Recipe for a new year - literally!

                                              HOT FUDGE PUDDING CAKE

     1 cup plain flour                                               2 tablespoons shortening,
                                                                                melted
     2 teaspoons baking powder                               1 cup chopped walnuts
                                                                            (I omit nuts,usually)
     3/4 cup sugar                                                   1 cup brown sugar, packed
     1/4 teaspoon salt                                              4 tablespoons cocoa
     2 tablespoons cocoa                                          1 1/2 cups hot water
     1/2 cup milk

Sift first 5 ingredients together. Stir in milk and shortening. Mix until smooth then add nuts. Spread in greased 8 x 8 inch or 9 x 9 inch pan. Sprinkle with combined brown sugar and cocoa. Pour hot water over the batter. Bake at 350 º F for about 40 minutes. Turn out while hot. Serve with whipped cream (if desired).

A couple of summers ago we were having lunch at a Cracker Barrel, and my niece, Melissa, asked for a dessert that is similar to this recipe. As you can see it's really easy to make and it has lots of chocolate sauce - a chocolate lover's dream come true.

Hope everybody had a good New Year's Eve. Ours was sad as one of my friends' father died on the 30th - just two days before she was going home for a visit. Later on this month is her parents' 60th anniversary. They were hoping he would make it until then. He had Altzeimer's and was, along with the family, suffering greatly. Now he can rest in peace.

May all of you find peace, health and happiness in the coming days.