This is a traditional family recipe which we usually make at Christmas time. It goes down great with a coffee to cut the sweetness.

DATE-NUT FUDGE

Ingredients:

3 cups sugar
1 � cups evaporated milk
1 cup chopped dates
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 stick butter ( � cup or � lb.)
1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Cook sugar, milk, dates, and butter until it forms soft balls in cold water. Use a candy thermometer to help determine this. Stir constantly to prevent the sugar from burning. Add nuts and vanilla and stir vigorously. Roll in damp linen cloth or pour into shallow cookie tray (about 1 inch deep) and allow it to cool. If it turns out properly, it should be somewhere between toffee and a crumbling consistency.

Warning: Recipe is very sensitive, don�t overcook. Also, use dried dates, fresh dates will make it far too sweet.

Micah from Down Under