Two - for - One

Today is your lucky day.

Not only am I posting two cookie recipes, which is basically the greatest two-for-one deal since Domino’s did that 2 Times Tuesday Deal (that was a thing, right?). But, in addition to that, I’m so friggin’ tired from workouts and working a long shift today that I’m keeping this short and sweet.

Chocolate and Salted Caramel Sandwich Cookies

I have a bruise the size of a grapefruit on my shin. I’ve been bumping into the corners of walls. I missed a step going downstairs and felt like I was going to plummet to my doom for a split second.

Coming back home has thrown me a bit off kilter. I’m happy as can be to be back where I belong and away from school, but it’s taking some getting used to. My body is used to the dimensions of my apartment. It remembers the feel of the floors. The layout of my kitchen.

Swedish Tea Cakes

I’ve never really been one of those nickname people. The ones who have a different name for every other person they interact with and all those cute stories behind them. Me? Not so much. My family has a few for me (that I really don’t care to share here), but most everyone in my life just calls me Amanda.

That’s it, no frills, nothing special, minimal confusion.

White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha Cookies

I’ve got a bit of a headache today. Nothing major – just a bit of caffeine withdrawal. We all know, I like coffee. A lot. I drink it in the morning to wake me up, in the afternoon to pick me up, and at night to keep me up. Black, with cream, two sugars, no sugar, how I drink it changes all the time.

Obviously, that means I am a sucker for Starbucks (Gold Card Member anyone?) and love everything from just a tall Americano to a fancy, schmancy, frothy, delicious calorie-bomb of a drink. And nothing gets me more excited than when they bring out their seasonally themed treats; starting with Pumpkin Spice in early fall and heralding in winter with lots of Gingerbread and Caramel Brulee lattes.

Triple Hot Chocolate Cookies

There are a select number of distinctions that are very important when it comes to my life decisions. Decaf versus caf (lots and lots of caf). 2 percent or skim. White or multigrain. Hot cocoa or hot chocolate.

Yes, there’s a difference, my friends, a big difference. Hot cocoa is not hot chocolate – it is but a pale imitation of the thick, velvety smooth, creamy, wintertime drink I love so. Hot chocolate is melted chocolate with heavy cream and milk – perfected with a dollop of fresh whipped cream. Hot cocoa comes from a packet and mixed into a glass of lukewarm milk – resulting in a pale grey, chunky, and flat drink.