A dedicated blogger (during fudge season), I am dreadfully remiss in my publishing since the middle of last season. But now, in fond memory of my mother-in-law, I’d love to share the very beginnings of my fudge making career!

The  fudge recipe I use, is a secret, third-generation,  family recipe passed on to me by my husband’s mom. She had decided that her decades of fudge making were coming to an end, and I thought it might be a nice way to make some Christmas spending cash. I was invited over for a fudge-making lesson, and the education truly began. We  often laughed about that afternoon, as it became the “how-NOT-to-make-fudge” session. At almost every stage of the process, she’d say “Now this is what you should do…… but we don’t have time, I don’t have that ingredient, or it’s good enough like that”.  The ensuing pan of fudge was almost inedible – notice I said almost, because somehow the family was still able to force down the offending fudge concoction ! So that evening, I poured over my hand written notes, remembering how it was supposed to be done, as opposed to what we actually did, and my first solo batch passed the “fudge purist test” as designed by my husband! The first 2 years, I took “Mama Deen’s Fudge” to local markets and, as I began to create more flavours and expand my market, “Eve’s Fudge” was born.

My dear mother-in-law passed away last December, and  her fantastic fudge was mentioned by various people at her memorial. What a delicious legacy!

Despite the “crisp” weather,I saw -26 degrees Celsius, the Water Valley Holiday Sale was a great success. Santa even made an appearance to stock up on Eve’s Fudge; what an endorsement that was!! The frigid temperatures had everyone looking for ways to warm up, and Eve’s Hot Chili Fudge did the trick, at least temporarily! It was the top sampler and second best seller, Water Valley I salute your brave consumers!

Once again the Olds Ag Society hosted a terrific Christmas Farmers Market. A yearly event in the Olds Legion, I LOVE this sale! The constant stream of people kept me hopping and made the 4 hours fly by, I even forgot to phone my ride, and ended up in an empty hall with tables being put away around me!! Although, I made a couple of last minute sales that way, pulling samples and containers out of my coolers!! Once again, Eve’s Maple Walnut Fudge took first prize – only in Olds! A more conservative crowd, Eve’s Hot Chili Fudge didn’t rank, but just in time for Christmas Eve’s Chocolate Orange Fudge SOLD OUT!

Anticipating my first trip out to the Water Valley Holiday Sale, 9am-4:30pm on Saturday, November 20th. I will be selling Eve’s Fudge in the Community Hall, and am looking forward to a whole new crowd of fudge lovers! There will also be vendors set up in the Chinook Creative Arts Building. Families will enjoy the FREE photos with Santa and a kids craft table!

Eve’s Fudge’s #1 taste tester, he’s small but very discerning!

Opening the fudge season at the Didsbury Christmas Craft Sale was such a great way to start. Surrounded by friendly, familiar faces both in vendors and customers was a terrific way to ease back into the market scene.

Saturday, October 30th saw the Didsbury Memorial Complex full of people dressed for Halloween buying Christmas Crafts! It was great to see people buying Eve’s Fudge and then marching straight to the kitchen for a plastic spoon, and digging in immediately! Hopefully they’ll be back at Didsbury’s Country Christmas for replacements!

Eve’s Fudge had the typical bestsellers - Eve’s Maple Walnut Fudge, Eve’s Black Forest Fudge, Eve’s Chocolate Fudge…….and surprisingly Eve’s Hot Chili Fudge.

Eve’s Hot Chili Fudge is a novelty for  most people,  so I go through mountains of samples. However, most of those samplers, sweat a little and then buy some! This particular fudge is too spicy for me, but the people who like it…love it! I had numerous repeat Hot Chili  customers from last Christmas, some even asked if I could swap the labels on it for a practical joke on certain family members……I didn’t, so no need to panic if offered Eve’s Fudge!

I was also extended an invitation to participate in Didsbury’s Midnight Madness on Friday December 3rd, this is in conjunction with Didsbury’s Country Christmas. I will be set up in the Elks Hall on Main Street from 5-11pm.

I have been poring over my Eve’s Fudge statistics from the last couple of years, just to see where I need to stock up, when to start preparing for each sale and ,most importantly, confirming that I can produce the quantities of fudge required for each sale date.

And in doing so, I have let one of the members of Eve’s Fudge family go….Eve’s Pumpkin Pie Fudge will not make an appearance in the 2010 season. Over the last few years I have been experimenting and developing new flavours and unfortunately not all of them are readily received. This also happened last year with Eve’s Pineapple Fudge.

And year after year, we have similar top sellers. In the top 5 consistently are Eve’s Chocolate Fudge, Eve’s Maple Walnut Fudge and Eve’s Chocolate – Peanut Butter Fudge.

Have no fear though, I continue to explore and create, so you never know what you will find at my sales!! Come and sample them all!

Well the 2010 Eve’s Fudge Christmas season is upon us. My first sale is next Saturday – October 30th! That’s right, a Christmas sale before Halloween.This allows you to purchase fudge, taste test it, then attend another sale and stock up for Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers!  It will be held in Didsbury’s Memorial Complex, located at 1702 – 21 Avenue. The sale will run from 10-5, and I look forward to seeing friends and neighbours. There’s nothing like doing a sale in your home town! I am excited to attend two new sales this year, Water Valley and Cremona, and am anticipating familiar faces at my other destinations!

October 30th, 2010 Didsbury Christmas Market 10-5

November 6th, 2010 Olds Christmas Market  11-3

November 20th, 2010 Water Valley Holiday Sale 9-4

November 27th, 2010 4th Annual Airdrie Artisan’s Market 10-4

December 4th, 2010 Cremona Winterfest 10-4

Hope to see you soon!

“EVE”

A mere shadow of her former self!!  See Eve’s Fudge Mecca!

My last Christmas Sale of the season was on November 28th, 2009. After that, December happened……so I hope you can forgive the belated post!

The 3rd Annual Artisans Market in Airdrie was once again a fun and exhausting day.  There were over 60 vendors, with incredible creations. The entertainment wasn’t quite as seasonal as the last couple of years, Belly Dancing and Hula-Hoop Dancing, but it definitely held people’s attention!

Once again, the first flavor to sell out was Eve’s Hot Chili Fudge. Airdrie must be an adventurous community! The number one seller over all was Eve’s Chocolate Orange Fudge, wonderful for the holidays. In a three-way tie for second place, was the tried and true Eve’s Chocolate Fudge, the layered Eve’s Chocolate-Peanut Butter Fudge and the BRAND NEW Eve’s Irish Cream Fudge. Eve’s Chocolate Mint Fudge and Eve’s Maple Walnut Fudge rounded out the top seller list.

I  officially wrapped up the 2009 fudge run with a few last minute Christmas purchases emptying out my fridge.  Now it’s time to put my feet up, and start planning next years “assault”!

Ever wonder what a furlong of fudge would look like? Well, these photos show enough fudge to make approximately 120′ if lined up end to end. That being said, the entire 2009 Eve’s Fudge season could generate enough fudge to make a furlong, or 660 feet, equal to one-eighth of a mile! Uff Da!