If you celebrate Christmas, I hope it was a happy one, bringing you good times with family and friends. For many people, Christmas isn’t always “the most wonderful time of the year,” despite what the song says, but the New Year is almost on us and January 1st is a time to look forward with optimism to the coming year.

Of course New Year’s Eve is also a wonderful reason to continue the party :), and best-selling US author Stacy Juba is here with a fabulous, easy-to-make recipe, and one of her thrilling reads.

Thanks for coming, Stacy, and happy New Year to you!

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This is a recipe that I love to make for parties and special events like New Year’s Eve. It’s quick, easy and tasty. People are shocked that the main ingredient is saltines. Enjoy!

Crunch Bars

Ingredients:

35 Saltines (British: Ritz Crackers work well)

1 stick butter or margarine (British: 4 oz / 110gsm)

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

8 squares of Bakers semi-sweet baking chocolate chunks, chopped (British: Dr Oetker does chocolate chunks)

1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 400 deg F / 200 deg C / gas mark 6. Place crackers in single layer on foil-lined baking pan.

Heat butter and sugar in saucepan on medium heat until the butter is melted and the mix is well-blended. Bring to boil. Boil 3 minutes without stirring. Spread over crackers. Bake 7 minutes. Immediately sprinkle with chopped chocolate. Let stand 5 minutes. Spread melted chocolate evenly over ingredients in pan. Sprinkle with walnuts. Cool. Cut or break into pieces.

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Blurb: Twenty-Five Years Ago Today

Should we dig for the truth when Pandora’s Box is a coffin of buried secrets? Kris Langley has always been obsessed with murder. She blames herself for the violent death of her cousin when they were kids and has let guilt invade every corner of her existence. Now an editorial assistant and obit writer, Kris stumbles across an unsolved murder while compiling “25 Years Ago Today” items from the microfilm. Determined to solve the case and atone for the death of her cousin, Kris immerses herself in the mystery of what happened to Diana Ferguson, a talented artist who expressed herself through haunting paintings of Greek mythology.

Not only does Kris face resistance from her family and her managing editor, she also clashes with Diana’s suspicious nephew, Eric Soares – until neither she nor Eric can deny the chemistry flaring between them. She soon learns that old news never leaves the morgue and that yesterday’s headline is tomorrow’s danger, for finding out the truth about that night twenty-five years ago may shatter Kris’s present, costing her love, her career, and ultimately, her life.

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Stacy Juba loves to write stories about Characters at a Crossroads: individuals who are finding themselves and getting on the right life path after overcoming obstacles. She has made numerous bestseller lists including GalleyCat’s Barnes & Noble Bestsellers and GalleyCat’s Mystery and Thriller Bestsellers. Stacy has written about reality TV contestants targeted by a killer, an obit writer investigating a cold case, teen psychics who control minds, twin high school hockey stars battling on the ice, and teddy bears learning to raise the U.S. flag. She has had a book ranked as #5 in the Nook Store and #30 on the Amazon Kindle Paid List. Stacy also offers the affordable Crossroads Editing Service for writers and does her editing the old-fashioned way, on a hard copy, so that she can mark up manuscripts with extensive comments and line edits. In addition, she teaches online writing and book promotion classes for various writers’ organizations. Watch for her upcoming romantic comedy Fooling Around With Cinderella.

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 That sounds a delicious recipe, Stacy, and you’re right – the addition of the crackers is inspired. I can’t wait to try these out! Your release sounds an intriguing read and just right for the long winter nights. Thanks so much for coming by!

If you enjoyed Stacy’s post, or have any questions or comments at all, please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you!