The Great 2022 Cookie Exchange!

This year I’m thrilled to be taking part in author Staci Troilo’s Second Annual Cookie Exchange. It works sort of like a blog hop: you’re invited to visit the baker’s dozen (at last count) participating blogs and you’ll get a different cookie recipe at each one. Once you’ve read my recipe for molasses cookies, head on over to Staci Troilo’s blog at https://stacitroilo.wordpress.com/2022/12/15/virtual-cookie-exchange-2/ to check out the master list of cookies and participants. You’re sure to find cookies that tickle your fancy on that list!

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Showstopping Molasses Cookies

If you like gingersnaps, this is the recipe for you. These are like chewy gingersnaps. They’ve been a favorite of my family for years and they are SO easy to make.

3/4 c. solid shortening (I use Crisco)

1/4 c. molasses (I use Grandma’s Original)

2 c. flour

1 c. sugar, plus more for rolling

1 egg

2 t. baking soda

1 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. ground ginger

1/2 t. ground cloves

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Using an electric mixer, mix all ingredients in a large bowl until well-combined. This may take a few minutes, so be patient. Eventually the dough will come together and not be so crumbly.

Pour some extra sugar (I start with about 1/2 c. and use more if necessary) in a small bowl.

Roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in the extra sugar to coat.

Place the balls approximately two inches apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet. If you prefer, you can use a silicone baking mat or parchment paper instead—both work well.

Bake for about 8 minutes. Start checking the cookies at 7 minutes. They’ll look a little puffy, but they’ll flatten out a bit as they cool.

Here are a few photos of the molasses cookies I made last week:

I hope you’ll give these cookies a try and let me know what you think! Remember, head on over to Staci’s blog at https://stacitroilo.wordpress.com/2022/12/15/virtual-cookie-exchange-2/ and get yourself some new recipes for the holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

First Tuesday Recipes for February

How did it get to be February already? This month a lot of things get squeezed into fewer days than normal, but cooking is always a good way to slow down and take a deep breath. I’ve tried a few recipes lately that I found on the internet, so I thought I would share those with you. Rather than posting full recipes this month, I’m going to post the links to the pages where I found these foods.

Chicken Casserole d’Iberville

This casserole is delicious. You might shrink from the length of the instructions, but it can be made in steps. Honestly, I thought it was far less work than I anticipated. I also cut the recipe in half (give or take) and it still made a ton of food.

https://www.southernliving.com/syndication/chicken-casserole-diberville?6497

 

Chicken with Mustard Mascarpone Marsala Sauce (pictured above)

Say that ten times fast. This was fabulous. My husband loved it and even my daughter liked it after picking out all the mushrooms. And speaking of mushrooms, the recipe calls for cremini. They’re expensive. I bought a few and used button mushrooms for the rest, but next time I might just use button mushrooms. It would be just as good.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/chicken-with-mustard-mascarpone-marsala-sauce-recipe-1944096

 

And because…dessert.

 

Ina Garten’s Chocolate Cake

I actually got this from Taste of Home, who reprinted the famous cake recipe. Valentine’s Day falls on February 14th, as you know, and this would be great for anyone who loves chocolate.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/ina-garten-chocolate-cake/?_cmp=recipeofthedayOld&_ebid=recipeofthedayOld1302019&_mid=263699&ehid=d0e74992f1aafbbb0409208a7b47f9718c561fb5

 

If you give any of these a try, let me know what you think. And please send in your own recipes if you’d like!

Until next time,

Amy