4 Layer Cookie Bars & Pecan Pie Muffins (Gooseberry Patch)

Today I am bringing y'all another tasty Early Bird Review from my friends over at Gooseberry Patch. The not yet released cookbook that I had the pleasure to review was Gooseberry Patch 101 Hearty Recipes. This beautiful cookbook will be released on September 1st, 2011. 101 which is not too far off. 101 Hearty Recipes is packed full of easy family meals, fresh-baked desserts and recipes for gift-giving.

This cookbook has it all! The best thing about this cookbook is that every single recipe has a mouthwatering photo to go along with it. Don't you just love that? Now you don't have to sit and image what each dish looks like.

Believe me when I tell you after seeing all the photos in this cookbook you will want to make each and every one of these recipes. This cookbook is spiral bound with a durable softcover and 112 yummy pages. This is my 4 th cookbook in the 101 cookbook series and I love each and every one of them.

As usual is was so hard to decide on what recipes to make. I got over that quickly when I came page 14 and saw the 4 Layer Cookie Bars. It was definitely an omygoodness moment for sure. My first thought was these look a bit similar to a Twix bar, but with peanut butter. The 4 Layer Cookie bars were the first recipe I tried and everyone loved them.

Just look at the photo above and you can see what each layer consists of. The hardest part of the whole recipe was waiting for the bars to set up in the fridge. But then patience has never been my thing. I did add some additional chocolate and peanut butter chips on top of the bars.

I thought the addition of the chips really took these bars over the top. Plus presentation is everything now isn't it? These cookie bars were so dangerously good that we could only eat a few. After that I sent the rest of the baking pan off to work with my husband.

4 Layer Cookie Bars

1 - sleeve rectangular buttery crackers (Ritz)
1/2 - cup margarine
2/3 - cup sugar
1/2 - cup packed brown sugar

1 - cup graham crumbs
1/4 - cup milk

2/3 - cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 - cup semi sweet or milk chocolate chips

Garnish:

1/2 cup semi sweet or milk chocolate chips

1/2 cup peanut butter chips

Line the bottom of a buttered 13 x 9 in baking pan with a single layer of crackers; set aside. Melt margarine in a heavy saucepan; add sugars, graham crackers crumbs and milk. Heat over medium high heat until sugars dissolve, stirring often; spread over crackers in pan. 

Arrange another single layers of crackers on top; set aside. Combine remaining ingedients in a saucepan; heat over low heat until melted, stirring until smooth and creamy. Spread over crackers and sprinkle additional chocolate and peanut butter chips on top for garnish. Set aside until firm. (I placed the pan in the refrigerator) When firm cut into bars and serve. Makes 2 dozen bars.  

Next I moved onto these yummy little Pecan Pie Muffins from page 92. I found myself wanting a quick little sweet treat after dinner and these yummy little gems were perfect. My husband described these mini muffins as a "little piece of heaven". Have you ever had a pecan pie in a muffin? They are so addicting and so good.

Believe me when I tell you that you can't eat just one. My whole family cleaned the plate on these guys and left nothing behind. I have made pecan pie muffins in the past, but for some reason this one tasted just a bit better. These yummy little bite size muffins will defiantly be making a presence on my holiday baking list.

Pecan Pie Muffins

1 - cup light brown sugar

1/2 - cup all purpose flour 

2 - eggs, beaten

2/3 - cup melted butter

1 - cup chopped pecans
1 - teaspoon vanilla extract

additional pecan halves, optional

In a bowl, stir together all ingredients except pecan halves. Line a mini muffin tin with liners and spray the liners with non baking spray. 

Fill each mini muffin tins 2/3 full with batter. Top each with a pecan half. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 - 15 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 2 1/2 dozen mini muffins.

I also made these wonderful Parmesan Roasted Potatoes from page 73. These potatoes are so easy to toss together and they pair nicely with just about any cut of meat. Just toss all the ingredients in a large Ziploc bag, shake and then add to your buttered baking pan. You can leave the skin on or off so it is really up to you. This dish definitely fits right in to the casual and comforting category.

Golden Parmesan Roasted Potatoes

1/4 - cup all purpose flour 

1/4 - cup grated parmesan cheese

3/4 - teaspoon salt

1/8 - teaspoon pepper
1/3 - cup butter, melted

6 - potatoes, peeled and cut into wedges

Garnish - fresh parsley, optional

Place flour, cheese, salt and pepper in a large plastic ziploc bag.; Shake to mix well. Add potatoes and shake to coat all of the potatoes. 

Pour butter into a 13 x 9 inch baking pan; tilting to coat the pan. Arrange potaotes in pan. Bake uncovered, at 375 degrees for one hour. Sprinkle with parsley. Serves 4-6

Here are a few of the recipes from each chapter. I have a few of the ones below on my own to try list.

• Easy French Dip Sandwiches (cant wait to try)
• Nacho Chicken Dip
• Sandwich on a Stick
• Sangria Punch
• Roasted Chicken & Apples
• Fancy Crescent Chicken
• Open Faced Lone Star Burgers
• Cajun Oven Fries
• Meatloaf Mexican
• Peachy Keen Sweet Potatoes (cant wait to try)
• Cornbread Chicken Pot Pie (a must try)
• Bread Bowl Beef Stew
• Strawberry Bread
• Frosted Cherry Drops (a must try)
• Marble Cheesecake
• Monster Bars

What I love most about this cookbook is all of the recipes are easy peasy to make. Plus most of the recipes require only 30 minutes or less to prepare. All of the recipes are hearty, simple and delicious. I couldn't help but to think back on my own childhood and remember all of those easy home cooked meals my mother used to make.

This cookbook is for perfect for everyone. Whether you are a pro at cooking or just starting out this is a must have cookbook. To be quite honest I think any and all of the Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks are a must have to your cookbook collection. I own several of these cookbooks and proudly display all of them in my own kitchen. If you have never gotten your hands on a Gooseberry Patch cook than you truly are missing out on something special.

Thank you Gooseberry Patch for sharing yet another awesome cookbook from the 101 cookbook series.

I enjoyed all the recipes that I reviewed so much that I wanted to share them with all of you. To get a printable copy of all three of the review recipes just click on the link below.

I wanted to let everyone know that Gooseberry Patch has been kind enough to send me an additional copy to share with one of my readers. Thank you Gooseberry Patch! If you can't wait to get your hands on a copy of 101 Hearty Recipes you don't have to. Right now Amazon Books has it for $10.91. (awesome price) While you're there purchase an extra copy because this will make a great gift for anyone who loves to cook.

Would you like to get your hands on a copy of the fabulous cookbook? Well you can just follow the rules below to find out how you can win a Free copy of 101 Hearty Recipes.

How To Enter The Giveaway:
Just leave a comment on this post answering this question. When you think of Hearty Meals what dish comes to mind? (mandatory entry) For me it's my Chicken Spaghetti recipe. It's hearty, delicious and a stick to your ribs kind of meal.

Additional Entries:
You can do any or all of the following for extra entries. Please leave a separate comment for each one.

1. Become a Fan of Gooseberry Patch on Face book. When you have done that, return to this post and leave a separate comment letting me know that you are a fan.
2. Join Gooseberry Patch "Circle of Friends" so you can stay Gooseberry Patch updated.
3. Become a New Fan of Mommy's Kitchen on Face book.
4. Mention this giveaway on your face book page. Come back and leave a comment telling me so.
5. Become a New Google Follower to Mommy Kitchen (left side of my blog page)
6. Tweet the following for another entry: Win a copy of @gooseberrypatch 101 Hearty Recipes @mommyskitchen http://tinyurl.com/3q6jdgg #giveaway

Last day to enter this giveaway will be at Midnight on September 3, 2011 (CST). I will pick a random winner using random.org and announce the winner on this blog, face book and twitter. Good Luck everyone. Contest open to U.S & Canadian Residents only due to shipping charges.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED 

Disclosure: Gooseberry Patch provided me with a copy of "101 Hearty Recipes" for the purpose of this review. They also provided me with an additional copy to use in a reader giveaway. With that being said the opinions & comments stated above are entirely my own. I would like to thank Gooseberry Patch for choosing Mommy's Kitchen as a "Early Bird Reviewer" and for sponsoring this giveaway.