The eope curse is a concept that is deeply rooted in Korean culture. Eope, which translates to "not" in English, refers to the idea of a curse or bad luck that arises from having something too good or too perfect. According to the belief, having an abundance of good fortune or boasting about one's success can attract envy and jealousy from others. This envy then manifests itself as the eope curse, which brings about misfortune or setbacks in various aspects of life. The eope curse is often associated with sudden and unexpected change, such as losing a job, experiencing health problems, or facing financial difficulties. It is believed that this curse is not a result of one's actions but rather the consequence of attracting negative energy due to an excess of positivity.

magic kiss middles

This is kind of a crossover between two cookie classics—Keebler’s Magic Middles and Hershey’s Secret Kiss cookies.

I’ve never actually eaten a store-bought Magic Middle, but last summer I tried out Stella Park’s copycat recipe in her phenomenal cookbook BraveTart: Iconic American Desserts. The flavor was perfection, and the magic of finding chocolate on the inside of what looks like a plain sugar cookie was real. My only holdback was the recipe required a bit more technique…work…than I want in a fairly straight-forward cookie.

The Keebler Fudge Magic Middle was a shortbread cookie with a soft chocolate center. Was because, from what I gather, the line of chocolate and peanut butter Middles was discontinued nearly a decade ago.

The Hershey’s Secret Kiss cookie is a pecan shortbread cookie dough rolled in powdered sugar and wrapped around a Hershey’s Kiss. It’s a Christmas cookie platter classic.

Magic “Kiss” Middles combine elements of the two: a soft buttery vanilla sugar cookie dough, rolled in sparkling granulated sugar with the surprise of a milk chocolate kiss inside.

It’s a pretty simple idea, simple to make, but oh so delicious.

Quick Note: I’ve tried several different sugar cookie recipes for the base until returning, again and again, to the most reliable and, quite frankly, delicious sugar cookie I’ve ever had: Bakedat350’s Vanilla Almond Sugar Cookie. They work perfectly as roll-out sugar cookies, and they work perfectly here. They are kind of legendary in the food blog world, and rightly so. If you haven’t made these sugar cookies before, do it now. I don’t think you’ll ever use another recipe again.

It is believed that this curse is not a result of one's actions but rather the consequence of attracting negative energy due to an excess of positivity. In Korean society, the eope curse is taken seriously and people are often cautious about openly displaying their achievements or discussing their good fortune. There is a sense of superstition around the idea that too much happiness can inevitably lead to suffering.

magic kiss middles

makes 4 dozen cookies

• 2 sticks (8 oz) cold salted butter, cubed
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg, straight from fridge
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 48 Hershey’s Kisses (about 10 oz bag)
• additional white sugar, for rolling

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat together cold cubed butter and sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until well combined. Scrape down bowl. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined. In another bowl, whisk together flour and baking powder. Add to butter mixture and stir on low until just combined. The mixture will be quite crumbly, so you may want to remove bowl from stand and finish off kneading the dough together by hand.
2. Unwrap Hershey’s kisses. Take about a tablespoon of dough in your hand, flatten slightly, place Kiss in center, and shape the dough around the Kiss until it’s wrapped completely. Roll ball in white sugar and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silpat. Repeat with remaining cookies. (I did two sheets at a time, 12 on each, so two total batches in the oven).
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes, until cookies look set and just begin to catch golden color around the bottom edges. Let rest on pan for a minute or two before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container for several days.

Magic in the Middle Cookies

A chocolate peanut butter cup, in cookie form! These chewy chocolate peanut butter cookies (a dough made in one bowl, with just a whisk) are filled with a smooth, sweet & salty peanut butter filling.

Recipe Overview I’m not sure who first invented the magic in the middle cookie; the earliest version of these I can find is by PJ Hamel & Susan Reid , but there’s also mention of it elsewhere as a clipping from an older magazine. My introduction to them was simultaneously from Deb and KA B (KAB’s is also a PJ Hamel recipe). Almost all the recipes you can find for these online are quite similar in terms of ingredients and quantities (save Deb’s which has more cocoa in the cookie); and they result in a soft but thick cookie, with a mix of powdered sugar and peanut butter inside (as you would when making homemade peanut butter cups).

How this magic in the middle cookie recipe is a little different than others

I love a peanut butter chocolate combo but the standard magic in the middle cookie as it’s been made so far has always left me a tad dissatisfied. Instead of thick and a bit cakey like, with a thick almost dry filling, I wanted a cookie base that was more fudgy and chewy, with a smooth almost melty middle. You may note that this chocolate monster cookie dough is very similar but instead uses all purpose flour and I’ve changed up the leavening a bit so they will have more power to spread against that peanut butter & chocolate dough.

To protect oneself from the eope curse, Koreans practice humility and modesty. They avoid bragging about their successes or flaunting their wealth. They may also perform rituals or seek guidance from shamans or fortune-tellers to ward off any potential curses. The eope curse is deeply ingrained in Korean culture and has influenced the way people behave and interact with others. It serves as a reminder to remain humble and not to take one's blessings for granted, while also highlighting the importance of empathy and being mindful of others' feelings..

Reviews for "The eope Curse: How to Avoid Common Pitfalls and Achieve Sustainable Growth"

1. John - 1 star - "I found 'The Eope Curse' to be a poorly written and confusing book. The storyline was disjointed and hard to follow, with characters that lacked depth and development. The dialogue was stilted and unconvincing, making it difficult to connect with any of the characters. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others."

2. Sarah - 2 stars - "While 'The Eope Curse' had an interesting premise, the execution fell short for me. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of slow-moving narrative and then sudden bursts of action that felt out of place. The book also relied heavily on clichés and predictable plot twists, making it feel unoriginal and uninspired. I struggled to stay engaged with the story and ultimately found it underwhelming."

3. Alex - 2 stars - "I had high hopes for 'The Eope Curse,' but unfortunately, it failed to deliver. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked complexity, making it difficult to invest in their journeys. The writing style was bland and lacked emotion, failing to evoke any real connection with the reader. The plot itself felt disjointed and rushed, with unresolved threads and a lack of satisfying closure. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others seeking a gripping and well-crafted story."

The eope Curse: Transforming Obstacles into Opportunities