~ Twelve Days of Christmas 2013: Gingerbread Cookies ~

The only thing better than gingerbread cookies, are nativity gingerbread cookies.  Or certain gingerbread girl cookies.

Butterfly and Little Lamb have really been baking up a variety of wonderful cookies this Christmas season.  I'm just the clean up crew...and the taste tester.  And that is just fine by me.

Years ago we made a Gingerbread Nativity & Manger and we placed these gingerbread cookies along side.  Wilton sold a Nativity kit...sadly, they no longer sell the kit.

Here are some wonderful ideas for DIY Gingerbread Nativity Scenes:


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This one is over the top:



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Remember, you can keep it simple and sweet.  We did.  :o)

~ Gingerbread ~ phfr style!

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday at Like Mother, Like Daughter

 

I have had baking Auntie Leila's Gingerbread Recipe on my list of things *to do*

What better day than Holy Saturday morning? 
Especially since Holy Thursday and Good Friday can really build up an appetite.

Mmmm, if only the aroma could be shared...it smells heavenly!

Go make some!!

 

{pretty}

 

 

Gather all the ingredients:

including reading glasses, if you need that sort of thing

3/4 butter, melted and cooled

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

3 3/4 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp each cinnamon AND ginger

3/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup molasses

3/4 cup honey

1 1/2 cup HOT water (or leftover coffee!?)

 

Let's begin.

 

Preheat oven to 350.  Butter a 9x15" pan. 

 

Mix melted butter, sugar and eggs:

 

In separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients:  flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt.

 

 

 

Add dry ingredients to the butter/egg mixture and stir, stir stir:

 

 

 

Add the molasses and honey:

 

Again, stir, stir, stir...(the delicious smells actually begin about now)

 

 

I love this part.  "In the cup that you measured the sticky stuff, measure:

1 1/2 cup hot water OR leftover coffee"

 

I just happened to have some coffee on hand...dear husband was up and had made a pot. 

Still hot, and just enough.

 What luck!   

However {funny}, I chickened out and just used plain 'ole filtered water,

heated in the microwave for 1 minute 15 seconds.  :o)

 

 

Isn't this {pretty}?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All ready to go into the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until puffy and golden brown...

 

 

{happy}

 Now this is going to make some children that I know VERY {HAPPY}!

 

{real}

The dirty dishes that I've created are waiting...but don't let that stop you from making this easy and delicious BREAD!

 

 

 

Go to Like Mother, Like Daughter to find more contentment...

~ Cookie Exchange Extravaganza ~

 

How sweet is this?...Super Sweet

Last night was our Home School Group's 17th Annual Cookie Exchange, which a friend organized and I hosted (at my home).  Praying together is part of our gathering. 

Prayers which lift the mind and heart to God.

Prayers which are much needed.

 

~ The Savory ~
I was able to capture only a few dishes on my camera...

Grape tomatoes, gouda cheese & spanish olives...
hand-made with love by Butterfly and Little Lamb

Spinach & cheese mini-quiche...
not hand-made, but still savory good.

Sweet Potato with Sea Salt

~ Sharing Samples & Recipes ~

remember these?  We decreased the baking time to 8-9 minutes
and increased the chile powder from 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp.

~ The Sweet Swap ~

~ Liquid Refreshments ~
Again, I was not able to capture all the libations drinks

Fresh mint & lemons from the garden...

~ Gifts for moi? ~
Very sweet ladies...surprised me with gifts.  Unexpected. 

Generous Guests ~ Happy Hostess

Green Tea with fresh Jasmine...blooms in hot water.  Fun & enjoyable!

~ Friends & Family Plate or Perpetual Sharing ~
This is a fun and wonderful idea...happy to share! (on the back, I wrote in permanant marker the travels it has made so far...I added our family name and the names of the predecessors.  It will be fun to see where its traveled...who knows, maybe it will come back some year day?

If you would like to organize or host your own cookie Exchange,
here is one method that might help get you started.



Linking up to Sweet Boutique, Super Sweet Saturday...