Won't Anyone Think of the Cookies?

Every year as Christmas approaches, people are busy thinking about their friends and families. They gather for parties and enjoy delicious food that has a place as a family tradition or is so indulgent that it can only make an appearance once a year. Cookies in particular are something that are made in huge quantities to be given as gifts and enjoyed as dessert.

But please, this year, think twice about how you treat your cookies.









And for the love of God, don't leave stray glasses of milk around. It can only lead to disaster.

This PSA was brought to you by Take Back the Cookie Jar - Gingerbread Men Against Violence.

300 Apples

I can't stop laughing over this. Makes me want to stay away from bottled drinks...

I have to say, for a classics nerd, food geek, and film buff like myself, this is a pretty perfect video.

A Holiday Hack

What to do when you need to make cookies for class and you're too busy to even think about pulling out the jar of flour? Dress up an already-awesome cookie.


Trader Joe's Peppermint Jo-Jos are a holiday-only treat, and I can't stop eating them. They taste like Girl Scout Thin Mints, but they look like Oreos, and they have the perfect blend of chocolate and peppermint.

I didn't, however, just want to bring a box of them to class. I wanted it to look as if I at least gave a thought to what I was bringing.


So out came the semi-sweet chocolate and the candy canes. Each cookie got a little chocolate bath before a receiving a sprinkling of crushed red and white jewels. This couldn't have been easier (well, I could have done without burning my first batch of chocolate, but it was late, what do you want from me?) and they couldn't look prettier. Not too pretty to eat, though, believe me.

Update 12/7/07 - During class, my teacher picked one of these up and started to gesture with it as he spoke. He took a bite and then stopped talking. "I'm sorry," he said, looking at the cookie, "but I'm distracted by all this peppermint." Mine were the only treats to be finished off before the end of the night.

Send a Holiday eCookie

This morning, I had a great email waiting for me from my friend Sarah - a cookie ecard from Betty Crocker.

The website allows you to decorate six different cookie shapes with a huge array of frosting colors and sprinkles. You can use it as a chance to try out your decorating techniques before the onslaught of real cookies in the next few weeks. Plus, it's much neater than messing up your own kitchen. When you finish, you can email your creation to a friend. Completed cookies are displayed on the front page of the site for others to enjoy.

Not only is this tons of fun to play around with, but Betty Crocker is also donating ten cents for each cookie created to Toys for Tots... so get decorating!

Christmas Popcorn

Yeah, I even put food on my tree.

Butternut Squash Couscous

It was post-Thanksgiving week, and there were no leftovers in sight, one of the downfalls to going to someone else's house for a holiday. So for lunchs this past week, I set out to create something with a "holiday leftover" feel (without it going bad by the end of the week, of course).

I couldn't be happier with how this dish turned out. I was so busy at work this week, I ended up eating every lunch at my desk every day, and it was great to have this waiting in the fridge. Thank goodness I have my "I heart Jim" mug to look at.


Butternut Squash Couscous

1 lb butternut squash, diced
10-15 pearl onions, halved
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup water
1 tsp olive oil
1 cup whole wheat couscous
3 sprigs thyme
sea salt

Toss squash and onions in 1 Tbsp olive oil. Roast in oven at 425 degrees for about 30 minutes or until squash is tender.

While squash is roasting, heat water and 1 tsp olive oil until boiling. Add couscous and remove from heat. Stir to make sure all the grains are coated, then cover and let stand 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

Combine squash and onions with couscous in a bowl. Add the leaves from thyme sprigs, plus a large pinch of salt, and mix to incorporate. Add a splash of olive oil if the mixture is too dry. Keeps well all week.

Tastes like Gummi Bears!

One of the students in my office walked by my desk yesterday, back from a trip to Super 88, with a wicked grin and a bright green bottle. "What to try some?" she asked as she headed towards the fridge. "It's goo-ooood. Tastes like gummi bears."

Oh, well when you put it like that...

Needs vodka, though.