Five Minute Fudge
(Recipe adapted from Rachael Ray's appearance on "Oprah and Rachael Ray Throw a Holiday Party". Makes 2 pounds)

12 oz semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips
14 oz sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup pecans, more for topping
softened butter to grease pan

1. Grease a 9" X 9" pan with a single pat of butter. Just put the glass 9by9 pan in the microwave and nuke it with the butter in the pan for 20 seconds, then use your rubber spatula to smear the butter around. Then your spatula is buttered for leveling out the fudge.

2. Pour the chocolate and butterscotch chips, condensed milk and vanilla into a medium saucepan. Put the pan on the stove and turn the heat to low.

3. Stir the chips and milk until they melt together, about 3 minutes. Stir in nuts. Scoop the fudge into the pan and level the top with the buttered spatula.

4. Put the fudge in the fridge and chill until firm (about an hour...maybe more). Loosen the sides and bottom of the fudge with a spatula. Keep a glass of ice water handy to dip the knife (and dry it!) between slices. Cut the fudge into small squares to serve.

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Variations:

White Chocolate with Pistachio and Cranberry
Substitute the chocolate chips with white chocolate chips, 1-12 ounce bag plus 1 cup.
Substitute 1 to 1½ cups of shelled natural pistachio nuts for pecans.
Add ½ cup dried sweetened cranberries.

Chocolate Mint Fudge
Swap butterscotch for mint chips

Chocolate peanut butter Fudge
Swap butterscotch for peanut butter/milk chocolate swirl chips

Cherry fudge
Swap chocolate chips for white chocolate
Swap butterscotch chips for cherry chips

Mint fudge
Swap chocolate chips for white chocolate
Swap butterscotch chips for mint chips

Goober and Raisinette Fudge
Swap butterscotch for peanut butter chips
Swap large whole peanuts for pecans
Add ½ cup large raisins