BRANCHING OUT

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.  Based on that saying, a lot of people are afraid of even borrowing ideas from others and adding their own twists.  I see nothing wrong with borrowing ideas from other cooks and applying my own additions and takeaways.

When I started taking my cooking more seriously in 2014, I solely relied on the recipes of others to try myself.  The more I did this, the more I became accustomed the flavors of the ingredients I was using, especially ingredients that I had never tried before and fell in love with.

My fudge journey began with Skittle Doodle Fudge

As my palette expanded, I would make a dish that I found online or in cookbooks and afterwards ask myself, "What if?"

What if I took Chef Monir Mohammed's Butter Chicken recipe and replaced the chicken with cauliflower and broccoli to make a vegetarian alternative?  So I did, and just like the Butter Chicken, the "Butter Vegetables" turned out great.

After my second attempt at Skittle Doodle Fudge was a success, I thought of using the same basic method, but featuring a different featured ingredient.  That led to Oreo Fudge, Mint Chocolate Fudge with M&M's and Chocolate Peanut Butter fudge with Reese's Pieces.

Using the same basic method from Skittle Doodle Fudge, I changed
a few key ingredients and made Mint Chocolate Fudge with M&M's!

As more time went on and I became more familiar with how certain ingredients and spices taste and cook, I began coming up with my own dishes from scratch.  I will sometimes come up with a possible idea and search the internet to see if it has been done before and will find nothing.  In those cases, you can quit before starting or you can go with your gut.

It might not always turn out like you thought it would (Froot Loops & Grape Juice!), but you never know unless you try.  Even if you are sketchy about an idea, there is always the option of doing a test on a smaller dish and using the same ingredients.  You can easily turn a basic macaroni and cheese into a Greek or Indian version by trading out some spices and swapping one cheese for another.

Ingredients for Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge with Reese's Pieces.  Same
technique as Skittle Doodle, different key ingredients.

A main ingredient is a mannequin.  Don't be afraid to dress it up however you please.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge with Reese's Pieces.

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE FUDGE WITH REESE'S PIECES

INGREDIENTS

-3 cups milk chocolate chips

-14oz Sweetened condensed milk

-1/2 cup peanut butter AND 1-2 Tbsp peanut butter, melted, for drizzling.

-4 51g boxes Reese's Pieces, divided (3 boxes for fudge mixture, 1 box for topping)

***I know there are 5 boxes in the picture but I only used 4***

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Combine chocolate chips and condensed milk in a small saucepan.

2.  Melt over low to medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is completely melted.

3.  Stir in 1/2 cup peanut butter.  Stir constantly until melted and combined.

4.  Stir in 3 boxes Reese's Pieces.

5.  Pour mixture into 8 inch square pan lined with parchment paper, or a pan or container of similar size (mine was a rectangle Tupperware container.  Don't forget that parchment paper!).

6.  Randomly scatter last box of Reese's pieces on top.

7.  Melt 1-2 Tbsp peanut butter in microwave (or stove top, whichever you prefer).  Drizzle on top of fudge.

8.  Refrigerate or freeze until firm.  (I put mine in the freezer overnight.  It is a lot easier to cut into sharp edged pieces the firmer it is.  Cut into squares and eat them because they taste great!

Chef Nairby

Cooking Times May Vary

COOKING TIMES MAY VARY

First attempt at Skittle Doodle Fudge did not go as planned.

It happens to us all.

We try a new recipe for the first time.  We follow instructions to a tee.  And the final product does not come out looking like it does in the picture.  What do you do?

In the past, I would give up and give the recipe a HUGE thumbs down.   Curse the world.  Curse the person who provided the recipe.  Slam cupboard doors.  Slam every pot, pan, bowl, measuring cup and utensil I used to make the darn thing during the clean-up.

Ingredients for Skittle Doodle Fudge

If you get discouraged, you could miss out on something truly amazing.  I use my first attempt at Skittle Doodle Fudge as my own example.

I found a recipe for Skittles Rainbow Fudge, which I later renamed Skittle Doodle Fudge.  I was looking for fudge recipes, fudge being one of the things I had not yet made at the time, and Skittle Rainbow (Doodle) Fudge popped up.

The recipe called for only four ingredients and seemed so easy to make, it could be done in your sleep.  Unfortunately, the results were less than spectacular.

Try not to look directly at it!

As you can see, the final product looked like a nightmare.  It tasted great, but a key to great food is also in the visual appeal.  I still posted the picture on my Instagram and even made the excuse that, "I like the way it looks!"  I was lying.  I was ticked off.  But since it TASTED good, I wanted to get it right.

The problem with my first attempt was that I did not leave the fudge in the freezer long enough to harden.  As a result, well, you see the results.  The sharpest knife would not have done any better.  I left it in the freezer for the amount of time that I thought was appropriate, but it wasn't long enough.  And when it came time to cut the brick into squares, it was like trying to cut firm pudding.

But there is always that disclaimer you see on many recipes that goes something like, "Cooking times may vary."

Second attempt.  Perfection!

I had bought enough ingredients to give it another go the next day.  This time, I left the fudge in the freezer until CHEF NAIRBY said it was ready to be cut into squares!  As you can see, perseverance pays off.

Cooking times may vary.  If it doesn't come out looking right the first time, try again!  If it doesn't look like it's done, despite following instructions, give it as long as you think it still needs and go with your senses.  Does it look, smell, feel, taste and even sound ready?  Go with your senses.  Don't get discouraged.  You could be missing out.

Skittle Doodle Fudge

INGREDIENTS

3 cups white chocolate chips

1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

¾ cups Skittles

food coloring

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Combine white chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in a small saucepan.

2.  Melt over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and completely melted.

3.  Stir in Skittles.

4.  Pour into an 8-inch square pan lined with parchment paper.

5.  Squirt one drop of each color food coloring in a different corner of the pan; use a knife to create swirls of color.

6.  Refrigerate or freeze until firm.  (**I put the slab in the freezer for about 3 hours until it was quite hard**)

Chef Nairby