FILLING:
6 tablespoons butter, cubed
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

GANACHE:
10 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
2/3 cup heavy whipping cream

In a large saucepan, cook the milk, butter and chocolate over low heat until melted. Remove from the heat; let stand for 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, beat eggs and vanilla; stir in chocolate mixture until smooth. Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into the mixture (batter will be thin). Transfer to three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 325° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

For filling, in a small saucepan, melt butter and chocolate. Stir in confectioners’ sugar and cream until smooth.

For ganache, place chocolate in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Cool, stirring occasionally, until ganache reaches a spreading consistency.

Set aside 1/2 cup filling for garnish. Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with half of the remaining filling. Repeat layers. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread ganache over top and sides of cake. Decorate with reserved filling. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 16 servings.

GLAZE (Optional):
1-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 to 4 teaspoons milk

In a large bowl, cream shortening and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and milk. Combine the flour, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in walnuts, apple and raisins.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 400° for 8-10 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Remove to wire racks.

In a small bowl, combine the confectioners’ sugar, butter, vanilla, salt and enough milk to achieve drizzling consistency. Drizzle over warm cookies. Yield: about 4 dozen.

In a bowl, cream the butter, sugar and egg until will blended. Add lemon juice and peel. Combine flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt; stir into creamed mixture. Add the chopped almonds. Cover and refrigerate the dough several hours or overnight.

Roll dough into 1 inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned (not brown on top).

Remove from oven and place immediately on wire racks to cool for about 5 minutes, then roll in powdered sugar. Makes about 3 dozen.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two loaf pans by spraying them with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of the flour, the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add mashed bananas, margaine or butter, and milk. Beat with an electric mixer on low setting until blended, then beat on high for 2 minutes. Add eggs and remaining 1 cup of flour, and beat until well blended. Stir in the walnuts.

Pour equal amounts of batter into the two loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted near the center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool on wire racks.

To make these up to one month ahead, simply bake the loaves and cool completely. Place each loaf in a freezer bag and freeze up to one month. Thaw for 1 hour at room temperature before slicing.