
I am very methodical when I bake…I always have Food Network on in the living room and I wear a “uniform” which is comprised of comfy sweats, a v-neck t-shirt and my Ugg boots. Sounds super hot, right? Anyway, I came home from work on Friday, slipped into my uniform and flipped on the Food Network, only it was not the Food Network, it was Bravo.
I scanned the guide and realized that Food Network was no longer an option through AT&T. I had a moment where I do believe I may have shed a tear; seriously this is pretty much the only channel I watch. I stewed for a few minutes then called AT&T. They informed me that they were trying to reach a “fair agreement” with Scripps Network to bring back the programming. Not. Good. Enough. I guess I’ll be switching cable providers next week. In the meantime I’ll watch reruns from the DVR, especially the new show Dessert First with Anne Thornton. Have you watched this one yet? It is fabulous…and seriously, how adorable is she?

I was given the opportunity with Food Network to have a one on one phone interview with Anne. She was a doll and such a great interview. I wanted to keep the interview laid back and fun, so I kept most of my questions short and sweet. I also wanted to make one of Anne’s recipes and decided on her fudge, it’s ridiculously easy and oh so delicious. I hope you tune in on Sunday at noon to watch Dessert First and if you do, think of me fondly, because unfortunately I’ll miss it until this AT&T debacle gets handled or I switch providers. Have a fabulous day…and go make some fudge!
Q & A with Anne Thornton
MBA: I see that you and I are both from the Cleveland area; are you a Browns fan?
Anne: For sure, Sunday (10/24/10) was a great day, my show premiered and the Browns won!
MBA: What types of desserts can viewers expect to find on Dessert First?
Anne: Everything! I have a great variety of desserts like breakfast tarts, a creamy caramel sauce and so much more.
MBA: I know you worked in a different field before branching out into the pastry world, do you have any advice for others looking to make this type of career change?
Anne: Yes, I worked for Apple Computers before working as a pastry chef. My advice is to take the leap of faith.
MBA: Favorite restaurant?
Anne: Ballato in New York City
MBA: Your least favorite dessert or dessert component to make is?
Anne: Nothing I love to make it all!
MBA: Are you currently reading anything interesting?
Anne: Yes, I’m reading The Ask by Sam Lipsyte, it’s a great book.
MBA: What was the last song you downloaded?
Anne: Ludacris My Chick Bad
MBA:What would we find your in refrigerator right now if we opened it?
Anne: Butter, spicy sausage fusilli and cookie dough.
MBA: Best go to dessert when you have unexpected guest?
Anne: I always have fudge in my freezer.
MBA: What is your biggest dessert failure?
Anne: Hmm, I can’t really think of one, but I always have ice cream in the freezer for back up, who wouldn’t be happy with ice cream?
MBA: What‘s more important to you presentation or taste?
Anne: I think they are equally as important.
MBA: Your favorite guilty pleasure?
Anne: Honestly, I don’t believe in guilt.
Simple Fudge
Ingredients:
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla sea salt (fleur de sel)
1 cup chopped nuts (optional; see cook's notes)
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extractDirections:
1. Line an 8- or 9-inch-square baking pan with foil; set aside.
2. In a heavy-bottom saucepan, over low heat, melt chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk and salt. Remove from the heat, stir in optional nuts and vanilla. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Chill for 3 hours or until firm.
3. Remove the fudge from the pan and place onto cutting board; remove the foil from the bottom and cut fudge into squares. Store covered in the refrigerator or freezer.
Notes:
- Anne says she likes to add toasted and salted walnuts to the fudge for crunch and flavor contrast.
Adapted from Anne Thornton via the Cleveland Plain Dealer
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{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
Yum! These look delicious and having grown up in Cleveland (which I miss so dearly!)…GO BROWNS!
Fudge. Is. Great. This looks fabulous. I would definitely switch providers if I couldn’t have Food Network! Bummer!
Um, I had no idea making fudge was so easy! My MIL makes it for the holidays every year, and I’ll be slightly less impressed this year
. She definitely doesn’t use fleur de sel! I’m totally making this!
Ali-
Typical fudge is not easy, it involves perfect timing and temp which is why I do not make it. Candy making and I are not friends…this version is so much easier!
-Jamie
thanks for sharing the interview! i’ll have to look for her show
Oh my goodness!!! How could Food Network no longer be part of your plan? That’s a basic necessity of life… no less basic than The Weather Channel or the major networks.
And this simple fudge is a recipe even the most novice cook could follow. Thank you.
I would be devastated if they took Food Network away from my channels–hopefully you get it back soon! And I love the interview..she is such a doll and her desserts always sound heavenly!
ohhh i love a good, chocolatey fudge. yours looks incredible, yum!
The photography is just lovely, and I always love a good fudge recipe. Thanks for sharing!
I don’t have Food Network – it sucks
…that’s more due to my own cheapness and unwillingness to upgrade my Comcast however.
This fudge looks awesome…I was just saying to my boyfriend that I needed a candy thermometer, but it looks like I might not have to buy one now!
We have U-Verse at home too
We returned from our Mexican getaway to find out they snagged my cake shows away. Very bummed. But on the bright side, your fudge does look fantastic 
Where can I get vanilla sea salt? This recipes looks wonderful and I’d like to try it!
First; this fudge looks WAY to easy and that can be WAY too dangerous; I mean, I could be snacking on some in say…15 minutes. I’m timing it now!
2nd…I lost Food Network a couple of months ago; seems I was never supposed to have it and like Maggie…way too cheap to up my cable package by $45 a month just to see it. And you know what? I haven’t missed it at all. So many of the shows were not appealing to me anymore so it was like rehab…not pleasant at first but for the best in the long run!
Oh no – I’m so sorry that you’ve got to change providers! What a bummer
This fudge looks absolutely amazing, though. It looks so smooth!
What a great fudge recipe and great interview. Hope you get your food network back soon!
This looks so easy! It keeps in the freezer? Sweet! Will have to schedule a DVR recording for that show, haven’t seen it yet. Sundays belong to the Patriots. And yes, you need to switch providers. They’ll be working on a “fair agreement” forever. Show em you mean business and take yours elsewhere!
No Food Network? You poor thing!!!
That’s the only channel I watch too!
I haven’t seen her show yet, but I love her already. I also don’t believe in guilt, as far as food is concerned. I hate when foods are labeled as “guilt-free.”
Umm… Love homemade fudge, especially for the holidays. Great interview! I just LOVE her!!!
Hope you found a provider that has your beloved Food Network available:) Beautiful looking fudge and love that it’s easy. Cute interview. Interesting that Anne doesn’t believe in guilt. I was raised Catholic so it was required course study throughout our education/upbringing. LOL
I love fudge more than anything!! Thanks for the recipe!
Awesome interview Jaime. I really hope Anne becomes a permanent face of the FoodNet. I absolutely lover her new show
I *love* fudge! But not if it’s soft…your picture looks like it’s nice and firm. Yum!
And how fun to be able to do the interview!
Oh I’ve been watching her show too! It’s really cute! my husband makes fun of me for watching it but thats ok!
and yes I didn’t have Food Network this weekend either but it came back last night for us! I hope it did for you too!
I need to look into Dessert First.. its funny because I used to get Food Network but not Bravo! weird. I can’t wait to try this fudge too!
No food network?? I would die. I have got to check this out. We always watch Alex’s Day Off on Sunday. Now we’ll have to add Dessert First (which is a great life philosophy, by the way) to the DVR list.
What a shame about Food Network. I’m so sick of cable companies and networking “trying to work out a fair deal”….uggg! Get on with it already!
Now this fudge is something that I could see making me feel all better. Plus the pictures are great!
Uverse is offering Food Network again! Apparently, AT&T and the network reached an agreement.
Oooh I like the idea of making fudge. But I don’t use sweetened condensed milk so I’ll have to find something else instead.
P.S. – I made your butternut squash bread on my blog today – I even conducted an experiment with it!
OMG! I feel your pain! Not only is there no more Food Network through AT&T, there is no HGTV or Cooking Channel either! This is NOT ok. I almost cried when I saw it.
I watch those 3 channels 24/7. Sad.
What are we gonna do about this?
Love this:
“MBA:What would we find your in refrigerator right now if we opened it?
Anne: Butter, spicy sausage fusilli and cookie dough.”
Great interview. I love her last download-awesome! And, the fudge it looks killer.
Love the fudge recipe, I know what I am making after dinner for a surprise in tomorrows lunch boxes.
I make this fudge all the time and everyone raves about it…I just laugh when I think about how easy it is and never divulge the recipe
I do stir in a cup of mini marshmallows until melted and it makes the fudge even more creamy and delicious.
I would be at a loss without my Food Network!
Yummy fudge!
yum – love making fudge so easy plus gluten free! (happy belly!)
That fudge looks delicious
And so easy. I’m going to try this one before going for the complicated ‘original’ one!
I would be so mad if my satellite cancelled food network!!
i j ust made this but used all semi sweet chips and left the salt out… delicious!
hii,love your programme dessert first.have you a cook book thanks mandy
Just made this and as a note, it can be a bit bitter. Should you want sweeter chocolate fudge based on this recipe use all milk. My mother makes an old fashioned fudge perfectly (actually the fantasy fudge on the side of marshmallow fluff) which I screw up every time. This, however, turned out perfectly in my hands. Took maybe all of 20 minutes to melt everything together. May try adding some marshmallow fluff next time to soften and sweeten it a bit.