Snow Day: Great-Grandma Tacl's Magical Hot Fudge Sauce

This hot fudge sauce is not healthy at all.  In fact, it's terrible for you. 

That said, it does have one redeeming quality.  It's magical.  On the coldest, snowiest, dreariest days of winter, it can chase away the blues, and turn a tantrum-throwing whiny child into a smiling, docile one.

I only serve it for very special days.  Like this one.  (Served too often, I think the magic would wear off....)

The weatherman was right.  We woke up this morning to about 15 inches of snow on the ground.  My husband couldn't make his 35-mile commute to work the night before.  School was cancelled.  A blizzard is forecast to begin today with wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour.

That said, it was a gorgeous snowfall.  Absolutely breathtaking.  It stuck to the trees, power lines, and anything else above ground.  It made everything look clean, new, and so wonderful.


My three sons could barely contain themselves as they flew about in a tornado of warm socks, snow pants, warm coats, mittens, hats, and boots.  They were heading out the door to play in the snow (the very best kind for little boys, a packing snow!), and I was still in my pajamas.

By the time I threw on my winter gear and ventured out, the wonder of snow had worn off a bit for the just-turned-2-year-old.  In fact, he was stuck.  The snow was as deep as his knees and he had fallen down.

His little mittens weren't waterproof, either, so his hands were cold and red.  But, despite the cold and wet, he wanted to stay outside.  Five minutes later, I could see that I would need to forcibly remove him from the snow and carry him indoors.

He was not happy with me.  Not one bit.

Luckily, I had a batch of Great-Grandma Tacl's Magical Hot Fudge Sauce in the refrigerator, made the night before in preparation.  I quickly mixed a spoonful of the fudge sauce with some milk inside a saucepan to heat up.

Then, I poured the cold baby a cup and waited for the magic to take over...

Here comes the magic...

There it is.  All better.

My Great-Grandmother, Rose Tacl, immigrated to America in 1920 with her sister Mary.  They were 18 and 20 years old, and they came alone on their long journey from Croatia (in Eastern Europe).  There were arranged husbands waiting for them here.  Croatian men whom they had never met and knew nothing about yet would be marrying soon.  Can you imagine?  What a brave woman.  Maybe her courage is what gives this recipe it's magical qualities.  Try it and find out for yourself. :-)


Great-Grandma Tacl's Magical Hot Fudge Sauce
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup evaporated milk (I have used regular milk or cream in a pinch and it's turned out fine)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix sugar and cocoa well.  Add butter and mix again, then add cream (or evaporated milk).  Boil hard for 1 minute.  Add vanilla.  Remove from heat and serve warm.

This sauce is great over bananas, ice cream, for dipping strawberries, and for making hot cocoa.  To make the hot cocoa, simply add a spoonful or two to a couple of cups of milk and heat in a saucepan while stirring.


Enjoy!