Sneak Peak: Mini Kisses Butter Pecan Bars

As the new year doesn't officially start until tomorrow, here's a bonus recipe, and a sneak peak at the format I plan to use.  Any comments are, as always, appreciated!

Recipe: Mini Kisses Butter Pecan Bars

From: Hershey's Recipe Collection

Category: Dessert

Rating:  Yummy!  Everyone seemed to like it tonight.  It is rich, but that may come from my use of semi-sweet chocolate instead of milk chocolate.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 3/4 cups (10-oz. package) Hershey's Mini Kisses Milk Chocolates, divided**

3/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans, divided

Directions:

1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees (F).  Grease 8-inch square baking pan.

2.  Beat butter, brown sugar, egg and vanilla in small bowl; blend in flour.  Stir in 3/4 cup chocolates and 1/4 cup pecans; spread evenly in prepared pan.

3.  Bake 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned; remove from oven.  Immediately sprinkle with remaining 1 cup chocolates.  Let stand 5 minutes or until chocolate softens; with knife, spread evenly.  Immediately sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup pecans over top; press gently.  Cool bars completely in pan on wire rack.  Cut into bars.

Here are the bars still in the pan.  Notice that I have used finely chopped pecans, as the kids are not huge fans of nuts.

Served with a little whipped cream while still warm.  Yum!

**Note:  I didn't have mini kisses on hand, so I used mini semi-sweet chocolate chips in the batter and regular-sized ones on top!  Use what you have, I say!

New Goal!

Yes, I will continue on my weight-loss journey, and will likely continue to update here on this blog.  However, just to make things more interesting, I have a new goal:  A new recipe each week.  Ideally each week I will also feature a different cookbook, as I have at least 52 of them, I'm quite sure. :-)  Feel free to leave comments or suggestions, but do keep in mind that I cook for my husband, a six-year-old and two three-year-olds.

Let the adventure begin ...

Round "I've Lost Track"

So, WW has this new PointsPlus system, and I needed a new motivation.  So, here's the deal.  I paid for the joining fee, and Husby is paying for the "materials."  If I have not lost 20 pounds in three months, I have to pay him back for the materials.  The materials are going to be about $35 dollars or so, so that's pretty good motivation for me.  I really don't like parting with money, and 20 pounds lost would put me at a total loss of 50 pounds (as I've gained about 10 back, again!).  That's a good goal.  Would love to surpass it.  I'll keep you posted!  

Please note:  Official Weigh-ins will be done on Monday mornings!