• 250 g softened butter
• 75g cream cheese, softened
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 c caster sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla essence
• Few drops of almond essence to taste
• 2 ¾ c flour
• Almonds to decorate

Preheat the oven to 180 C.  Cream the butter and cream cheese.  Beat in the egg yolk and gradually add in the sugar beating well.  Add the essence.

Sift the flour and fold in the flour to form a soft dough.  Refrigerate for about 10 minutes and then place walnut size balls on the oven tray, pressing an almond into the top of each one.

The dough can also be formed into logs, wrapped in cling film and refrigerated for about an hour.  Then brush the outside of the log with egg white and roll in slivered almonds before cutting into rounds.

Bake for about 10-12 mins or until the biscuits are just starting to brown around the edges.

Dust with icing sugar if desired, make a cuppa and flick through your favourite quilt magazine.

• 600 g diced prunes
• 1 c glace cherries
• ½ c blanched almonds
• ¼ c brazil nuts
• 1 c brown sugar
• 125 g butter
• ½ c brandy
• ¾ c water
• 2 lightly beaten eggs
• ¾ c plain flour
• ¾ c self-raising flour
• 2 tsp mixed spice

Grease and line a 20 cm round tin.  In a saucepan combine the plus, cherries, sugar, butter, brandy and water.

Over a medium heat stir until the butter is melted.  Cool.

Combine the flours and mixed spice in a large bowl and stir in the fruit and eggs until just combined.

Spoon into prepared tin and bake at 150 C for 1 1/2-2 hours or until a skewer comes out clean.