Valentine Very Cherry Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:

    * 1 cup butter or margarine
    * 2 egg yolks
    * 1/2 teaspoon salt
    * 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
    * 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
    * 2 teaspoons almond extract
    * 36 drained maraschino cherries
    * coconut flakes
    * tinted butter icing

Directions:

Blend together the butter, egg yolks, vanilla, salt, confectioners' sugar and flour. Take small amount of dough in hand , flatted out and wrap around drained cherry. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees F) until golden brown (about 10 minutes). Cool and dip in tinted butter icing. Roll in coconut flakes.

Cherry French Toast

Ingredients:

    * 1 1/2 cup milk
    * 6 eggs
    * 1/8 cup maple syrup
    * 3 tablespoons sugar, divided
    * 1 tablespoon grated orange peel
    * 1/2 teaspoon salt
    * 8 slices (4 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 1/2-inch) French bread
    * 4 cups pitted Northwest fresh sweet cherries, halved
    * 1/2 cup orange juice
    * Vanilla yogurt

Directions:

Combine the milk, eggs, maple syrup, 2 tablespoons sugar, orange peel and salt; mix well.

Pour half of mixture into each of two 9-inch square baking dishes. Dip both sides of each slice of bread in milk mixture; arrange in the same baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Marinate the cherries in orange juice and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar overnight.

Carefully transfer slices to a nonstick, buttered baking sheet using a large spatula; allow excess liquid to drip into pan used for soaking. Bake in a pre- heated 400F oven 15 to 18 minutes; turn slices over halfway through baking time. Top each slice with 1/2 cup cherries and a dollop of vanilla yogurt. Serve immediately.