Who doesn't love a cookie?

I baked cookies all day today for a fundraiser at the school where I work. Mainly chocolate chip, but I threw in some sugar and "cowboy" (with oatmeal, chocolate, nuts, and the like) for good measure.

I have been MONDO stressed out lately, but there is something about baking that relaxes the heck out of me. Yes, as corny as it sounds, the measuring and mixing and timing and yummy smells somehow help me harness my chi. I can't explain it.

Maybe it has something to do with me always having a knack for baking. Cooking, I'll admit, I have had to seriously work on to become what can legitimately be considered "good." With baking, though, I have been a winner from day one. That's a good feeling.

I am sure it is very strange for some of you probably reading this to envision me cooking almost every night, and baking for functions where the stuff will actually be sold. All I can say is ... I'm still getting used to it myself. I have had great success with a lot of my recipes lately. Maybe I'll share some of them on here one day.

In the meantime, I am going to watch some Man V. Food on The Travel Channel before bed. (Oh, how I love The Travel Channel these days!) Andrew Zimmern (sp?) is my favorite! He eats some crazy-nasty stuff, but it's interesting to me to see about cultures across the globe by way of food. And the Man V. Food guy ... I realize he gets paid to torture himself via food, but ... WOW, that guy takes on some insane eating challenges. Yowzers!

(In closing, I'm going to write a more "update-ish" type post tomorrow. Lots going on, most of which I still don't know much about. The rest, however, I will fill everyone else in on.)