Here is the recipe I have for Chocolate Covered Cherry cookies that Jo requested. Polly, I think the recipe I have came out of a magazine several years ago. I have it cut out and taped to an old recipe card. Lots of signs of use on this one and I can vouch for the yummy taste.
Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies (for these fudgy treats, you spread the frosting on the cookie before baking, just be sure to use real chocolate and not imitation, as the not-so-real product won't bake properly)
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
48 undrained maraschino cherries, about a 10 oz. jar
1 6 oz. package semisweet chocolate pieces
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
In a mixing bowl combine flour and cocoa, set aside. In a large mixing bowl beat the butter with an electric mixer about 30 seconds until softened. Add sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Beat until well combined and add egg and vanilla. Gradually beat in the flour mixture.
Shape dough into 1 inch balls, place on ungreased cookie sheet. Press down center of each ball with thumb. Drain the maraschino cherries, reserving juice. Place a cherry in the center of each cookie. In a small saucepan combine the chocolate pieces and the sweetened condensed milk and heat till the chocolate is melted. Stir in 4 teaspoons of the reserved cherry juice.
Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the frosting over each cherry on the cookies, spreading to cover the cherry.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until done. Makes 48 cookies. Enjoy!