It’s sunday morning… I’ve been up since 5:30. Why??? I have a feeling it’s the adrenaline still pumping through my veins from USC’s win last night over Oregon. If you would have told me 5 years ago that I would revolve 12 Saturdays (until we are off probation and back in bowl games) a year around football, I would laugh in your face. If someone were to then tell me I would be screaming at the top of my lungs cheering with my Dad who went to UCLA for the Trojans… well… I’d tell you that you’re off your rocker and should get your head checked out. But it’s true. Sanctions and all, I love USC football. My bruin father even loves USC football. We have victory dances. And my poor mom… she doesn’t understand how after 27 years of marriage my dad has a new could love of football.
At least my mom didn’t have to suffer too much through a football filled night. She had a whole batch of fresh made penuche fudge to keep her company. And marshmallows. And Gingersnaps.
You might be asking yourself what is penuche? The best was I can answer this is with another question… have you ever had a butterscotch square from See’s Candy? That center is basically penuche. A rich, brown sugary, smooth but somewhat crumbly soft candy. Growing up my mom would go to See’s and make us wait in a long line so she could get a custom box… one pound of butterscotch squares. So every once in a blue moon I make penuche for her. It’s very simple to make. Almost too easy. And the best part is i get to sue my favorite new toy… a laser thermometer! Basically its a little wand that has a laser reader on the bottom, you press a button the laser measures the surface temperature of the candy and you don’t have to clean it! Who knows how many thermometers I’ve broken… I’ve dropped them, cooked sugar onto them, put them in the dish washer… you name it… I’ve broken one doing it. Or just got so damn frustrated cleaning the thing I threw it out.
I love this new laser thing… I get super excited over dorky things like this. I have looked for a reason to use it for months and finally it was cool enough of in SoCal to make some candy. If you’re a novice candy maker this is a great recipe to start with. All the ingredients are easy to find, the technique is very easy and it’s something that most people aren’t familiar with, so it’s fun to introduce it to people.
I use a Martha Stewart recipe, because it’s somewhat hard to find a recipe of this confection. And its a good recipe, I leave out the nuts though (since See’s doesn’t have nuts in their butterscotch squares)
Ingredients
Vegetable oil cooking spray
1 can (5 ounces) evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar
5 ounces (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Coat a 5-by-10-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Line with plastic wrap leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 sides.
Bring evaporated milk, brown sugar, butter, and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring constantly.
Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring frequently, until mixture registers 236 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 25 minutes.
Transfer to a mixer bowl, and beat in confectioners’ sugar on low speed. Scrape down sides of bowl as needed. 
Increase speed to medium, and beat until mixture is thickened and smooth, 2 to 4 minutes. Reduce speed to low, and add vanilla.
Spread mixture in pan, smoothing top. Refrigerate, uncovered, until firm, about 25 minutes.
Unmold fudge using plastic overhang, and discard plastic. Cut into pieces.
Sorry for the lack of pictures. It went pretty quickly, and I never got a picture after I cut the candy. Now that football season is over I will be a more diligent blogger. Or just make another batch… and maybe coat them in chocolate this time. Yum
