Start the insanity! We’re mad for bloggers who bake up steaming hot trays of wisdom, and so we’re just crazy about Anna of Cookie Madness. One of our more prolific pickers, Anna shares her thoughts on being a better baker, schoolhouse therapeutics and managing the cookie-lover’s condition.

When you’re not a baking blogger extraordinaire, what do you do?
Right now, I volunteer at my daughter’s school.  There’s a workroom where teachers drop off stuff they need done.  Yesterday I laminated transparencies and trimmed them with the paper cutter.  Some days I cut out construction paper shapes such as fish and shoes.  It’s actually kind of relaxing, plus, it really helps the teachers.  For fun, I like walking, reading and shopping. I do more window shopping then actual buying, and it takes me a long time to make the decision to actually purchase something.  I also love traveling.

What is this Cookie Madness you speak of? Is it contagious?
Yes, it is contagious.  Symptoms of mild Cookie Madness include craving cookies, eating them often and talking too much about them.  A more serious case of Cookie Madness involves all of the above plu, the urge to track
down the best recipes for various cookies and obsessing over taste and texture.  Cookie Madness cannot be cured, only managed.  Unmanaged Cookie Madness is known as Cookie Hystericus.

I know it’s hard to play favorites, but what’s your favorite baked treat?
Chocolate Chip Cookies.  I also like layer cake quite a bit, but hardly ever bake it because it’s not so easy to share. Cookies are fun because you can pack them up and give them to friends or co-workers.

I love your list of things for the cook who has everything. I have everything but always want more. What’s missing from your kitchen?
A window.  I wish I had a kitchen window with a view of the horizon or a city skyline.  There’s a window in the breakfast room, but it looks out onto a fence.  In terms of  gadgetry, tools and appliances, my kitchen is fully
loaded. I do like interesting ingredients, condiments and spices, though….I need to get a list going.

Seen anything on ThisNext that makes your wallet itch?
I’m in the market for a new chef’s knife.  Mine mysteriously disappeared.

I have to confess I’m not much of a baker. How could ThisNext make me and other poor baking-challenged saps better bakers?
To be a good baker, you have to follow directions.  At least at first.  Once you learn the basics such as the proper way to measure things, what proportions work where and in what order things should be done then you can branch out and be creative.  There are some highly skilled bakers on ThisNext who can point you toward the right cookbooks and tools to get started.

What’s in the oven?
Today I made some double chocolate cookies.  They were edible, but this was a case where I chose to branch off on my own rather than follow the recipe and my cookies didn’t quite turn out as I hoped.