A New Cookie Jar in St. Louis, Missouri

There is a new cookie queen in the St. Louis area. Well, maybe not exactly new, because she has been baking cookies and other sugary, chocolate delights for over twenty-five years now. But she is new in the sense that she is now offering her scrumptious creations to the public and not just the lucky family and friends. I'm speaking of Chell of Chell's Cookie Jar.

Chell has always had a dream of one day opening her own little shop, nestled away in some little discreet corner of the universe, baking her cookies, brownies, and cakes for all to enjoy. After all her battle cry is, "Life's short. Eat cookies." Then this past summer, she was asked to cater a reception. Then another gig came along. As the demand for her cookies and such grew, Chell decided it was time to move forward and go public.

To Chell the process -if one dare call it a mere process- is more than a compilation of ingredients in a bowl, mixing them, and then scooping the concoction onto a cookie sheet with a spoon and then pitching it into the oven at a certain temperature for a certain time. Quite the contrary for she carries a passion in her heart for her art much the same as any of the great masters had when putting a brush to canvas. She can be spotted scurrying around town shopping at a new supply outlet which offers a higher quality of the ingredients necessary to perfect a recipe.

I have had the opportunity to sample a few of the delicious morsels that have come out of her oven. I have shared them with family, friends, and co-workers and they all agree that the Lady knows what she is doing. A butter cookie means just that; you taste the butter. Six of her brown sugar frosted cookies and a quart of milk take me to cookie heaven. The lemon-ricotta cheese cookie with icing makes the mouth water for more. Take along one or two of the Monster cookies (oatmeal, peanut butter, raisins, nuts, M&M, and chocolate chip) on a long hike through the woods. and I assure you that your energy level will rise. Then there is Chellie Pies. Two red velvet cake like cookies, a cream cheese center and then the edges are rolled in chopped pecans make for a dessert that will more than satisfy your quest for the ultimate after dinner treat or late night snack.

Don't just take my word for it. After all, I may be a bit biased because I am really not a cookie person, but these treats send me toward Nirvana. Visit www.chellscookiejar.com for all the info you need.