It’s the week before Christmas, so that means it’s time for baking (and eating) cookies!

Snow Topped Chocolate Crinkles (makes about 3 dozen)

Ingredients:

• 1  1/2 cups semi-sweet morsels or dark chocolate
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick)
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 cup to 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

Materials:

• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cups
• Large bowl
• Medium bowl
• Microwave-safe bowl
• Sifter
• Baking sheets
• Cooking spray
• Mixer
• Parchment paper
• Microwave
• Pie plate shape dish
• Wire cooling rack

Directions:

1.  In small microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate and butter in microwave on high, 45 seconds, stir.  If needed, continue to heat mixture in 20 second intervals, stirring after each interval until melted.  Remove from microwave; stir until smooth.  Cool to room temperature.

2.  In large bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat eggs and sugar until pale, thick and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes.  Beat in vanilla extract.  Add in cooled chocolate mixture; beat until combined.  In separate bowl, mix together flour, salt and baking powder.  Fold the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture until combined.  If dough is too soft to shape into balls, cover and refrigerate until firm, about 1 to 2 hours.

3.  Preheat oven 325°.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

4.  Start with 3/4 cup sifted powdered sugar in shallow dish (such as a pie plate).  Can add more powdered sugar later if needed.  First, form chilled dough into 1-inch balls; then roll each ball in powdered sugar; until fully covered.  Place the sugar-covered balls on prepared baking sheets with parchment paper, about 1 1/2 inch apart.  No need to flatten.  Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges are slightly firm and the center is not soft.  Remove from oven and place on wire cooling rack.  Cool completely before storing in air-tight container.

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When hydrologists inscribe the consciousness of a human mind onto a single drop of water, a Revelation sweeps the land. The wealthy race to upload their minds into self-contained virtual realities nicknamed Aquariums. In these containers people achieve every hope, dream, and desire. But governments wage war for control of the technology. Terrorist attacks cause massive destruction. The Aquariums fail. Inscribed human minds leech into the water cycle, wreaking havoc.

Street gangs rule the cities in the three years since the fall of civilization. Sixteen-year-old Cami and her younger sister Alby struggle to survive. Every drop of untreated water puts their lives in peril. Caught and imprisoned by soldiers who plan to sell them into slavery, Cami will do anything to escape and rescue her sister. Even if it means leaving the real word for a life in the realms, a new game-like reality created by the hydrologists for the chosen few.

But life in the realms isn’t as simple as it seems. Magic, combat, gear scores, quests, and dungeons are all puzzles to be solved as the sisters navigate their new surroundings. And they encounter more dangerous enemies than any they faced in the real world.

Time to play the game.