Tis The Season For Cookies!!

 

Please don't fall out of your chair.  I know you're probably in SHOCK that I'm actually posting, but over the past several months, I've been forced to focus on a few other things.  I haven't forgotten you and I hope you haven't forgotten me either. 

I baked Ginger Snaps tonight.  Actually, I've been baking cookies almost all week, but I keep getting requests for Ginger Snaps, so back to the kitchen I went.  I've used this recipe for many, MANY years.  When it was shared with me, there was no indication of where the recipe came from, but as I've researched, it's the same recipe  listed on Blue Ribbon Baking.  I always want to credit the proper person, so just in case the recipe I received is indeed from this site, all bases are covered.

 Ready to roll

Cookie sheets #2 & #3 awaiting their turn in the oven

Finished product

Ginger Snaps (Printable Version)

3/4 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed (light or dark)
1/4 cup molasses
1 large egg
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup sugar (for rolling)

*I always add a bit more of the spices and I don't chill the dough.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cream shortening, brown sugar, molasses and egg in large bowl. In a separate bowl sift flour, baking soda, salt and spices. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, blending until mixed. Dough can be chilled for easy handling.

Shape the dough into balls the size of whole walnuts. Roll balls in sugar, place on baking sheet. Bake 8-9 minutes at 375 degrees. Cool on sheet one minute before transferring to rack.

Makes 3-4 dozen.

As you can see, this is a super easy recipe and these cookies are absolutely delicious!!  If you try them, I'd love to hear your feedback. 

Sheila Denise

Revisiting An Old Friend {Miracle Mix Cake Release}

Have you ever tried something that worked really well, only to stop using it for no apparent reason? Yeah, me too and I was reminded recently when flipping a cake out of an intricate cake pan. As I held my breath, I remembered that I had brought this apprehension on myself because I was no longer using a tried and true cake-won't-stick-to-the-pan method that I'd used a few years ago. When I employed this method, I never had concerns about cakes sticking, so I decided to go back to something that had never failed me before. I wanted to be sure I remembered the correct proportions, so I did a little searching online and the first to pop up was a blog entry from Apron of Grace.

If you're a baker, you probably already know about this "Miracle Mix", but those of you who need to be in on the secret--trust me, you need to whip up a batch of this stuff PRONTO!! All you need is shortening, vegetable oil and flour in equal quantities (I used 1/2 cup each), whipped to death.

Oh and to show you just how much I trust this stuff, I used it with a new recipe, in a much thinner pan than I normally use and the cake plopped out perfectly. Not a single spot even thought about sticking to the pan. See--

With the holidays bearing down upon us, I'm committed to eliminating all breath-holding situations when it comes to baking cakes for friends and family by cozy-ing up to my old friend Miracle Mix.

Happy baking!!

Sheila Denise

Thursday Treasure - Baking With A Purpose {Share Our Strength}

Would you believe that I've been on a natural high since Saturday?? Well, I'm almost always on a natural high, but this one is different. It was generated by the pure goodness and generosity of a BIG group of people and it's all because of that little sign up there. I'm talking about all the wonderful people across the nation who gave donations to Share Our Strength and those who baked/volunteered and purchased baked goods during last Saturday's Great American Bake Sale.

I had the honor of participating as a baker and volunteer with some fantastic Atlanta area folks at The 2011 Atlanta Food Blogger Bake Sale. Our group was spearheaded by Tami Hardeman and I must commend her on pulling together an Olympic class team. I'm proud (and SHOCKED) to announce that our group raised just over $3000!!! Can you believe it??? . As I shared a few days ago, via Facebook, this was not your mother's bake sale and I have the pictures to prove it, so I'll stop talking and just show you.

And here are shots of items that made it home with me.

Salted Brown Butter Crispy Treats

Whole Wheat Croissant

Lemon Drop Shots

Mascarpone Cream Filled Cookies with Chocolate & Pistachios

Gingersnaps

Pistachio Lemon Biscotti

Meyer Lemon Curd Tart

There is no better feeling than knowing you're a small part of something great and this is a feeling I'll surely treasure for a lifetime.

Sheila Denise

P.S. As I was wrapping up this post yesterday, I received an email from Tami, announcing that the Atlanta Bloggers raised the most money in the US!!! Yes, you read that correctly! The most money raised in the country was raised right here in Atlanta!! That's not all...in honor of having raised the most money, Duncan Hines is donating $10,000 in our group's honor!!!!!!!!! *insert crying, dancing and fainting spell here* That money will make a HUGE difference in the lives of many hungry children.

Thank you so much for your generosity!! I can hardly wait for next year's bake sale.