I do realize that this month's cookie donation seems slightly "holiday-nostalgic", but I actually made these cookies in December.
So I'm good, right?
(But please don't tell the auction winner that I froze them for two weeks before I delivered them!)
I'd been hungry for gingerbread since teaching The Gingerbread Boy unit. Over, and over, and over. And finally, during winter break I had a chance to make these beauties.
After sifting through at least 30 recipes, I came up with a winner:
3 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter (room temperature, softened) 1/2 cup dark-brown sugar, packed 1 Tbsp ground ginger 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 large egg 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses (can anyone tell me what sulfured molasses is???)
1 In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and spices. Set aside.
2 Cream the butter. Add sugar and beat until fluffy. Mix in eggs and molasses. Gradually add the flour mixture; combine on low speed. (You may need to work it with your hands to incorporate the last bit of flour.) Divide dough in thirds; wrap each third in plastic. Chill for at least 1 hour or overnight. Before rolling out, let sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes.
3 Heat oven to 350°. Place a dough third on a large piece of lightly floured parchment paper or wax paper. Using a rolling pin, roll dough 1/8 inch thick. Refrigerate again for 5-10 minutes to make it easier to cut out the cookies. Make shapes with cookie cutters.
4 Transfer to ungreased baking sheets. Bake until crisp but not darkened, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Let sit a few minutes and then use a metal spatula to transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
I tried so hard to avoid egg yolk in the icing. But The Flash's graham cracker house was totally falling apart with my pathetic other attempts, so I caved. (Besides, although my kids don't know it yet, I do eat raw cookie dough....).
Royal Icing
1 egg white 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice 1 3/4 cup confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)
The traditional way to make Royal Icing is to beat egg whites and lemon juice together, adding the powdered sugar until the mixture holds stiff peaks. This takes a long time. Add more powdered sugar if needed. Fill a piping bag with the icing to pipe out into different shapes. (Or use a plastic sandwich bag, with the tip of one corner of the bag cut off.)
I recently decided I want to homeschool-preschool my daughter.
You know, while I'm working full time. Cuz that'll be super easy.
So yesterday I bought $10 worth of materials for her to master at-home while I'm at work and Professor X is resting. These materials included a bright and fun ABC poster. (I also figured this would be useful for The Flash who is still learning the differences between lower case and capital letters in his writing).
Overall the poster is great. I love the colors and the pictures are fun. But letter "S" here gets me really riled up. What kind of *** would use a "sh" ʃ sound to represent the letter "S"? Will my daughter now being reading that the "Shun ish up in the shky?"
Oh, and while on this tirade, please do NOT create an "alliteration" that does not contain all the same initial sounds.
"Carrie climbs cement ceilings" is not an alliteration in my book.
I first fell in love with the people of Haiti when reading Mountains Beyond Mountains. In shock, horror, and hope I learned some about the Haitian people, the government difficulties, the extreme poverty, and some of the work that amazing people are doing there.
When I learned that Holt International (the adoption agency we used to bring home our children) had started a Haiti adoption program, I immediately started looking at waiting children there. I would occasionally send my husband links, saying "Oh... isn't he adorable?" Hinting. Just hinting. Unfortunately, my husband's disabilities most likely means that our family is complete. However, I was able to follow along when my friend made a missions trip to Haiti to help with an orphanage there. It's not the same though.
With Haiti's recent crisis, I think of all the children who will be left as orphans. My heart bleeds for them as well as the parents who are mourning their children, spouses, siblings...
I'm currently reading the book Adopted For Life. Although I do not agree with all of the author's points, one that I feel strongly about is that the church as a whole has an obligation towards adoption: either to adopt, or to support others in adoption. For those who are unable to adopt, they can support others financially, emotionally, prayerfully, and by way of providing physical help to families as they go through this process (and after!).
The people in Haiti need help now. They need water, food, medical supplies, shelter. They need hope for themselves, and for their children. With the money that my family is saving Eating from the Pantry this month, we were able to make a sizable donation to Samaritan's Purse's Haitian relief efforts. Would you consider doing the same? Or by commenting at blogs such as Money Saving Mom or Frugal Living NW, or Krazy Coupon Lady where a donation will be made for each comment left.
Later, prayerfully consider adopting or sponsoring a child from Haiti. Please.
We had the "pleasure" of airport travel with Professor X's wheelchair over winter break. The following summarize why everyone should travel this way.
#5. Lacking hands to pull suitcases or car seats, you have the opportunity to hone your creativity skills. Notice how Professor X used his spatial-awareness skills. His IQ must have jumped ten points from this episode.
#4. You get to go in a special security screening line. And to pre-board. Unfortunately, the special security procedures make you late for your flight. Adios pre-boarding.
#3. Daddies in wheelchairs make for comfortable recliners. So comfy, in fact, that little girls may just fall asleep in their laps, further reducing mobility.
#2. Airport personnel will insist on "helping" push you through the airport. In spite of protests by both you and your wife--thus reducing your independence even more.
And the number one reason...
#1. Your six year old son will step-up and take on extra responsibilities to help out. Finally.
Possibly not your average Speech-Language Pathologist--mom to two beauties born in South Korea and wife to a wonderful man whose body has been over-taken by horrid pain.
Feel free to become part of my "free therapy plan" as we struggle through disability, pain, and finding joy in the midst of it all.
Posts
