the 34 cookies of Christmas: day 17

We reach the half-way point of our chronicle of the 34 cookies of Christmas 2006 with a variety made for the first time this holiday season: a cornmeal guava thumbprint. This recipe was recently discovered on epicurious.com by a dear friend and longtime baking partner. Following a few tests, during which we tailored the recipe to our tastes, we created a cookie unique in both texture and flavor. The grittiness of the cornmeal is complimented by the smooth and sweet guava preserves, creating a pairing that we hope to repeat in the years that follow.