When I make this quick bread, I usually substitute dried cherries for the maraschino cherries. I would thoroughly drain some of those cherries use them instead. I also like Linda's idea of serving them on pound cake or on hot milk sponge cake. CHERRY-APPLE NUT BREAD 1/3 cup softened butter or margarine 2/3 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 cup applesauce 1/4 cup milk (skim is OK) 2 cups flour 1 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 Tbs. grated lemon rind 2/3 cup chopped walnuts 1/3 cup whole maraschino cherries Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Add applesauce and milk and mix. (Mixture will look curdled but donâÂÂt worry.) In a separate bowl, mix flour and all other ingredients except nuts & cherries. Add flour mixture to egg mixture and stir only until blended. Sir in nuts and cherries. Pour into greased 9 X 5 X 3 loaf pan and bake in preheated 350 degree oven for one hour or until it tests done. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes, then turn out onto rack and cool thoroughly before slicing. Store tightly wrapped in refrigerator. OK to freeze. Yield: 1 large loaf. Note: Can be baked in mini-loaf pans. Just adjust baking time.

chi, I make them for Amanda every year and I don't add brandy at all. I sometimes use my home canned brandied cherries and sometimes I just use maraschino cherries with no alcohol. It still comes out fine and is Amanda's favorite holiday treat. If I had to choose, I'd go with the Irish Cream or the southern Comfort, although I think Amaretto would be good if you have some. The almond and cherry mixture is something I like. Oh, and I don't always have butterscotch chips so sometimes I do them all chocolate. Still good! Annie

Scones (Raspberry, Blueberry, Fresh Currants,etc..) =================================================== 2 1/4 cups flour 1/2 cup sugar 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 6 Tbsp. cold butter 1 cup heavy cream 3/4 cup fresh raspberries extra cream and sugar . Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut butter into mixture with pastry blender until it resembles a course meal. Add cream and raspberries to dry ingredients. Mix lightly with fork until mixture forms a stiff dough. Knead on floured board just to incorporate all flour; try not to damage berries. Roll into 7-inch round and cut into 6 or 8 wedges. Place 1 inch apart on greased baking sheet; brush tops with cream and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes. Note: When adding fruit to the scone mixture, make sure the raspberries or blueberries are frozen. Otherwise you end up with crushed fruit. Still tastes as good, but not as pretty. I usually add the cream and when the dough has almost come together I add the frozen fruit. If you are adding Chocolate you can add it along with the cream. AnnT Rita

Awwww....feelin' the love!!!! Thanks, ladies! I'm still alive ;) The kids are all well and getting big! Two grandchildren now, and three kids in college. Mackenzie (remember when Bob died, she was 6???) is now in 8th grade. She will be in high school next year! Crazy. Track me down on fb if any of you are on it. I spread the chocolate out and made fudge with it. It's sitting in the freezer for a bit (with no coconut. I'm allergic, so nobody gets it. haha) Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!