Red Hot Grandpa

Grandpa smelled like the red, hot, cinnamon candies he loved. When he came to visit, the candies spilled out of his pockets when he sat down. Ben was worried about Grandpa's visit though. He was thinking about the question. Soon Grandpa would ask, "Had any fantastic fudge lately?"

This was usually Ben's favorite question. Grandpa and Ben made mouth-watering, thick, creamy fudge. It melted in their hands and mouths as they ate it. They licked every smudge of fudge off their fingers.

They had made M & M marshmallow fudge, jellybean fudge, double chocolate chip gummy bear fudge, peppermint candy cane fudge, and rootbeer fudge.

Ben was worried about Grandpa's question for one reason. He always surprised Grandpa with a special ingredient. He picked it out weeks ahead of time. One time, he even dreamed of the ingredient. This time, he hadn't thought of anything and fudge-making time was almost here.

Ben searched the kitchen for the special ingredient. He passed up peanut butter, chocolate chips, raisins, pears, and yogurt. Grandpa came into the kitchen.

"So, Ben, had any fantastic fudge lately?" Grandpa asked. "Shall we make a batch?"

"All right," Ben said. What would he do when it was time for the special ingredient?

"What's the surprise ingredient?" Grandpa asked.

"I'm hiding it until the last minute," Ben said. He didn't want to tell Grandpa he hadn't been able to think of anything.

They got out the milk and the chocolate. Grandpa didn't need a recipe. "It's all up here," he said, tapping his head. They took turns adding, mixing, and tasting.

Soon they would need the special ingredient. Ben thought hard. He tried to reach the vanilla, but it was too far back in the cabinet.

"Need some help?" Grandpa asked. Grandpa climbed onto a chair.

Ben noticed Grandpa's pockets overflowing with the red, hot, cinnamon candies. "That's it!" Ben thought. His special ingredient had been right here all along. As Grandpa leaned over, Ben spilled the candies out of his pocket into the pan of cooking fudge. Grandpa looked, in surprise, as the bright red candy melted into the warm, bubbling chocolate. They both started to laugh.

"This batch of fudge won't be boring," Grandpa said, chuckling. They poured it into a pan to cool. "What should we call this batch?" Grandpa asked. The warm cinnamon smell swirled around them.

"Red hot fudge!" Ben said.

"I'd never have thought that in a million years," Grandpa said. When the fudge was cool, they tried a piece. It was delicious.

"This is our best recipe yet," Grandpa said. Ben and Grandpa grinned at each other. They were thinking about the next time they would make fudge. They could hardly wait.
Grandpa and Ben's Fantastic Fudge

Tools:
• 8-inch square baking dish
• heavy saucepan
• wooden spoon
• measuring cups and spoons
• clock or timer

Ingredients:
• ½ cup evaporated milk
• ¼ cup margarine
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 25 marshmallow
• (8 ounce) package of semisweet chocolate chips
• teaspoon vanilla
• cooking spray

First, spray your baking dish. Next, measure milk, margarine, and sugar into your saucepan. Stir, over medium heat, until your mixture boils. Boil for 5 minutes. Take the pan off the heat. Stir in the marshmallows and chocolate chips until they are melted. Next, add the vanilla.

If you want to add yummy ingredients NOW is the time. Stir until your ingredients are all mixed in. Pour it into your baking dish. Refrigerate until the fudge is firm (about 2 hours). Cut it into squares and eat it! Makes 25 pieces.
Grandpa and Ben's suggestions

• 1 cup of peanuts, walnuts, or pecans
• 1 cup of gummy worms or bears
• ½ cup of jelly beans or gumdrops
• 1 cup peanut butter chips
• 1 cup miniature marshmallows
• ½ cup of cinnamon, red candies
• ¾ cup of peppermint candy (crushed)
• ½ cup crushed malted milk balls

By Kerrily Sapet