A cigar is sometimes just a cigar, but a cookie is always a metaphor. Irma Rombauer wrote the
Joy of Cooking when her husband died. Paula Deen opened her catering business when her husband left her. When Aunt Alexandra descended upon the Finch household to preserve its dignity while Atticus defends the hopeless, Miss Maudie Atkinson baked up a Lane Cake so loaded with shinny, it made one tight. Baked goods, it seems, can save your soul.
Tonight, I had too much grief and now I have too many
monster cookies. Anyone got any milk?