Molasses-Ginger Cookies

Kim over at NewlyWoodwards is having a Dare to DIY blog party/cookie recipe swap. I love baking cookies, thus making this an ideal bloggy event. Go check it out!

Molasses-Ginger Cookies...Mmmmmm. These are the kind of cookies that even if you don't eat a single one, you will thoroughly enjoy the smell of these while they are baking. They fill your house with the most wonderful smell, the kind that makes you want to breathe deeply and say, "Ahhhhhh, yeah. This is home."

I got this recipe from this blog. She uses only 2 cups of flour, but I couldn't get it to work with 2 cups of flour.

Molasses-Ginger Cookies

3 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon cloves

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup finely chopped *crystallized ginger

1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar (preferably muscovado)

1/2 cup vegetable shortening, room temperature

1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 large egg

1/3 cup molasses

demerrara sugar for rolling

1. Combine the flour, spices, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl; whisk to blend. Mix in crystallized ginger. In a large bowl using an electric mixer beat shortening and butter to combine, add brown sugar and beat until well-combined and fluffy. Add egg and molasses and beat until blended. Add flour mixture and mix just until blended. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.

2. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease/line 2 baking sheets. Spoon sugar in thick layer onto small plate. Using wet hands, form dough into 2-inch balls; roll in sugar to coat completely. Place balls on prepared sheets, spacing 2 inches apart, flatten slightly.

3. Bake cookies until cracked on top but still soft to touch and moist inside, about 10-12 minutes (do not overbake). Cool on sheets 1 minute. Carefully transfer to racks and cool.

*It is much cheaper to make crystallized ginger in your own kitchen. It is also very simple. Just make it at least a day before you want to make the cookies.

Christmas Table Topper

Have I ever told you how much I love finishing a project? I love finishing a project, even if it is small.

I made this table topper for my sister and brother-in-law who just bought their first house. I really like the way the top came out. The quilting is OK. I just need to practice more.

I made it from a charm pack that a local quilt shop put together from the different Christmas fabrics they had in their store this year.

The outer border was a bit of a trial. This was the third or fourth border I tried. I just couldn't seem to get it right, but I finally got it right with the red pieced border.

Sorry the picture is a little blurry, but this is no longer in my possession so I can't take a better picture.

Gratitude Book

I finally finished the Gratitude Book. I am really happy with the way it came out. My mom and I decided this book would be fun to have and look back on what was written over the years. We decided this was the year to start it, since this was the first time our entire family has been together in something like 8 years. This book will live at my mom's house as long as the big family Thanksgiving is held at her house. Everyone who goes to her house for Thanksgiving is required to write in the book what they are thankful for. It doesn't have to be long or detailed. Just something.