I'm sharing it here as a gift to caregivers and patients everywhere. During the stressful holiday season, most of us could benefit from a having a stash of emergency fudge on hand.
Yummy Easy Fudge
12 oz package of semi-sweet chocolate chips (I use Ghirardelli brand in the gold package)
14 oz can of Eagle Brand Fat Free sweetened condensed milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Handful or two of mini marshmallows
Melt the chips and sweetened condensed milk together in the microwave--about 1 minute on high. Don't overheat--the chips will keep their form until stirred. Stir until smooth, add marshmallows and stir until they melt. May need a few more seconds in the microwave. Stir in vanilla. Pour into a buttered 8x8 dish. Wrap well in plastic wrap and refrigerate or freeze.
Merry Christmas!
Yum! You're making me hungry! :-) Interesting post. I was just thinking about this topic while doing dishes. I have a loved one who likes sweets but is diabetic. I've tried being a 'food nazi' and it does nothing to foster a loving relationship. It's a difficult balance to know when you are harming someone and when you are encouraging them through food. I haven't quite figured it all out yet. Having a 91 year old loved one would make it much easier to spoil considering her age. You are a good daughter!
ReplyDeleteLinda, when I first read your post title, I had to grin, even before I read the post. I understand exactly what you are saying. My mom loves her sweets too. She'll eat half of her meal and state she's just not hungry and moments later ask if there is any dessert. Thank you for the recipe. I wanted a fudge recipe and this is perfect. Freezing some is the perfect solution! Have a blessed day.
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