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PUFFED APPLE PANCAKES 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted 4 large eggs, beaten to blend 3/4 cup milk (do not use lowfat or nonfat) 3/4 cup all purpose flour 1 Golden Delicious apple, peeled, cored, thinly sliced 1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar 2 tablespoons lemon juice Maple syrup Preheat oven to 425°F. Place four 1-cup ramekins or custard cups on cookie sheet. Pour 1 tablespoon butter into each ramekin. Combine eggs, milk and flour and stir until just blended. Divide batter among ramekins. Toss apple slices with sugar and lemon juice until coated. Arrange apple slices in spoke pattern over batter. Bake until pancakes are puffed and golden, 15 minutes. Serve with syrup. Makes 4

Triple-Tier Chocolate Pie Baked Pastry Shell 3 egg whites 1/2 teasoon vinegar 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 of a 16 ounce package marshmallows (about 30) 1 cup milk 1 cup whipping cream 2 squares (2 ounces) unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup chopped walnuts For meringue shells, in a small mixer bowl combine egg whites, vinegar, and cinnamon. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed till soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar. Spread over the bottom and up the sides of baked pastry shell. Bake in a 325 oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven; cool on wire rack. Meanwhile, for filling heat marshmallows, milk, 1/4 cup of the whipping cream, chocolate, and salt till marshmallows and chocolate are just melted. Stir in vanilla; cool without stirring. Beat remaining whipping cream to soft peaks. Fold the whipped cream and nuts into the chocolate mixture. Chill till the mixture mounds when spooned. Turn into the baked meringue shell. Chill till firm. Cover and chill to store. -- Baked Pastry Shell 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup shortening or lard 3 to 4 tablespoons cold water In a mixing bowl combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening or lard till pieces are the size of small peas. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the water over part of the mixture; gently toss with a fork. Push to sides of bowl. Repeat till all is moistened. Form dough into a ball. On a lightly floured surface flatten dough with hands; roll from center to edge, forming a circle about 12 inches in diameter. Wrap pastry around rolling pin. Unroll onto a 9-inch pie plate. Ease the pastry into pie plate, being careful not to stretch pastry. Trim to 1/2 inch beyond edge of pie plate; fold under extra pastry. Make a fluted edge. Prick bottom and sides of pastry with a fork. Bake in a 450 oven for 10 to 12 minutes or till golden.

RICH 'N GOOD CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES 1-2/3 cups whipping cream 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter 1 package (8 oz.) HERSHEY'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, broken into pieces and chopped* 1-1/3 cups HERSHEY'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, chopped* 1 tablespoon vanilla extract or desired liqueur COATING (recipe follows) 1. In medium saucepan, place whipping cream and butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils; remove from heat. Stir in both chocolates until completely melted; continue stirring until mixture cools and thickens slightly. 2. Stir in vanilla. Pour into shallow glass dish. Cover; refrigerate 4 to 6 hours or until firm. 3. To form truffles, with spoon, scoop mixture into 1-inch balls; roll in COATING. Cover; refrigerate until firm. Reroll before serving, if desired. Serve cold. About 4 dozen truffles. * Food processor can be used for chopping chocolate. COATING: In small bowl, stir together 1/2 cup sifted HERSHEY'S Cocoa and 3 tablespoons sifted powdered sugar.

PINEAPPLE MUFFINS 1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple (packed in juice) 1 egg white 1/2 cup skim milk 1/3 cup packed brown sugar 3 tbsp canola oil 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/8 tsp salt (optional) Coat 12 (2 1/2") muffin cups with no-stick spray and set aside. Place the pineapple in a sieve over a 1-cup measure and press with the back of a spoon to remove the excess liquid. Reserve 1/4 cup of the juice and set aside with the pineapple. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg white, milk, brown sugar, oil and reserved pineapple juice. Stir in the pineapple. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt (if using). Add the pineapple mixture. Stir just until moistened (the batter will be lumpy). Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared muffin cups. Bake at 400 degrees F for 13 to 15 minutes, or until the muffins are lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Makes 12.

graphics courtesy [Mountain Breeze Graphics]