24.

The yield should be 2 cups per package if you make it according to the package directions. You can use sugar free instant, regular instant, or the kind you have to cook. All will work. (You can also use 5 larger packages of pudding, each package yielding 3 cups of pudding - if you do this, use 2 cups of milk or half and half for each package as you can see, this recipe is very flexible.)

25.

Use brick cream cheese, the kind that comes in a rectangular package. Don"t use whipped cream cheese unless you want to experiment - whipped cream cheese, or low-fat, or Neufchatel might work, but I don"t know that for sure.

26.

These are miniature chocolate chips. If you can"t find them in your area, you can use regular size chocolate chips and cut them in halves or quarters. If you use them as is, they"ll sink to the bottom and make your cake hard to remove from the pan. You can also shave chocolate and use that. It works even better than the mini chocolate chips.

27.

Read the yield on the pudding package it should be 2 cups per package if you make it according to the package directions. You can use sugar free instant, regular instant, or the kind you have to cook. All will work. (You can also use 5 larger packages of pudding, each package yielding 3 cups of pudding if you do this, use 2 cups of milk or half and half for each package as you can see, this recipe is very flexible.)

28.

You can use frozen rhubarb. Just thaw it and pat it dry with a paper towel.

29.

If you want a change from vanilla wafers, you can make a shortbread crust using Lorna Doone shortbread cookies. That"s good, too!

30.

You don"t absolutely positively have to use coconut milk. You can subst.i.tute half and half or heavy cream if you can"t find it in your store.

31.

If you can"t find the quick-cooking tapioca, you can still make this cheesecake. Just follow the directions on the box of regular tapioca to cook it.

32.

** If you don"t have coconut extract, you can subst.i.tute vanilla extract, bringing the total up to 2 teaspoons.

33.

If you can"t find the cranberries where you live you can subst.i.tute any chopped dried fruit such as dates, apricots, peaches, etc.

34.

You can use round red-and-white peppermint candies that look like b.u.t.tons, regular candy canes, or any other peppermint candy that you can crush into small separate pieces. You could even use pastel mints, the tiny little "pillows" you"ll find in a pretty bowl right next to the mixed nuts at almost every Lake Eden wedding reception.

35.

If you can"t find rum or brandy extract at your store, you can subst.i.tute vanilla - that will give you a total of 4 teaspoons of vanilla extract.

36.

If you prefer a sweeter cookie, roll the dough b.a.l.l.s in extra granulated sugar and flatten before baking.

37.

When you drain the cherries, reserve the juice to use in the frosting.

38.

It"s not absolutely positively necessary that you use coconut extract, but the cookies will be much more delicious if you do. If you can"t find it, or you"re making these in the middle of a blizzard and you can"t get to the store, just use vanilla extract.

39.

If you fail to put on the candy corn when the cookies are still hot from the oven, you can put it on later using a little dab of powdered sugar frosting (powdered sugar with a tiny bit of milk) as "glue."

40.

Lisa and I use cherry-flavored Craisins down at The Cookie Jar.

41.

Lisa likes to roll her dough b.a.l.l.s in decorator sugar with large crystals. This is usually available in colors at grocery stores during the holiday season. If you can"t find it there, you can try a cake decorating store. Lisa uses this sugar because it gives the cookies a nice crunch on the outside that contrasts nicely with the soft inside. She says you can also use regular white table sugar. The crunch will be less, but the cookies will taste the same.

42.

Use any combination of regular chocolate chips, b.u.t.terscotch chips, white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, vanilla chips, cherry chips, strawberry chips, peanut b.u.t.ter chips, or any other flavors you think will go together.

43.

Use any nuts you like including walnuts, pecans, cashews, almonds, even peanuts. If you don"t have enough nuts to make 4 cups, fill in with crushed cornflakes, Rice Krispies, coconut, raisins, or any dried fruit.