This is the story of Mrs. Fields Best Cookie Book Ever!, at least from my perspective. Call it a peek into my childhood; the door to my evitable passion for baking…

This book was the first cookie cookbook I purchased. I was still in high school and I had skipped my Science in Society class just because. Anyway, I went to the Chapters with my then boyfriend and I bought this book. It was odd because, quite frankly, I wasn’t really into baking at the time. What probably appealed to me was that I had tried a Mrs. Fields cookie once while in another city (my hometown did not have Mrs. Fields anywhere) and vowed it was the only store-bought cookie (save for the Oreo cookie) that I would ever eat.

After 10 years, this book still remains my go-to cookie book.

Aside from that sentimental stuff, what really makes this book worth your time? As mentioned, Mrs. Fields’ cookies were always my cookie of choice. It really is a preference but they are just delicious. The instructions are easy to follow and - surprise! surprise! - each recipe is accompanied by a full-colour photo meeting criteria #1 for my ideal cookbook.

The book also doesn’t get too textbooky at the beginning. Don’t get me wrong; I do dig that in many cookbooks but it’s refreshing to have a book that dives into the recipes without repeating what so many other books already tell you.

So in conclusion, come for the 130 delicious cookie and dessert recipes, stay for the dated photo of Mrs. Fields whom I’ve always thought looked like a young Kathy Lee Gifford.