CHERRY ALMOND FUDGE

3 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cup butter

3/4 cup evaporated milk

3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow creme

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 jar (10 oz) maraschino cherries

1 teaspoon almond extract

1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds

Add the almond extract to the cherries in their juice and set aside. Toast the almonds in a 350 degree oven. Put them on an aluminum foil lined pan and check every 5 minutes, stir and go another 5 minutes until they are lightly browned. It could take another few minutes depending on your oven. Set aside to cool. Now drain the cherries, try to get as much of the liquid out as possible as this will make the fudge a little gooey where the cherries are. I cut my cherries in half and that helped, now for the fudge part.

I used a 11x7x1.5 inch glass pyrex pan lined with foil coming up over the edge so you can lift out the fudge after it cools, be sure to butter the foil so your fudge doesn't stick. You may use any pan around 9 or 10 inches. I think a 13 x 9 inch would be a bit big and make the fudge to thin. You want to use a heavy 3 quart sauce-pan for cooking the fudge. Melt the butter, add the sugar and milk, mix well. Now put on a medium heat and bring to a boil. Keep stirring or it might burn. If you have a candy thermometer it should reach 234 degrees and take off the heat, otherwise bring to a boil and boil for about 4 minutes now, take off the heat, mix in the chocolate and marshmallow creme this will take a few minutes. You want to make sure it is mixed really good. I add the chocolate first mix that in and then the marshmallow creme and mix that in. Add the cherries, vanilla and almonds when mixed good pour into prepared pan and let it cool. I store it in the refrigerator. (it gets a little hard so when I want to eat some I take a little out and let it sit at room temperature) It will make around 3 pounds of fudge and the time frame for preparing would be around 30-45 minutes. I always allow an hour just in case something doesn't go as planned. It is best if you don't have any inturptions when making candy it is a very sensitive thing to make and needs concentration. If you are in a humid climate you might have to adjust your cooking time and go a few degrees higher or boil for a couple extra minutes this is hard for me to say exactly because it really depends on you particular situation. If you make it a few times you can usually figure it out and if it fails it is still very good as a topping so you won't have to throw it out(unless you burn it)

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ENJOY

CARAMEL APPLE FRENCH TOAST

Apple Topping

4 gala apples peeled and cut into large cubes

4 tablespoos butter

4-6 tablespoons brown sugar

In a cast iron fry pan melt butter, add apples then brown sugar. (mix and toss until well blended) Heat should be between med low and med depending on your stove-top. I start out on medium and cook for a few minutes then turn it down to med-low and finish cooking. Stir every so often to make sure all apples cook and liquid reduces to a caramel like texture this will take around 20-30 minutes so I make this first and keep it warm while making the french toast. Be careful with the heat you do not want to burn the apples.

French Toast

4 slices cottage bread

2 cage free brown eggs

1/2 cup cream

1-3 Tablespoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Whiped cream for topping

Hot caramel for topping

beat the eggs with the cream then add sugar and vanilla mix well

dip bread into mixture and cook in a fry pan, I use cast iron coated with a equal parts butter and oil, but be careful not to burn the butter cook on both sides. Put on plate butter bread and sprinkle with powdered sugar, top with apples. Drizzle with hot caramel , top with whipped cream and drizzle with more hot caramel.

You can find the hot caramel in the ice cream section of the grocery store or you may make your own if you have time. I started making this recipe with a canned apple I found at Walmart but sometimes those products have a bit of an after taste(funny flavor) so this time I tried making my own apple topping and it was worth it ,the flavor was great. This is a cottage favorite and so far all guests seem to enjoy it. It is a very sweet breakfast item so you may want to add some bacon or sausage and hot coffee or orange juice to help balance the sweetness.

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PLEASE ENJOY