Cherry Bars

 Ingredients:
1 3/4 c. sugar                  
1 c. butter                     
1 t. vanilla                       
4 eggs                        
3 c. flour 
1 1/2 t. baking powder 
1 can of cherry pie filling   
 1 1/2 c. powder sugar
2 T. milk
1/2 t. almond extract
{powder sugar, milk, and almond extract make the glaze to go on top}

Press 1/2 of the batter in a jelly roll pan.  Place 1 can of cherry pie filling on top, then drop the rest of the batter by spoonfuls on top of the pie filling. Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes.  Glaze while bars are still hot. I also like to add cream cheese when I add the cherries, I just take chunks of cream cheese and flatten it with my fingers and randomly place it. But you don't have to do that! That's just the way we like them.

*Submitted by MaryJo Scott

Merry Cherry Christmas Fudge

*This recipe was submitted by Rosemarie Swallow

Cooking spray

36 maraschino cherries with stems

1 Package (12 oz) Semi Sweet chocolates morsels

6 -1 oz squares bittersweet baking chocolate chopped

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp maraschino cherry juice

1 cup chopped pecans

Melt chocolates in double boiler or in microwave (stirring every 30 seconds) until smooth. Add sweetened condensed milk and cherry juice to chocolate mixture. Then stir in chopped pecans. Lightly spray an 8 in square pan with cooking spray and spoon in chocolate mixture. Dry cherries with a paper towel and place them in chocolate with tops of cherries and stems still showing. Cover and chill until chocolate settles and becomes firm. Cut fudge into 36 pieces. Keep refrigerated in air tight container.