I get like…intensely intrigued by things. SUCKED into quirky worlds where then I physically can’t stop staring at these little wonders. I picture tiny lego men that have made my eyeballs their home, constantly on the hunt for something random. Once found, they stop navigating and get hooked. It feels like prying away an Elf-on-the-shelf doll from a screaming 4 year old. It doesn’t happen. Transfixed. For someone who is super easily distracted this presents a big problem. Especially when I have to talk to people all day long and be a professional human being. Oh hey, you have something huge in your teeth….and my eyes are literally krazy glued but you have no idea. You must think I love your teeth. Although they’re very nice, that’s not the case right now.

Oh and your button or fly is open. And now you think I’m looking somewhere else totally not for that reason. Or, you seem to have done a big number on your pores last night. I get it, sometimes we look too close in the mirror and it’s like mars attacks with our hands, but then the next day, ie today, it’s totally showing. I’m sorry. I swear I’m not rude. Can you imagine me on a first date? Please brush teeth beforehand.

But the worst of all is cleavage. And at least I know that’s a situation I won’t be encountered with on a first date, ever. When there is cleavage around I’m like…can’t. stop. staring. It’s terrible. It’s like my eyes are laser beams. If you’re my friend then you’ll expect the stare and maybe being gently groped or poked. But with strangers, ay ay ay. I swear I’m not attracted to you but you need to cover those up a little bit, or get a larger bra, or something to alleviate that situation that you’ve got going on there. In the meantime, the lego men have parked, and we’re wide eyed.

So with these obvious little cookies, what do you think I saw when I first saw them? Duh. Why, guava marmalade, must you bake up with a tiny point in the center of this delicious cook? And cornmeal why do you turn brown, giving this cookie not only the form but the exact flesh color of the thing I can’t stop staring at?

Thumbprints are charming enough on their own, but the unexpected cornmeal gives them a nice sandy texture and the guava is characteristically mellow sweet. These are easy to make and fun to poke as you make the thumbprint indentation. See, you get to fondle these too. All in all I thought these were a win and so did my ever-so-missed Boston friends. Usually, people who I stare at somehow disappear due to my creepance, and these cookies, somehow, did the exact same thing.

Cornmeal & guava thumbprint cookies

Adapted from Bon Appetit