When I was a kid, we spent countless weekends camping out in the North Ga Mountains.
By camping I mean sleeping comfortably in an RV right outside of the tourist town of Helen, Ga. It’s a cute little mountain town that looks like an old Bavarian village.
Growing up the shops ranged from things like candle making, local jewelry, outlets, a cool/creepy wax museum, and the fudge shop!
My dad always let me get fudge and it was the thing I looked forward to the most. Fast forward 20 something years and we recently went back to take our own kids. Neeless to say, the architecture hasn’t changed, but the shops and crowds certainly have. It’s still charming and fun to visit, but It wasn’t the Helen of my childhood. Time keeps on moving I guess, and people no longer want swirly, hand dipped, wizard and dragon carved candles? What?!?! I was genuinely surprised by this?
I was able to get ridiculous matching airbrush t-shirts with one of my favorite old friends, but otherwise it was sort of a let down. Also, now that we are vegan, I couldn’t share the joy of choosing a slab of fudge with my kid.
So what’s a girl to do, other than go home and make her kids some vegan fudge, and assure them that back in the day, Helen was once one of her favorite places on earth. An amazing place I spent summers floating down the Chattahoochee river on inner tubes, watching candles get carved, and eating enough fudge to make you sick.
I just hope we can give our kids memories like this, and find our own places that they hold dear in their hearts, even if they change over time. And I assure you every time I make a batch of vegan fudge, I will remember Helen like it was when I was a kid, and it will make my heart happy. So, now where can a girl get a swirly, glittered, hand carved wizard candle?
INGREDIENTS:
4 1/2 oz vegan dark chocolate
1 can full fat coconut milk or cream
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup peanut, almond, or sunbutter
pinch of salt
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Chop the dark chocolate into small pieces.
Add chocolate, sugar, and coconut milk to a medium sauce pan. Heat over medium/low heat, allowing the the chocolate to melt, and the mixture to come to a simmer. Let the mixture simmer for about 5-7 minutes, stirring continuously. Stir in the peanut butter and allow it to melt. Add the pinch of salt.
Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper. Pour the fudge mixture into the pan.
Top with walnuts if you like, then allow the fudge to chill uncovered in the fridge for about 4 hours to firm up.
Cut and serve fudge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
