Irresistable -- and Possibly Unsheddable

You know that classic scene from “Friends” where Rachel plants a huge kiss on Ross after seeing the (equally classic) prom video?

(I know you remember. Don’t try to play cool with me. But because it’s that good, here’s the clip on You Tube.)

(And while this has no real connection with the point of my post, I feel compelled to add that Chandler’s line – “How many cameras are on you?” – is one of the best sitcom quips ever penned.)



It’s a timeless story, really. Girl (or boy) has a close but ordinary friend who is as exciting as a comfy pair of bedroom slippers. Then, without warning – blamo! What was previously common suddenly becomes irresistible.

That’s pretty much me and Christmas cookies this year.

I love to cook, and baking Christmas cookies and breads might be my favorite holiday tradition. It’s not unusual for me to make eight or ten or fifteen different varieties so I’ll have a good assortment to give away to friends, teachers, co-workers, grocery baggers, strangers, anyone who stands still long enough for me to shove a plate of cookies at them, etc.

Normally, it’s not a problem for me to have hundreds of cookies in my kitchen, because normally, cookies just don’t do it for me. They aren’t my thing. I can eat a couple. But then -- I'm done. In fact, since my husband doesn’t eat sweets (a post for another time, to be sure), I usually end up throwing away most of the leftover cookies in January simply because I’m tired of looking at them.

But this year? The cookies! OH MY WORD! They are enticing me in ways I never thought possible. I can’t stop eating them. They are buttery little tidbits of heaven, designed explicitly to dance upon my taste buds. I had two Peanut Butter Blossoms before 10:00 AM today – eaten quickly and secretly, I might add, lest my four-year-old son catch me in the act.

My sister, who was pregnant over the holiday season last year, said it was common for her to eat a dozen cookies at a sitting last December. So clearly, it’s the baby.

But baby? It's mama that's going to have to shed these pounds in a few weeks. Please develop a craving for fresh spinach and whole grains. And today, if you don't mind.

Because while the Peanut Butter Blossoms and Frosted Sugar Cookies are done, I'm still working on the Brownie Toffee Biscotti, the Lemon Glazed Spritz, the Mint Chocolate Brownies, the Peppermint Cookies and the (new-this-year) Rugelach.

Oy.

Anyone want some cookies? I hear they ship well.

OH! I almost forgot. Our local Christian radio station threw out an innocent-enough question last week: How do you prefer your Peanut Butter Blossoms -- topped with Hershey's Kisses (as God intended) or with Brach's Chocolate Stars (which are waxy and lifeless)? The resulting brouhaha almost crashed their phone lines. Turns out, people are pretty opinionated about their Peanut Butter Blossoms. So I thought I'd set up a poll here. Which do you prefer? And if you'd like, leave me a comment about your favorite Christmas cookie. Because the sugar -- it's working for me today.