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.

Day 7: Homemade Berry Newtons

Another wet and wintry day, another reason to stay cooped up indoors again. Thus, I am so glad I did not have work today and got all my errands done yesterday.

I've been lacking sleep for this past week and unfortunately did not get the opportunity to catch up on it this weekend. That state between dreamland and reality is a funny feeling. I can hear and respond when I am being spoken to but for the life of me, cannot get up and get moving. When I finally do, every movement is without thought and focus.

Day 6: Melt-In-Your-Mouth Buttermilk Chocolate Cookies

I have a friend I met back in college that once told me something I thought was interesting. He told me that he didn't like chocolate. This news kind of took me by surprise. I mean, I understand that not everyone can like the same kinds of things, obviously. But I guess I just assumed that everyone liked chocolate, and those that stayed away from it were either: 1. allergic to it, 2. unhappy that they broke out with acne from it, or 3. afraid of putting on an unhealthy amount of weight from eating too much of it. He just didn't like it because it wasn't sweet, as opposed to vanilla.

Day 5: Melt-In-Your-Mouth Soft Almond Cookies

Freaky Friday is finally here! Alright, alright, more like Frumpy Friday is happening right now. At this point, all I want to do is change into something comfortable and lounge-y, and start getting to work with the sugars and flour. So today will be short and sweet.

Day 4: Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Another cold and possibly rainy weekend coming up. Another reason to just stay in bed all day.

Last night's downpour and this morning's drizzle made me think of how much I used to love the rain as a kid. Thunderstorms were the best and if there was lots of lightning, even better. Those were the perfect times to huddle in your blanket fort and read ghost stories.

However, the on-again-off-again scatter of rain these past few weeks were more of an inconvenience. Driving in heavy rain, at night, on the freeway, with my less-than-great eyesight (I do have up-to-date contacts/glasses! But this astigmatism is just killing me...) is one of the scariest feats ever. I am forever grateful whenever I manage to get home in one piece. I know, my exaggeration is ridiculous, but somewhat recently it was really scary when the rain was coming down in sheets and I realized then that I really needed to get my windshield wipers replaced. From that point, I didn't like the rain that much anymore. It slows everything and everyone down. I then end up not being able to do things as efficiently. I guess that totally makes me an adult now.

Day 3: Butter Pecan Cookies

What a special day in history. Like most everyone else has already noted, Happy 12/12/12! And also, Happy Hump Day! Hooray for Wednesdays! But with this day now over, I definitely can't wait to roll into the weekend.

The only thing I'm not looking forward to for the weekend, though, is my dentist appointment. Usually, going in for a regular check-up is a non-issue. Sometimes I actually enjoy it, getting to leave with a mouth full of extra squeaky clean pearly whites. This time, however, I know I have a cavity that needs to be filled. A cavity. I have never had a cavity before as an adult. Never. And I've only had one cavity in my lifetime; I was 5 years old, if I remember correctly. It just feels daunting having to go in and get a filling. I can only hope I never get another cavity, ever again.

Day 2: Peanut Butter Cookies

Today was one of those days. One of those that felt a bit off. Not to sound negative, but something wasn't sitting right with me today. I wasn't sure whether it was me or something in the air. I kept going over it in my head, whether I had forgotten to do something for work or whether I had forgotten something else important. Couldn't think of a thing.

Day 1: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yes, I know...what a shame that I've put on my invisibility cloak for the last few weeks once again. This time, however, I do have an unfortunate excuse. The weekend of Thanksgiving, I was all ready to share my new favorite macaroni and cheese recipe and talk about pies. And all the while in the frenzied midst of baking cookies the night after Thanksgiving, I accidentally spilled soda on my laptop.

*fizz*

*PEW!*

*silence*

My laptop shut down before I could even react.

Before I could even unplug it.

Before I could even do anything.

Before I could even process what had just happened.