Poppo's "Must Have it NOW!!!" Peanut Butter Fudge

Recently, we went to the Eumundi Markets just because. It's a quick hour escape and you never really know what the stall vendors will have. We really like it. This last visit, during the Ekka public holiday, we went up. There is a fudge vendor there and I decided I had to have some peanut butter fudge. Well, no joy at the fudge vendor. Turns out Australians aren't as into confectionary with peanut butter as an ingredient as Americans. How silly! What culinary adventures there are to be had.

So, on the way home, Dean and I phoned my Dad (who has now inherited my grandfather's nickname - Poppo) and got his recipe. Mind you, he didn't actually have it written down. You see, his recipe comes from the back of a jar of Marshmellow Fluff. So, he rattled it off by memory.


Dean, my talented and all-knowing chef, was a little concerned about making fudge with peanut butter and marshmellows. Well, that was until he tasted it. He loved it! :-) As a result, it was one of many treats served at Poppi's Suprise Birthday Party. So, straight from the back of our super-secret brown paper bag, here we are posting the recipe here for those who asked for it at the party.


Enjoy! :-)


2 cup of Peanut Butter (or Peanut Butter chips) - You can use smooth or crunchy

1 jar (7 oz) Marshmellow Fluff (Yes, this is available in Australia - at Coles, in the same aisle as Nutella. If you can not find any, substitute an equivilant amount of regular marshmellows.)

3/4 cup Evaporated Milk

2 1/4 cup Sugar

1/4 cup Butter

1 tsp. Vanilla



In a large pot over medium, combine milk, butter and sugar. Heat ingredients until boiling. Add Marshmellow Fluff (or marshmellows), stirring until melted. Remove pot from heat. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Spread mixture out in a semi-shallow baking pan. Allow to cool in refrigerator until firm. Cut into squares and try not to eat them all at once.

Oh what a boy!

Care to see what Hunter was up to this morning, around 6:30????

Surprise for Poppi!

Yesterday, we surprised Poppi.

She thought that she, Dad, Hunter and Grandma from Kingston (Dean's mom) were going to drive around and try to find Tara who had gone to "pay her bills." (It was the closest explanation we could give her for what it means to "go do some running around" when you're not actually going out for a run.) Well, it turned out Tara was "hiding" at a party in the park!

Guess who the party was for!??!!? Miss Poppi Claire's 5th birthday! She had no idea what was going on - this was her first party. But, lots of people she knew were there, there were pink and purple balloons and streamers everywhere and a whole pile of presents! Plus - Dad made her a super special pink and purple spotty cake with a princess tiara. AND!! Everyone was at one of her favourite parks. Her friend Jack (and babies Thomas and Thomas) came along and they spent 98% of the time playing. (We actually had to keep bringing them back over to "the party" to do things like eat, open pressies, blow out the candle on the cake.)

Dean cooked up a storm with some help from his mum. The picnic table was covered in goodies. Even though everyone gobbled up the yummies, there was still plenty left over!

All up, it was a really nice afternoon. It was just so special that Cousins, friends, Great Aunts and Uncles and Grandma were able to come and celebrate Poppi's birthday a little bit early. Even Grandma and Poppo and Uncle Will from Florida were able to be a part of the big day! We're so grateful for those who came to be with Poppi on her special day. Just being there, lavashing her with attention was the best and most important present of all!

Here's a selection of photos from the day

Blowing out the candle on the cake! (Of course, the tiara from the cake had to be put on first!)

Opening Presents - "Megsie", a FurReal Friend (Notice the Fairy Wings? A special pressie from Great Aunty Cheryl and Uncle Bob - a birthday party dress-up costume!!)

Another pressie - KidProof Digital Camera (This, of course, had to be taken out straight away so our little amateur photographer could capture her own happy snaps from the party - see below.)

More Pressies - This one from Grandma & Poppo in Florida. A new Disney Princess dinner set! Poppi wanted to know, "How did they know I like princesses?" (Clearly, the answer must be that Grandma and Poppo read the BrisVegas Balmforth Bulletin!!)

A beautiful princess nightgown from Uncle Will in Florida. There was some convincing that had to be done to assure her it was something to sleep in and not a dress she could wear about town.

Poppi's Birthday Party Self Portrait (with her **new** camera)

Cousins Kate and Stuart on the big day!

Great Uncle Bob - he had to drive for 7 hours to get Brisbane! We were so lucky he was in town and able to come to the party!

Great Aunty Cheryl and Cousin Sharon Ashen - both great contributors to making sure the party happened. Aunty Cheryl came to the park early and help make sure Poppi's party had its very own gazebo. Sharon, of course, brought Jack AND her super special tatziki dip!

The end of a wonderful day! One very happy Poppi - Falling asleep in her Princess bed in new Princess PJ's with her new Fairy Barbie (from Jack)!