Gingerbread

Gingerbread Cookies

This recipe was based on a recipe for Ginger Sprites from Oma's "Favorite Cookie Cook Book" by Hyla Nelson O'Connor published in around 1955 and bought for 75 cents.

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup molasses

1 egg

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ginger

1 1/2 teaspoons cloves

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

Note:check original recipe to see how much salt

Cream together shortening and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add molasses and egg and beat well.  Sift together flour, soda, baking powder and spices.  Add to molasses mixture and blend thoroughly.  Chill in refrigerator.  Roll out on a lightly floured board to about 1/4 inch thickness.  Use cookie cutters to create wonderful shapes.  Place on a greased baking sheet.  I used parchment paper.  Bake in a moderate oven (350 degrees) for 10 to 12 minutes depending on the size of the cookies.  

I doubled the recipe to make about 8 large stocking cookies and about a half dozen smaller cookies.

Jenny's molasses tip 2018-spray measuring cup with Pam before filling with molasses

Cookie Icing

This icing dries hard and shiny and the colors stay bright.

1 cup confectioner's sugar

2 teaspoons milk

2 teaspoons light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

assorted food coloring

In a small bowl, stir together confectioner's sugar and milk until smooth.  Beat in corn syrup and almond extract until icing is smooth and glossy.  If icing is too thick, add more corn syrup.

Divide into separate bowls, and add food colorings to each to desired intensity.  Dip cookies, or paint them with a brush.

 Reegan, Ethan and Tristan proudly display their sandpaper Gingerbread Boys decorated with glue, beads, sequins, glue glitter and  Christmas ribbons.

 Reegan and Tristan wonder how we are going to make a spicy Gingerbread dough with applesauce and white glue.

Cinnamon Christmas Decorations

Mix the following:

1 cup cinnamon

1 tablespoon ground cloves

1 tablespoon nutmeg

Add the following and mix well:

3/4 cup applesauce

2 tablespoons white glue

Work the dough for 2 to 3 minutes with your hands.

Divide it into 2 to 4 balls and roll out to 1/4 inch thick.

Cut with cookie cutters.

Use a straw to poke a hole in the top

Dry on a wire rack or cookie sheet for 2 days.

Turn often to prevent curling and to help with the drying.

Can be covered with a damp tea towel to help prevent cracking.

To read the story of the Gingerbread Man click on Gingerbread Man.

Connecticut Gingerbread Cookies 2019

Play Dough Perfection

With all of the play dough recipes on the internet, none compares to my mother-in-law's recipe.  I am the play dough mom this year for T-man's class and I make 5 batches of this stuff each month.  Each month coordinates with the colour they are studying.  One batch makes a nice amount for 1 or 2 kiddos.  Nothing beats the feeling of warm, freshly made dough squishing between your fingers.  Okay, I'll admit it...  I still LUV play dough.

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 cup water
1 tbsp oil
2 tsp cream of tartar
food colouring

Mix all ingredients in a pan.  Heat and stir until thick and rubbery.  Knead on the counter for a few minutes.  Put in sealed containers to store.

T-man and his FAVORITE alone-time activity with Mom while E-man is at school and Miss Reegs is napping.

Don't you want to create?  I can never resist the call of playdough.

Rolling, stamping, makin' snakes and cakes!

Green Playdough was the colour T-man chose for December, I wonder why?

Love Twin B
xoxoxoxo