Coconut Nutella Bird's Nests

I've tried several times to write this post and nothing seems to work. Anything that's come across the screen seems superficial or just too simple to capture what I want to say. It's hard to handle huge waves emotion and most people deal with them differently. I don't know how to handle, talk about or even think about grief and it seems that the only thing I could do was hurt someone else.

But as soon I walked away, all the emotions I'd tried so hard to lock away overflowed. And for the first time in four years, my heart hurt. This immeasurable weight was pressing on my chest and it felt like I was sinking. It's funny, in that way, how sadness can be forced and self-inflicted. It turns out the stories are true, I really didn't know what I had until it was gone.

Basically, emotions are hard to handle but if the rest of the stories are true, time can heal most hurts. Let's have some cookies and throw some cares away. And hey! Happy Valentine's Day! I hope that didn't sound sarcastic, it was supposed to be sincere. Promise.

Coconut Nutella Bird's Nests
These pups are so easy to make you should make them right now. The cookies are three ingredients. Three. Plus, they are a tasty shortbread that can be rolled in and filled with just about anything. Except cilantro.

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 egg whites, beaten until frothy 
3/4 cup sweetened, shredded coconut
1/2 cup nutella

Preheat the oven to 350º. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or butter 'em up. In a bowl, beat together the butter and brown sugar until nice and fluffy. Beat in the flour just until combined. It won't be the smoothest of doughs, it is more like a shortbread dough. Scoop up heaping tablespoons and roll into balls and flatten slightly between your palms. Roll the flattened ball in the egg whites then roll through the coconut. Place on the prepared baking sheet and press a dent into the center. Hold the sides of the dough with one hand and press the dent with a finger from the other hand. Repeat. Bake for about 10 to 12 minutes, until the coconut is golden. Remove from the oven and press on the dents again. Allow to cool. Once cool, plop in a teaspoon of nutella in the dent. Voila! You have yourself some birds nests.. minus the evil birds. Makes 24, on the dot, cookies.