Gingerbread Cookies

Once a year I kick it up and make gingerbread cookies.  They are a project, but my family loves them.  (This may be my 1st and last post!)  The kids, especially Sara Jane are finally old enough to help!  The trick is to use mild molasses!

They are from my best friend, Susan Hopkins Koelliker years ago:

Gingerbread Cookies

1 Cup Butter or Margarine (I like 1/2 & 1/2)

2 Cups Sugar

1 Cup Mild Molasses

1 teas. ginger

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

3/4 cloves

3 teaspoons soda

1 teaspoon salt

Approximately 5 Cups Flour

Cream butter & sugar.  Add molasses and spices. Then add flour.  Chill dough, roll out, and cut in shapes.  Bake 350 degrees for 7-8 minutes.

rebecca's yummy pork

janers and i actually got to "try this" together in seattle today!

yes, you heard me right...

real-time "try-this-ing"!!!

(we actually spent very little time in the kitchen...too much time playing!)

beck sent us this pork recipe the other day and we thought, "why not?".

post-church today, we whipped up this baby and were not disappointed!

nor were the men of the household.

this pork is totally holiday-ish with its flare of

orangey citrus and cranberry sauce....

mmm...wassailly pork roast!

we did pork loins, but i'm sure you could do any cut.

oh, and we used fresh sage because it was cheaper than buying the spice.

so...try this pork for your holiday meal!

shake it up...great alternative to the old ham and turkey spread, eh?

the pre-oven...

the post-oven...do forgive the lighting!

rebecca's yummy pork

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ground sage

2 1/2- 3 lb. pork roast

1 16 oz. can whole or jellied cranberry sauce

2 Tbls. honey (I used honey-flavored Agave)

1/2 - 1 tsp. orange zest

1/3 c. fresh squeezed orange juice

1/8 - 1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1/8 - 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Stir salt, pepper and 1/4 tsp. sage together - rub onto pork.

Sauce - In a saucepan, stir together cranberries, orange zest, orange juice, honey/agave, remaining 1/4 tsp., cloves and nutmeg. Bring to a boil, reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, about 10 minutes, or until slightly thick.

Spoon 1/4 c. sauce over meat. Roast uncovered, @ 325 degrees for 30-45 minutes. (Internal temp 150) Take out of oven, cover loosely with foil. Let stand 15 min. before slicing. Meat internal temp. should be 160. Reheat remaining sauce, boil for 1 min. Serve with sliced meat. Serves 8-10.

Rebecca's Granola

So Rebecca's granola is very similar to Amanda's Granola... just a few modifications after making multiple batches!

Rebecca’s Granola Recipe:

12 c. oatmeal (I like the Old Fashioned best)
2 c. brown sugar
2 c. coconut
1 tsp salt
2 c. nuts (slivered almonds, pepitas, whatever you want)
1 1/2 c. canola oil
2/3 c. water
3 tsp almond flavoring or 2 tsp almond and 1 tsp vanilla flavoring

Mix oats and brown sugar.  Mix coconut, salt, nuts, oil, water and flavoring and then mix with dry ingredients.
Spread on rimmed baking sheet w/ parchment underneath.  Bake @ 250 degrees for about 1- 1hr 15 mins.
Cool completely and store in covered container.
Feel free to stir in your favorite dried fruit after granola has cooled.

 

mint chocolate chip cookies

i used guittard, but you can use whatev.

yet another cookie recipe!

(i know, it looks like that's all we eat round here...)

we visited the local firestation the other day and

brought them these ttttt...tasty treats.

i really liked the batter. a great holiday-ish change-up

to the regular chocolate chipper!

from keeping up!

sarah's mint chocolate chip cookies

2 1/4 cup flour

1/3 cup cocoa

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

1 (12 oz) package green mint chocolate chips

stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. in a mixer, beat butter, sugars and vanilla until creamy. add eggs and beat well. gradually add flour mixture and continue beating. stir in chips. if desired, chill dough in the refrigerator to make it easier to work with. scoop onto ungreased cookie sheet. bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

sugar cookies

i broke down and made sugar cookies with the boys today.

i braved my fears: the mess and flour (in every nook and cranny!) and lack of control.

but, during prayers tonight, c. said, "thanks for letting us make cut-out cookies".

so, i guess it was worth it!

now, your cookies will look better than these, but i gave all creative control to the boys.

i can't said they didn't taste fantastic, sprinkles and all!

these cookies are easy to frost and cool nicely.

i froze a few and will frost them another day.

speaking of frosting, we used "grace's favorite frosting".

oh man i love me some frosting with a teaspoon of almond!

the one true sugar cookie

from "keeping up cookbook"

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 cup cream, sour cream or buttermilk

3 tablespoons cornstarch

3 cups flour (add 2 tablespoons extra flour in humid/rainy weather)

cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. add egg, vanilla, almond extract, salt and baking powder, mixing until well combined. with mixer on low, add half the cream and then the cornstarch, followed by half the flour. add remaining cream and flour, mixing just until incorporated. divide dough into two flattened balls, cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.

roll out chilled dough to desired thickness on a generously floured surface. loosen dough from counter by sliding a spatula under dough before cutting shapes (our favorite trick for easy release). cut into desired shapes, dust off excess flour and bake on a greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or until set but not browned. cool for 5 minutes then transfer to cooling rack. decorate cooled cookies with your favorite frosting and spinkles.

grace's favorite frosting

from "keeping up cookbook"

1/3 cup butter, softened but not melted

4 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon almond extract

pinch of salt

food coloring, as desired

cream butter slowly with powdered sugar. add milk and continue to heat. add vanilla, almond extract and salt. if needed, add more milk to make frosting a spreadable consistency. color with food coloring if desired. frost cookies and decorate as desired.

anthro bowls

i know i'm way late to game, but i finally got thee 

beloved "anthro bowls" for my little kitchen collection.

sistahs beck, kate and others already have em', but i just got around to getting a set of my own.

 i've had them for 2 days and have already found 

them to be the "all purpose" bowl. 

 fill em' with toppings, cereal, oatmeal, salsa, ice cream, whatever.  

and, bonus, they're only 5 bucks!

laura's chocolate chip cookies

let's be honest, we all know our sister kate

has the perfect chocolate chip cookie mastered.

but no matter what i do, i can't replicate her formula!

the other day, i ordered a cookie from a bakery with a dear friend of mine.

i mentioned to her, "i'm a cookie snob", and

this particular cookie, after a couple bites, hadn't really passed my test.

it was dry and crumbly, but oh well.

the other day, she sent me a recipe of her version of the perfect chocolate chip cookie!

well......

being sunday, the day of exhaustion+baking+splurging+hanging in the kitchen,

we made cookies.

these were yumm-o, and my friend swears by the combo

of baking powder AND baking soda.

light and soft and chewy.

i'm totally embarassed how many i ate. blegh.

thank heavens for neighbors, cookie-lovin' boys and a cookie-monster husband,

cuz' now the batch is gone.

so give these babies a whirl!

oh, and i'd love to try any other chocolate chip cookie recipes out there!

from laura's blog...

laura's perfect chocolate chip cookies

2 sticks of butter (1 cup)

3/4 cup white sugar

1 1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 eggs, slightly beaten

3 cups flour

3/4 teaspoons baking soda

3/4 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

3 cups chocolate chips (i used guittard milk chocolate...my favorite!)

in a mixer, cream the butter. add the vanilla, sugar and slightly beaten eggs. mix in the dry ingredients. stir in the chocolate chips. drop on a greased cookie sheet. bake at 350 degrees for 11-13 minutes.

zappos.com

got all my christmas shopping done here today!

free shipping that will be arriving on my doorstep in 1 business day.

now, that's unbelievable.

i'm roasting

okay so this is a no-brainer to ya'll, but not myself.

i never really understood how great roasting can be.

until this fall/winter..."falter", we'll call it.

i am obsessed with buying fresh veggies and just roastin' away.

it just completes a meal. or makes a great warm snack.

so it goes like this:

-buy a head of broccoli, or brussel sprouts, cauliflower, onions, carrots, what-have-you.

personally, any veggie i roast, i like to complement with chopped onions...

i don't love onions raw, but roasted are splendid.

-drizzle (the more the merrier) the olive oil

-sprinkle (or douse, if you're me) the sea salt

-grind up the peppah

-optional...any other herbs/spices/lemon juice you love.

toss in oven, the top rack, at 425, for 15-20 minutes.

you don't need much time with this high of heat!

oh the flavor! the slight crisp!

much better than my former life of microwave steamin'...