Apple Cheddar Bread

Makes about 4 mini loaves (2" x 4") or 1 large (5"x 9")

1/4 C butter
2/3 C sugar
2 eggs
1/4 C applesauce
2 apples, chopped
1/2 C grated cheddar cheese
1/2 C walnuts (optional)
2 C flour
1 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add applesauce and mix well. Gently stir in apples, cheese and walnuts. Combine remaining ingredients in a separate bowl. Slowly add dry ingredients to rest of batter and stir just until moistened.

Pour into greased loaf pans. If using smaller pans, I find it helpful to use a very large cookie scoop.

Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes our clean, 25 minutes or so for smaller loaves, and 50 minutes for a large loaf. Cool in pans 1 or 2 minutes before removing to cooling rack.

Mocha Nut Cookies

This recipe is a real winner. It was a good thing I doubled it for a party, or they would have all been gone in a flash!
Makes about 5 dozen

1 C butter, softened
1/2 C sugar
2 t vanilla
1 3/4 C flour
1/3 baking cocoa
2 T instant coffee granules
1 C finely chopped walnuts
powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

In mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, coffee, cocoa, flour one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in walnuts. Dough will be stiff.

Drop rounded 1 inch balls 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. A small cookie scoop works really well.

Bake for about 14 minutes or until set. Cool on pans for a couple minutes before removing to wire racks.

Optional:
While still warm, roll cookies in powdered sugar.