Day 12: Alfajores con Dulce de Leche

¡Feliz Viernes! Happy Friday!

Today is also the last day, Day 12, of my 12 Days of Christmas Cookies. Are you a bit sad? Well, don't be because I saved a very special cookie to share with you today: alfajores con dulce de leche.

The first time I had alfajores was when I was traveling in Peru during their wintertime. Practically everyday, my friend and I would brave the cold night and walk to the local bakery down the street from our living quarters and pick out our daily pastries, alfajores included. Near the end of our time in Peru, we discovered mini alfajores being sold in a bakery in the town square. Those were the best ones I've had yet. I couldn't get enough of them and managed to bring some home with me, savoring them for as long as possible down to the very last crumb. That was a few years ago. But fortunately, I recently came across this recipe, and it is very close to the ones that I found in the town square.

Day 11: Classic Sugar Cookies with Icing

The first time I experienced snowfall was on my 20th birthday, early spring in Yosemite National Park. Light little fluffs, drifting in the wind. Light little cotton puffs, falling on my skin. The first and only time, thus far, that I've seen freshly fallen snow. It was magical.

Someday, I hope to encounter specks large enough to see the unique lines of real snowflakes. In the meantime, these snowflake sugar cookies will have to do. Just like my first snowfall, these are my very first sugar cookies and also my first time decorating. So take it easy on me; it's definitely going to take awhile get the hang of it. I don't really know what real snowflakes look like. My imagination can only stretch so far.

Day 10: Cream Cheese Cinnamon Swirl Cookies

Twirly, swirly, cinnamon spun

I am now ready for some holiday fun

Hump day is over, and I am already ready for the weekend, per my usual banter. I can't wait to watch cheesy Christmas movies, drink hot chocolate, and eat, eat, eat cookies, cakes, and tamales.

Okay, I take that back...I may take it easy on the cookies this time around because, as you can assume, I've been eating cookies everyday for the past week and a half. Just need to cut back on the sugar a tad bit. I've never had such a constant flow of sweets at home before and it's been a bit overwhelming. I usually keep it out of the house to prevent from overeating. As of late, the majority of the time I'm trying to finish as much of the cookies as I can just so they don't become stale. Those aren't fun to eat. Actually, a couple of stale cookies might be salvageable with a good cup of coffee.

Day 9: Andes Crème de Menthe Cookies

Do you remember the other day when I talked about being surprised that my friend didn't like chocolate? Well, in related news, I've never heard anyone refer to the feeling of eating mint flavored goods (pastries, candies, ice cream, etc.) as feeling like you're eating toothpaste. Well, The Dude has and that's how he feels. I'd like to believe that mint is a generally enjoyed flavor, but I guess for some it's not.

Day 8: Oatmeal Cranberry Raisin Cookies

Surprises can be quite awesome sometimes. But other times, they can be pretty terrible.

Like when I got this Polly Pocket Magical Mansion playset for Christmas. Awesome.

This thing lights up! The dance floor. It. Lights. Up. Can you believe this thing? Then I found out my cousin got the same playset too. So whenever I went over to her place, I still got to play with this truly magical mansion. I was never without my Polly Pocket.

Then there was a time when I was running around at school and I slipped and fell. I thought my ankle was sprained when I couldn't walk right after I got up. Turns out I had actually fractured it. Terrible.

And not only that, but I had to hobble around with crutches for about 2 months, close to the start of summer.