Is this cupcake debate really about obesity? Or is it about uber-Moms with one too many subscriptions to Real Simple and Martha Stewart Living who feel like they must make every occasion an Event? Take away the cupcake and you remove the opportunity for an over-worked, stressed out Mom to prove to everyone how much she adores her child using nothing more than fondant and sprinkles.

You should also make sure your baking soda isn't ancient since it's your leavener (what makes your cookie rise/poof). And don't try substituting a stick of margarine for butter. But I agree with Mich23, I think your butter's too warm - it shouldn't be much softer than modeling clay when you begin creaming it with your sugar.

I miss my grandmom's after church Sunday dinners because it was all time-consuming stuff that no one longer makes - pierogis, stuffed cabbage, borscht, maybe a roast chicken with all the fixings. Pierogis alone probably took her all Saturday and we'd inhale them in minutes. Boy, we were spoiled.

Now, how did I know that everyone would tell me to fry 'em up? Heh. Ok, ok, I give -- you talked me into it (although okra curry sounds appealing). But what do I dip fried okra in - ketchup, spicy mayo, a remoulade...?

Yeah, we got it for free with some pizzas we ordered for a lunch meeting. You know if a bunch of network engineers won't eat something covered with crushed cookies, you got a problem.

Nice cold bottle of Coke (Mexican, natch) or a gin and tonic with Tanqueray, lots of lime and Whole Foods brand tonic.