Fudge Follow-up

Seriously, though, I cannot overstate how bad things got with the fudge.  I think the sugar affected me even more than usual because of all the stupid vegetables I’ve been eating of late.  That’s right, Vegetables, I’m blaming you.  Based on my recent behavior, I think it’s safe to say I should never, ever have even a single forbidden taste of the sweet, sweet cocaine.

In the end, dear readers, it was you who helped me to break that vicious cycle.  Care to know how?  By suggesting that I make halva, an Indian fudge-like confection made of pumpkin.  After reading that comment, I practically flung myself down the stairs because my legs weren’t transporting me to the kitchen fast enough.  I love fudge, you see (did I mention that?).  And, as luck would have it, I had three pumpkins at my disposal. 

Long story short (and I mean a very long story with profanity written in all caps), I hated it.  HATED.  IT.  I was clawing at my face, trying to scrape all remnants of it off my tongue, much like the Toddler does with just about everything.  I’m disappointed, too, because I’m pretty sure that Madhur Jaffrey isn’t going to want to be Facebook friends with me now, even though I love practically everything else in the Indian culinary repertoire.  Just please, for the love of god, no more vegetables in my fudge.

So, to thank you for getting that monkey off my back so decisively, here’s that penuche recipe a few of you requested.  Good luck.  I’ll see you in rehab round about next year.

Comments

[Robert]

Let me get this straight: you thought PUMPKIN FUDGE might turn out okay?
Addiction is a cruel and terrible thing . . .

[izzy's mama]

I am confused. Halvah as I know it and have known it, is a Middle-Eastern, Turkish confection, made with sesame and other flavorings, chocolate being my favorite..it may look fudge-like in shape but otherwise bears little relation. What is this odd halvah of which you speak? Nevermind..this clears it up:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halva

Try a different type, and no pumpkins please!

[Sally]

I agree with Izzy's mama. I love halvah but cannot STAND fudge! You poor thing. I'm glad you're over your addiction (until next year that is).

[sunny12]

There is an Indian dessert called halva (well, that's the approximate spelling). I've never had it with pumpkin. It involves flour, ghee (butter oil), sugar and I think milk or cream. My favorite kind involves shredded carrots in it, but I would not say it's exactly fudge, but pretty yummy.

[pyewacket]

Halvah the fudge-imposter is one of the few substances I will never allow to cross my lips again. And I've gotten over liver! But god, not halvah. Worse than Turkish delight. Worse than anything that has sugar should be.

[izzy's mama]

pyewacket: Have you had the marbled-chocolate variety? I can't imagine that we are discussing the same food. Then again, there are few things I will not eat and many that I love.

[Barry Foy]

Sorry, My Dear--I thought perhaps your tastes were as sophisticated and refined as mine. Come to think of it, I do have a delicious recipe for pumpkin Ho-Ho's...

[Tammy]

Barry: Sophisticated? Refined? Why in the world would you think that? But you did cure my pumpkin problem AND my fudge problem in one fell swoop, so you still have my undying gratitude.

Pyewacket: Amen. And a second, more emphatic amen.

Sunny12: Hmmm. Carrots are still vegetables. I'm going to have to pass.

Sally: Can't stand fudge? Love halva? What kind of mixed-up, crazy world is this? (Also, there's halva in Iowa?)

Izzy's mama: On further reflection, I think there were two problems. One: pumpkins. Two: comparing it to fudge. Fudge needs to be its own standard. Now, this other thing that you're describing doesn't sound bad. I can be down with chocolate or sesame seeds. But, pumpkins definitely have to be out of the equation.

Robert: Good point. But, there isn't time for extensive research when you're chasing a fix.

[Sally]

Yes, dear. We have grocery stores even here in Iowa.