VCE: Easy Fudge

A great recipe and a fun craft, from The North Pole...

Fantasic Fudge

You will need:

• 3 cups chocolate chips
• 1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

• 1) Grease an 8 by 8 inch pan.
• 2) Combine chocolate chips, milk, and butter in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium- low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate chips are melted. Remove pan from heat. To microwave, place chocolate chips, milk, and butter in a microwave safe dish. Microwave on high for 2 minutes and stir. If chocolate is not completely melted, microwave on high for 20 seconds more and stir. Repeat until chips are melted.
• 3) Stir in vanilla and walnuts.
• 4) Pour chocolate mixture into pan and smooth with a spoon.
• 5) Refrigerate for about 1 hour or until set. Cut into small squares.

Makes 49 to 64 pieces.

And a fun craft -- origami ornaments ;o)

Origami Ornaments

Ornaments inspired by Origami, the traditional Japanese paper-folding craft, are colorful, inexpensive, and easy to make. You only need a few materials - a box of slightly shiny, lightweight origami paper, string, white glue, and scraps of colored tag board or paper.

To make the Santa, we used an 8 inch square of paper and folded it as shown in the drawing below. Complete the Santa by adding a beard, trim, and hanger. You can secure the arms with glue, if necessary.

For the tree, use a 5 inch square and fold as for the Santa; stop when you have the triangle in the fourth step. Take two horizontal tucks to give a tiered effect. Glue on a tag board star, a hanger, and tiny ornaments made of contrasting origami paper.

To make the reindeer, start with a 6 inch square of paper and follow the folding instructions. Cut antlers from tag board and glue on.

Make the bell by folding a 7 inch square according to the drawing. Finish the bell by separating the points at the top and fold them down each side of the bell; secure with glue. Invert the figure and glue a clapper into the opening and a handle on top.

Fig 1

Cheerful origami ornaments are cleverly folded, then decorated with your individual touches.