Chocolate-Covered Cherries

Chocolate covered cherries are a delicious gift to give your sweetheart for Valentine's day. This simple recipe allows you to make them yourself.

Ingredients:

Filling:

• maraschino cherries
• 1/3 cup butter
• 2 cups marshmallow creme
• 1 tsp. almond extract
• dash salt
• 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Chocolate Coating:

• 1 small pkg. chocolate chips
• 1/16 lb. paraffin

Directions:

1. Drain maraschino cherries about 1 hour before covering.
2. Mix remaining filling ingredients in a bowl and place in refrigerator until firm. If mixture is sticky; add powdered sugar.
3. Melt coating ingredients over double boiler and keep over water while dipping. Once firm, remove filling from refrigerator. Make a small patty, place a maraschino cherry in the center, and roll into a ball. Chill until firm.
4. Dip covered cherries in chocolate, using a toothpick.

Note: Paraffin wax comes in 1 lb. package. Each pound has 4 (1/4 lb.) pieces. Use 1/4 of 1 section. It is also very flammable and can cause burns if it gets on your skin.

Servings: Makes about 24 covered cherries