In my humble opinion Paula Deen rules in the kitchen! I have several of her cookbooks and enjoy each one. This new one is sure to be a pleasure. It is small in size, and the print is small also, but the recipes are anything but small!

Christmas, that time of good cheer and forgotten diets, is the perfect holiday to showcase the cooking of Food Network star Deen (Paula Deen Celebrates!), who specializes in the kind of butter-and cheese-laden fare that symbolizes family-style comfort food. Sweets and snacks account for most of the recipes, since Deen happily admits to never varying from her Christmas dinner menu, which centers on a Standing Rib Roast and features a trio of potato dishes, including some unbelievably decadent Crème Fraîche Mashed Potatoes. Cooks will find the cookies and desserts familiar but richer, like eyebrow-raising but delicious Chocolate Cheese Fudge and creamy Chocolate Sandwich Cookies. Snacks and breakfast dishes are crowd pleasers, like gooey Praline French Toast Casserole and Cheese-coated Bacon Wraps. Devoted viewers of Deen’s show may miss the sound of her warm drawl narrating the process, but the smattering of glowing family photos and anecdotes about her grown kids and recent marriage, though she’s told them before, are decent stand-ins. Several pages of baking hints are included, but most of the recipes are simple and straightforward enough, with readily available ingredients, that even novices should be able to put together a generous Christmas spread.

Ingredients

* 1 (17.6-ounce) package brownie mix with walnuts
* Vegetable oil cooking spray
* 3 (6-ounce) candy bars with almonds and toffee chips (recommended: Symphony brand)

Directions

Prepare the brownie mix according to package directions.

Line a 13 by 9-inch cake pan with aluminum foil and spray with vegetable oil cooking spray. Spoon in half of the brownie batter and smooth with a spatula or the back of a spoon. Place the candy bars side by side on top of the batter. Cover with the remaining batter.

Bake according to package directions. Let cool completely, then lift from the pan using the edges of the foil. This makes it easy to cut the brownies into squares.

More Cookbooks by Paula and other great cooks.

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