Almond-Cherry Cake

1 c. softened butter
1 3/4 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1/2 t. almond extract (I think; I sort of forgot how much I actually put.)
2 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. almond meal/flour
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 can cherry pie filling

Chocolate chips (optional, but recommended)

Preheat oven to 350° F. In a bowl, cream butter and sugar; add eggs and beat well. Sift dry ingredients, except almond flour, in a separate bowl. Stir in almond flour. (The almond flour will get stuck in your sifter. Most of it will go through, but there will be larger pieces that do not. You can still try it if you wish--but consider yourself warned.) Add to egg mixture and beat until well-blended. (Dough is thick.) Spread half of the dough in a greased 9"x13" pan. Top with pie filling (and a sprinkling of chocolate chips); spread remaining dough over filling. (This step is difficult; I had to use two spoons and kind of stretch it over the filling.) Bake 45 minutes or until done. While cake is warm, spread with powdered sugar icing to form a glaze. (I mixed a drop or two of almond extract into my glaze.)

This cake was originally called "Cherry Slices." Adding almond flour and flavoring was my idea. If you don't like almond, but do like cherry, the original recipe calls for 3 c. flour and nothing almond at all. Also, the chocolate chips were my own addition--because, as we all know, everything is better with chocolate. =)

Super-easy Cream Cheese Bagel Spread

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

2 T. honey, or to taste

cinnamon (optional)

vanilla (optional)

Beat cream cheese with a fork until smooth. Blend in honey to taste. Add cinnamon or vanilla, if desired.

Spread on bagels, toast, crackers, fruit, or anything else with which it would be yummy. =) (Chocolate pancakes, anyone?)

Chocolate Pancakes

But of course! Why did I not think of this before???

It's as easy as adding cocoa powder (as much or as little as desired) to the dry part of your pancake recipe. Also you might want to add a little extra milk to compensate for the extra dryness.

Serve with syrup, peanut butter, honey, or whatever else you like to have with pancakes!