Maybe it’s the cold weather. Maybe it’s the lack of daylight. Whatever it is, I seem to develop a cookie craving every December. I thought about whipping up some vegan chocolate chip cookies, but I’ve also been missing my grandpa a lot lately and he made THE BEST chocolate chip cookies ever.** Even though I learned his technique by sticking to him like glue while he baked, I could never make them as good as he did. No one can. And it just makes me miss him even more.
I haven’t had much of a sweet tooth over the last few years,*** but lately I’ve been caving sweet treats. Specifically, I had a hankering for matcha cookies, so I hit up the Google Recipe Box* and found a recipe that looked like it would scratch that itch nicely.
I stayed pretty faithful to the recipe as written but decided to add just a tiny bit of peppermint extract. Peppermint can be overwhelming, so I went with 1/8 teaspoon and it was just right. I think that the next time I make this I’ll use less sugar, but this is definitely going into the regular rotation.
For the holiday week, I’m taking some much-needed PTO and plan to do more cooking and baking (I’m thinking vegan cranberry scones are on the docket, and I’ve been experimenting with creamy soups and sauces using silken tofu) and making more art (got a lot of ideas that need to get out of my head and onto paper and/or a canvas).
I’ve also been cooking up something else which should be launched some time in early 2026.****
But mostly, December has been a month where my body has insisted on slowing down and resting more, and I think that is what we are supposed to do during the winter months. I look outside and I see nature doing the same thing. Trees shed their leaves and prepare for their winter rest. Birds and squirrels fill up or store food during the day to help them through the long nights.
We’re biologically wired to slow down, yet we have somehow bought the story that it has to be the busiest (and often the most stressful and expensive) time of the year.
So anyway, what’s your favorite sweet treat during the holidays?
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*NOT a real thing, as far as I know.
**I will not be taking questions.
***Another thing that The Change took from me, apparently.
****However, I am contemplating a soft launch before the New Year…