Figure Skating and Fudge!

Figure Skating and Fudge

Had a fun interview with Kristi Yamaguchi today. Besides being an Olympic Gold Medalist, Dancing with the stars champion, wife, mother and philanthropist, Kristi is now a successful children’s storybook author. In fact, her book, DREAM BIG, LITTLE PIG, debuted at the #2 slot on the New York Times bestsellers list when it was released this past March.

The illustrations are charming-in fact, you’ll smile as soon as you see the cover! And the story content won’t disappoint either. It’s a very fun book to read aloud.

“Poppy” is a little pig with lots of dreams. But following her dreams isn’t as easy as it sounds. Her best friend and her family encourage her to keep believing and to have fun doing it. And although Poppy tries ballet, singing and becoming a super model…before she finds that she really like to ice skate.

Part of the proceeds of each book will benefit Kristi’s “ALWAYS DREAM” foundation for early childhood literacy programs. Make sure you get a copy of this delightful storybook for your special little one!


It is Nutty Fudge day today and I shared the following recipe:

Nutty White Fudge
1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 Tbsp. milk
2 c. confectioners’ sugar
2 (1 oz.) squares white baking chocolate
½ tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. salt
1 c. chopped walnutsIn mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and milk until smooth. Gradually add sugar. Beat in melted chocolate. Add vanilla and salt; mix well. Stir in walnuts. Spread into buttered 8” square pan. Chill for 4-5 hours before cutting. Store in refrigerator.

Fudge and Forgotten Delights

Do you like to do lots of baking for the holidays? Just a few family favorites each year? We shared a couple of fudge recipes on the show today.

A favorite that a listener called in last year is Milky Way fudge, made with Milky Way candy bars. Very YUMMY and very easy!

Milky Way Fudge

3 regular size Milky Way candy bars

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 (12 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips

Place all ingredients in microwave-safe bowl. Melt until smooth. Pour into greased 8x8" glass dish. Chill until firm.

This recipe was also shared on today's program. It would be a festive touch to your holiday dessert platter with the red cranberries...

Cranberry Nut Fudge

1 tsp. butter

1 (16 oz.) can milk chocolate frosting

1 (12 oz.) pkg. milk chocolate chips

1 (6 oz.) pkg. dried cranberries

1/2 c. chopped pecans

LIne an 8" square dish with foil and grease the foil with butter; set aside. In heavy saucepan, combine frosting and chocolate chips. cook and stir over medium low heat until chips are melted. Stir in cranberries and nuts. Pour into prepared pan. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours. Using foil, lift fudge out of pan. Discard foil; cut fudge into 1" squares. Store in refrigerator. Yield: 2 pounds.

In the Book Nook segment today we spoke with Lesley M.M. Blume, author of "LET'S BRING BACK-AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FORGOTTEN YET DELIGHTFUL, CHIC, USEFUL, CURIOUS AND OTHERWISE COMMENDABLE THINGS FROM TIMES GONE BY". It's a whimsical and beautifully illustrated collection of objects, recipes, words, and even people that she feels should be re-introduced...

As I read through the book, I easily flagged about two dozen things. For instance: door-to-door peddlers (I remember the Fuller Brush Man and the Minnesota Woolen Mills rep who stopped at our house once every six weeks or so). Good Cracker Jack prizes (I liked to collect all the circus train cars). Homely Christmas Trees. (No matter what our tree really looked like, Dad always proclaimed it was "The prettiest tree we ever had!")

There are so many more items that will trigger your memories. A fun read, and a great gift to give or receive.

Fudge, Fundraisers and the Food Network

Today is FUDGE DAY- and who doesn't love a "bite" or two of this delectably sweet and extremely rich candy treat? I did a little research and learned that if you want to make perfect fudge everytime you need to follow these tips:

• Follow directions exactly.



• Use an accurate candy thermometer.



• Add each ingredient in order listed.



• Do not stir vigorously after it’s reached the soft ball stage,



• Use a heavy, high sided saucepan that holds about twice the volume as your candy recipe.



• Do all prep work and gather all equipment and ingredients before starting.



• Test your candy thermometer before you begin by boiling a pan of water, inserting the thermometer and ensuring that it reads 212°

Do YOU have a great "foolproof" fudge recipe? If so, send it to me at ideaexchange@gkbradio.com

We are gearing up for our local RELAY FOR LIFE fundraiser event. The dates are next Friday into Saturday (June 25 & 26) and I am part of the "C Card" Team. This year's theme is "Celebrate more Birthdays" and I found a recipe for cupcake lollipops on the American Cancer Society website. Using a regular cake mix, you bake the cake, crumble it and add a can of cream cheese frosting. After rolling into 1 1/2" balls and freezing for 30 minutes, you use a small flower shaped cookie cutter to form each piece into a flower shape. The bottom half gets dipped in milk chocolate, a lollipop stick is inserted and then you dip in white or colored chocolate, decorate and wrap with a plastic sleeve and a ribbon.

I did a "test run", brought them to work where they got rave reviews from everyone who tasted them SOOOO.... I'm making 2 batches (should yield about 50-54 per cake mix) to sell at our campsite during the relay AND I am also making a 50-piece bouquet to auction off during our upcoming CHILDREN'S RADIOTHON event that is also happening next week-more on that later...

Today's interview was with Melissa d'Arabian. You can catch her on the daytime series, "$10 Dinners" on the Food Network. She is also a spokesperson for the National Pork Board. She talked to us about grilling for the summer season. Did you know that pork is very versatile, a great value (price-wise) and freezes well? You can get more of her recipes at http://www.theotherwhitemeat.com/ and also find out about a contest that she is promoting. You can send a photo of you/family members/friends celebrating with pork dishes and you could win a trip to New York and a chance to be on her show. Check it out!