In connection with the Red Hen Press authors’ reading at Politics and Prose bookstore, I made a batch of aphrodisiac cookies, using 3 (or 4) known love-enhancing ingredients. Now, an aphrodisiac is not like viagra. It’s not about pure libido. Instead, it’s mean to inspire love and passion in the particular person to whom the philter/potion/ingredients are fed.

Now, you can use basically any chocolate chip cookie recipe for these, but sub in 1/4 cup of honey for some of the brown sugar, and add two teaspoons of rosemary. But for those of you who want a step-by-step:

• 2 1/4 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp rosemary
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup butter softened
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups chocolate chips
• 1 tsp of your beloved’s favorite beverage–tea, coffee, single malt scotch, what have you

Preheat the oven to 375. chop the rosemary very finely, then work it by hand in a bowl through the white sugar. The–you don’t have time to waste, throw all the remaining ingredients (except chips) in a bowl and mix like crazy. Add the chips. Bake on a lined baking sheet for 10 minutes. Serve by hand, straight to your lover’s mouth.