½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or milk chocolate chips, or white chocolate chips—it’s your choice)

6 Tablespoons juice, milk, or liqueur

Before you start, lay out sheets of wax paper and place the completely cooled cookies close together on the wax paper.

Place the chips and the liquid you chose in a microwave-safe bowl and heat them on HIGH for 30 seconds.

Let the bowl sit for at least 15 seconds and then stir it smooth with a spoon or a heat-resistant spatula. If you can’t stir it smooth and the chips are still lumpy, microwave the mixture in 20-second intervals until you can stir it smooth.

Check the consistency of your mixture. If it’s too thick to drizzle, add additional liquid until it’s the proper drizzling consistency. If it’s too thin, add a few more chips and microwave again until those are melted and can be stirred into the drizzling mixture.

Place the bowl right next to the wax paper with the cookies and use a big spoon to drizzle the cookies with lines of chocolate sweetness. You can go all one way to make parallel lines or you can drizzle lines that crisscross each other. The design is up to you.

Let the chocolate drizzle harden on top of the cookies and then store them between sheets of wax paper in a cool, dry place.

Yield: One batch of Airy Berry Cookies makes about 2 and ½ dozen cookies.

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

“Oooh! Pretty!” Michelle said, coming into the kitchen just as Hannah was taking the last pan of cookies out of the oven. “What are those?”

“Airy Berry Cookies. We’re having them for dessert with ice cream.”

“Do you think there’s enough for one more?”

“Let me guess. Lonnie’s coming?”

“Yes. He just sent me a text message.”

“And you told him yes?”

“No. I said I’d find out and let him know.”

“Then text him back and tell him to come. Norman’s bringing enough pizza and salad for eight.”

“Eight? Who else is coming?”

“Mother and Doc. Mother called to ask if they could come. And Norman thinks Mike will show up, and possibly Andrea if she wants to avoid Bill when he gets home.”

Michelle laughed. “Norman’s probably right. Mike always seems to come over when we’re eating, and Andrea’s still mad at Bill.”

Hannah put the last pan of cookies on a wire rack to cool and turned to look at her sister. “You’d better text Lonnie and then grab a quick shower before he gets here. You’re all sweaty.”

“That’s because I had a great workout. I tried out everything the manual said your machine could do.”

“Did it live up to its claims?”

“Yes. It’s really an amazing all-in-one gym, Hannah. Wait until Lonnie sees it. He’s going to be really envious.”

“Does Lonnie know a lot about exercise machines?”