May Contain Peanuts

Thinner Mints

The snow is finally melting, college basketball is ramping up and good Catholics are denying themselves things they love most. Yes, Spring is finally on its way and after an incredible winter here in the mid-Atlantic, it could not be welcomed more. But perhaps a more indulgent happening of the new season is one seen only at your local school or in front of your neighborhood grocery store. I am talking of course of the annual sale of those delicious cookies by America's Girl Scouts.

Just seeing those boxes stacked up, in neat piles of single colors, gets my stomach rumbling. The fact that buying these delicious morsels helps a national community organization is just icing on the cookie. I have purchased 4 boxes so far, a variety that includes the 'even better when frozen' Thin Mints and my favorite, the coconut covered 'Samoas'. Unfortunately, these pretty little boxes do not last very long. My cherished box of Samoas contained only 15 little rings of deliciousness. I had to pace myself to keep from crushing the whole box in one sitting. This was the same deal with the Tagalongs. The Thin Mints come in 12 pack sleeves as opposed to the 5x3 tray. However, these sleeves are almost just as easy to plow through as the tray set-up, especially with a big glass of milk.

Like most everyone else, I understand how companies function and that everyone needs to make a profit. The boxes are only $3.50 a piece and some of that money actually goes to help the organization, not just the cookie manufacturer. So getting 15 cookies in one box is OK. What I am more concerned about is the actual size of these cookies. Now, perhaps I just remembered these cookies as larger, since as a kid, the ratio of my palm to the cookie would be much closer. But looking at these treats the other day, I noticed how significantly smaller they are than I had at one time imagined. Perhaps it is all a Trompe d'Oeil and the real culprit is the fewer cookies per package. Either way, my joy of caramel and sugar and chocolate is blemished by this concern.

This also relates to an observation of mine of Granola bars. I am pretty sure they were much larger years ago, but again this could be a difference in my perception as my own size grew. I also know that food items today are measured much closer in terms of calories and daily percentages and that lessening the size of these items may make them more acceptable when you look on the side of the packaging for that nutritional information. Just be sure to check that serving size. Nobody just eats 2 cookies. (*I am pretty sure the serving size for the girl scout cookies is more than 2, but I am making a point)

In all, I feel it is a combination of things that has poked a hole in my big bag of loving Girl Scout Cookies. The fewer cookies per package and smaller size are economic concerns that are out of my grasp. It is the perception issue that strikes more at my core, as it is a realization of my old age. It makes me realize I am much closer to having a Girl Scout as a daughter than a classmate. My hands will no longer be filled by 2 or 3 tagalongs. Instead of a 3 thin mint dessert after dinner, I can kill a third of a box of Samoas in between meals.

But despite my sad reflection, I still know that as each year passes, there will be a table set up outside my grocery store in early March ready to dole out some sweet nostalgia. Now if only those boxes were tax deductible...


PS - The 4th variety of cookie I bought was the Dulce de Leche kind, a small regular-looking cookie with caramel pieces. A few cold nights ago, I was dipping these little bites into some hot chocolate. One slipped and fell right into the mug. Instead of fishing it out, I decided to wait til the end and eat my cocoa soaked bite. The cookie did not last that long. In fact, it disintegrated into the cocoa and made it that much better. Caramel hot cocoa with tiny cookie pieces. I highly recommend this and since they cookies are so small anyway, they fit perfectly right in the mug.