Ingredients:
1/3 cup finely chopped almonds
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup margarine or butter (1 stick) -- softened
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 (15 ounce) container Ricotta cheese
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup dried cherries -- chopped
OR
1 cup prunes -- chopped
1 cup chopped almonds -- toasted if desired
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:
Heat oven to 350º. Grease 12-cup bundt cake pan or tube pan, 10 × 4 inches. Coat pan with 1/3 cup finely chopped almonds. Beat sugar, margarine, milk, almond extract, Ricotta cheese and eggs in large bowl on low speed until blended. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Beat in remaining ingredients (batter will be very thick). Spread in pan.

Bake 55 to 65 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool 20 minutes. Remove from pan; place on wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired. Serve warm or let stand until cool.

Ingredients:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese -- softened
1/4 cup stick margarine or butter* -- softened*
2 teaspoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar

Directions:
Beat cream cheese, margarine, milk and vanilla in medium bowl with electric mixer on low speed until smooth.

Gradually beat in powdered sugar on low speed, 1 cup at a time, until smooth and spreadable. Frosts one 13 × 9-inch cake generously, or fills and frosts one 8- or 9-inch two-layer cake. Refrigerate any remaining frosting.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour*
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 cups shredded carrots (5 medium)
1 cup coarsely chopped nuts
2 1/2 cups Cream Cheese Frosting -- (see recipe), if desired

Directions:
Heat oven to 350º. Grease bottom and sides of rectangular pan, 13 × 9 × 2 inches, or 2 round pans, 8 × 1 1/2 or 9 × 1 1/2 inches, with shortening; lightly flour.

Mix sugar, oil and eggs in large bowl until blended; beat 1 minute. Stir in remaining ingredients except carrots, nuts and Cream Cheese Frosting; beat 1 minute. Stir in carrots and nuts. Pour into pan.

Bake rectangle 40 to 45 minutes, rounds 30 to 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack. Frost rectangle or fill and frost layers with Cream Cheese Frosting.