In a rather morbid turn, I’ve taken to browsing a rather dubious site late at night. I know I shouldn’t but it has become somewhat of a compulsion and I turn to it once it hits about 10 or 11 o’clock. I log onto the America’s Most Wanted website and scare myself silly. It’s my version of watching a horror movie.
I’d then get Mr NQN in on the act and I would show him a fugitive’s photo and quiz him on what he thought he was in for (and by the way you really can’t tell). I became rather obsessed with finding about the Dirty Dozen the 12 most wanted fugitives. I figure if they ever made it to Australia thinking that they might have safe refuge, then they might be surprised if I recognised them. And by the way, many years ago, I thought I knew the Mosman granny killer because I went to university with a guy that was a little creepy and worked at an aged care facility. Turns out I was wrong. I’m glad I didn’t call crimestoppers on him based on my hunch 
Late night frights
One night, Mr NQN suggested that it wasn’t a great idea scaring myself silly with my newfound website addiction and he suggested that I find something else to do. Usually I’m not a great late night cook. I prefer to wind down in the least active way possible. But one night I decided to make something. It would be something that wouldn’t require a lot of tools or equipment as that would mean a lot of washing up. I opened my pantry and saw the green tea powder that I had, some marshmallows and some chocolate. Fudge! I would make green tea and vanilla fudge. Vanilla because Mr NQN is not a huge green tea flavour fan and I find that vanilla really adds a lot to green tea.
This is one of those foolproof recipes that always sets and always produces a great fudge. I was happy to say that that night, I didn’t dream of fugitives climbing through my bedroom window. I dreamt of something else much sweeter. Actually I dreamt of a famous actor climbing through my bedroom but I won’t implicate myself any further shall I? 
So tell me Dear Reader, what is your late night guilty pleasure?
Green Tea & Vanilla Fudge
An original recipe by Not Quite Nigella
- 150ml/5 fl. ozs. cream
- 55grams/2 ozs. of butter
- 2 cups of sugar
- 200g/7 ozs. white marshmallows
- 1 teaspoon vanilla paste
- 350g/12.3 ozs. white chocolate chips
- 2 teaspoons green tea powder
1. Line a loaf tin with baking paper. In a large heavy based saucepan on low heat, dissolve sugar with cream and butter. Clip the sugar thermometer to the pan. Increase heat to just below medium. Whilst stirring wait until the mixture reaches 238F/118°C (soft ball stage). Be patient, it takes about 10 minutes and the thermometer will sit on 220-230 for what seems like forever. You may get little caramelised bits floating to the top. Knock back the heat a little if there are too many.
2. Immediately stir in chocolate chips, green tea powder, vanilla paste and marshmallows. Stir with wooden spoon to smooth out mixture. Immediately place in prepared tin (it sets very quickly). Eat while warding off potential fugitives.
If you enjoyed this post, why not share it with your friends?
What is NQN up to now? 
NQN on Facebook
RSS
75 Comments | Add your own
What a divine fudge flavor!
Cheers,
Rosa
YUM!! This is gorgeous Lorraine! I love green tea!!
Forget the tea, I’ll take the fudge!
Fudge!!! Love it- and a fun flavor. Your cups are gorgeous. My late night guilty pleasure is anything on SBS.
That is a weird little habit! Each to our own I suppose! I wonder if you ever got nightmares afterwards in bed?
YUM! This does look easy, I might have to give it a try this weekend! You have me wanting to check out the Americas most wanted site now too
If I watched that show on a regular basis, I’d be suspicious of everyone I saw walking down the street!
No…my secret late night vice is….drum roll….Two Fat Ladies. They break me up and put me in the mood for a good night’s
sleep.
This fudge looks wonderful, Lorraine. What fascinating ingredients. I must give it a try when the kids come down next month!
I love the personal tidbits you’re now putting in your posts! Did you ever watch Australia’s Most Wanted, back in the day?
The fudge looks great, too
i made a similar version to this once! but without the marshmallows and with condensed milk. mine wasn’t so stable hahaha and i swirled the matcha powder which made it look way too green. your’s looks much nicer, will have to try it because i’ve still got so much powder left!
Nigella that’s so funny!! I am a late night person too but tend to watch crime drama’s on tv (repeats at that time) like CSI and Law & Order. They can be creepy sometimes too but I remind myself it’s not real and sleep easy. So can’t imagine what you are doing to yourself by looking at the stuff that is real. Anyway glad you had some sense “knocked” in to you and used your time making this fudge. It looks delish!
My grandmother was a great cook, and fudge was her speciality. For years I had a handwritten recipe for fudge, thinking it was from her. It turned out not to be, and I’m disappointed ’till this day. Obviously I need some late night ebay shopping to help me cope with the psychological trauma.
Ooo this fudge looks great. I’ve never really been all that into green tea but I might have to be adventurous and try this one
The fudge looks gorgeous. I’m so relieved that the dubious site you mention isn’t mine!
Not a huge fudge fan but this looks simple and tasty. Cooking late at night reminds me of the Julie & Julia , I loved that movie!!
If I can’t sleep I log onto my computer and clear emails etc or try to get through my mountain-high pile of paperwork. It’s the best time to do it when the household is quiet and still.
Have to agree with Mr.NQN, it’s not a good idea to scare yourself by looking at those creepy characters before going to bed!
Does the vanilla flavour come from the marshmallows?
Kudos to you, I wouldn’t be able to put myself through that sort of freak out anytime of the day, let alone late at night.
Lovin’ the fudge but not liking the creepy psychos
Looks absolutely delicious! I agree – I think the vanilla would work really well with the green tea flavour. My late night guilty pleasure is a hot chocolat emade with a tin of flakes from Lindt. Delicious!!
I love it!
I’ve been looking for new recipes for matcha green tea powder.
Have a great weekend, Lorraine.
SSG xxx
hahaha,so i’m not the only one who likes watching crime shows at night..I like psychic detectives and at the same time doing the daily(nightly) crossword from the Australian paper.
I didn’t know about vanilla + green tea “companion flavour”,i’m going to remember that!! I also like the marshmallow component,except, i’ll probably need to get double the amount so I can “eat some and add some” bake!
Ps-we can all sleep well knowing you’ll be on the look out for any AMW escapees!!!
Oh you crack me up Lorraine! My late night guilty pleasure is reading (usually crime fiction), because I know I should really be in bed. But sometimes I can’t put my book down and stay up till the early hours!
This super easy fudge can help keep me awake
I’m with Mr NQN – I don’t like greet tea either, but the vanilla would help.
‘Easy’, ‘green tea’ and ‘fudge’ are possibly the best words in the world! I am definitely going to try this delicious recipe.
And my late night guilt: a watermelon Frosty Fruit to cool me down before bed (it’s so humid lately).
Green tea is probably my favourite flavour in anything.
Whenever I go out, if there was green tea ice cream or green tea cake or whatever it might be, I’d be sure to get it. You’re making my mouth water!
I love fudge & have travelled across London JUST to buy some from Harrod’s…I kid you not! I’ve never made my own – your recipe is an inspiration.
Fudge. Salivation Nation!
As for last night’s late night snack >> cupcakes
….I think the baker in this home needs to arrest herself for making me eat them!
Love this!
Well, I’ll take the ‘Hairy Bikers’ above ‘The Two Fat Ladies’ (love ‘em both!) above your scary stuff any day!!
LOVE green tea (in a mug!) and (in small letters) hate fudge! Are you still talking to me?
A HEALTHY combination of ingredients, indeed, TRUE!
A piece of fudge a day keeps the doctor at bay too!
Thanks again for once again inspiring me,
As will soon be making (for my St Patrick’s day dinner) cheesecake with green tea!
WHOO HOO!
I often have good intentions to cook at night but the reality is that I often get caught up in my computer and the telly – probably just as well I am not making fudge as it just goes too well with a self indulgent evening
Sounds incredibly easy. Eat while warding off potential fugitives. that’s so cute Lorraine. I’d much rather this green tea fudge than scare myself
I haven’t had fudge in a long time. Just seeing it now makes me salivate. Vanilla with tea sounds like a great flavor.
Nisrine
Oh gosh, I’ve taken to watching the HBO series Rome on my computer late at night. Let me tell you, seeing Caesar get stapped about a billion times, and then die twitching on the floor, at 11:30pm is not the route to a pleasant night’s sleep!
I’m definitely going to try this recipe soon. I love green tea, and can imagine the bitterness would play off the sweetness of the fudge beautifully!
Looks & sounds delicious, but where does one find green tea powder? As always love reading your blog
Ciao Lorraine, how are you? This looks so good, I don;t have time to read it now, I have only a few seconds left on the internet (I am traveling, in Chch now – with tremors)
I just wanted to let you know that maybe you would like to enter my giveaway for my dessert book
ciao
Alessandra
Inspired! I agree green tea is beautiful with a hint of vanilla.
This reminds me of walking through historical Echuca in country Victoria.
The green tea is a nice touch.
Matthew
You wind down at night by looking at fugitives??? It sounds like something so “Dexter”-ish to do! Good thing your post didn’t include pics of a big stash of knives or else I would have really been worried. LOL
Where do you find green tea powder?
Your recipes never cease to amaze me!! Wanted to let you know that I have awarded you with the Versatile Blogger Award. You can read about it here.
I’m getting better in the kitchen, and recently, for the first time ever, I did my own ‘Nigella’. After a particularly delicious pork roast with crackling and all the trimmings, I found myself heading to the fridge for a guilty snack after getting up to Miss 7 in the middle of the night. It was deliciously sinful … better not make a habit of it!
Maybe it has something to do with your love of Halloween? My late night guilty pleasure is small squares of Lidnt Dark 85% chocolate. So very yummy. I unwind with a book, but not thrillers.
Fudge definitely sounds better than scaring yourself silly! I like the way you whipped it up with what was in the cupboard.
That looks so yummy! And somehow, I’m not shocked that Miss-bleeding-brain-cupcakes-for-Hallowe’en finds AMW fascinating
Looks really yummy!! I know what you mean about watching America’s Most Wanted! I get paranoid just watching Criminal Intent!
that looks simple and yummy!! =)
glad to be back with internet =P
wow! green tea goodness! my late night guilty pleasure is anything with chocolate..
My late night guilty pleasure: online shopping and snickers bars lol.
*kisses* HH
Is it possible to cut down on the amount of sugar?
I love green tea flavor and will try this on Sunday as a sweet for my brunch. Have you made anything with pandan recently? Of course I’ll search the archives in a moment.
Somehow this fudge almost sounds healthy! Deceptive I know but looks delicious.
You are hilarious! And I can very much relate – me watching those weekly serial killer documentaries they have on Weds and then later snuggling in bed with a murder mystery book. Needless to say, the night always ends with my head tucked tightly under the blanket ha.
Anyhow, that fudge looks like a slab of pure bliss. How brilliant to sneak in that hit of green tea flavour (I’m a bit of a matcha obsessive) and as always, I’m always jumping for joy upon hearing of a “foolproof” recipe. Love it.
Ooh this sounds intriguing – & delicious! Loving the slant of your posts lately – very entertaining
This recipe rocks! Plus, you gave me a splendid idea as to what to do with all the white chocolate and matcha I have in my cupboard.
My personal late-night guilty pleasure involves re-reading my favorite novels: Banana Yoshimoto’s Kitchen, Marsha Mehran’s Ballinacroagh novels, and Joanne Harris’s tempting books.
Oooh – I’ve never seen fudge made with marshmallows before. And I just so happen to have a packet in the cupboard, and the Other Penguin who adores both vanilla and green tea. I think there’s a project earmarked for next weekend right there (it’ll make a change from all those brownies!)
Oh dear, that’s a horrid website… you should go to Cake Wrecks for a laugh instead!
If you’ve not seen “People of Walmart” website before I think you’ll find it as compelling as your crime site without the nightmares (although some of the people on there are well scary).
I have many guilty pleasures; Gregg’s sausage rolls with ketchup, Celine Dion, “Bergerac”, “The Wedding Date” with Debra Messing. Oh dear, that’s enough for now I think!!
Oops and I love the fudge too… can never resist buying seaside fudge or coconut ice when I get to go to the coast.
Fudge is a much sweeter occupation than browsing AMW.
Looks delicious!
fudge as a bad-dream-preventer, eh? i, for one, am more than willing to experiment.
Oh I’m so intrigued! Not much of a fudge eater, this flavour combination sounds really good! Not much of a America’s Most Wanted website trawler either, but now I kind of wish I was…
I loveeeeeee what happenned to ur late night activity!
SO wonderfully good!
I have a few things lined up , but sure wanna include this in!
Am happy for a NQN original:-)
I used to loveee night baking till i began blogging , the pic taking doesnt happen well at night , specially since i enjoy step by step pics!
And i have an earnest request to u too:-)
My blog has been nominated for best if Indian Food blog awards
there is a poll , right on FB
http://poll.fm/f/2mwyb
And u can also vote for me here at my site
Im 4th from Below or number 14 , Bright Morning Star! —http://brightmorningstarsfoodie.blogspot.com/
Beautifully-flavored fudge, Lorraine! I don’t think I’ve ever had vanilla paired with green tea, but I can imagine that it’s a match made in heaven! This sounds like the perfect late night indulgence.
I’m usually not a huge fan of fudge but I’d definitely try this! Love green tea!
Wunderbar!! Yum! Wow!
Was wondering though where I could buy Vanilla Paste as I’ve never seen this in my local supermarket?
I love fudge, it’s one of the few things I actually lick the bowl after making. This is a great flavour combo you have come up with
What a great merging of flavors. I’m not usually tempted by fudge but this is too good to miss!
That is funny. I had a dream about Michael Douglas and Baryshnikov the other night…anyway, that sounds like a great combination of flavors.
I’m going to make this this afternoon. I have noticed the recipe says cream and the method says milk. I will use the cream and hope it’s OK… can I just grind up some green tea leaves for the powder?
Hi Jodie, sorry that should have read cream in the method. Have fixed it!
Oooh what a lovely idea. I agree that vanilla elevates the taste of green tea, then again I’m slightly obsessive about my vanilla and over-vanilla lots of things.
This looks like a wonderful and simple fudge recipe. I have a habit of reading stories about serial killers. I love all the true crime shows. My boyfriend thinks it’s a bit strange though..
I love the sound of always works. Sounds delicious, nice flavour combinations.
it’s taken me ages to get hold of green tea powder. I made it just moments ago. Waiting for it to cool. What I scraped from the side of the pan is delicious!
Green tea and vanilla~sounds like a nice and interesting combination! I’ve never baked with green tea powder before but have seen it in some recipes, so will have to get around to using it myself.
Very interesting blog and recipes:)
2 Trackbacks/Pingbacks
[...] my second time making fudge so I wanted to use a tried and tested recipe. I used the wonderful NotQuiteNigella as she is one of my favourite bloggers and has a great selection of recipes. I didn’t mix [...]
[...] Green Tea Mousse Cake Alien’s Day Out: Green Tea Pinwheel cookies Not Quite Nigella: Easy Green Tea & Vanilla Fudge [...]
Post a Comment