Scottish Tablet

A contribution from BlitzBaby: Scottish Tablet. This is a very sweet, Scottish fudge like candy. It is exceedingly moreish and I’m sure it is very bad for you! This was a post war (for us) recipe that my mother made for us as soon as rationing was over. I think it must have been about 1950 when we first had this. I know my mother used to make it prior to the war but couldn’t during the war years…no sugar, butter or condensed milk! Ingredients. I pint/500ml water 8oz/225gms butter chopped into pieces. 4lbs/1.8gms super fine/caster sugar. 1lb/450gms condensed mil Flavourings as desired (optional) peppermint, whisky , vanilla, or just leave plain. Method Butter a 12”x4”/30cmx10cm or 7”/18cm square tin. In a heavy based 4 pint saucepan heat water to a low simmer and then add the butter. Stir until melted. Add sugar and stir until it has all dissolved. Raise heat to high and bring to a hard boil for 5 minutes.(The mixture should be boiling fiercely which helps reduce the liquid and begins to colour the mixture. This should be stirred all the time to prevent sticking and burning. If you happen to have a candy thermometer the temp. should be 120C/250F. This is the hard boil stage. Slowly add the condensed milk. Take Care the mixture might splatter as it is very hot. (This is not a recipe for children to make!) Stir well and lower the heat and let simmer for about 20 minutes. The mixture will bubble and look like moon craters but keep cooking. It will also darken slightly. Remove from the heat after 20 minutes and beat the mixture vigorously for 5 minutes. Add any flavours that you want now. Pour into your greased pan and when the tablet is cool but still soft cut into 1” squares. Once it is completely cold, wrap in greaseproof paper and store in an airtight tin. Enjoy!!