DAILY DIRT: Never underestimate the pleasure of a frosted sugar cookie

Never underestimate what a quality cookie can do for your overall outlook. Yes, those are words to live by … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 469 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Since we’re now well into December, it’s officially OK to overindulge on Christmas cookies.

So, what kind should be on the lookout for? Here’s a quick guide on planning your snacking habits the remainder of the month. These are my Great Eight of Holiday Cookies:

• 1. Frosted sugar cookies: The quintessential Christmas treat, and the bigger the better. And personally, I think they even taste better when they come in holiday shapes. I like the tree-shaped models, but they have to have green frosting.
• 2. Peanut butter blossoms: These are the ones the (slightly melted) candy kiss in the middle. They don’t seem to pop up much from January to November, and that’s a real tragedy, because this sweet, salty, chocolaty treat has a lot to offer.
• 3. Peanut butter: Just the basic peanut butter cookie. No chocolate kiss. No frosting. Simple can be sensational.
• 4. Pecan snowballs: These rather delicate, buttery shortbread cookies practically dissolve the moment you put them in your mouth. The layer of powdered sugar atop the the little half-dollar sized treats is a perfect compliment.
• 5. Oatmeal raising: Oatmeal cookies alone are drab and boring. Throw a few raisins in the mix, however, and it’s the perfect winter treat. I’ve even enjoyed these with some frosting on them.
• 6. Chocolate dipped macaroons: I’m not a big fan of the macaroon cookie by itself, but if you coat the bottom with a layer of chocolate and drizzle a little more of the chocolate sauces on the top you’ve got a winner.
• 7. Chocolate chip: Kind of pedestrian and predicable, but in a pinch works just fine on a cold, winter evening while watching an “NCIS” rerun.
• 8. Snowballs: Traditionally, this cookie is made with chopped pecans (or other nuts), which adds to the warm festive feeling they provide by just resting atop a cookie tray. I’m a fan of the “dry” cookie, and these babies are the driest and “dustiest” of them all.

2. Here are my favorite license plates from the past week:

• 1 QUINC
• CROPPY 1
• MOL
• SKRAM 7
• SAX NO1

There’s only slightly more than three weeks left in the calendar year. The following remain the top five plates of 2022 — and then the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31 we’ll start all over:

Gold medal: IMDUMB. 

Silver medal:OHYO ST8. 

Bronze medal: 1 KWIKI.

Honorable mention: LUV YADI.

Honorable mention: GOL D LOX.

Honorable mention: QUINCY.

3. The Daily Dirt’s final pre-bowl/playoff college football rankings:

• 1. Georgia (12-0): Is this now THE program in the Southeastern Conference?
• 2. Michigan (12-0): Wolverines better not take TCU lightly.
• 3. Ohio State (11-1): I would have loved to see a rematch with Michigan in the semifinals.
• 4. TCU (12-1): Even though the Frogs lost that Big 12 title game, I think your coach of the year is Sonny Dykes.
• 5. Alabama (10-2): Nick Saban will turn 72 during the 2023 season.
• 6. Utah (10-3): Hopefully the Utah-Penn State matchup in the Rose Bowl will be at least half as entertaining as last year’s classic between the Utes and Ohio State.
• 7. Kansas State (10-3): Wildcats and Alabama should provide quite an interesting pairing in the 89th annual Sugar Bowl.
• 8. Penn State (10-2): I’ve got a hunch Utah will destroy the Nittany Lions in the Rose Bowl.
• 9. Clemson (10-2): DABO waited about 10 weeks too long to make that quarterback change.
• 10. USC (11-2): Granted, that Pac-12 title game loss had to be incredibly disappointing. But the Trojans might just be the team to beat in 2023 — not only in the Pac-12, but the entire nation.

Steve Thought O’ the Day — The most overrated Christmas cookie has to be the snickerdoodle. Great name, terrible cookie. Another bad holiday pastry is the gingerbread cookie, which tastes like kerosene was added to the cookie dough.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Can you believe he has tOSU ranked BEHIND Michigan?