Meet Lisa, Founder and Creator of The Cookie Indulgence

Cookies have been one of my favorite treats for as long as I can remember—not just because they're delicious, but because they’re intertwined with my happiest memories. Was it the delightful scent of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies coming out of the oven? Or the joyful times spent baking and decorating Christmas cookies with my mom? Perhaps it was the thrill of opening my school lunchbox to find a homemade chocolate chip cookie nestled between my mundane sandwich and fruit. When I broke it in half, its soft, chewy center released a heavenly aroma, making my friends eager to barter their snacks for a bite of my mom's fresh baked cookie.

All these memories might have influenced my passion for baking, but what truly ignited that spark was a special moment from my childhood, around the age of 7 or 8. We lived in a family-owned apartment behind our relatives’ Italian bakery and delicatessen. I still recall my younger brother Tony and me playing in the backyard, drawn in by the tempting aroma of freshly baked bread wafting through the air each morning around eleven. We would sneak over to my grandfather’s station, climbing up on stools to watch him and my uncle whip up delectable cakes, cookies, and an array of pastries.

My grandfather, Pasquale—Pat or Patsy to friends and family—was a quiet man, in part due to his limited English. This suited me perfectly, as I was a shy, introverted kid. I loved watching him as he rolled cookie dough into small balls, dipping them in powdered sugar, sprinkles, or nuts. He always wore a smile while he worked, and I could spend hours observing him transform ordinary ingredients into beautiful, delicious creations. He tirelessly baked recipe after recipe of Italian cookies: anisette biscotti, sesame cookies, lemon knot cookies, mostaccioli cookies, amaretto tri-color cookies, almond crescent cookies, and so many more. My absolute favorite, however, were the butter cookies shaped like stars, adorned with rainbow sprinkles.

When the timer beeped, he would grab a gigantic paddle with an eight-foot handle and pull tray after tray of mouthwatering cookies from the oven, placing them on shelves to cool. Without fail, I would sneak a few, prompting my grandfather to wave his arms and say something in Italian that always made me giggle, as he was never truly upset. Then, in English, he would ask, "Good?" With my mouth full of cookies and a big grin on my face, I would always reply, "Mmmm Hmmm!"

No matter why you love cookies, they always seem to be connected to joyful memories or feelings evoked by taste and smell. As I began baking my own cookies over the years, experimenting with various ingredients and textures while also using my grandfather's treasured recipes, my goal has been to create happy cookie memories for my family and friends.

So let me create a sweet cookie memory for you, and satisfy your sweet tooth with any of my delightful cookie flavors!

I can't recall him wearing anything other than his classic white t-shirt, work pants held up by a black belt, and an apron splattered with the day's creations!