Black-eyed Susans

A great pressed cookie! Beautiful when flower or star-shaped, though I recently used heart-shaped cookies and chocolates for Valentine's Day.

• 1 stick butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 tablespoons warm water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 50-60 Hershey's kisses
  

Cream butter and sugars. Beat in egg, then water and vanilla. Beat in peanut butter. Combine dry ingredients, then stir into batter. Using star- or flower-shaped disc, press cookies ont baking sheet. Bake 8 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven and immediately press unwrapped chocolate into center. Cool thoroughly.

Cranberry Fudge Cake

Want to make something delicious out of that 85% of a can of cranberry sauce left over after the holiday meal? Try this cake; it's wonderful!

• 2/3 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 oz. unsweetened chocolate
• 1 cup cranberry sauce (whole berry or jellied)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Melt chocolates and butter together in microwave, beat with wire whisk until smooth. Beat in sugar and cranberry sauce, followed by eggs and vanilla. Mix flour and baking powder, stir into batter. Bake in greased and floured springform pan at 325 for 40 minutes. Chill.

Glaze

• 1/4 cup whipping cream
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup jellied cranberry sauce

Melt chocolate chips with cream in microwave, whisk in cranberry sauce. Remove side of cake pan and pour glaze over all, allowing some to drip down sides. Refrigerate to harden glaze.

Chocolate Cut-out Cookies

An easy dough to work with that keeps it shape when baking. I just made a bunch of squirrel-shaped ones (the squirrel is our school mascot) for a Valentine's bake sale.

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
  
• 1 cup sugar
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
  
• 2 cups flour
  
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
• 1/2 cup cocoa
  

Beat butter and sugar together until fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients, add gradually to butter mixture. Divide dough into two balls and chill 30 minutes.

Working with half of dough at a time, roll to 1/8 inch thickness and cut with cookie cutters. Place on greased cookie sheets and sprinkle if desired. Bake at 375 for 8 minutes.