Cream Cheese and Nut Fudge

2 hours to set. Serves many

Ingredients:

2 packages (3 oz.) cream cheese, softened
2 teaspoons cold milk
4 cups confectioner's sugar
4 squares (4 oz.) unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
dash of salt
1 1/2 cups peanuts, chopped

Directions:
 
Beat cream cheese and milk until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, then blend in the melted chocolate. Stir in the rest of ingredients. Press into a lightly greased pan. Chill until firm and then cut into squares.

Notes:

I am not excited by peanuts. I wonder what pecans or almonds would taste like here?

source: Creative Homemaking

Amanda's Applesauce Loaf Master Mix

Ingredients:

2 cups shortening
4 cups sugar
7 cups flour
4 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions:

In a very large bowl combine all dry ingredients and mix together well with a fork or whisk. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender, or use two butter knives, scissor style. A wire whisk also works well and is easier on the arm muscles than knives are. When shortening is completely cut in, mixture will have a crumbly texture. Be sure to turn the mixture so that entire batch is mixed completely. Store in a tightly covered container for up to 4 months. Makes enough for 4 loaves, approximately 13 1/2 cups. Feel free to double this recipe if your family enjoys it as much as mine, but you will need two large mixing bowls.

To Prepare

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour (not cooking spray) a loaf pan. In a large bowl with spoon, mix together 3 1/3 cups of master mix with 2 eggs and 1 cup applesauce. Mix together thoroughly. Add 1/2 cup nuts if desired and mix thoroughly. Pour into loaf pan and bake for 40-50 minutes, or until top crests and loaf is a dark golden brown.

For muffins: Grease and flour muffin tins, or line with paper muffin cups. Fill tins 3/4 full and bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes or until light golden brown.

As a Gift

This mix makes a wonderful gift. Use an ordinary jelly jar, washed and dried, a dried apple, two short cinnamon sticks, some raffia, and a bit of twisted paper to decorate the lid. Untwist the twisted paper and hot glue to the lid, trim excess. Glue cinnamon sticks together, crossing each other slightly, and tie with a bit of raffia. Glue sticks to the apple and glue the apple to the lid.

Using a print program such as Print Artist or Print Shop Deluxe, create a fun label for your gift jar with instructions for the master mix. Put 1/2 cup of chopped pecans in a sandwich bag and tie with raffia. Print out the Applesauce Loaf recipe or the master mix recipe on an index card and attach a small raffia bow to the upper left hand corner.

Reference Recipe: Applesauce Loaf

source: Amanda Formaro - Family Corner