Deserts, they are rich, gooey, sticky, sweet and taste so good.  Sure if we over indulge we can put on a few extra pounds, but it is the holidays.  Many candies and deserts often call for one of two products condensed or evaporated milk.  Nestles feels it is necessary to add Carrageenean to condensed milk.  Eagle brand condensed milk using a smarter approach knows you can make condensed milk with sugar and milk and without the need for harmful chemicals.  PET brand evaporated milk is also free of harmful chemicals.  Three big companies and only two really care about their customers.  Sure the chemicals like Carrageenan allow the Nestles company to make a cheaper product, but they don’t pass the savings on to the customer and quite frankly who wants to save a few pennies to poison their families.  Thanks PET and Eagle Brand for caring more about your customer than excessive profits.  Buy from these two healthy choices and let Nestles swim in lackluster sales.  When making your holiday treats this holiday choose healthy products, don’t count on brand names alone for quality read the labels.

If you have an hour to spare and need condensed milk here is how to make it.

3 cups of milk
2 1/4 cups of sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Simmer ingredients (do not boil) for one hour while stirring occasionally.  It will darken slightly turning a light tan.  Make sure you stir the bottom ingredients in the pan to avoid sticking.

Evaporated milk has 60% of its water content removed, simmer milk (do not boil) until it reduces by at least 50% and you have evaporated milk.  Smaller amounts of milk in wider pans evaporate more quickly since there is more surface area.  Consider a skillet for the evaporation process and how much milk you need for the recipe.  Double the quantity of milk you start with and end with what you need.

Either product can be made on the back burner while you are doing other things in the kitchen, just make sure they simmer and do not boil.  Remember stir occassionally.

It is easy enough to make either product, but they are in-expensive to buy and save a great deal of time.  It is still nice to know the chemistry behind the product, just in case you are out of the product and the stores are closed.  Note, Carrageenan is not a natural ingredient in either product and is an unnecessary and harmful chemical.