My kids laugh at that movie these days because all of the "cutting edge" (for the '90s) technology is so far in the past that it's hard for them to imagine a world where it was uncommon. But for those of us going through the advances as they were happening, it was far too easy to imagine a world where online connections might bring us the kind of convenience--and maybe even the dangers--Sandra Bullock experienced in the movie. Back in the '90s, when the internet was still barely accessed by the public, the movie was as much fantasy as thriller. (I mean, come on... could someone really use that new internet technology stuff to steal someone's identity?? How realistic could that be?) But my dad was a computer genius. He knew a lot more about the capabilities of our tech than most folks. He knew how powerful--even dangerous--it could be. So watching the movie with him added an extra element of "Yikes!" to my viewing experience.
Reading the Tracker series put me right back into that feeling. I really identified with Kaya (whose dad was much like mine!) And because my dad was also the one who taught me to fearlessly experiment with flavors in my cooking (I still think about the chocolate-covered Triscuits we used to make at Christmastime...too bad there's not a gluten-free substitute for a cracker where the only real ingredient is whole wheat!!), I knew I had to come up with a unique KidLit Confections recipe for it! And so I bring you my Broken Chip series of desserts: part 1 and part 2 (because a book with a great sequel deserves a dessert with a great sequel, right?) I was originally planning to post the first recipe last week and the sequel today (to celebrate the release of AUTHORITY, the second book in the series), but life doesn't always go according to plan. So instead you get two for the price of one!
Tracker220
Through thoughts and blinks, Kaya can access anyone or anything on the tracker network. But the authorities monitor everything—where Kaya goes, who she talks to, and what she searches. And without the ability to turn it off, Kaya and her family can’t observe a tech-free Shabbat. To fix the glitch, the authorities slice into her skull to reset her tracker, leaving Kaya to question more than the system’s invasion into her faith.
Kaya won’t be a lab rat again.
Evading the authorities requires some serious tech skills the rogue underground Ghosts can offer. But Kaya’s not sure she can trust them—even if their top tech wiz, Bailen, has interest in her running deeper than her bum tracker. Kaya must decide if gaining freedom is worth losing her tracker’s infinite knowledge—because to take down the tracker network, she must betray the only tech she’s ever known.
And because this book centers around a glitching--or broken--tracker chip, I had to create a chip-centric cookie! This recipe features dark chocolate chips (because semi-sweet isn't quite intense enough to capture the right vibe here) and a coating of crushed potato chips for a surprising, salty crunch.
Broken Chip Cookies
2 c. butter
2 c. brown sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. tapioca starch
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
4 ½ c. gluten-free all-purpose flour
10 oz. dark chocolate chips
5-6 oz. potato chips, crushed
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs, baking soda, salt, tapioca starch, and vanilla. Mix until combined, then turn speed up to high and beat until light and fluffy (at least 3-5 minutes).
Mix in flour, one cup at a time, just until combined. Stir
in dark chocolate chips.
Scoop into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball into potato chip
crumbs, then place on parchment-lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart, and press
lightly to flatten each cookie slightly.
Bake* at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 9 minutes. Let cool
about 5 minutes on tray before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
Makes about 6 dozen cookies – but be sure
to set aside approximately 2 ½ dozen to use in the sequel recipe: Broken Chip
Cheesecakes!
*Optional: Bake a few cookies & freeze the extra cookie dough. Roll
dough balls and flatten slightly. Place cookies on parchment-lined baking sheet
(no space necessary) and freeze for 2-4 hours or overnight. Once frozen,
transfer cookie dough to a large freezer bag and return to your freezer. You
can bake straight from frozen at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-14 minutes.
Freshly-baked cookies anytime you want!
This recipe pairs well with the YA novel TRACKER220 by Jamie Krakover
or its sequel AUTHORITY.
I was lucky enough to read an advance copy of the second book in the series (AUTHORITY) and I loved it maybe even more than I did the first book!
Authority
Her glitch destroyed their system… or so she thought.
It’s been six months since Kaya, Bailen, and the Ghosts leveraged her glitch to destroy the tracker network. With it came the eradication of the authorities and an end to Rufus Scurry’s secret plans to mind control the world. While Kaya appreciates her recovered sense of privacy and newfound connection to Judaism, millions believe life is worse without trackers.
As the Ghosts deploy old technology to fill the void, people around Kaya begin acting strangely—doing things they don’t have control over. Some, like her ex-boyfriend Harlow, are losing time altogether.
When Kaya receives a threat from an unknown user on her deactivated tracker, she seeks to uncover who is behind it and how they are using the old network. But more people are falling victim to the mind control every day, sending Kaya scrambling to end the loophole before she loses everyone she loves to the technology she’s learned to live without.
I've been waiting for months to talk about it with everyone, and now that time is finally here!! Because today (20 August 2024) is the release day!! I wanted to have this blog post ready to publish first thing this morning, but since I didn't get the first part posted last week, I spent all day trying to figure out how to tie the two posts together.
And then I realized I was just overcomplicating things, as I often do. Simply, I loved this book. I was excited to play with the recipe I had created for TRACKER220 and develop it into a more advanced, slightly elevated recipe that still played with the same flavors as the first, with a little more depth and nuance. This one uses the finished Broken Chip Cookies as a crust for a chocolate chip cheesecake that features semi-sweet mini chips--because as they work through the issues and discover ways to work together to fight back against a corrupt system, things are maybe not quite so dark in this second book of the series.
Broken Chip Cheesecakes
1 lb. (2 8-oz. pkgs) cream cheese
3 eggs
¼ c. Greek yogurt
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. lime juice
½ Tbsp. vanilla extract
¼ c. sugar
½ c. powdered sugar
½ c. semi-sweet mini chocolate chips
30 Broken Chip Cookies
1 oz. potato chips, crushed
Set aside 2 Tbsp. from the chocolate chips to use later.
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until soft. Add eggs, yogurt,
lemon and lime juices, vanilla, and sugars. Mix until combined, then turn speed
up to high and beat until smooth, creamy, and slightly fluffy (at least 5
minutes).
Fold in mini chocolate chips (NOT the 2 Tbsp. you reserved
earlier!)
Place 1 cookie each into the bottoms of cupcake liners or
silicone cookie molds. (If using silicone molds or cupcake liners, make sure to
place them on a cookie sheet first—these are difficult to move once filled!) Divide
cheesecake batter evenly.
Makes 30 mini cheesecakes.
Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 35-45 minutes. Let cool about 15 minutes before moving to the fridge to cool completely.
This recipe pairs well with the YA novel TRACKER220 by Jamie Krakover
or its sequel AUTHORITY.
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