THE Antigo Bakery...

Well, for me, Christmas is officially over. I've been up in Antigo spending the weekend celebrating Christmas with Eric's family, and having a blast stretching the season out as long as possible. From fun games, snacking incessantly, playing with Eric's adorable niece and nephew, and my first experience with meat pie (we'll get to that later), it's been a fun weekend, indeed. But my favorite part of any weekend spent in Antigo is a trip to THE, the one-and-only, Antigo Bakery.

You've heard me mention the Antigo Bakery before. A few weeks ago, I attempted to recreate their untouchable butter cookies, only to come up a few rungs short. I'll give it a couple more tries, but I've accepted the fact I'll never master one of the greatest flavor-tastes in all cookiedom. So, as the adage goes, when you can't beat 'em, join 'em. And join 'em I did: first thing Saturday morning.

We had all good intentions to go for a run in the morning, but when the forecast called for a -10 degree windchill, trading a run for trip to the bakery sounded like a much more reasonable option.

Antigo Bakery is located on 5th Avenue, in downtown Antigo. It's a cute little shop with sweet reminders of when baking didn't mean boxes of cake mix or dragging out fancy KitchenAid appliances; Just heavy bowls, wooden spoons and a strong arm for mixing were all that was necessary. In fact, the front-store window is adorned with antique baker's tools, from an old icebox to a little tin scale.

A step inside, and the only hints that it's 2011 are a modern coffee pot and a digital scale and register.

As does every bakery, this one smells amazing. At 8 a.m., the bakers have been at work for hours yet, filling the shelves with scones, donuts and crullers, just calling for us to bring them home.

It's difficult to turn down anything from the Antigo Bakery, but we're here for just one thing.

Butter cookies. In all their sweet, crispy, melt-in-your mouth glory, dressed to the nines in glistening pink and red crystals. All dolled up for Valentine's Day, which is over a month a way, but no matter; whatever the shape, they all taste just as magnificent.

Eric put in an order for three dozen butter cookies, which were promptly boxed, taped and paid for (cash-only, of course). He's got a demand from coworkers for two dozen cookies at his office first thing Monday morning. They'll be long gone by 10 o'clock.

The other dozen is reserved for us (and a rationed one-cookie-each for his family members back at home). We know there's no way our dozen will last until we get back to Milwaukee, and neither of us can resist digging in right away, before even getting back home.

[Joy]

A visit to the Antigo Bakery is secretly my favorite part of any visit to Eric's family. Not that I don't love spending time with them, but I love the process of bundling up, stepping inside the old-fashioned store, smelling everything that lines the shelves before even laying eyes on them. And those cookies, oh, those butter cookies: Slightly crisp, while still soft, the icing melts slowly after sitting on your tongue for just a moment. They really are to die for, and while I know I'll never come close to recreating them on my own, it's nice to know that as long as the bakery still stands in little Antigo, Wisconsin, the world's best cookie is just a car ride away.