Bad Cookies?

Can a holiday cookie be bad? Recently I tasted someone's much labored holiday cookie platter. It was full of so many varieties, I couldn't help but calculate the time involved in preparing such a spread. They warmly offered the cookies: a gesture of giving. None were particularly attractive. The flavors of each one had partially rubbed off on the others beside it, and some looked somewhat dry and crumbly. Nonetheless, I sampled. Cookies are my specialty, so I am not an easy critic. Sharing cookies with The Baker's Lady is like offering a prayer to the Pope - I already have my fair share. Yet, while they may not have been coveted recipes, I enjoyed each bite I had. This person offered their hard work on a plate for me to enjoy. They offered them willingly and humbly. So as we enjoy one another's holiday givings, no matter what it is, consider more than just the appearance and take a bite of what's inside.

Cookie Lessons

On the surface, cookies are a simple dessert. They are made up of all the traditional elements used in baking--butter, sugar, flour and so forth. Yet in them is a sort of magic. In minutes, a cold dough is transformed to a melt-in-your-mouth, chocolate-oozing, close-your-eyes-in-delight respite. They have the power to turn sadness into satisfaction and a boring afternoon into a holiday. Some of the greatest lessons I have learned have involved baking cookies. Once, after baking into the wee hours of the night on December 23rd, I awoke the next morning to find an army of ants had invaded and attacked my gorgeous platter. After a few tears and a thorough spraying of raid, did I give up on my holiday giving? No, I threw away the disastrous remains and started again. In addition to instilling in me a sense of resilience in moments of crisis, I have learned to relish simple pleasures, and on occasion, take time for myself because I deserve it. While I have learned about disappointment as I scraped the burnt edges off of a batch after forgetting to set a timer, I also learned about the thrill of adventure when I tasted new flavors and tried new recipes. As I began to create my own recipes, I learned that not every attempt works the way you hope, but some are a homerun. True to all lessons in life, some are indeed bitter to swallow, but that just makes the taste of success that much sweeter. Tell us about the lessons you have learned from baking.

Holiday Baking with Ease

Isn't the idea of easy holiday baking an oxymoron? While baking cookies during the holidays certainly adds another item to the to-do list, for many people it is the only time of the year that they put their sheet pans to work and reward themselves with homemade treats. Approaching the season's baking as an opportunity to try something new and relish in the festivities allows you to shift the tradition from an obligation to a delicious moment. Along with a good attitude, there are also a few tricks that will allow you to create homemade cookies with a little less stress. Number 1) Make your dough ahead of time and store it in the freezer. Place the dough in plastic wrap and roll into a log shape. Place the wrapped dough in a Ziplock bag and label it with the flavor and date. The frozen dough will last for a couple of months. When you are ready to bake, just slice the dough and place it onto your cookie sheets straight from the freezer. In addition to saving time during the hectic shopping season, you can bake only what you need and save the leftovers for another day. Number 2) Limit the varieties you make. While it's great to have a selection of cookies displayed carelessly on a platter, the more varieties, the more work. Select a favorite flavor and make it every year. If you have time, make a second variety that changes every year so you can try new recipes. 3) Choose simple recipes. Drop cookies take the least amount of time, so consider making them instead of a cutout or a very complex recipe. 4) When all else fails, take the Cake Doctor's advice and apply it to cookies. Add Chai spice to pre-made sugar cookie dough, or dried cherries to a dark chocolate chunk flavor. Although not nearly as good as the real thing, just about any cookie takes good hot, so make them as close to eating time as possible.