50+ Lifestyles

Apricot Pecan Delights

• Dried Apricot halves
• Cream cheese

Arrange desired number of apricot halves on serving dish. Spread a small amount of cream cheese on each apricot half. Now place a pecan half on top and gently press down. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy these little bites.

Japanese Rice Cake Bites

I found this unusual package of Japanese rice crackers at HyVee in the Asian Food aisle. The crackers are bite sized and flavored.

• Rice crackers
• Cream cheese
• Olives, halved or sliced (I used the green olives, but ripe would also work. Or any other garnish you want to use.)

Arrange the cakes on serving tray. Spread a small amount of cream cheese on top, add the olives (or other garnish) and gently press down.

Refrigerate until ready to serve. Bon appetite.

Bourbon Balls – a no bake cookie

• 22 Vanilla wafers, crushed
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2/3 cup finely chopped almonds (or other nuts)
• 1/4 cup candied cherries, chopped
• 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Mix together and set aside.

• 3 Tablespoons bourbon
• 1 Tablespoon water
• 1 1/2 teaspoons light corn syrup

Mix together until well blended.

Add to dry mix and stir well. Chill for thirty minutes, then form into 1 inch balls. Place in airtight container.

When ready to serve, roll each ball in a small amount of powdered sugar.

Oh, the possibilities of variations. Use your imagination or what you have in your pantry. This recipe called for candied cherries. According to some cookbooks and online sources, candied cherries and Maraschino cherries are not the same. I couldn’t find candied cherries so I bought dried candied strawberries. The lady that shared this recipe with me told me she does use the Maraschino cherries. But any dried, candied fruit would work. How about craisins and use a cranberry liqueur rather than the bourbon? Or try candied ginger and an orange flavored liqueur. Try raisins and a rum mixture. There are so many possibilities with this no bake recipe.

Mom’s Easy Coffee Cake

• 1/2 C. butter
• 1 C. sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 C. sour cream
• 2 1/4 C. flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda

Mix all ingredients together and pour into greased and lightly floured Bundt pan. Sprinkle top with cinnamon and sugar. Bake at 350° for approximately 45 minutes. After removing cake from pan, invert onto a plate so that cinnamon and sugar are on top.