It's become a tradition of sorts for me to bake something for my co-workers for their birthday. This time it was the boss's wife I was baking for, and I know she loves chocolate. So, I decided to make World Peace cookies.

Well... the recipe calls for 1 stick plus 3 tablespoons of butter. I was tired when I made the dough, having had a long day before starting to bake, so I must have been particularly open to the butter queen's vibes! I formed the dough into the logs like I was supposed to, but the dough seemed rather sticky and harder to work with than normal.

Then next morning I prepared to bake the cookies. When you slice the dough, it's supposed to be somewhat crumbly, and the recipe explains this is normal and to just squeeze the dough together as needed. However, this dough sliced very neatly with no trouble at all. Into the oven for 12 minutes. What came out of the oven looked more like the blob from the old Steve McQueen movie. The cookies had run into each other and formed several big pancake like blobs. When they cooled, the chocolate pieces stood up, towering over the crepe thin cookies. What have I done?! I thought and thought, and first considered whether I forgot the baking soda. No, I remember adding it. Maybe I overworked the dough, as it's supposed to barely be handled. I decided that must have been it. I was so relieved I had also gotten her a Starbucks gift card, cause I sure couldn't present her with these cookies.

Later, as I was pouring my cup of coffee for the road, the image of 2 completely empty butter wrappers sitting on the counter appeared in my mind. DUH! Sheesh! I used both entire sticks of butter instead of one stick plus 3 tablespoons. Oh, well, I'll get something made for her and take it to her Monday. As it turned out she was very happy with the gift card. I don't know if there's a lesson in this, but it sure made me laugh at myself!

Sally