How the '04 Election Cookie Crumbles

Since 1992 when potential First Lady Hillary Clinton chimed "I should have stayed home and baked cookies..." no poll has been more accurate at predicting Presidential election outcomes than the all-american mainstay of Family Circle magazine's FIRST LADY COOKIE COOK-OFF.

Forget NASCAR Dads and Soccer Moms, it's Grandma that knows best. And in 1992, she liked Hillary's cookie recipe over Babs. In '96 she sent Libby packing. And in 2000, told Tipper to stuff it.

So as the 2004 election approaches, defending bake off champion Laura Bush returns with another entry to tempt America's matriarchs. A difficult decision for the Heart-Wise First Lady, but she pulls no low fat punches with her Oatmeal-Chocolate Chunk recipe boasting 3 sticks of butter and as many eggs to clog the hearts and arteries of voters more hungry for steady leadership, than a steady pulse.

And in this corner... a gutsy fall entry from the challenger you'd expect no less from than excellent taste, Teresa Kerry's Pumpkin Spice Cookies. A comparatively less sweet cookie with a bit of a kick, yet practical of ingredients considering the cookie cook off season being October.

So batter up for the taste test to decide the fate of the Presidency...

Who will it be? Will Atkins decide?
external image VERSUS external image

And no cheating! Make the cookies and let your taste buds vote.

Recipies and voting form on Family Circle.com

[edit on 17-6-2004 by RANT]

Seeing as how I can't bake to save my life, I'll have to let the pictures do the talking. Now from what I see, Laura Bush's cookies look the most appealing. Heinz' look like the dog peed in them.

I don't really like cookies. So what does that mean ?

That's probably the ketchup.

Seriously I wonder if Atkins will screw this up this time. If you read the recipes, Kerry's is sooooo much better for you despite the eclectic taste.

Now I'm getting into politics. Bush's may taste better going down but you'll pay in the end. I'll stop now.

Nah...................neither bash of cookies look good to me, maybe good in the mouth but they will send you right to the toilet after digesting them.

Who eats pumpkin cookies? That sounds gross. And its a cookie who cares if it good for you. Im gonna have to say the bush cookies look way better.

Nice play on words! I truly appreciate the subtelty of your post... as I was able to read between the lines...

I am still mad that there is not a recipe from Cindy McCain.

Holy Cow! They both look good...

Actually I praise myself of been an excellent cook my mother made sure of that, I am going to do the recipes and then I will let you know.

It means that you should vote for a 3rd party!


Seriously, my wife sometimes makes pumpkin cookies with the insides of our Halloween Jack-o-Lantern. They can actually be quite good if you know what you're doing. But yes, they do look awful.

I'm personally a sucker for chocolate, so of these two recipes, it's a pretty easy choice for me. Maybe it's the caffine in the chocolate because I'm a coffee junkie.

One thing about Bush recipe - it'll bloat you up. Kind of like the federal budget and deficit under her husband.


Maybe we should solicit recipes from the wives of the 3rd party candidates. If any of them put up a recipe for butterscotch cookie (my absolute favorite) I'd be there!