December 05th, 2018

Yesterday was National Cookie Day! If ever there was a day created especially for me, This would be IT!

Don't get me wrong, National Ice Cream Day is another one I vote yes on.  And National Donut Day is a darned good one too.  I understand that this coming Saturday is National Brownie Day and that sounds like a good idea too.  But Cookies and Sam go together like, well Chocolate and Sam I suppose. Do you notice how the days of note that I relate to are all about food?  And not healthy good for you food, like, oh, I don't know, kale maybe?  National Kale Day does not equal Sam.  I do not like kale.  I do however like broccoli and National Broccoli Day is not really me either. Hmm. Interesting.

And yes, that photo is me scarfing down the last of the gingerbread men cookies.  The very last of any cookie is always the best. Specifically because it is the last and I know that I won't be making them again until next Christmas.  Gotta savour that last one. 

My gingerbread people or bears or snowmen or whatever I end up making are not actually gingerbread.  (Gasp!)  Nope, they are made from a very old molasses cookie recipe that I got from my Nana which she got from her grandmother and I have no idea where it started before that. So let me see, that's at least 5 generations back.  It's a damn fine cookie and perfect for making gingerbread whatevers because they aren't as hard as a rock which I find most other official "gingerbread" people cookies to be.  It's a soft but substantial bite with plenty of gingery snap and chewy with molasses.  It rolls out mighty fine and stands up to shipping.  Got nothin' to argue about there.   I suppose I could call them molasses cookie people for accuracy sake, but I don't.  

Cookies are created in individual portions.  There is no question about the size of it.  When a cake or a pie is set before me, I always wonder how big or small to cut a slice.  Cookies are the size they are. Period.  Each one is a single serving. 

Cookies are wonderfully portable.  They fit in a pocket, in a purse, in a lunchbox or sack, a briefcase, a suitcase, a carryall, a backpack or any other thing in which you might place something small.  And honestly, even if one is broken, it still tastes good.

Cookies require no utensils. None.  No fork, no spoon, no knife.  Cookies do not require plates either.  Not china, not plastic, not paper, not tin. And in fact, if you don't mind wiping crumbs onto your trouser leg (or your friend's trouser leg)  even a napkin is optional.

AND because cookies are so adorably small, even if you've just eaten a good meal and you are full but you still have a craving for some teensy tiny sweet, there is always room for that little cookie in your belly to satisfy you.  Where a piece of cake or pie or even ice cream might put you right over the edge and so you say "No thank you" when you really want to say, "Yes please" and then you lay awake, too full and miserable but still craving something sweet.  Been there.

Then too there is the seemingly infinite variety of cookies available.  There is something for everyone.  While I have known people who disliked pizza  (???)  or ice cream (?????) I have never known anyone who didn't like some sort of cookie at least once in awhile.

There are cookies for every occasion as well.  Every Holiday is cookie worthy naturally and any gathering deserves them of course.  I have even seen cookies at weddings, bar mitzvahs and graduations.  Our neighborhood has a monthly gathering they call, Drinks on the Drive. A different person hosts each time and every attendee brings a little something to share.  Most people bring appetizer type things which are lovely.  I always bring cookies.  A different one each time.  And I always bring home an empty container ;)  Makes me happy.

So, here's to cookies!  Hope Everyone Got to Celebrate National Cookie Day!  If you missed it this year, no worries, circle the day on the calendar so that next year you don't forget.