Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know I said I wasn't joining any more challenges, but this is another one that's not really a challenge since I was already planning to read a bunch of books from the approved list. I'm joining at Level IV, which involves reading 20 books off a list of bloggers' favorite reads from 2010. Here's my game plan:

1. The Stand by Stephen King (also reading for the Stephen King Challenge)
2. The Thirteenth Crime by Emma Michaels
3. Room by Emma Donaghue
4. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (also reading for Dystopia Challenge)
5. Unwind by Neal Shusterman
6. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (also reading for the 2011 Page to Screen Challenge)
7. Atonement by Ian McEwan (also reading for the 2011 Page to Screen Challenge)
8. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
9. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
10. Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
11. Fallen by Lauren Kate
12. Halo by Alexandra Ardenetto
13. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
14. Vampire Academy by Rachelle Mead
15. Peeps by Scott Westerfield
16. Mockingbirds by Katherine Erskine
17. Torment by Lauren Kate
18. Austenland by Shannon Hale
19. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
20. Spells by Aprilynne Pike

We'll see how I do ...

I know I said I wasn't going to join any more challenges this year, but I always say that! It doesn't mean I'm actually going to do it. Besides, these two "challenges" aren't really challenges at all - at least, they require no more work than completing the challenges for which I've already signed up. 'Low me to explain ...

The Reading Challenge Addict Challenge is simply a fun way to track the challenges you're already doing. The hosts will be giving away prizes, so you will want to check out the blog they've set up. Basically, all this challenge really involves is tracking the challenges for which you've signed up this year. Easy, right? Go check it out!

The Bookmark Break Challenge, hosted by AubrieAnne over at Who's Your Editor?, just involves reading more books than the host. If you beat her, she'll feature your blog on hers and post your button on her sidebar for a whole year. Clever and fun! I love it. Go sign up if you think you're up to it. Even if you're not, check out AubrieAnne's blog - I just discovered it and it's great.

See, I told you, two more challenges that aren't really challenges at all. I'm not a reading challenge addict AT ALL.

2 c. melted butter (4 sticks)
2 c. brown sugar (loosely packed)
1 c. white sugar (granulated)
2 beaten eggs (just whip them up with a fork)
2 t. vanilla
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. baking soda
1 t. cream of tartar (critical!)
1 t. salt
4 1/4 c. white flour (not sifted)

Dough-ball rolling mixture:

1/2 c. white sugar
1 t. cinnamon

Melt the butter. Add the sugars and mix. Let the mixture cool to room temperature while you beat the eggs, and then stir them in. Add the vanilla, cinnamon, baking soda, cream of tartar, and sat. Mix well. Add flour in increments, mixing after each addition.

Use your hands to roll the dough into walnut-sized balls. (If dough is too sticky, chill for an hour before rolling.)

Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl to make the dough-ball rolling mixture. (Mixing it with a fork works nicely.) Roll the dough balls in the mixture, then place them on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet. Flatten the dough balls with a greased or floured spatula.

Bake at 325 degrees for 10-15 minutes. (They should have a touch of gold around the edges.) Cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove the cookies to a rack to finish cooling.

Yield: Approximately 8 dozen, depending on cookie size.

Hannah's note: Lisa loves these cookies - it's the only time I've seen her eat a half-dozen of anything at one sitting.

My thoughts on the recipe: If you love Snickerdoodles (and I do), you're going to enjoy this recipe since Cinnamon Crisps are basically crispy Snickerdoodles. They're not crispy like hard, but crispy like delicate, and only around the edges. The centers are all moist, buttery yum-ness. I loved these, as did my children, at least one of whom said, "These are the best cookies you've ever made, Mom!" They're easy to make and always turn out nicely - what's not to love?

(Note: This recipe was used by permission from Joanne Fluke. The photo was snapped by yours truly.)