Cookie Devotion - Recipe Included :)

Yahoo, there they are! I spot the disaster relief workers I've been hoping to run into and thank for their tireless efforts to clean up so many towns in the region in the wake of October's ruthless Nor'easter. I'm taking The Santa Hat for a walk around the neighborhood on a recent sparkling day. When I ask the relief worker where he's from, he drawls Arkansas with a shy smile. A long way from home.

After I thank him and his coworker for all they've done, I'm ruminating about how long they've been on the road. I'm surprised out of my reverie by the friendly call of the driver of the car behind the truck. He leans out his window, shouting "Ho ho ho, Santa!" with a smile. I thought he'd been unable to pass the huge truck, but it turns out he's the monitor for these guys. He's thanking ME for thanking all of them. I guess some folks have been appreciative and others not. Wow, really?

I ask the monitor where they'll be next, quickly formulating in my mind a sprint home to bring them back some Christmas cookies. Which I set out to do, Santa Hat bobbing around my head in a happy dance. Quick thank you note, cookies on a paper plate, dash off in my sleigh :).

They're gone! I decide to continue to scope out the neighborhood and finally spot the monitor's car. I pull over and give him the cookies. I wave a thank you to all as the workers give me a thumb's up and devour a cookie each (yes, they're still working). LOVE THAT! Love another random connection made. Maybe even made someone smile. Santa Hat + cookies=good. A pretty straightforward recipe.

Did I mention that I love to bake? Well, it bears repeating. It's not just that you end up with something yummy to eat (ideally). It's about the alchemy. You mix up some powders and liquids, and something ineffably you, and bake or refrigerate. And voila! The house is bathed in sweet aromas and anticipation.

It's about the creativity. You fiddle with the recipe or correct a mistake midstream. Or even follow the recipe slavishly. You're MAKING something! So cool. Maybe you're even learning about yourself and how you go about making something, how flexible you are, and how you deal with failure – and success.

And baking is about expressing love. To family, friends, coworkers, and complete strangers at a bake sale or a soup kitchen. Cookies are my hands down favorite treat to make. At this time of year, I am especially prolific. I love sharing the cookie wealth at parties and meetings, but also at firehouses and homeless shelters. People's surprised smiles – the best gift there is.

When I ran into the house last week, hurrying to put a plate of cookies together for the hard-working disaster relief crew so far from home, I was glad again that I had already cranked up the cookie making. Fresh cookies at the ready. After I returned home from the cookie mission, I told my husband that the crew was about to finish up in the neighborhood. My husband lamented that we still had not disposed of the large tree sprawled across the front lawn after the October storm.

Quickly mobilizing, my husband, my daughter and I rushed outside to pry, leverage, roll and cajole the unwieldy, very heavy tree down the hill to the curb. And who would be rounding the corner for a last sweep but the relief workers! Kismet. Or karma. When they saw it was I, they called out hearty thank you's. And the monitor fellow earnestly asked for my cookie recipe. Which I ran in and copied for him.

And here it is for you (the original inspiration was in America Cooks, but I've tinkered with that). These are so easy – and tasty. Enjoy!

Chinese New Year Cookies:
1. In top of double saucepan, combine 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips with 1 cup peanut butter chips. Heat over hot (not boiling) water, and stir frequently till melted. (It's really important not to let the chocolate get too hot or it will burn and be unusable).
2. Remove the pan from heat and stir in 1 cup of salted peanuts and 1 3.5 ounce can of crunchy Chow Mein noodles.
3. Drop by teaspoonful (or tablespoonful for larger ones) on waxed paper and allow to cool.
NOTES from my experience: You can substitute 1 cup butterscotch bits for peanut butter bits (cookies will be sweeter). Also, you can increase the ratio of chocolate to peanut butter or butterscotch, and even increase the amount of noodles somewhat. I've also substituted bittersweet chocolate for semisweet. Just make sure there's enough choc./p.b. to coat the dry ingredients. Also, I actually melt the chocolate and peanut butter bits in my Calphalon pan, but I keep the heat really low and stir constantly. Makes about 3-4 dozen depending on size spoon used.