I have been miserably nursing a bad cold that unsurprisingly, never actually went away for last few months. On and off, it comes like an uninvited guest, but most days I persevered. Dealing with patients on daily basis needs some mighty motivation and needless to say the much awaited holiday baking has been pushed aside. I’d rather be sipping soups or instant noodles whilst letting the rest of family dine on their proper course meals.

But last week, I craved cookies. Proper buttery shortbread that I used to get from my old corner shop, on the way back from work. Perhaps it reminded me of summers long gone, or the chirpy days of walking down the meadows full of lavender bushes. So i started baking. I dreamt of cosy afternoons sipping milk and reading story books with woolly socks. Whilst the butter was being churned, all the flavours were flying over my head. Lavender? Lemon? Good ol’ vanilla?

Finally chocolate chips it was, in keeping with the Lil Baker’s flavour-of-the-month. The cookies turned out delicious, crumbly melt-int-the-mouth goodness that also marked the start of my holiday baking. No, we don’t celebrate Christmas but I love this time of the year where baking is in its full-on spirit thanks to school holidays, indulgent recipes, long weekends and end of the year.

My cold and chest infection are no better, but I’d rather be popping these shortbreads than amoxicillin yet again !