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As they used to say in Grandma's day, Sweetened Condensed Milk is a magical ingredient that can do all sorts of tricks. For example, just one trick with a can of Sweetened Condensed milk can give you caramel pudding, caramel sauce or a range of delicious caramel desserts.

To work this trick, once you had to put the unopened tin in a saucepan, cover it with water, and boil it for three hours, topping with water to make sure the tin stayed submerged. There is a danger of the tin exploding so it is advised to punch a small hole in the top.

But these days, there is a new magic called the microwave. Of course, you must never put the can in the microwave! How you work this magic in the microwave is to transfer the contents of the can to a microwave safe bowl, and cook on high three minutes at a time until the mixture caramelizes. You can keep the mixture in a plastic lidded container in the fridge.

Whether you boil or microwave, what you end up with is the thickest, richest, most delicious caramel cream you can imagine. Just as it is, the caramel can be spooned over ice cream, or fresh fruit, or warmed and poured for hot caramel sauce. You can add it to coffee for a caramel latte, or to custard for caramel custard. In fact, you can use it anywhere you want a caramel flavor, in cakes, rice pudding, or cookies.

But there are also other tricks you can learn with a can of Sweetened Condensed Milk that don't involve boiling it for three hours. To make a quick and easy chocolate fudge sauce, just pour the contents of one small can and a block of dark chocolate broken into pieces into the top of a double boiler. Put water in the lower half of the double boiler and bring to the boil. Pop the top part on and melt the chocolate and milk together. Voila! A rich and creamy chocolate sauce - or you can just cut to the chase and microwave the ingredients together for a few minutes.

You can also use this sauce after letting it cool and thicken to frost a cake, or add a teaspoon of rich dark coffee to a a tablespoon of hot water and blend it into the chocolate mixture for a delicious Mocha Chocolate flavor. Mix several large marshmallows with the milk in the double boiler or microwave, and beat in one and a half cups of icing sugar when the marshmallows are melted, and you will have marshmallow frosting.

For cold days, Sweetened Condensed Milk makes a thick eggnog that can be enjoyed b y the fire. Put two tablespoons from the can into a blender with half a cup of water and an egg. Blend together until thick and fluffy, pour into an eggnog glass an top with grated nutmeg. For a hot chocolate drink, just add two tablespoons of your chocolate sauce to a cup of hot water, and flavor it with vanilla, chili or anything you like.

But your tin of Sweetened Condensed Milk can do tricks with savory food too. Try melting the contents of a tin together with some grated or cream cheese. Add some pepper and salt and you have a delicious cheese sauce or spread. Or try this simple mayonnaise recipe - in a blender, combine half a cup of Sweetened Condensed Milk, one quarter cup of lemon juice, one quarter cup olive oil, one egg yolk, a pinch of salt, and one teaspoon of mustard. Whizz together, pour into a serving jug and chill before use.

All of these recipes can be made with regular Sweetened Condensed Milk in 395g (14 oz) cans available from the supermarkt. If the high fat content of the regular can is an issue, you can get a skim milk version, which can be used in all the above recipes instead.

Learn more about this author, Gail Kavanagh.
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