Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Enjoy The Heavenly Taste Of Michigan Fudge

By Essie Osborn


Foodies in the know are flocking to Michigan to enjoy the many tastes the state has to offer. After all, the Mitten State is one of the most diversified when it comes to agricultural produce, growing everything from cherries to beets. The lakes provide fresh fish and the pastures are perfect for hogs and dairy cows. The variety of people who have made the state their home throughout the years has meant a varied regional cuisine too, with specialties such as the pasties for which the Upper Peninsula is famous. For a true taste sensation though, don't miss out on Michigan fudge.

Confectionery seems to have been perfected in a place known as Mackinac Island. Pronounced to rhyme with 'draw', Mackinac is located in the strait that separates Michigan's main Lower Peninsula from the smaller Upper Peninsula. It's been a popular destination for summer vacationers for more than a century and a half.

What makes Mackinac different from every other destination where you can go kayaking or fishing is that there are no cars on the island. Instead, people cycle, walk or travel on horseback. The family 'car' is a carriage drawn by horses. This lends the island an old-world atmosphere in keeping with the historic buildings, including the stately Grand Hotel and Fort Mackinac. Today the entire island is a designated historic district.

There is another great reason why many people come to Mackinac. The island is famous for its fudge and thousands of pounds of this sweet delicacy are exported to other parts of the USA every month. It's a true Mackinac tradition, with the first confectioners opening shop in the 1880s and still going strong.

Most of the confectioners create a huge variety of flavors. If your tastes are more traditional, you'll enjoy caramel, vanilla or chocolate flavors, or butter pecan or chocolate and nuts for a bit of crunch. An old-fashioned delight is turtle fudge, which has chocolate, nuts and caramel all rolled into one. However, you may also want to try some of the more innovative types, such as peanut butter, pumpkin pie or caramel and sea salt.

The base for the decadent treat is sugar, cream and real butter. These ingredients are boiled together and the flavorings are added. The mixture is then shaped into logs to cool down. When it's set, slices are cut off and sold with a knife so that you can cut off as big or as little a piece as you'd like. Most confectioners will allow you to watch the manufacturing process and some even offer workshops for those who want to learn how to make their own fudge.

Mackinac is mainly a summer destination, since this is the best time to be outdoors. However, another good reason to visit in summer is the Mackinac Island Fudge Festival. This is a celebration of all things fudgy, with even bartenders getting in on the action by creating special cocktails. The festival also features a host of activities and concerts.

If you find yourself in the Mitten State, be sure to pay a visit to Mackinac Island to buy some fudge by the pound. You'll also be able to buy from outlets elsewhere in the state. When you're back home and need to get a new supply of your favorite flavor, simply order it online, curl up somewhere comfortable and savor the heavenly taste.




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