Recipe(tried): My Mother's Old Fashioned Fudge

MY MOTHER'S OLD FASHIONED FUDGE

4 cups Dixie Crystals Sugar (This brand really works best)
2/3 cups Hersey's Cocoa
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups canned evaporated milk
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter or low water content margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup peanut butter*

Butter shallow baking dish (preferably non-stick pan).

Mix first 4 ingredients in heavy bottomed pot (needs a handle). Stir well, add candy thermometer (do not let it touch bottom of pot), place on medium/low heat and cook to 238 degrees (a couple degrees above soft ball stage). Okay to stir lightly to prevent sticking to bottom, but do not scrape the sides of pot. Once 238 degrees has been reached, remove from heat and place pot in shallow sink of cold water. This will allow it to cool faster - you don't have to beat as long!

Add 1 teaspoon of real vanilla extract and 1 stick of butter or margarine (low water content margarine only!) Add 1/2 cup of peanut butter. Using a wooden spoon, mix butter and peanut butter well and begin to beat the fudge. After a couple of minutes of beating, the fudge will begin to thicken and loose its sheen. Quickly pour into buttered dish. Allow to cool, slice with sharp knife and ENJOY!

*For plain fudge, leave out the peanut butter.

Note: Keep a towel handy to dry bottom of pot before pouring! Don't even attempt this recipe if it is raining outside - don't know why - but that is what my mom says - and it works! I hope this turns out like your mother's used to. This is the best fudge ever!