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I am lucky to have known and spent valuable time with all of my grandparents before they died. My grandma Virginia (“Gram” to me) lived the longest, therefore probably leaving the last and most impressionable memories. My parents sold Gram’s house this past week and several decades of memories have been prancing around in my head.

It’s funny, the things that you remember about a person long after they’re gone. Gram had a perfectly coiffed blonde up-do. A never ending supply of pastel, knee length golf skirts. A swift, decisive walk. A knack for gin rummy. A preference for french dips. A lead foot in the driver’s seat. An unknowing and frequent use of the word “watcha ma call it.” An unwavering commitment to Miami Heat basketball.

And, most memorably, a love affair with chocolate.

Gram invented her own food pyramid and Fannie Mae was on the bottom. We’re convinced that the last several years of her life she lived on chocolate covered raisins and fudge.

A few months ago, my mom gave me one of Gram’s handwritten recipes for “Foolproof Fudge.” I thought I would pay homage to her by making it and sharing it with you.

I’ll admit that I was wary of the recipe because it seemed too easy. And, the use of an entire can of condensed milk almost deterred me. But, I assure you that the mere 5 minutes of preparation resulted in some seriously rich and decadent “foolproof” fudge.

The recipe calls for semisweet chocolate chips, but I used a mixture of semisweet and milk chocolate chips because that’s what I had on hand.

Thanks, Gram, for your inspiration. Your memory lives on in our minds and hearts.

Love, Kimmie

Note: I googled “foolproof fudge” and found a nearly identical recipe from the Eagle Brand website. Given Gram didn’t use the Internet, I am guessing she found this on the back of an Eagle Brand can or related product.