Sarasota's Simple Eagle Brand Fudge

I can't take any credit for this, and I'm sure this recipe has been made over and over, but, I always like to pass it on. At work, I used to take batches in every Christmas, and I was surprised to see how many people had never tried this simple recipe. For those who know me on Zaar, they know I DON'T like to bake and don't unless I have to. I'll bake cookies or a pie at Christmas, and I do bake these "TWO" cakes; rum and eggnog, and beer bread, but that is about the extent of it. Don't get me wrong, I can when I have to ... I just would rather cook. So I have been making this fudge for some 25 years. A simple mix of Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk and Morsels (any flavor). So, below is the basic recipe and some of my favorites. The best part is ... have fun with flavorings and added ingredients (extracts or liquors and dried fruits, nuts, coconut, etc). A quick 3 minutes in the microwave and then poured in a square 8x8 pan lined with foil or parchment and let cool. The easiest fudge around.

• Ready In: 20 mins
• Serves: 12
• Yields: 36 Bite Size Pieces

Ingredients

• Basic Fudge

• 3  cups baking chocolate (Nestle or any brand of flavored morsels. It can be peanut butter, butterscotch, white chocolate, dar)
• 1 (14 ounce) can  eagle brand sweetened condensed milk
• 1⁄8 teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract (but you don't have to just use vanilla, add any flavor you like)

• Options

•  extract (Not just vanilla, such as, mint, peppermint, fruit flavors, almond, you can also use liquors such as)
•  nuts
•  candy cane, pieces
•  marshmallows
•  candied fruit
•  toffee pieces
•  cookie, pieces
•  candy bar, pieces
•  fruit preserves (not jam or jellie)

Directions

1. Fudge -- First, line a 8x8" pan with either wax paper, parchment paper or foil (bottom and the sides). I happen to prefer parchment paper if possible.
2. Microwave -- Add the Eagle Brand, flavored morsels on medium heat in the microwave for 3-6 minutes (the size bowl and your microwave can affect the cooking times). Half way through I stir and then continue cooking until creamy and smooth.
3. Flavor -- Remove from the microwave and add in the flavoring and any other additions such as nuts or dried fruits, etc. Anything you want. Stir to combine.
4. Add to your pan. At this point you can add some additional nuts or toppings it you want. Cover with plastic and cool in the refrigerator about 1 hour. Remove from the pan by just turning it over, it will come right out, pull off the foil, parchment paper or wax paper, and cut into squares. You can let it cool right on the counter, but I like to chill mine before cutting, it just makes it a bit easier.
5. Favorites -- 1) Dark chocolate, vanilla flavor, walnuts; 2) White chocolate, amaretto flavor, almonds; 3) A layer of milk chocolate (1/2 recipe), vanilla flavor, a layer of peanut butter fudge (1/2 recipe) with 1/2 cup strawberry preserves and peanuts; 4) Milk chocolate, vanilla flavor, marshmallow cream, peanuts; 5) White chocolate, almond flavor, dried cherries; 6) Milk chocolate, peppermint flavor, mint chocolate cookies, walnuts; 7) Butterscotch, vanilla flavor, pecans; 8) White chocolate, mint flavor, candy cane pieces; 9) Mint chocolate, hazelnut flavor, white morsels to swirl in, hazelnuts; 10) White chocolate, almond flavor, PayDay candy bar crunched up; 11) White chocolate, rapsberry liquor, raspberry preserves, walnuts; 12) Dark chocolate, orange preserves, amaretto flavor, pecans.
6. You get the idea. HAVE FUN!