Recipe of the Week..."Cherry Almond Bars"

Hi! This week's recipe is a new one that I tried out on my workshop attendees this past Saturday. (They are so kind to be my "new dish" test panel!! Thanks, ladies!!) This dessert received thumbs up from everyone, so I thought I'd share the recipe with you. I found it while looking through the new Gooseberry Patch Christmas 10th Anniversary book that I recently purchased...I love, love, love the Gooseberry Patch books! If you've never heard of or checked out the Gooseberry Patch, click on the button to link to their website and sign up for their WONDERFUL newsletter!

Click HERE  to order your very own copy of the Christmas Book 10, shown in the photo below, which is chocked full of fabulous recipes and crafting ideas:

Now for the recipe...

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup shortening (I used margarine, since that is what I had on hand)
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 - 21 oz. can cherry pie filling

METHOD:
Blend shortening and sugar together; add next 5 ingredients and mix well. Pour 3/4 of the batter into a greased 15" x 10" jellyroll pan. Spread cherry pie filling over the top. Dot with remaining batter and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until top is a golden color. Drizzle with Almond Glaze, (recipe below), while still warm. Cut into bars to serve.

Yield: About 3 dozen bars.

ALMOND GLAZE:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 - 3 Tablespoons milk

Stir all ingredients together until well blended.

Enjoy!!