I chose this picture because it was taken moments after Sara ate her very first Bark Cookie. She swears she remembers this moment, as it was one of the best days of her life. I quickly realized I’d given her a form of Kiddie-Crack, because she picked up this stack of wrapping paper and told me she was going to wrap all the presents. And decorate the tree. And call Santa. And, “HEY! Boppa! Tam I hab nover chocy tookie? I NEEB IT. PWEEESSE.” (“Hey! Momma! Can I have another chocolate cookie? I NEED IT! Please.”) Kelly was in her exersaucer, watching Sara dash from one end of the living room to the other, chanting, “Chock-ee Tookie, Chock-ee Tookie”. Ah yes, the Bark Cookies. I’ve seen them have this effect on adults as well. The recipe can be found here, and they are deceptively easy to make. I have no idea why they push people over the edge into pure joy (as I’ve never tasted them due to my chocolate allergy), but they are my most requested item. I’ve literally made thousands in my lifetime.

NOW…let’s get to the naming! While I enjoyed the many, many names which rolled in, one reminded me so much of the theme of this house and my naming conventions, that it stuck:

SO, our WINNER IS!….M3 with “Hook and Crook!!!

Hook and Crook are the ovens’ nicknames, as they are now collectively known as “The Brotherhood of Thieves”. The name dates back to 1844 when a Nantucket Native wrote a pamphlet, raging against the atrocities of slavery. Nantucket, at that time (and since its inception), was where one lived if he or she had a spirit independent of the current American standards. The name was the inspiration for a restaurant which opened the year of my birth named “The Brotherhood of Thieves”, a restaurant still open to this day. I have whiled away many happy hours there, eating chowder and cheeseburgers, drinking cider, and laughing with my friends. As Nantucket is a fishing island, Hook and Crook paired with The Brotherhood of Thieves felt right. My cars have always had Nantucket-themed names (The Grey Lady, The Chicken Box), and because I built this house to remind me of a Nantucket Cottage, this collection of names matches my decorating!

The entries were great. I long thought the ovens WOULD be named Julie and Julia, or something French (more on why closer to the holidays). I considered naming them after my favorite chefs, but Colicchio and Voltaggio are a mouthful. Certainly naming them after my favorite restaurants would be fun too, but again, “Black Eye Susans” and “The Cru Cafe” are too long. Meshach and Shadrach were so great, and ironic, and Biblical. And well…Brian? I know you wanted it most. Don’t worry…I won’t forget Team Barth this holiday season. Old people names match my cats, and Smoky and the Bandit was so cute. I loved ALL of the ideas! For whatever reason, the girls voted for John Henry! They are such good Americans. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone for having fun with me this week.

By Hook & Crook, we’ll have another contest soon, I’m sure! And M3, I’ll be in touch! I’d tell you to gift these to the twins’ teachers, but I know you love chocolate. I’m so happy a famous chocoholic is going to get a box of Bark Cookies this Christmas! It’s officially Holiday Baking Season! GO! GO! GO!