The milky way

Jean Fisher, a reader from Milo, writes, “With a lot of recipes calling for sweetened condensed milk at this time of year, I thought I’d better tell you how people can make their own very easily [for] 1/4 of the price of a 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk.”

Fisher’s recipe, which she’s used for 55 years, should be prepared a day ahead. To make the sweetened condensed milk substitute, combine ? cup boiling water, ? cup sugar and 3 tablespoons butter or oleo. Add 1 cup nonfat instant dry milk powder. Mix by hand or with an electric mixer. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Grape escape

The 12th annual Saab Boston Wine Festival kicks off Jan. 12 with an opening reception at the Boston Harbor Hotel, where wine lovers can preview 50 wines that will be showcased during the 13-week-long festival. Highlights of the event include the Quarterly Review of Wines, the Best of the Best Dinner on Jan. 25, a rare and fine wines auction with Stephen Mould of Sotheby’s London on Feb. 24, the Tour of Bordeaux Dinner with Sandy Block, and the Wine Seminar Weekend from March 23 to 25. For information or a brochure with complete listings and event dates, call the Boston Harbor Hotel at (617) 439-7000 or visit www.bhh.com.

Wine weekend

If you can’t make it to the Wine Festival events, try the 10th annual Boston Wine Expo, Jan. 20-21, at the World Trade Center and Seaport Hotel. The event, which is the largest in the country, will feature more than 1,800 wines from 450 international and domestic wineries. In addition to tastings, there will be a presentation by wine expert Oz Clarke, a vintner’s dinner showcasing Australian wines, Sunday brunch, wine and food pairing seminars, a food pavilion, celebrity chef presentations and a cigar smokers’ lounge. One-day tickets cost $60 in advance and $70 at the door. Weekend tickets cost $82 in advance or $92 at the door. A portion of the proceeds will benefit New England Medical Center’s summer camp program for children with disabilities. If you go to the expo, plan to leave the kids at home – no one under 21, including infants and young children, will be admitted. The event will be held in conjunction with the Anthony Spinazzola Foundation Gala Festival of Food and Wine, which will take place at the World Trade Center on Friday, Jan. 19. For information, call (877) 946-3976.