Cookie Envy

Madame Cookie Baker 

She's ready to roll.

The dough that is.

I may be experiencing cookie envy. This is not the same thing as Cookie Monster wanting another person's cookie. This involves Christmas baking and could mean the difference between a plate of exquisite macaroons, detailed gingerbread men and perfectly puffed meringues or misshapen Amish church cookies that should be in the shapes of Christmas trees, cows, music notes or hearts, but instead look like the art of Picasso in a variety of blobs with randomly placed chocolate chips.
(See Exhibit A)

Exhibit A

 I like making cookies. (Who am I kidding? I like eating the cookies.) The taste always takes me back to my childhood and my mom making these cookies. I loved the fact that they had to be rolled out and we got to use her cookie cutters in the shapes of a bunny, hen and Scottie dog. She'd add just one chocolate chip per cookie (for the eye) and they were just the best. And I do not remember any blob shaped cookies. Ever. (See Exhibit B for a sampling of the umpteen dozen that my mom and my sister Kim made the other day)

Or the beautifully decorated and perfectly shaped confections my sister Roxanne made.

 (See Exhibit B)

Exhibit B

I think part of the appeal in baking Christmas cookies is the nostalgic feeling it brings. Floured counters, wooden rolling pin, cookie cutters in all variety of shapes (some of which I've never used, like a tooth shaped one. What is that about?? Of course, my blob shaped cookies could be misconstrued as the tooth.)

In the end, I could see a few star shapes here and there. And I had to overlook and overcook at least one batch. We are just calling those "biscotti". Ahem.  I mean, anything tastes better dipped in coffee first thing in the morning, eh?

Love, 

Dianne