Long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away. Wait. No. It was last month and in my kitchen, I made three batches of spectacular cookies and sent them off to last year's reigning Cookie Queen and her co-judges and waited. Lots of people sent in cookies and we waited. Trash got talked, people backed out and we waited. And waited. Finally the call has come down from on high!
Today I have been crowned the newest Cookie Queen. The competition was fierce (see Jennifer's post for the links to everyone's entries) and I'm proud to have baked alongside all of these people. I'm especially excited to eat some of these people's cookies next year (especially you Mandos - seriously, I want some of that brittle). The runners-up are Team Chicago (of Shannon, Officer Gleason and Von), and I'm pumped to co-judge with them all next year.
I want to thank my parents for the use of their beautiful kitchen, my sister for her inspiration and the beautiful people of the epicurious and Orangette for their recipes.
Stories and photos from San Francisco to come later. The photos here are from when I was baking my award-winning cookies.
Congratulations, Your Highness,
I know for a fact that you make brain-happy cookies!! I hope your new royalty doesn't mean that a lowly peasant like me can't hang with you.
Posted by: Sharon | January 23, 2008 at 04:10 AM
Claire- enjoy your reign! Will you bestow Frank with an honorary title?
Posted by: Jennifer | January 23, 2008 at 06:58 AM
Congrats, Queen Claire!
It's good to be Queen.
Posted by: blue girl | January 23, 2008 at 07:31 AM
All Hail the Queen. Is it good to be Queen? We're looking forward to judging/drinkin'/plotting with you Claire! Congrats!
Posted by: Von | January 23, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Contrary to Mandos' musings, it is the simple cookies, made well and with a personal touch, that are most memorable.
Not some exotic foreign delicacy, tasted onc and never deliberated on.
A chocolate chip, or yes, an Oatmeal, is endlessly compared and evaluated; everybody has numerous examples to compare to, and inferior work shows.
Well played, Claire.
But be aware; here in the Colonies we are taught to not be obsequious, nor even necessarily polite, towards royalty.
Posted by: billy pilgrim | January 23, 2008 at 02:51 PM
But be aware; here in the Colonies we are taught to not be obsequious, nor even necessarily polite, towards royalty.
Don't BG and I know it!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 23, 2008 at 06:31 PM
Oh BP, let them eat cake.
I'm fully prepared (or so I think) for the peasants to revolt at some point.
Posted by: Claire | January 23, 2008 at 08:53 PM
Cookie Queen, here's looking at you. Bravo!
take care, g
Posted by: gracia | January 24, 2008 at 01:21 AM
congrats, Ms. Cookie Queen!
Posted by: almostinfamous | January 24, 2008 at 08:42 AM