Roughly 90% of serotonin starts in the gut. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter and serves as a key regulator in mental processes to include learning, memory, mood and emotions.
Eating sweet and starchy foods (which are yummy to begin with) actually help our bodies create serotonin in the gut. This serotonin aids in battling the stress hormone cortisol, in turn making us feel calmer, less depressed, anxious, or irritable.
Thus, “comfort food” is a real thing.
For Brooke Orist, owner of Sasquatch Cookies here in Colorado Springs, owning a cookie delivery shop came by way of a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and a master’s degree in Arabic.
She grew up baking and considered culinary school but ended up going in a different direction. Cookies still played a part in her life, though, and she found a place during her anthropological travels whose business plan was centered around delivering homemade cookies – Orist loved the idea. “Cookies are appropriate for every occasion,” she explains, “from weddings to funerals… cookies are comforting.”
She admits to doing her initial research as a social experiment.
She started bringing batches of cookies anonymously into her workplace and then standing around the proverbial water-cooler to gather intel on what her subjects liked or disliked. She would take notes, go home, tweak the recipe and try it again until she landed on the winning recipe. At that point, she would file it away and start perfecting the next one.
But what does a Sasquatch, mythical creature of the mountains, have to do with cookies?
The Sasquatch represents the nomadic nature of the delivery cookie business. And Orist knew she wanted to sell larger-than-average cookies – much like the larger-than-life persona of the creature. There is deeper meaning as well. Orist grew up in Colorado Springs; it is home to her and her family today. Her overall goal is to “leave big footprints” on her hometown community and philanthropy is a Sasquatch-sized part of that. Ten percent of her profits are donated to the Springs Rescue Mission. You will also never find a “day old” cookie sale rack in the storefront. All of the leftovers at the end of the day are donated to local shelters to provide a comforting, tasty treat to our neighbors in need.
At present, Orist has more than 100 recipes in her repertoire and has progressed from a 100 percent delivery business plan to one that now includes a storefront. There are nine flagship cookies available at all times, one of which is gluten-free. Two specialty cookies are rotated in each week to keep customers on their toes. Some of these seasonal specialties have a cult following, so it is worth keeping an eye on their social media accounts to make sure you don’t miss out on your favorite.
Website: sasquatchcookies.com/
Facebook: @sasquatchco
Instagram: @sasquatch.cookies