These candies are easy to make when you start with Uncooked Fondant made with nonfat dry milk.

UNCOOKED FONDANT:

1/4 c. butter
2 1/2 tbsp. water
1 tsp. vanilla
3 c. sifted powdered sugar
2/3 c. nonfat dry milk

Melt butter in 2-quart saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and mix in water and vanilla. Then mix in a mixture of the sugar and milk. Mix until smooth and creamy after each addition. Makes about 1 1/2 cups fondant. use in making these candies:

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES:

Drain 24 maraschino cherries. Cover each with 2 teaspoons fondant. Partly melt over hot water 1 package semi-sweet chocolate pieces. Remove from heat and stir until entirely melted. Drop covered cherries, one at a time, into chocolate. Remove with 2 forks and put on waxed paper to cool.

NUT PATTIES:

Shape 1/2 cup fondant into 18 oblong patties 1 inch long. Press a nut on top of each. Chill.

STUFFED DATES:

Split and remove pits from 24 large dates. Fill centers with 1/2 cup fondant, using 1 teaspoon for each. Chill.