Molasses Cookies

There has been a light snow falling most of the day here. It's my favorite kind of snow--the kind that doesn't stick to the road. Not that I'm out driving anyway, but I don't have to shovel it either...yet. It just seems to float. The flakes are big and fat-the kind you can catch on your tongue. Just beautiful.

The snow picked up a bit as I was taking out Molasses Cookies from the oven. With Christmas music playing, a nice snow and the scent of spice in the kitchen, it was special. It was almost like living in a Christmas card.

The Molasses Cookie recipe is from All-recipes.com and if you want to read the reviews and see more just click on the title above and it will take you right to the page. (Mine don't quite look as fat as in the picture, but they sure taste good!)

Here's the recipe with my own additions:

Crackle Top Molasses Cookies

2/3 C. butter, softened
1 C. white sugar
1 egg
1/4 C. molasses
2 C. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 heaping tsp. of cinnamon
1 heaping tsp. of ginger
1/2 heaping tsp. of ground cloves
A mixture of clear sanding sugar and regular white sugar (or just plain sugar)--for rolling cookies

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. In a large bowl mix butter and 1 C. sugar. Add egg, beat well. Stir in molasses, 2 C. flour, baking soda, and spices. If necessary, add more flour to make a firm dough.

3. Shape dough into 1/2 inch balls. Roll in sugar mixture. Place 3 in. apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 8-10 mins. or until tops crack. Remove from baking sheet and cool on waxed paper.

This is a stiff dough. It will be a workout if you mix by hand. Use your heavy duty mixer, if you have one. Don't try your hand electric mixer...I almost killed mine.

Be sure to try them warm.

First Snow

Today was a picture-perfect Autumn Day--cold, blustery--sometimes it rained, then sleet, then the sun would come out. This afternoon, though, the snow came. Just briefly, then the sun came out--that's Western PA in the fall. The forcast is for enough snow to cover the grass during the night, we'll see what happens.

Daniel got to hang out with his grandma this afternoon. What a delight! It's great to watch him learning to walk. So fun!

Winter has become more difficult for me as I get a bit older. My body craves the sunshine and around here in the winter, sun is hard to come by. I have found that taking Cod Liver Oil has helped. With vitamins A & D, I find that I don't get as depressed and I usually don't get colds. However, I can't say that about this fall with the colds.

I'm beginning to slip into 'hibernation mode'. I just want to stay at home and bake cookies and quilt. It won't be long now till most everyone around here is settled in for the winter. We rarely see any of our neighbors during the winter except during snow removal times. Those almost are almost happy occasions to see that everyone is doing well. Spring will come and everyone crawls out and we visit. The rhythm of life around here.

With the first snow, I thought I would 'celebrate' with the season's first making of Apple Crisp. My Grandma Blair first told me about this and it's the only recipe I have from her. I was surprised to find a recipe that was about the same in our church cookbook. Dad told me that Grandma was quite a great cook and baker in her day. I wonder if her recipes were all in her head. My dad told me she used to bake the family's bread and have all the loaves sitting out on the table when he came home from school. The house smelled great I'm sure. Anyway, back to Apple Crisp. I had some Stayman apples that were HUGE and it only took three to fill a 8 in. square pan. Here's the recipe:

Apple Crisp

1 stick soft butter
-3/4 C. sugar
1/2 C. flour
Cinnamon

Grease 8 inch square baking dish. Peal and slice your favorite baking-type apple in to the baking dish. (I've used Cortland and Macintosh a lot. Most any variety will do. Some of the more sturdy types that don't lose their shape when they are cooked quite as quickly, just need to bake a bit longer). Fill about 3/4 full. Sprinkle with your family's favorite amount of cinnamon. In medium sized mixing bowl, add sugar and flour; cut in butter. Sprinkle sugar mixture over apples. Add more cinnamon to the top.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 1/2 hour. Softer apples will only need about 20-25 minutes. Should be bubbly. May be enjoyed with Cool-whip or ice cream. Great for cold winter nights or as a general prescription for a bad day.

From my Respectable Sins reading: "So the question is, Are we to give God thanks when the circumstances do not turn out as we had hoped? The answer is yes, but for a different reason, In 1 Thess. 5:18, Paul writes, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."...[Romans 8:28] tells us that for those who love God, all things work together for good...The 'good' however, is defined in verse 29 as being conformed to the image of God's Son. In other words, Paul is telling us that God intends all our circumstances, both good and bad (but in the context Paul has in mind; especially the bad ones), to be intruments of sanctification, of growing us more and more into the likeness of Jesus." from Respectable Sins, by Jerry Bridges. How important it is to learn that God is in control of each circumstance in our life and each one is for our good--being made into His likeness....even things that can be called a 'dark providence'. It seems to me that 'bad' things only seem bad to us. God is using them and he calls them 'good'. We'll see how I'm doing with this the day after the election. Or when God wants to grow me during a time of dark providence.

Growing in Christ together~

Cold Remedy

Thanks to my best friend, Laura, who is always looking out for me for this information. I am coughing...AGAIN! For the past two years I have been cold-free and this season I've already had two! So, Laura gave me this recipe that is cooking as I type...

Garlic, Honey & Lemon Tea

3 C. water
3 cloves garlic, cut in half

bring the above just to a boil. Turn off heat and add:

1/2 C honey
1/2 C fresh lemon juice
Strain
sip 1/2 c of warm tea 3 times a day.

Keep it in the frig and heat it up as you need it.

Laura says the taste is not bad either!

Thanks a ton, Laura. I'm anxious to try it.


"I will Strenthen You." Isaiah 41:10
"When called to serve or to suffer, we take inventory of our strength and find it to be less than we thought and less than we need. Do not let your heart fail when you have this promise to fall back on, for it guarantees all that you can possibly need. God has strength omnipotent, and He can communicate that strength to you, and His promise is that He will do so....My own weakness makes me shrink, but God's promise makes me brave. Lord, strengthen me according to Your Word." Charles Spurgeon, Beside Still Waters, Roy Clarke, Editor

Recipes

It is a windy, chilly day here and days like these have my heart...and tummy looking for comfort food.

While many of us are trying to cut costs and look for ways to save in this stressful time, I thought I would post some recipes that you might find helpful as well as economical.

The first is a friend's recipe that I've modified a bit. As you can see you can pick and choose ingredients to suit your budget and tastes.

Great Granola

2 C. oats
1/2 C. wheat germ (optional)
3/4 C. raisins
3/4 C. coconut
1/2 C. dates (optional)
1/2 C. sunflower seeds (optional)
1/2 C. slivered almonds
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Combine the above in a large bowl.

In a small bowl add:

1/3 C. oil--I used vegetable oil
1/4 c. frozen orange juice, thawed enough to pour
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Pour into large bowl. Stir into dry mixture. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 300 degrees for 30 minutes, stirring at 10-15 minute intervals. Cool on wax paper. After cooled, put into storage container.

This is great dry, with milk or yogurt.

Leftover mashed potatoes?? Our family loves these on a cold morning. It really fill and warms you up. This was my great-grandmother's recipe and I understand it is from Ireland. We've spiced it up a bit.

Potato Pancakes

For about 1 1/2 C. cold mashed potatoes, add:
1/2 C. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
onions, garlic powder and grated cheese (we like sharp cheddar) to taste
Add 1 beaten egg.
Fry skillet in 1/2 stick of butter until brown and crispy, flip and brown on the other side. Sometimes I need to add more butter.

Yes, I know there is butter and it is probably not the best for those who are watching certain things, but it is good ole fashioned eatin'.

If you are looking for more ideas on storing food and cutting costs, I invite you to check out Becky's Farm Life. She's amazing!

Trusting God together~