Horrid. And yet, oddly addicting.

I thought it would be a nice idea to bake some cookies today. It's cloudy out, and chilly. This recipe for Celestial Oatmeal Cookies sounded yummy, and I was so excited to try my hand at homemade pumpkin puree for the very first time. Except, I decided to modify the ingredients for the cookies just a teensy bit. (Note to self: the addition of chocolate chips does not necessarily equal improvement.) I bit into what I believed would be soft, gooey goodness immediately upon removing them from the oven, and was puzzled to note that they actually tasted...well, sort of odd. I tasted another, just to be sure. Odd, yes, but strangely appealing, too. One more, just for good measure. Hmmm. Definitely different.

A short while later, Dylan politely said to me, "Mommy? I think those cookies are just a little bit strange tasting. Were you supposed to put orange in there?"

"Yes, honey, that's what the recipe said."

"Oh. Well, maybe it's because of the spices. Did you think you were using the best recipe?"

"Well, son, I thought so. But I decided to change things up just a little."

"Well, Mommy," he continued, ever the diplomat, "people do have different tastes! Maybe some people think these are good!"

"You're right!" I responded, biting into yet another. (They were cool by now and sometimes, you know, that makes all the difference.)

Coughing, though, he presses on: "Ummm, but Mommy? Is there anything I can do to get that awful taste out of my mouth?"

"Here," I say, passing him some milk as I pour a glass of my own. (To go with...yes! One more cookie!). "Try this."

"Hey!" he marvels, gulping it down. "It worked! Thanks, mom."

No problem, son. Now, outta my way! I need another cookie. :)