Today is not just Cyber Monday, it’s Green Gift Monday too.  I’m so happy to be joining the good folks at the Nature Conservancy to celebrate Green Gift Monday by making some green gifts for some of my favorite friends.

I’m making Chocolate Fudge Sauce to give in Mason Jars.

Oh, how I love Mason Jars- useful, reusable, and charming.  They were green before green was cool.

Here’s how I’m making my gifts:

You’ll need Mason Jars:  This recipe makes about 1 – 1/2 cups or 3 half pints.  Most of the gifts I’m giving today are going into half pint wide mouth jars.  I’m also making a few pints jars full, like the one I’m sharing here.

For the hot fudge sauce you’ll need:

Hot Fudge Sauce

1/2 cup of butter (1 cube)

1 cup of good quality semisweet chocolate chips

1 (12 ounce) can of evaporated milk

2 cups of powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)

In a double boiler over medium melt the butter and chocolate chips, whisking constantly until combined.  Whisk in the evaporated milk and powdered sugar and bring to a boil, stirring often, for 8 minutes.

Remove from heat and add vanilla if desired.  Store in a glass container in the refrigerator.   Keeps for several weeks.

Here’s the step by step:

Add the chocolate chips and butter into your double boiler.

Yes I am a trouble maker and a rule breaker.  I am not patient enough for the double boiler, and I have a lot of hot fudge to make.  I make it right in my sauce pan, BUT  I do not leave the stove, and I have a good stainless steel pan and gas burners, so I can turn it down if things are too hot.

When the butter and chocolate chips are melted and combined, stir in the evaporated milk…

and then whisk in the powdered sugar.

Bring it all to a boil over medium to medium-high heat and cook for 8 minutes, stirring often.  The sauce will start to thicken.  Remove from the heat and add vanilla if desired.

My mason jar and twine is waiting.  Don’t you just love candy cane baker’s twine?

Pour into your mason jars and allow to cool before putting on the lids.

While the chocolate is cooling, I cut the fabric with my pinking scissors.  I cut a 7 inch square for a wide mouth canning jar.  It could be a little bigger, but I’m always trying to waste not.  7 inches is enough.

Here’s one of my favorite tips.  Have you ever tried to add fabric to the top of a mason jar.  One day while I was having the fabric slip around as I was tying the ribbon, I had a brainwave to use a rubber band to hold the fabric in place.

As soon as the ribbon or twine is in place, I slip the rubber band off.  (Just don’t cover it with the ribbon.)

Tie it on with a little tag and a bit of twine… and you have a very lovely gift: homemade, delicious and green.

Are you making any wonderful green gifts this season?

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