Ode to Cookies

Tired of listening to the ongoing debate about the state of the auto industry? Or the state of the housing market? Then read what Slate's Sara Dickerman has to say about the state of the cookie. Here are some of her observations and declarations:

It's hard to imagine a world without Thin Mints! Although everyone I know is cutting back in one way or another, I think this could still be a good year for cookies.

. . . over the past decade or so we've watched our chocolate get better, our access to organic eggs and higher-fat butter grow, and our sugar options diversify.

And on the subject of sugar and butter and health: Dorie and David, I agree that cookies can be part of a healthful diet, even as I stay wary of "healthy" cookies. For the most part, I've been doing my best to replace mediocre sweets with smaller bites of more intensely flavored goodies. One delicious square of brownie is better — and, I wager, better for you — than omega-3 fortified biscuits by the handful.

Everybody raves about chocolate chip cookies and oatmeal cookies, but I would still take a molasses cookie or a butterscotch-ice box cookie over them any day.