NEW Betty Crocker Christmas Cookies Magazine coming soon~

I was asked again by My Blog Spark to vote on the cover for the NEW Betty Crocker Christmas Cookies magazine which will hit newstands November 10th.

There were three covers to choose from: one was cutsy Santa Clausy stuff, the other cutsy but in a good way. And this one, my pick. I chose this cover because of its simplicity. I love things simple. Not too fussy, not too busy. Just simple.

I'm looking forward to the NEW Betty Crocker Christmas Cookies magazine. I don't know about you but I get tired of baking, cooking the same old recipes year after year after year.

Don't get me wrong, there are recipes I will always make and always enjoy because they are traditional family recipes. But every cooking routine needs a little twist and and a dash of pizazz thrown in every now and again.

In this magazine, you will find:

74 recipes cards with perforations so you can tear them out and put in your recipe box. These recipes include:

*Great-tasting new twists on the classics--Chocolate-Peppermint Shortbread, Glazed Toffee Bonbons, Brown Sugar Cutouts

*Choco-Hazelnut Latte Cookies, Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cookies and other prize-winners from our Mix it Up with Betty! Cookie Mix Recipe Contest. Submitted by home cooks, these recipes are perfect for gift-giving, cookie exchanges and your holiday goodie tray.

*Best-ever brownies collection including Dulce de Leche-Chocolate Brownies and Chocolate-Cashew Brownies

*Plus homemade candies like Chocolate-Topped Sea Salt Caramels, Extra-Nutty Peanut Brittle and Black-and-White Truffles


And while we're on the subject of new recipes...I'll share a fav family recipe. I made this for Christmas one year and the kids loved it. They now want it every holiday and prefer it over cake for their birthdays. Best of all, it's quick and easy and relatively inexpensive since we all have most of these items in our pantries.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER BARS

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup crunchy peanut butter (creamy if you prefer)
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 (12oz) package semi-sweet chocolate chips

MIX the first four ingredients in a large bowl.

PRESS into buttered 9x13-inch baking dish.

HEAT chocolate chips in a microwave-safe dish for 1 minute. Stir. Heat 30 seconds longer or until chocolate is completely melted.

SPREAD evenly over peanut butter mixture.

CHILL until chocolate is firm.