Cream cheese fudge

The Christmas season brings to mind all the special goodies we enjoy preparing. Have you ever eaten cream cheese fudge? Here's a recipe my sister and I used to enjoy making when we were teens. It's quick and yummy and doesn't require cooking (except for melting the chocolate in the microwave).

1 -3 oz. pkg. regular cream cheese, softened at room temperature

2 C. sifted powdered sugar

1 -1 oz. squares unsweetened chocolate, melted

1/4 tsp. vanilla

Dash of salt

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Place cheese in a bowl and cream until soft and smooth. Slowly blend in sugar, then melted chocolate. Mix well. Add vanilla, salt and pecans. (If you want a slightly softer fudge, blend in a teaspoon of cream.) Mix until well blended then press into a well-greased shallow pan. Refrigerate until firm. Cut into squares.

Merry Christmas!

LESS THAN DEAD, by Tim Downs

Imagine a suspense novel featuring a forensic entomologist--a "bug man." Then imagine a suspense novel that keeps you chuckling--when you're not holding your breath wondering what will happen next. If you've got that picture in your mind, you're ready to dive into Downs' Less Than Dead.

A portion of Virginia countryside is being cleared in preparation for the building of a regional shopping center. In the process, a bulldozer uncovers an ancient graveyard, with a less-than-ancient corpse buried atop an existing coffin. Enter Nick Polchak, an entomologist who should have been a stand-up comedian.

As the investigation progresses, Nick calls on the help of a woman believed by the locals to be a witch who is able to talk to dogs. Nick's meeting with the witch, and their subsequent encounters, add depth to a story which has a timely political side. Less Than Dead kept me turning pages way past my bedtime.

This is one terrific story, and fortunately it is part of a series. I wish I'd discovered author Tim Downs a long time ago. I can’t wait to read more of Nick Polchak's adventures, along with Downs' other novels.

Less Than Dead is written for the inspirational market, so is blessedly free of objectionable material. Read and enjoy.