Cherry Coconut Chews

My mother’s two favorite foods are coconut and cherries. So for Valentine’s Day I made her a batch of these tasty cookies. Being a senior (with Alzheimer’s), she doesn’t bake anymore and enjoys these types of gifts.

1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1-1/4 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp soda
1-1/2 cups coconut
18 cherries (cut in half)

Cream margarine and sugars. Beat in egg and vanilla until fluffy. Mix flour with salt and soda; beat in a little at a time. Add coconut and beat till well blended. Roll into balls by teaspoonful. Place on unbaked cookie sheet. Press with bottom of a glass. Put cherry in centre. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes or until golden. Makes 3 dozen.

Hot Cross Bun Bread Pudding

4 hot cross buns, cubed

2 eggs

2 cups milk

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup sugar

Cool Whip

Spread cubed hot cross buns in lightly greased casserole dish.  Whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla and sugar.  Pour over cubed buns and pat down to coat.  Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until knife inserted in centre comes out clean.  Serve chilled topped with Cool Whip.  Serves 4.