My sister and I had been planning this night for months. We talked strategy. We made lists. We were going to attempt something that no Hammett had ever done before.

That’s right. We were going to bake some seriously amazing Captain America cookies.

The time had come. We preheated the oven to 400 degrees … and that was the last thing that went well. You could say the cookies were a disaster. In fact, it was so bad you could probably make us the centerpiece of one of those Pinterest cooking fail articles. We were supposed to have super epic Captain America cookies that look just like the shield. What are these red, white, and blue swirled monstrosities?

So, I guess we aren’t ready to join the masters, but we did learn some valuable lessons that will help us in the future (and not just when we decide to make more cookies!)

1. Shortcuts are not necessarily faster

Riley and I thought we would save time by buying pre-made dough. Big mistake. Really, really big mistake. The dough we bought was thinner than the dough in the video, so it was impossible to shape. It also really didn’t want to mix with the food coloring. By the time I finished making the dough red, the whole kitchen looked like a crime scene.

We thought we would save time, but really we ended up wasting more of it trying to fix the mess we made. Not only that, but because we didn’t make the dough as specified, we couldn’t shape it in the way we needed to make the cookies. Shortcuts always seem attractive, but they hardly ever work out the way you want them to. When it comes to baking cookies (and life), it is better to skip the shortcut and do things right the first time. Even though it may take a little bit more time and effort, it’s worth it.

2. When things go wrong, improvise

The dough isn’t forming shapes the way we need it to. What if we spiral the red white and blue dough together instead?

When our plans fell apart (literally, the dough was falling apart), we worked together to come up with a new idea. To quote one of my favorite Marvel movies, "Big Hero 6," “Shake things up! Use that big brain of yours to think your way out! Look for a new angle.” Things are going to go wrong. When they do, try to find a different solution. Don’t let thin dough keep you from making some super cool Captain America cookies.

3. Everything might get a little shaky, but don’t give up

I’m so done with this. Can we go watch a movie now?

I know it would be easier to give up and binge-watch your favorite show on Netflix, but keep going! When you are in the middle of something, it’s hard to know if everything is going to be all right. Don’t let that deter you! All you can do is your best. You’d be surprised to know how often your best is enough.

Cap didn’t give up on Bucky, no matter how dire the situation became. I’m not giving up on these cookies!

4. It’s OK if you need to ask for a little help along the way

Mommy, can you come here for a moment? Do these look done to you?

When you get in over your head, it’s understandable if you need to phone a friend (or your mother) for some expert advice. Even Captain America had the Howling Commandos and Peggy Carter — you really don’t have to do this alone. It’s easy to get caught up in the world, and we forget that we have people who are always there for us to reach out to if we need a hand. They can offer some stellar advice from their own experience, or they can be the sympathetic ear while you talk through your troubles.

Another minute? Thanks, Mom! You’re the best!

5. It may not turn out the way you planned, and that’s all right

No, the super cool Captain America cookies did not turn out as planned. And you know what? It’s fine. Riley and I really had our heart set on those star spangled delicacies, but it really doesn’t matter that the cookies we made didn’t look exactly like the ones in the video. The important thing is that we got to spend time together, we had fun, and we were doing something we both enjoy (cookies + Captain America + hanging out with my sister = Love).

Yes, our original plan fell apart, but in the end, who cares? The cookies we made turned out to be super fun, patriotic (in their own swirly way,) and incredibly tasty!

You could call our baking episode a disaster, but I think I am going to call this a definite success.

Want to read more about your favorite star spangled hero? Check out this article right here by Olivia Liccione to read about the new plot twist in the latest Captain America comics!

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