WINTER WHITE RED VELVET FUDGE - MICROWAVE METHOD

INGREDIENTS
3 cups sugar
¾ cup butter
⅔ cup half & half*
1 12-ounce bag white chocolate chips
1 7-ounce jar marshmallow creme**
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, about 6 ounces
3 tablespoons red food coloring (I use liquid)

INSTRUCTIONS
Spray a 9-inch square pan lightly with cooking spray, then line it with a double thickness of foil (this will make it much easier to lift out of the pan later) with ends of foil extending over sides. Spray lightly again and wipe out any excess spray with a paper towel.

Place semi-sweet chocolate chips and food coloring in a heat-safe bowl. Set aside.
Place butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Be sure to use a large bowl as the mixture will bubble up furiously while cooking. Also, make sure the bowl is made of a microwave-safe material, otherwise it will become very hot and you could burn yourself when removing it from the microwave. I use a large glass bowl. Cover with a paper towel to prevent spattering. Cook on high for 1½ minutes or until butter is melted.
Add sugar and half and half; mix well. Microwave on high power for 3 minutes, stir and cook another 2 minutes. Stir well. If butter seems to separate out of the mixture, don't worry, just keep stirring till it mixes back in. Scrape down sides of bowl and return to microwave. Microwave 3 more minutes, stir again, then finish with another 2½ minutes in the microwave.

Remove from microwave, add marshmallow creme and stir. Add white chocolate chips and vanilla. Stir until very smooth and all ingredients are well incorporated.
Immediately, transfer about ½ of the hot white chocolate mixture to the bowl you prepared in step 2. (The white chocolate mixture will be very hot and will melt the dark chocolate chips). Stir well with a strong handled spatula or wooden spoon until chocolate chips are completely melted and incorporated.

Working quickly, with two clean medium-size ice cream scoops or 2 tablespoons, plop scoops of each mixture in a random pattern into a prepared pan.

When complete, lift up pan and drop from about 1-inch above work surface. Repeat several times to remove any air bubbles. Jiggle pan to smooth surface then take a small knife, coated with a bit of butter and run the blade back and forth through the fudge to create the swirly effect. Use the blade, (like you're cutting something) not the flat part of the knife to do this. Check out the picture, see the pattern on the right? That's with the blade, on the left, I used the flat edge, not so pretty! Winter White Red Velvet Fudge - A delicious, beautiful fudge for any season; not just winter! Try it for your next party; or for fun gifts to give relatives, neighbors, and friends.

Cool completely. Use foil handles to lift fudge from pan before cutting into squares.