We made hundreds of cookies this weekend. I am not exaggerating. HUNDREDS.

All of a sudden, Weight Watchers feels so much harder. Have I mentioned that I joined? Right before Halloween. Despite cheating literally every single week, I’m down 5.5 pounds. My plan is to move at a snail’s pace for the rest of the year while fully enjoying the holidays.

In any case, I’ve eaten, oh, maybe 10 of these amazing cookies within the past three days. (It’s probably more than 10 but I’m trying not to sound like a glutton.) (As if TEN doesn’t qualify for glutton status! Who am I kidding?)

What is this magical confection?

My friend Nicole Teillon Riegl is an extremely talented cook and we made these beauties using her recipe for chocolate chip-pecan-oatmeal cookies.  I can’t figure out why she doesn’t have her own cooking show yet. I also can’t figure out why she isn’t in my kitchen right now, cooking me something delicious. Sigh.

Anyway, the key ingredient to these cookies? Say it with me: love! Isn’t it always?

Oh, and there’s also coarse sea salt. It does something … magical. These may be the only cookies I’ve ever made that actually taste better after they’ve been out of the oven an hour or two. The flavors all fully settle in and the salty complements the sweet so perfectly.

Side note for you fellow cookie-batter freaks out there: This might be the best cookie batter I’ve ever had. I may have audibly groaned while writing that last sentence.

If you’re looking for a new cookie this year, this is the one to try. Recipe is here. She also has a gluten-free variation.

And while you’re on her website, just go ahead and subscribe to her blog updates so you can have new recipes emailed to you all the time. Every one I’ve tried is a winner. Joe is begging me to make the sweet and spicy bacon recipe again.

If you’re looking to up your cocktail game, she also has unique and delicious cocktail recipes.

Happy eating!