ON NATIONAL COOKIE DAY

I didn't even know such a day existed. But here, on my desk calendar that I got for free, today is clearly labeled "National Cookie Day." I feel like it should also be a banking holiday, but I don't have the power to declare that just yet.

When prompted, I usually give "chocolate chip cookies" as the answer to questions about dessert preferences. I mean, I don't like pie or cheesecake or most anything (I'm so picky!), so cookies seem like the safest bet. Of course, I prefer my mom's the best (the Nestle Toll House recipe minus the salt), but it's really hard to have a BAD chocolate chip cookie. I prefer soft ones, but sometimes I crave regular Chips Ahoy. If you want to mix some M&M's or walnuts in there, that's cool too. I would not recommend making chocolate chip cookies and substituting Mint M&M's, however - that's an unusual flavor that ruins both cookie and Mint M&M. A good combination? Anything that makes up a "skillet cookie" - fresh cookie plus ice cream. Oh, man, if only I weren't still conscious about my weight...

I also like my mom's sugar cookies, which were always a big hit on our weekend getaways with other families from our church. Ditto for her "Rocky Road" cookies, which are basically chocolate cookies with a marshmallow melted on the top. Also delicious - those peanut butter cookies with the Hershey Kiss in the middle. (I always save the Hershey Kiss for last.) I can handle oatmeal, but don't like oatmeal raisin as much as you would think (given my love for Raisin Bran Crunch).

However, I don't like Oreo cookies at all. I don't know that I ever have. I enjoy the filling part, but the cookie part just doesn't appeal to me. Because of this, I also tend to avoid "cookies and cream flavored" anything - ice cream, Hershey bar, prophylactic. I don't care to dunk the cookies, I don't like that they have a million different variations - yesterday I saw "Banana Split" Oreos. That's like six kinds of disgusting.

Anyways, Happy National Cookie Day, and be sure to celebrate however you feel is most appropriate. Cookie Carols, Cookie-O-Lanterns, Cookie fireworks...whatever. Just make sure you let cookies know how much you appreciate them.

PS As a child, I was terrified of Sesame Street's Cookie Monster.