Does anything epitomize Christmas better than the sight and smell of gingerbread? Even those poor unlucky few who don't like the taste of gingerbread, love that smell!

I confess, I hadn't made gingerbread cookies in many years till I met hubby. That was because my first husband and children didn't like them and for me, the BEST part of baking is watching your family eat the results with great enjoyment. Now my children are grown and maybe they have developed a taste for them and I hear that my ex's second wife is an excellent baker so she may have found a way to his cookie sweet tooth, who knows? My second husband LOVES gingerbread. And he has let me know, that fresh baked gingerbread , still warm from the oven, makes the Christmas season for him. So I am trying out different recipes and types of gingerbread and having some fun learning as I go. Hubby is valiantly being my tester! ( smile)

Here are some tips I've gleaned from other gingerbread fans:

Gingerbread Cookies Recipes

Ginger Spice Cookies
Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
*1 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger
1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable shortening, room temperature
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 large egg
1/4 cup mild-flavored (light) molasses
Sugar

Preparation:
Combine first 6 ingredients in medium bowl; whisk to blend. Mix in crystallized ginger. Using electric mixer, beat brown sugar, shortening and butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add egg and molasses and beat until blended. Add flour mixture and mix just until blended. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter 2 baking sheets. Spoon sugar in thick layer onto small plate. Using wet hands, form dough into 1 1/4-inch balls; roll in sugar to coat completely. Place balls on prepared sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.

Bake cookies until cracked on top but still soft to touch, about 12 minutes. Cool on sheets 1 minute. Carefully transfer to racks and cool. (Can be made 5 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)

Thank youEpicurious!
Tips from bakers who tried this recipe:

~I used a little more ginger than the recipe asked for because i like a little more bite. mmm...~

~I decided to forego the shortening and used 1/2 c butter and a full cup of crystallized ginger. I refrigerated the dough overnight and they were perfect! (And believe me, fresh, quality spices make all the difference)~

~These are the best ginger cookies I've ever had. I used half whole wheat flour and no one could tell.~

~I have been making this recipe for two years now and always get asked for the recipe. But, until yesterday, I've always made the cookies with light brown sugar. Yesterday I tried dark brown sugar as the recipe calls for, and I didn't like how the cookies came out as much.Also, one other change I make it to lessen the crystalized ginger to 1/2 cup (and chop it finely) and use all butter instead of a combo of butter and veg shortening. Ultimatley, though, prepare for lots of people asking you for the recipe for this cookie.

~I make these every Christmas - sometimes with the crystalized ginger and sometimes without. Always delicious.~

~The crystallized ginger lends a great, chewy consistency without overwhleming the flavor. The cookies spread best when dough is refrigerated for 3 hours or so- more than an hour but not overnight. If I go too crazy with the sugar dipping it will melt and burn onto the pan as the cookies bake...~

And last but not least:

~When I bit into these cookies I almost fell off my chair. They are fantastic! Crispy on the outside, chewy inside. The crystalized ginger takes them to another level. All I can say is YUM YUM YUM.~

I love recipe sites with comment boards!!

*I usually subsitute allspice for cloves in any recipe.Why? Because when I was a child, and we could not afford dentists, my mom put oil of clove on a sore tooth. It worked..sort of. Now I equate the taste of cloves with a tooth ache. Not so good. But I am going to brave and at least TRY this recipe with clove! LOL

Snowman Soup!
Yummy!


Assemble in a gift bag gift mug or small zipper food storage bag:
1 individual pack hot chocolate mix
3 Hershey's chocolate kisses
10-15 mini-marshmallows
1 Candy Cane

Snowman Soup
When the weather outside is frightful,
Snowman Soup can be delightful.
May it warm your spirit and your soul.
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

When you feel a chill or 'brrrrrr',
Use the peppermint stick to stir.
Add hot water and sip it slow.
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Some cool printable tags
Snowman Soup Tags ( Youth Online Club)
Yule be baking Snowman Soup Tags

Snow Much Fun Homeschool Unit

20 Games to Play in the Snow
(Parents.com)

January: _____ is Snow Much Fun! bulletin board idea

Snow Much Fun
A Craft, Recipe and a Gift Idea

Reindeer Crafts

Sandy's Old-time Snow Cream Recipe

Basic Recipe

1 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
scant 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
large bowl of snow (about 3 quarts)

Blend milk, sugar and vanilla.

Stir in enough snow to make snow cream to an ice cream consistency.

Variations - There are many variations for snow cream.
For example, substitute canned cream for milk for a heavier flavor.
Add Nestles Quik for a chocolate snow cream, or use instant cocoa mix.

Another variation is to add plump raisins and cinnamon, or add a beaten egg for a nog taste.

Puree an overripe banana and add to the mixture.

Get creative - you know your family's tastes. Note: ALWAYS - ALWAYS make sure the snow is clean. It takes at least one to two hours for snow to clean the pollutants from the air, then use only snow that has fallen after that first cleansing snow. It also goes without saying (but I will anyway), to make sure you do not collect the snow where animals and birds eat (or do other things). Cleanliness first. Stress that with the kids, because this is a treat even the younger ones can make for the whole family.


Winter Party Games for 5-6 Year Olds
(from Mamapedia

Reindeer Movies

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Snow Much Fun scrapbook layout

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