gingerbread crinkles

Maybe you can't call them gingersnaps because they're not hard. I don't know, but chewy ginger cookies is a boring name. I need a better one. These are my neighbor gifts and Dan's favorite cookies. (Thanks to Pam, I'm changing the name of these cookies to gingerbread crinkles.)

The recipe (which I got online from someone named Judd Antin):

2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup dark molasses

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375. Whisk first 7 dry ingredients together, set aside. Beat shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg, molasses, and vanilla to shortening sugar mixture and mix until just combined. Mix dry ingredients into wet one cup at a time. Form dough into 1 inch balls and coat balls in sugar. Bake for 9 - 11 minutes. Golden and cracked is a good sign. Makes 2 1/2 - 3 dozen.

gingerbread contest winner

Thanks Marianne for reminding me. Combined with the results from the facebook poll the winner is . . . me and Dan! Ours was the one with the red and green roof.

Jamie and Katie did the pink and brown one, which actually has a very cool roof (though not water tight because the shingles started from the bottom) and a lovely rock veneer wall ala 1972 made of skor bars.

Dad and Andy did the gumdrop one. It started out pretty bad, but then Dad fixed it all up while Andy watched TV. Plus the chimney is super cool (not to mention the gumdrop facade, which you all fell for.)

Mom and Emily did the purple and green one. Emily was a tiny bit of a perfectionist and wasted lots of candy scraping off and starting again. But they had a very lovely roof, a very cool chimney, and a very cool green m&m thing going on (I'm sorry I don't know the architectural house part name.)

I think we should do it again next year! Thanks Em for the idea.

peach pit jelly

I think you use 25 peach pits. Apparently you can also use the skins of the peaches. You just put them in a pan and cover with water 2 inches over the pits. Then you bring to a boil and continue to boil for 10 minutes or until water becomes red. Strain pits and skins and use the juice for jam. I just followed directions for peach jelly on my pectin instructions. The first time I made these they were an even prettier red on the top and gradated to orange on the bottom.

neighbor gifts

I like doing neighbor gifts, but I don't do it every year, depending on the craziness factor. This year (and last year) I had the ingenious idea to make peach pit jelly (you steep the pits in water and get this lovely tasting peachy juice). I never got to it last year but I bought all the jars. So I did it the other day and it only made 6 cups! My list is a little larger than 6 so I need some more ideas. I was thinking cookies, since they're easy and the kids can help too. What are some of your neighbor gift ideas? I think the kids will like to get in on the packaging and giving too.




Gifts I've done in the past: my own salsa, my own shortbread cookies, and my own caramels.

another giveaway

This time Molly from My Favorite Things is doing a giveaway for me. How nice. Again I'm giving away 2 pairs, so if you didn't get to win last time, make sure to go on over and enter to win! Also I put a few more necklaces and bracelets in the store as well as a Merry Christmas Banner. So go over and check it out!

really?

You know how I mentioned that ornament exchange? The one where I made the penguins? Well, so far I've received about 5 or 6 (of 10) ornaments and I just got this one in the mail.

Really? I have no words for this. I am seriously offended that someone would spend the time to make it and then send it to an actual person.

another one of charlie

I think all my videos are of Charlie, but I was going through the archives and found this. It was right after we got the new camera, right before Luke was born. (Charlie was 3). Charlie didn't realize Dan was taking a video so he kept smiling for the picture. It's pretty cute.

cute brothers

Sam spent a good part of the afternoon pushing Luke around in the laundry basket. They had a great time until I had to crack the whip and make Sam clean his room.

today

Today I crossed a few things off my list (the list from a few days ago.) I also made something that wasn't on my list. (I may even put one in the shop next week.)

Here's the front.

Here's the back.

green Christmas idea

I love Ready Made magazine. This month they had a whole page on green ideas for Christmas. I can't find it right now, but the best one was this:

Instead of using those new clothing boxes to wrap clothes in, just use a cereal box. I've already put 2 sets of pjs in 2 big cereal boxes and they work perfectly. Reuse baby.