Most of us have moments when only something sweet will do and Fudge is a
brilliant way to resolve that craving whether your preference is for smooth
melting sweetness or a crumbly texture that then melts into unctuous, silky satisfaction.
Helen Beveridge (aka 'The Fudge Fairy') is the woman to turn to when
those moments strike.
Starting making fudge at home, after a holiday in Cornwall, Helen
rapidly moved into selling through Farmers Markets using only Welsh butter in
her little blocks of pleasure. The queues at her stall are deep and demand is
high.
It was through selling at Undy Farmers Market that Helen spotted a shop
in the village, empty and, until a builder cut back huge Leylandii when doing
up a bungalow, invisible. Discovering that it had been a Sweet Shop during the
30’s Helen just had to have it and Fudge Fairy HQ came into being.
Though Helen’s hand-made Fudge is the star of the show she also sells a
range of retro sweets and cards and celebration items be it for birthdays,
weddings or corporate events.
At its simplest fudge is just Milk, Sugar and Butter, but it is the
treatment of the ingredients, the flavouring and stirring and beating that
really make the outcome. Helen has developed a great technique that ensures
perfect Fudge every time and offers a choice of smooth or crumbly though the vast
majority go for smooth.
After meeting Helen’s son Adam who was operating the stall at Undy
Farmers Market, and buying two or three packs we headed just up the road to the
shop for more.
When you enter a lovely smell of warm sugar meets you and the shelves of
multi-coloured sweets take you back to childhood.
Helen was just finishing a batch of her newest flavour Cornish Kiss. I
have a feeling that Cornwall is important in Helen’s life,she started the
business after a holiday there and had just been again where she discovered
Cornish Lust. No not a holiday romance but a Strawberry infused liqueur. Added
to a smooth, creamy fudge this gives a subtle Strawberry hint and is a great
new addition to the range.
It was this new taste that we wanted to try, partially inspired by Helen
using Twitter to inform us all of the development of the Fudge over the week
since her return from Cornwall.
Excitement mounted as the fresh fudge was removed from the mould and cut
in front of us. Tasters of both the Fudge and the Cornish Lust liqueur confirmed
that this was a winner.
Our visit was slightly curtailed by the arrival of two people to discuss
and select the Wedding Favours that would be on the table for the Wedding
Breakfast, all neatly bagged and sealed with satin ribbons. Not wanting to
interfere with Helen’s business we made our exit, saying goodbye to younger son
James who was helping behind the counter.
No doubt at all the Fudge Fairy makes excellent fudge, you really have
to get along and try some and her shop would delight any child, again well
worth a visit.
Though the shop open Tuesday to
Saturday is the main focus of Helen’s output she will still have a presence at
Farmers Markets and at these shows Magor Square May
Day Fayre 7th May (Bank Holiday), Penhow Village Diamond Jubilee Celebration -
Date to be confirmed summer 2012, Chepstow Country Show, Usk Show, Magor Frost
Fayre. Helen also attended the food event in Cardiff last year and hopefully
will be back again.
Helen makes exceptional Fudge and inspired me to make a version at home. This is a quick version that uses Condensed Milk so it’s suitable for home bakers but Helen’s Fudge is undoubtedly smoother.
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