Bourbon Vanilla Chocolate Chip Cookies

Christmas is all about traditions. I love them all and I really enjoy finding other old ones. Tradition goes in hand with classic. And what's more classic than delicious fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies? You're right! Nothing :) However, have you ever tried adding real vanilla pod into the dough? It makes wonders, believe me! Vanilla makes everything better and although you can use extract or vanilin instead, you never get the very same result as with real vanilla pods (or seeds). Christmas baking season has started, so let's make some cookies to fill the air with wonderful aromas :)

Speculaas

It's already December, Christmas is almost here and people all over the world are looking forward to it. When I look out of the window I can see the winter. Cold, freezing, cool, chilling and icy. These words describe it perfectly. I wish it was snowing, too, but it's not from some unknown reason. You know, I don't know about better feeling than this one: I'm sitting in an armchair covered with warm blanket, christmas carols are being singed by my family, I'm holding a cup of hot tea and it's snowing outside. Pretty shiny small snowflakes are slowly falling down to the ground. I feel happy and comfortable and I want a cookie. The cookie, in fact. Speculaas.