Soft Ginger Cookies

My mom would make gingerbread cake every now and again when I was a kid. Back then, my response was always a loud and resounding "EWWWW!" If I'd had the verbal snark I'm gifted with now, I would have said, "Whoa, could you make a real cake, please? Like with chocolate and frosting from a tub, HELLOOOO!?!?"

The whole ginger-in-a-dessert thing seemed off to me--until I grew up and lost a couple million taste buds. It's amazing what I think is tasty nowadays. Molasses! Ginger! Cardboard All Flaked Up!

But I've discovered that if you mix butter and sugar with anything, it will turn out superb. It's true!

These cookies have been *the* cookies for our holiday season. Usually I like to bake a few of the ol' usual-schmoozuals, but not this year. I'm all about ginger and spice and everything nice. That's what good cookies are made of.

Soft Ginger Cookies

2 1/4 cups all-purpose 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 butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 whole egg

1 tablespoon orange juice (or water)

1/4 cup molasses

4 tablespoons granulated sugar

Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the orange juice (or water) and molasses. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Let the dough sit in the fridge or freezer until it is firm. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining 4 tbsp sugar. Place the cookies 2" apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly. Bake for 6-8 minutes in a 350 F oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for a couple of minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container. 24 servings.

I modified the original recipe a bit to include my deep, deep love for butter. I rarely make cookies with margarine or shortening. I also substituted orange juice for the water (as several of the 2100+ [!!] reviewers suggested), and also found that I needed twice as much sugar to roll the dough in before putting the cookies in the oven.

For more recipes, hop on over to Ann's Food on Fridays or to Friday Feast.

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In Which I Got All Crafty By Tying Some Knots

If you ask me what I remember most from the sewing class I took as a child, I'll tell you two things:

1) the seam ripper...aaaaand

2) tears

Not "tears" as in tares (v): ripping the fabric to shreds with my very own teeth, but "tears" as in teers (n): the wet stuff that pours out of my eyes that is often accompanied by high-pitched noises and randomly flying objects. (see "seam ripper")

So as you can see, I'm not a crafty gal. However! I like a project that can be done quickly that is not only cute but serves a real purpose. A purpose other than "sitting on the shelf."

Now before y'all go hitting the unsubscribe button with a vengeance--let me interject with this: I am in awe of the crafty sorts. And I've been known to visit Etsy every now and again with sheer delight--so much so that I recently purchased one of these.

I know! Cute on top of cute! With a side helping of cute!

Now. Where was I?

Oh, getting ready to tell you about an easy project that even relatively-behaved, grade-school aged (and older) kids can help with. It involves fleece, which is not only cute but is soft and squishy and can be made into the. cutest. NO-SEW blankets.

Now. I realize that I've used the word "cute" five times so far in this post, along with other sweet words that will ruin my snappy and snarky reputation forever. Just keep that between us, m'kay?

But did you happen to see the words I put IN CAPS?

NO? SEW?

Oh, sign. me. up!

Or should I say, "tie me up?!"

The no-sew tie fleece blankets are "blankets" made of "fleece" that you "don't sew" which means "no seams" which means "no seam ripper" but means "tying a whole bunch of knots."

F-to-the-u-hoo-hoo-n!

I made a blanket recently, and had my students at church help tie the knots. When the blanket was done, we donated it to our local children's hospital. (I made sure to wash it after lots of germy kiddie hands had touched the blanket. At the hospital's request.)

I couldn't begin to give you instructions on how to make the thing. But I can show you a video. Lights! Camera! Slow-moving and well-documented action!

The fabric plus the background music in that video have reached levels of awesomesauce incongruity I know nothing about. Just sayin'.

In addition, here are some step-by-step instructions as well as info on making blankets of different sizes.

Of course, I've got my own tips to share:

• Cut with sharp sewing shears lest you end up throwing your dull pair across the room. (see: "seam ripper") Borrow a pair if you have to; they're quite (*cough*) pricey.
  
  
• Double-knot the ties when including kids on the project. The knot shown in the video looks nicer--but it's too difficult for young kids to do.
  
  
• Pin the layers together if you're going to be moving the blanket before it's done; it helps keep the ties from going helter-skelter.
  
  
• Tie a few knots (on each end / maybe one in the middle of each side) before working your way around the perimeter of the blanket. Again, this comes from my experience with kids who aren't always the most careful in making sure the top tie gets tied to its match on the bottom. And if you want to know who got to untie a hundred and thirty-seven knots--JUST ASK MISS SEAM RIPPER HERSELF.
  
  
• Buy the fabric on sale. Craft stores rotate their sales every week and repeat them year-round. Or you can receive coupons by signing up for a mailing list--either way you'll likely save 40-50%.

During the winter season, fleece blankets make great gifts--not just for those on your holiday list but for those in need (women's shelters, homeless shelters, children in tough situations). Make sure to call  these agencies first to be sure the blankets can be used.

Please share your own blanket-making or blanket-giving stories or tips in the comments. Or simply tell me which sewing tool you'd like to (hypothetically speaking) toss across the room.

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Cappuccino Flats

If you give yourself a cappuccino cookie, you're gonna want a cup'a coffee. And if you have a cup'a coffee, you're gonna want another cookie. It's as simple as that.

But these cookies don't just taste good. They pack well when giving them away, and stand out from the crowd of the usual schmoozual fare. They look like they came from a bakery yet still taste homemade. And I use the term "homemade" as a good thing. Your experience may not be the same.

So allow me to present to you the best coffee-flavored cookie I've tasted in my entire acting-like-an-a-dult life. Enjoy.

Cappuccino Flats

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon instant coffee granules

1 teaspoon warm water

1 whole egg

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate squares, melted and cooled

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

3 tablespoons shortening or butter

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars.  Dissolve coffee in water; add to creamed mixture with egg and melted chocolate. Mix well. Combine flour, cinnamon and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture (dough will be sticky). Shape into two 6 1/2" rolls; wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 4 hours or until firm.  Unwrap and cut into 1/4" slices. Place 2" apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until firm. Remove to wire racks to cool. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate chips and shortening. (Keep melted chocolate on low heat during next step so that it stays melted.) Dip each cookie halfway; shake off excess. Place on waxed paper to harden.Yield: 4 dozen.

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Silo--No Mo, It's Off To Work We Go

I'm no stranger to the farm. I spent most of my life on a big ol' honkin' plot of land, running and screaming and climbing and hiding and exploring and did I mention there was probably some screaming? One of the best places to do this was around the silos--there must have been a gazillion of them. Or like four. But who's counting?

My overly-analytical mind spent hours figuring out which silo was tallest / widest / biggest / fullest / oldest. What was mysterious to me was how the grain moved from one place to another--or if it even did. They always looked so self-contained and sealed up to me.

Which is kind of the point of the things.

But what's great for grain isn't so great for everything.

Much has been written in the business world about the silo effect; i.e., not sharing information or resources across departments. I've seen the same thing happen to organizations within a community. So many of them are trying to accomplish the same goal--building a great place to live--yet they find themselves scrambling for money, for volunteers. They're all racing to create the biggest, fullest silo and from my eternally optimistic outlook--not getting very far.

But the times are changing when it comes to community collaboration. I've been a part of it, and I'm here to say--it can and does work to share space, to share money, to share volunteers.

Most recently I was in charge of a community Halloween event that was a joint effort between the neighborhood association, twenty or so businesses, the library, and our church. And not once did I feel a sense of competition between those groups, and you know why? We were all after the same goal--to provide a family-friendly, community-building event for the neighborhood.

I have included the entire writeup of the event that was included in the local paper, mainly so that my mom can print it and stick it to her fridge. But beyond that, I wanted to give you--a leader in your community--proof and encouragement that unthinkable partnerships can happen for the greater good.

Boulevard-long Halloween romp scares up fun in Woodstock

Dressed in costumes ranging from spooky to silly, hundreds of kids and their parents had a fun and safe Halloween along SE Woodstock Boulevard on Saturday evening, October 31st.




It started with Story Time at the Woodstock Branch Library. Then, trick-or-treating down “Candy Corn Lane” – 20 participating merchants offering candy and treats along the way – the revelers arrived at the Woodstock Community Center.

“We’re working with the Woodstock Neighborhood Association (WNA) and the Woodstock Community Business Association (WCBA) to coordinate this event,” said Lisa Smith, with Lifehouse Church, who organized the activities at the community center.

This is our third annual party,” said Smith. “There’s crafts for kids, games, popcorn, cider, and a huge goodie bag for each kid. They can craft a Halloween picture for our ‘wall of art’, and we’re asking them to mark their home’s location on a map.”

Smith assured us that all of the arrangements were worth the effort. “It’s important for the community to have a place to be together that is safe and fun. We get to enjoy one another’s company.”

In addition to the many Woodstock merchants who participated, Smith said that five restaurants participated by giving away gift certificates. “All in all, it’s a great community-builder.” It’s planned to repeat again next Halloween.

Reprinted with permission from The Bee. Photo and content by David Ashton.

What are some ways you've seen collaboration work in your community?

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