Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine nuts, cranberries and chocolate chips. Set aside. In another bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
2. Using a double boiler, gently heat the semisweet and unsweetened chocolate squares until just melted. Stir constantly while melting. Set aside to cool, until just warm to the touch.
3. Beat the eggs and sugar until bubbly. Then whisk in the cooled chocolate mixture and the vanilla.
4. With the mixer on low, slowly add the flour mixture until well incorporated.
5. Stir in the nut, cranberry and chocolate chip mixture by hand.
6. Preheat your oven to 325°. Drop the dough, about the size of a tablespoon, onto parchment lined baking trays. They should be 1 to 2 inches apart. Bake for 15 minutes or until cookies are slightly firm and cracked.
7. Cool on a wire rack.

Note: These cookies don’t really rise or spread, so they can be placed fairly closely together on the baking tray.

[You can’t serve just one kind of cookie now can you? OK its Christmas so here’s one more cookie recipe, a personal favorite of mine for afternoon tea.]

One batch makes approximately 9 dozen, so there is plenty for everyone, [even greedy Dragons.]

Slightly reminiscent of ginger snaps, these cookies are not nearly as spicy. That is what I like most about them. Some ginger snap recipes are too strong for my taste, but not these. The orange adds a fresh twist, and the mix of spices doesn’t overwhelm.

Delicious any time of year, and with a buttery crisp texture, these cookies are always requested, and they always make my annual Christmas cookie list.

Cook Time

Prep time: 10 hours | Cook time: 5 min | Ready in: 10 hours 5 min*

Yields: 9 dozen cookies

*Please note that this prep time includes refrigeration overnight.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tbs light corn syrup
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tbs orange zest

Instructions

1. Cream butter and add sugar slowly, beating until fluffy.
2. While mixer is on, add the egg and corn syrup. Mix well.
3. Meanwhile, combine flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon and cloves in a bowl and set aside.
4. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients until well blended. Add in the orange rind.
5. The dough is ready to be shaped and refrigerated (see instructions below).
6. After refrigerating dough overnight, bake slices on cookie sheets at 400° for 5 minutes. Keep an eye on them as they burn very quickly.

The NSA is Coming to Town

I’d listen up when Impish talks about cheating and not fooling people with it kids! After all he is an expert on the subject with may years of experience at failing to pull the wool over my eyes!

This Dragon update courtesy of Mrs. Dragon who begins by noting that once again her assassins failed and Impish still lives.

I received a text on Monday at 1:40 Pm saying the operation had lasted 3 Hours & 45 minutes but that he was out and in recovery. She expected to be able to see him within a half an hour.

Later that evening he texted me saying he was fine but tired.

Texts on Tuesday revealed him to be in pain which his meds really were not addressing but decent spirits. I do have some concerns regarding brain damage from the anesthesia as he commented on a program he was watching on CSPAN. However this is Impish and he does some strange shit like that so this might be nothing I’ll keep close watch.

Further updates as they develop or as soon as he drags himself before an internet capable device .

Christmas Ornament Trivia

We are mesmerized by Christmas trees with their elaborate decorations and lights. Many cities have tree lighting events and festivals to officially kick off the holiday season. You can hear the ripple of admiration as the tree is lit and everyone claps with excitement at the magical sight.

Stores display a plethora of tree ornaments that dazzle the eyes and warm the heart with their beauty. Specialty trinkets range anywhere from five dollars upward and special edition collections may equal the cost of a dinner out for most families. Still, it is one’s choice to display a tree that brings joy to their celebration, no matter the cost.

Prior to 1605, decorated Christmas trees were mainly found outside the home in their natural setting. People used popcorn, fruit and nuts as accessories. The first known area to bring a tree indoors was Strasborg, France where homes used paper roses, candles, wafers, nuts and sweets to adorn the tree. As time passed, other items exhibited were eggshells, shiny metal foil and candy.

The first glass ornaments were made in Germany in the 1880’s. In the US, F.W. Woolsworth latched on to this new concept and imported them by the millions. Reportedly, he made 25 million in sales by 1890. Later, the Japanese market manufactured decorations to become the highest importer with over 250 million ornaments sold in the states.

Today, it is popular to create a theme such as angels, snowmen, birds, or whatever hobby or collection a person enjoys. Ornaments are much more intricate and can make sounds, light-up, and move to music.

No matter what type of ornament you choose to decorate your tree, homemade or store bought, the purpose it to savor your time adorning the tree with valuable memories and add beauty to your home.

Traditional and Novel Ornaments

Have you ever used any of these to decorate your Christmas Tree?

• Fruit
• Nuts
• Popcorn
• Cookies
• Candy Canes
• Cranberries
• Flowers
• Pickles
• Candles
• Eggshells
• Small toys
• Wood carved figures or shapes

Source: holidayspot.com

Xbox One prank wrecks brand new consoles

Plenty of gamers are upset over the lack of backwards compatibility in the new Xbox One console. That means that old Xbox 360 and original Xbox games won’t work in the new system.

That’s why they’re falling for this dangerous and expensive prank. It supposedly gives instructions for making your Xbox One backward compatible, but really makes your new Xbox completely worthless and non-functional. It may not even be able to be repaired.

Here’s what the prank looks like:

Just to be clear, the Xbox One is NOT backwards compatible and won’t ever be! This insidious prank deletes a critical system file and could trap your new console in an endless reboot cycle.

If you know someone with an Xbox One, pass this along to them so they aren’t fooled.

  The official video about Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg, the largest model railway in the world, and one of the most successful tourist attractions in Germany. On the 1.300 m² large layout, far more than a thousand trains, aircrafts, cars and ships move about. A wonder of the world in miniature.

The next 2 issues of Leprechaun Laughs fall on major Holidays, namely Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. While I might find the prospect of a 2 weeks hiatus quite appealing, I am cognizant of the fact that most likely Impish will not be up to his usual self both physically and mentally. Plus he should be up to his scaled bottom in torture physical therapy sessions and wheel chair racing.

Obviously there will have to be a change in the publishing schedule to accommodate both the holidays and Impish’s situation.

I can see no point in an issue on Christmas given nobody will have time to devote to reading it much less posting it.  As for New Year’s Day most of you will be too hung over to focus on a computer screen, too caught up in the Tournament of Roses Parade and/or the subsequent bowl games to much care about an issue.

I know Impish has an issue already uploaded next Saturday, but the Saturday after Christmas remains up in the air based on his recuperation progress.

My guess is for the holiday period you should expect intermittent Dragon status updates from one source or another perhaps sprinkled with a few comments & comic offerings.