"You can't buy the necessities in life with cookies," but you can fight the nihilistic void, creating what is commonly referred to as "happiness." Just make sure you share, else those spandex tights may get the better of you. This is a bare bones recipe, feel free to add chocolate chips, candy, cinnamon, or if you're feeling crazy -- vanilla extract. Ludicrous! Yes, I forgo vanilla extract, mainly because I tend to never have any lying around. Sometimes, when I'm feeling fancy, I'll add a teaspoon of earl grey tea leaves straight into the mix. I won't stifle your creativity -- that's what ennui is for.

If you like a chewy texture, cut baking time to about 10 minutes. They may look raw and every instinct in your body may tell you to keep baking, but you must resist. Otherwise, bake for about 20 minutes until golden brown and you'll have a nice crispy cookie. I prefer a happy medium, I bake for about 10 minutes then turn off the oven and leave them in for another 5-10 minutes.

Collapse of the global economy has taught me to appreciate leftovers; however, you can't survive the apocalypse on a turkey club. I have a family member who incessantly loves to boil Thanksgiving leftover turkey carcass. For years, he's gone on and on while we all roll our eyes at the table. So, things being what they are (horrible), I decided to give this a try. However, I put a Vietnamese spin on the stock, loosely basing it on Pho, a traditional Vietnamese soup usually made with ox tail. Just because society is collapsing doesn't mean we have to live like bland scavengers. The result is a rich and hearty broth that can warm even the most nihilistic heart.

My mom often made this salad and as a child I found it incredibly gross. However, with each passing day, as I inevitably become my mother, I've come to love it. It's both comforting and nutritious, one of the few vegan recipes in Perú. Pairs well with meat.

Frozen corn kernels work in a pinch; however, I prefer to boil a whole corn cob then slice off the kernels. It makes a surprising difference. I like to quickly sauteed the asparagus, retaining most of its crispness. Also, roast beets are readily available prepackaged in my area, so I seldom bother to make them fresh. You could use canned beets but they are something of an abomination. However, if you happen to pick some up at the farmers market, try my fresh roast beets recipe.