The gift that keeps on giving.

I am sitting with a mug of peppermint green tea and a few salted caramel butter cookies capped in milk chocolate. It's a nice way to round out a damp day, with the sun streaming in through the windows, the sounds of early commuters on the road humming up to my second-story window, and the giant box of Trader Joe's goodies finally unpacked and ready for consumption. That is, if we can bring ourselves to consume.

My husband and I are sort of food hoarders. We don't mean to be, but we struggle between the naughty angel on one shoulder that encourages us to purchase delicious treats, and the good angel on the other shoulder reminding us that apples are better snacks than cookies and dessert is not always necessary. Since both these angels are vocal, this leaves a space in between filled, and I mean FILLED, with boxes and bags and tins and jars of uneaten deliciousness in our house. Seriously people. We have an entire shelf in our pantry dedicated to candy, some of which has been there for years. We have a large box of imported alfores cookies from the November 2009 Argentinian food festival at our local market. Last week I finally threw away a box of Girl Scout Tag-a-long cookies from the freezer that have been in there for at least 18 months, maybe more.

It's not that we don't eat. Believe me, we eat. It's just that we tend to buy impulsively, and then restrict ourselves in what can best be called an irrational way. Sure, I might add an extra slice of cheese to a grilled sandwich at lunch, but break into the Maui Loa Toffee Covered Macadamia Nuts we carted home from Hawaii in April? No way. Don't you know those things are full of fat?

But, in an odd twist, one of my New Year's Resolutions is going to be: Eat the box of delicious goodies. That is because for Christmas my parents shipped us a box filled to the brim with the kind of tasty treats we covet and hoard. Behold:

Wine Crackers
Hazelnut Pancake Mix
Tiny box of Portebella Mushroom Soup
Brandy-filled Chocolates
Salted Caramel Butter Cookies
Jar of Salted Caramel
Dried Green Beans
Dark Chocolate Almond Toffee
Buffalo Jerkey
Dark Chocolate Orange Candy
Wasabi Pea, Nut, and Cranberry Mix
Mint Green Tea
Tissues (with the cutest graphics and sayings on the box)
Soap

The Trader Joe's box will be a challenge, but in a good way. I made progress this afternoon by breaking into the tea and the cookies. And it was a delight. Some people like to say "Nothing tastes as good as being skinny feels" but I prefer to work with the phrase "Looking at a shelf of hoarded treats does not taste good at all, and you can always go to the gym tomorrow."

Wish us luck eating.

p.s. Also, down at the bottom of the box was a non-Trader Joe's treat, a bag of custom blended hot cocoa from the kitchen of Mike Rawley. I am a lucky girl!