The holiday season is a time when many American Profile readers pull out all the stops in planning the confections they'll serve their friends and family. This week, American Profile presents a few of our favoritesfrom readers in Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsinthat are ideal for capping off a holiday meal.
Perry Schwartz of Cornersville, Tenn., sent us his recipe for Chocolate Fudge Pie. "I used to be an executive chef at a country club in Nashville, Tenn. When the board of directors asked me to come up with some signature desserts, I developed this fudge pie recipe." While Schwartz's recipe called for making a cookie crumb crust, we simplified it a bit for busy cooks by using purchased deep-dish piecrusts.
The Cranberry Orange Pecan Pie, sent in by Irene Radke, makes a pretty and tasty dessert. "My husband's favorite pie is pecan pie, but it was always a little too rich for me. One day when I was making cranberry relish, I experimented with the cranberry and orange rind, and it came out great," says the resident of Bayfield, Wis.
Billie Rogers, of Durant, Okla., received a recipe for Prune Cake from her mother after she married in 1958. "I still have the copy in her handwriting, although it is now in four pieces. When I get the recipe out, it brings back wonderful memories of my mother. I call it 'Holiday Cake,' because when my children were younger, they would not eat Prune Cake."
What could be better than a rich and creamy cheesecake for the holidays? The recipe for Chocolate Cheesecake, sent in by Bonnie Rickenbaugh of Sturtevant, Wis., is easy to make. "I have been asked to make it for many occasions. I like to make it because I usually have all the ingredients on hand. I especially like to serve it for guests, because this is a dessert that is meant to be shared," Rickenbaugh says.
Marjorie Reif sent us a recipe from her childhood: Mincemeat Bars. "A favorite of our family all these years, this recipe was from my mother. It always brings back happy memories of Christmas and our family of three children. We lived through the Depression but never felt depressed with goodies like this," says the resident of Spearfish, S.D.
