Cookie Queen Janet Keeler Talks Cookbook Inspiration

On a weekly basis, St. Petersburg Times food and travel editor Janet Keeler serves up mealtime inspiration and transports readers to far-flung places. From a Greek-style menu for the family to a story about famed Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi, Keeler takes us there.

Yet it's the simple hand held mainstay of sweets — the cookie — that Keeler devotes an entire book to.

Keeler's "Cookielicious" was published last year and features 150 cookie recipes accompanied by colorful, vibrant photos of each cookie. The tasty selections come from readers' submissions over the years and some of Keeler's own creations.

Keeler will be on hand at Apron's Cooking School at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, to discuss the book and demonstrate her cookie making skills. On the menu for her Apron's appearance: Dipped gingersnaps, lemon raspberry thumbprints, Mexican hot-chocolate balls, rosemary shortbread and cranberry-orange cookies.

Westchase Patch recently caught up with Keeler to discuss the business of cookies. Here's what we learned.

Patch: How old were you when you learned to bake cookies; who taught you?

Keeler: I basically taught myself. I was in college when I first made the standard chocolate chip cookie recipe from the back of the Nestle's bag of chocolate chips. But what has really honed my skills is nearly 10 years of testing cookies for the St. Petersburg Times' annual Christmas cookie issue, which runs Nov. 30 this year.

Patch: You're quite an accomplished food and travel writer. Why focus on cookies for this book?

Keeler: Thank you for that nice compliment! It's funny that I am writing and talking about cookies so much because I think of myself as more of a cook than a baker. Given the choice, cookies or lasagna, I'll always take lasagna. Sort of like Garfield the cat! But cookies hold a lot of power. Everyone loves them, and many people have special memories of cookies at Christmas.

Patch: What inspired you to write the book?

Keeler: The readers of the St. Petersburg Times and their passion for cookies were my inspiration. Since 2002, readers have been sharing their favorite holiday cookie recipes, and many are sent in with lovely stories attached. Some of them have really made me tear up.

Patch: I read that you gathered and tested about 5,000 cookie recipes. How did you decide on the 150 that are featured in the book?

Keeler: Most of the recipes in the book come from the annual cookie issue, and some are original recipes of mine. Readers have submitted about 5,000 over the years, and we've tested about 275. For the book, once I decided on the five chapters, I simply went through the cookies we'd run over the years and figured out how they fit in. We didn't have enough for kids, so I developed some recipes for that chapter. Basically, though, I look for recipes that aren't difficult to do (no rolling, not much decoration and no special equipment). Then I seek cookies that have various flavors and shapes.

Patch: What's your favorite cookie of all time?

Keeler: A classic peanut butter cookie and glass of ice-cold milk.

Patch: What can people expect to learn/experience in your class at Apron's?

Keeler: I hope that they learn not to be intimidated about making cookies. Plus, I'll share some tips (use parchment paper) that will make the process easier. And they'll get to sample cookies.

Patch: Who came up with the name "Cookielicious?"

Keeler: In a meeting where we were batting around names, my publisher from Seaside, Joyce LaFraym kept pushing for something "fun." She didn't like many of the names I'd come up with: Best Loved Cookies, Favorite Family Cookies, Favorite Homemade Cookies ... you get the idea. I finally said, facetiously, "How about Cookielicious?" And she said, "That's it!" So, a cookbook name was born. I still think it sounds like my stripper name, though I do see the fun in it.

Patch: Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Keeler: I am really proud of the book and hope it encourages people to bake with their children. I have been pleased when I go to book signings that a lot of young teenagers are interested.  

Want to go?

What: Janet Keeler Cookielicious Demonstration/Tasting

When: Nov 5, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Apron's Cooking School Publix Citrus Park, 7835 Gunn Highway
Tampa, Florida 33626.

Cost: $40

To register for the class call: 813-926-4465