Mary Burton's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies

Mary Burton released another Valentine's recipe this year. These cookies look delicious, don't they? You can also read my interview with Mary Burton and two previous recipes. There are also my reviews of I'M WATCHING YOU and DEAD RINGER.

   It’s Love at First Bite!

  Whether she’s keeping the romance alive between characters, choosing new victims for her romantic suspense novels, or baking up a storm in her Richmond, Virginia kitchen, New York Times bestselling author Mary Burton does nothing half-heartedly—and that includes whipping up her 2012 Valentine’s Day recipe, Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies

1cup of sugar

1 cup of peanut butter

2 teaspoons of baking powder

1 egg

1 teaspoon of vanilla

½ cup chocolate chips

½ cup Craisens

● Mix sugar, peanut butter, baking powder, egg and vanilla.

● Add chocolate chips and Craisens.

● Form dough into balls then flatten.

● Garnish with chocolate bits or Craisens.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

Let cool completely before serving.

“There is no better flavor combination than peanut butter and chocolate.  Separately they are wonderful but together they are deadly delicious.  Your sweetie will be completely delighted with these sinfully good Valentine's Day cookies, which are a snap to make!”

Enjoy!                                                                                                                                                        Mary

Mary Burton’s latest book BEFORE SHE DIES has just been published.

 For this and more recipes visit Mary’s blog at www.maryburton.com

Love Muffins

Click on the image to see the recipe full size.

Valentine's Recipe: Sweet Buns by Mary Burton

I love baked goods, and thus relished the chance to receive a new recipe. And hey, now ya'll can make some for yourselves tomorrow! (Unfortunately, I don't have the kitchen access to try them out. But you know will eventually. No denying myself sweets.) If you want it, I also have a pretty printable version.

Check out my reviews of I'M WATCHING YOU, DEAD RINGER, and my interview with Mary Burton.



Valentine’s Day Sweet Buns

I love to have these for my sweetie on Valentine’s Day. I make up the dough in my bread maker, assemble the buns the night before and then let them rise in the refrigerator. I also mix up the icing the night before. A couple of hours before breakfast, I set the pans on the counter to rise a little more and then I bake in a 350 degree oven for 18-20 minutes. Simple and so delicious!


Buns

3 ¼ cups of flour
¾ teaspoon of salt
1/3 cup of sugar
4 egg yolks
1 teaspoon of vanilla
¾ cup of water
1/4 cup of low fat sour cream
¼ cup of melted butter
1 package of dry yeast

Filling

¾ cups of brown sugar
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Glaze

1 cup of powdered sugar
2-3 tablespoons of milk


Place all the ingredients in the dough maker (yeast goes in the yeast dispenser). Once the dough is ready, place on a floured surface and roll out into a large rectangle—about ¼ an inch thick. Sprinkle brown sugar, cinnamon and nuts on the dough. Roll the dough in a long spiral and then slice into individual portions. Place dough on a large greased pan. Give the rolls plenty of room to rise and spread. (If you’re prepping for tomorrow’s breakfast, cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator. In the morning a couple of hours before serving the buns, place pans of uncooked rolls in a warm place and let them rise.) When they’ve risen to twice their original size, bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes. While they are warm, pour glaze over top and serve.

Interview with Mary Burton

Mary Burton has been a marketing professional, written historical romances, and romantic suspense. Her latest releases were I'M WATCHING YOU and DEAD RINGER, single title romantic suspense from Zebra. Her other current release, SILVER BELLS (an anthology with Fern Michaels, JoAnn Ross, and Judy Duarte), is currently #16 on the NYT bestseller list. Her novella features a character that first appears in I'M WATCHING YOU and DEAD RINGER.

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Before you decided to write and sell your stories, you worked in marketing. How do you apply skills from your first career to your current career?
My marketing background taught me so much. I learned how to network effectively, how to hold my own in a reception full of strangers and how to handle myself at signings. The principals of selling are much the same and I think its very wise for authors to handle themselves professionally.

Of your seventeen novels, twelve were for Harlequin Historicals. How did you research the setting? Do you use a similar process for your romantic suspense?
For the historicals I read just about every diary, map and history book I could find on the American West. One year I even took my vacation in Colorado where I visited every historical site I could find. And when I switched to romantic suspense, I followed the same pattern. First it was reading all the books I could find on crime solving. Then it was a vacation to St. Louis for the Sister’s in Crime Forensic University. I also attended a local citizens police academy and did a ride along with a police officer.

How is writing a single title different than a category?
Single Title plots are more complicated—meaning I’m balancing more points of view and more subplots. Also in Single Title I can spend more time with my characters and dig deeper into their pasts.

What drew you to historical romance and romantic suspense? Are there any other genres you would like to write?
I’ve always loved reading romance so I think no matter what type of book I write, there will be some romance in it. As for the historicals, I love history. In fact, I’ve been accused of being a history geek. If there is a historical reenactment in my area, you can bet I’ll be there. And Romantic Suspense is the perfect blend of mystery and romance. I love creating great puzzle for my readers to solve. For now, I’ll be writing romantic suspense.

Romantic suspense needs scary criminals in addition to an engaging romance. What are some of the difficulties in developing and portraying a villain?
I don’t have trouble building my villain’s history. In fact I try to find something that might explain why they became the people they’ve become. The toughest part for me is writing about my villain’s deeds. I always know if I’m on the edge of my seat while I’m writing a villain’s scene, chances are my reader will be as well.

I’m Watching You and Dead Ringer share a number of characters. Which couple – Lindsay and Zach from I’m Watching You or Kendall and Jacob from Dead Ringer – was easier to write?
Kendall and Jacob. I got to know them pretty well while I was writing I’M WATCHING YOU. Much of their story didn’t end up in I’M WATCHING YOU but I knew it. And when it came time to pen their story it just fell together.

Please tell my blog readers why they might enjoy reading Dead Ringer.
It's scary, sexy and I think I’ve created a book that will keep you guessing right up to the last page!


Mary Burton
www.maryburton.com

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Come back tomorrow for my review of DEAD RINGER!