The origin of 13th COOKIE is a much-debated topic. Some say it began at the Grand Opening of a Whole Health Therapy Clinic. Some say it began at a lobster house during something called “Gourmet Tuesday”. Some say it began in tins sent to Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. Some even say it began in the mail, headed for New Orleans.
They are all wrong and all right. Wait, that didn’t make any sense. This attempt to be mysterious and cryptic is just sort of annoying, but it did start all of those places and, yet, it really only started in the mind and heart of one man who wanted to send cookies to family and friends. When it came to my attention that some of the people I loved couldn’t eat what I sent, it left me unsettled. I wanted to find a way to make what I wanted in a way that allowed everyone to eat it.
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It all began with the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie. I was prompted, with persistence, to make cookies for the staff of a restaurant I was managing. I didn’t want to. I mean, I really didn’t feel like it. I finally caved and begrudgingly looked up cookie recipes, searching for the simplest one I could find.
I found one that only had six ingredients and was naturally devoid of flour and butter. I knew little of Celiac disease or gluten intolerance in general. I was just looking for the easiest, simplest recipe I could find. PLUS, if I doubled the recipe, I could use a jar of peanut butter and didn’t have to measure it. Measuring nut butters can be a messy task, especially natural ones where the oil and butter separate. ick.
From there, it wasn’t a far jump to replace the eggs and make it Vegan. Then, it grew from nut butter chocolate chips to cakes and no-bakes and all sorts of wonderful things that anyone could, and would, gladly enjoy.
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The company grew out of what I saw as a necessity – delicious things that are available to everyone. But, it is my passion, my pleasure, my challenge, my mission, my joy. I love to bake.