The Rules

I thought I'd take a minute to clarify the rules of this project.  Mostly for myself, but also so you, the reader, understands exactly what I am doing.
How often will I be baking?
My plan is, over the next year, to bake 365 different cookie recipes.  One for each day. 
This does not necessarily mean I will be baking every single day.  I will just be posting a cookie every day.  I need to remember that I am a working mother of two and baking a cookie a day can be a little unrealistic for my already hectic life.  I will have "baking days" where I plan on knocking out three or four batches of cookies in one shot. 
To some people, this may seem crazy. 
"You're going to bake all those cookies??" 
Yes.
The kitchen is my happy place and baking is my therapy.  I find myself at peace when I'm elbow deep in flour, sugar and butter.  There's something about combining all the elements of a recipe and watching them develop into something that is so unlike what you started with.  It's very satisfying. 
It reminds me of a story I read once about the development of cake mixes.  Initially, the cake mixes only required the home cook to add water.  The feedback was so poor because housewives (at that time) didn't feel like they were actually "making" something.  So, they changed the formulation to require eggs and oil. 
What kind of cookies will be included?
Anything that is considered a "cookie."  I plan on starting with the more popular home baked cookies.  Chocolate chip, oatmeal, peanut butter, etc.  Once I get those out of the way, I will continue on with more involved and different cookie recipes.  Some you've heard of, some you haven't. 
Not all my cookies will be sweet - I am planning a week of savory cookies which include flavors like rosemary, thyme and cheese. 
I will also have instances where I will take one simple cookie recipe and reinvent it seven different ways.  "Doctoring" the recipe, if you will. 
My other plan is to make a cookie for each of the 50 states.  The cookie will either be known to come from that state or representative of the food and culture of that state.  I'm most excited for that part because it is allowing me to come up with many of my own recipes. 
Who will be eating all these cookies?
First, I will only be making half batches of all the cookies I make.  The recipes I provide will be for full batches.  I must be conscience of my hips!  My family will taste test the cookies, and the remainder will be given out to various family, friends and other cookie lovers.  The majority of the cookies will be going to the lucky folks in my husband's commuter van pool. 
Where will the recipes come from?
Mostly, I'll be pulling recipes from my collection of new and vintage cookbooks.  Some I've found on the internet and some are old family recipes that have been passed down from my Great-Grandmother.  Either way, I will be sure to give credit where credit is due and links will be provided when available.
I will also be concocting my own recipes.  I know they won't all be good, but I'm hoping at least some of them will come out. 
I'd also like to take this opportunity to invite any of you out there who may be reading this to submit your recipes to me.  I'm on the prowl for new and different, but also for something that may be an important culinary part of your lives. 
I look forward to embarking on the journey and I hope you'll follow along with me....