Where did this week go?!?! I tell you what, I have been meaning to post my first Christmas cookie recipe all week, but between a little Christmas shopping, making Christmas presents, wrapping presents, getting my hair did, the list goes on….I just didn’t get around to it! So pardon me, but you’ll have to enjoy a recipe for Big Soft Ginger Cookies and Friday Favorites allatonce. 🙂
If you’re a fan of ginger & molasses, you’ll adore these cookies. They are ridiculously soft, not too sweet, and oh so buttery. I just love them. I got the recipe from a Taste of Home magazine back when I was in college. I worked at a bank and would write down recipes out of magazines in between customers…boy am I glad I did that because this recipe is a winner!
Big Soft Ginger Cookies Print Recipe Here
From: Taste of Home
Makes: 24 cookies
Ready in 50 minutes
Ingredients
2 1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup margarine or unsalted butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup molasses
Additional sugar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350. Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and 1 cup of sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the water & molasses. Gradually stir in the sifted ingredients into your molasses mixture. The dough will be thick. Shape the dough into walnut sized balls (about 1 1/2 inch balls) and roll them into additional sugar. Place the cookies 2″ apart on an ungreased cookie sheet and flatten slightly.
Bake for 8-10 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on your baking sheets for 5 minutes before removing them and placing on a cooling rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
Now, without further ado, here are some of my favorite things from around the web in this week’s Friday Favorites! (sorry it’s shorter than usual, I promise a big one next week!)
***Click on the red text to be led to the source of my favorites
Favorite Chips: Baked Apple Chips. Sweet & crispy apple chips, perfect for when you have a hankering for chips but don’t want to feel guilty afterwards. 🙂
Favorite Wrapping Idea: Simple gift wrap. Use a brown paper (like postal wrapping paper), simple ribbon, and stamps to wrap presents. Simple and rustic. Why spend so much money wrapping presents?
Favorite Sandwich: Ham sandwich with honey and mustard onions. Yes, please.
Favorite Breakfast: Red Velvet Pancakes with Cream Cheese Glaze. Don’t these look delicious?!
Favorite Food Show: Top Chef. I love Top Chef! While watching the show, I drool over the food and am left inspired to hit the kitchen! I’m not sure who will win Top Chef Seattle, it’s too early to tell. Maybe Joshua, Chris, Josie, Stefan, Kristen, John….who knows?!
Favorite Cake: Ginger Spice Latte Mug Cake. For those times when you really need cake, but don’t have time to make one. A mug cake is the perfect solution!
Favorite Coffee-Lover Gift: Make Coffee Sleeves out of socks or sweaters. Adorable!
Favorite “This is snack screams Christmas” snack: Roasted Chestnuts. Directions for making them over an open fire (!!!!!!!!!!) or in the oven. I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am to make these! I WILL be making these next week!!!!!<<<Insert all of the exclamation points.
Favorite Foodie/Fashionista Gift: Vitamin (or trinkets, etc) storage boxes that look like macarons! Only $10 at Urban Outfitters. The perfect stocking stuffer!
Favorite Cookies: Hot Cocoa Cookies. These cookies look a-mazing. Chocolate gooey goodness.
Favorite Fashion: Eddie Bauer’s Tartan Crinkle Button-Down Shirts. I love Eddie Bauer! And guess what? Today through December 10th you can get 30% off your purchase (plus free shipping on orders over $49), enter the code “CHILL” at checkout.
Favorite Drink: White Chocolate Pumpkin Nog. All the flavors of Thanksgiving and Christmas combined. Count me in!
Favorite Nachos: BBQ Chicken and Cheese Nachos. I love me some nachos. Talk about an easy and delicious meal!
Favorite Tunes: I’ve been listening to copious amounts of Christmas music lately. Among my favorites are She & Him’s album A Very She & Him Christmas, Michael Bublé’s album Christmas, Bing Crosby’s “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” John Williams’ “O Holy Night,” Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” The Eagles “Please Come Home for Christmas,” and of course Alvin & the Chipmunks “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late).”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOLjMuu_ZEQ]
Enjoy your Friday! I’m off to Josh’s firm Christmas party! Toodles. 🙂
My onions and ham sandwich looks even more delicious in the middle of your lovely blog! Thanks for sharing your favourites…
Thank you! I can’t wait to try that sandwich!