COUNTDOWN

Seems like it was only a few months ago that I was preparing for Christmas 2010 and here we are less than a month away from Christmas 2011. I am not stressing about it too much since we will be having Christmas in Idaho with the family at Meg's house so it will be her that does the Martha Stewart. I only have to show up with presents! I am tying to get that wrapped up (get it) in the next week or so. I am busy sewing and shopping for 4 grandchildren, four sons and two daughters and a not very picky husband. I also like to shop for myself a bit too (I get my size, what I want and I always upgrade when I do that. I think in terms of cashmere and designer purses). I am not in the Christmas spirit much since I am in Palm Desert and the weather is 75 and I am wearing short, but I did shop Black Friday at midnight and got some good deals that I will pass on to my kids. Macy's was a nut house and I was there to experience the mayhem that comes with bargain shoppers, butI was safe from pepper-spray and being trampled. It took two days to recover from my late night, but it was worth it.

Here's a little treat to make for the Christmas festivities. Yum!

CHOCOLATE MINT CRACKLES

2 oz bittersweet chocolate

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

4 tbsp butter, melted

3/4 tsp pure mint extract

1/2 cup icing sugar

Melt chocolate

Whisk together flour, baking powder and cocoa in a small bowl

Whisk together sugar, eggs and melted butter in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk in melted chocolate and mint extract until smooth. Stir in flour mixture. Refrigerate until firm

Preheat oven to 325. Roll dough into balls, then roll in icing sugar to coat. Bake until slightly firm in the centre, about 15 minutes.

Cool