Classic Christmas Recipes Made Simple in the Microwave!

Thirty years ago, when my son was small and I seemed to have more hours in the day, the Christmas season included traditions like making fudge and helping my child decorate sugar cookies for the holidays.

Not only were these recipes good enough to make for the family, they were also delicious enough to give as gifts. I remember that, each year, we would receive a gift of a batch of delicious homemade peanut brittle from my brother-in-law. It was one of my favorite gifts.

Today, we not only struggle with finding the time to recreate those classic holiday recipes, but also with the guilt trip that comes from consuming recipes containing real butter and cups of sugar! The recipes below won't do anything to help you with that guilt trip, but they are quick and easy recipes that you can start and finish .... from pulling those bowls out of the cabinet to cleanup and hitting the dishwasher button ... in less than a half hour! If you don't have time to make these recipes ... well, you don't have time for the holidays!!

Microwave Fudge

1/2 cup of stick butter (I sometimes reduce this by a Tablespoon or two)
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup cocoa
1 - 1 lb. box of confectioners sugar
1/4 t. salt
1 T. vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts (if you like nuts in your fudge!)

In a microwave-proof bowl (at least 1-1/2 qt. size), blend together the sugar, milk, vanilla, salt and cocoa. There is not enough liquid to allow you to thoroughly blend these ingredients - just get them partially blended. Cut the butter into small pats and place them over the top of the mixed ingredients.

Put the bowl in the microwave and cook on High for 2 minutes. Take bowl out of microwave and immediately start vigorously stirring the ingredients until well blended and smooth. Don't worry if some of the butter has not yet melted - it will as you stir the ingredients together.

If you want to add nuts, now is the time to stir them into the mixture. Then pour the mixture into a wax-paper lined dish (I usually use an 8x4 pan), and put in the refrigerator for at least an hour before cutting into squares.