Christmas Bars

 

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon almond extract,BR> 1/4 cup red maraschino cherries, finely chopped and well drained
1/4 cup green maraschino cherries, finely chopped and well drained
red and green maraschino cherries (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, brown sugar and butter or margarine in large mixing bowl; beat with electric mixer on low speed until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in nuts. Reserve 1 cup of nut mixture for topping. Press remaining nut mixture into bottom of ungreased 8-by-8-by-2-inch baking pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light brown.

For filling, combine cream cheese, egg, granulated sugar, milk, lemon juice, vanilla and almond extract. Beat until smooth. Stir in chopped red and green cherries. Pour filling over partially baked crust. Sprinkle with reserved nut mixture.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until light brown and set. Cool in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars. If desired, decorate each piece with red and green maraschino cherries. Store in refrigerator. Makes 24 bars.

-From the kitchen of Nancy Moats of Greencastle, Pa.