Ribbon Cookies

2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1/4 cup finely chopped maraschino cherries, well drained
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 square (1 oz.) unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
1/3 cup finely chopped pecans
6 drops green food coloring

Line a 9"x5" or 8"x4" loaf pan with foil.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, butter, vanilla, and egg; blend until a stiff dough forms.

Divide the dough into three parts. Stir the cherries and almond extract into one part, the chocolate into the second, and the nuts and green food coloring into the third.

Spoon and evenly press (in any order) the chocolate, green/nut, and cherry doughs into the lined pan. Cover; chill several hours or overnight.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Remove the dough from the pan. Cut in half lengthwise. Cut each half into 1/4" slices. Place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 7 to 9 minutes until edges are slightly brown.

Cool on wire racks.

Fudge Ecstasies

1 (12-oz.) package semisweet chocolate chips
2 squares unsweetened chocolate
2 Tbls. butter
2/3 cups sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
Melt together 1 cup chocolate chips, unsweetened chocolate squares, and butter.

In a mixing bowl, beat melted chocolate, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Add flour, baking powder, and 1/8 tsp. salt. Beat until well blended.
Stir in remaining cup of chocolate chips.

Drop by heaping teaspoons onto a lightly greased cookie sheet (or cover cookie sheet with parchment paper.)

Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Edges should be firm and surface dull. Do not overbake.

Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute, remove to rack to continue cooling.

Makes 3 dozen

Childhood Thumbprint Cookies

This recipe came from Southern Living magazine, December 1985.

1 c. butter
2/3 c. sugar
2 egg yolks
1/2 t. vanilla extract
2 1/4 c. flour
1/2 t. salt

Cream butter; gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla.

Combine flour and salt; add to creamed mixture, mixing well. Chill.

Roll dough into 1" balls; place balls about 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Press thumb in each ball of dough, leaving an indentation. Bake at 300 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes; do not brown. Allow to cool on wire racks. Place about 1/2 t. chocolate frosting in each cookie indentation.

Chocolate Frosting:
1 c. sugar
1/4 c. cocoa
1/4 c. milk
1/4 c. butter
1/2 t. vanilla extract

Combine sugar, cocoa, and milk in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, and boil 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla. Beat until mixture is of spreading consistency.

Chocolate Ganache Frosting

1 (4 oz.) bittersweet chocolate bar
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup cream
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
2 tablespoons butter

Break up chocolate and put into a food processor with the cutting blade. Cut until it is coarsely ground. Add chocolate chips.

Heat cream, sugar, and corn syrup in a small saucepan over low heat until sugar melts.

Pour over chocolate in food processor. Process until smooth. Cut up butter and add to chocolate mixture. Process until it is mixed in.

Triple Fudge Cake from Fox41

Recipe Name: Triple Fudge Cake

Prep Time and Total Time: 5 min, 35 min in oven

Ingredient List and Recipe Steps:

Cook one package chocolate pudding according to directions.
Pour one dry chocolate cake mix into it, and mix well.
Put in 9x13 pan sprinkle top with chocolate chips {and nuts if desired}
Bake 350 for 30 min or tests done.
May combine any flavor pudding and cake mix, or may bake in 10x15 pan and cut into cookie bars

Servings: 12 generous pieces of cake

Comments: Easy to carry somewhere since no frosting to stick, nice and moist