Snow & Molasses cookies!

Although Blake has seen snow at a very young age, this is the first time he's been able to experience it. We had our first snow cover yesterday, and Scott being the big kid that he is, couldn't wait to get outside. So, we bundled up our little bundle of joy and headed to the great outdoors (ok, the backyard). Blake was interested at first, but soon found it to be a little much. BUT, we had time to build a snowman!

Looks like winter caught Mommy unprepared!! Used the good 'ole tried and true method of plastic bags over the shoes!

Cute little hand

Adorable face

All bundled up!

Ok, so the coat is a little big and the snowpants a little wide, but it will do!

Grrrr. I'm a bear...or, a more accurate statement--Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!

This is fun...I think :)

My two loves.

I can stand, but I can't move.

 

Tell me again what I'm doing out here in the cold?

Wow, my Daddy's so cool!

Got a nice broad figure with his winter gear, haha.



Having fun!

Helping Daddy

That's better--I prefer to be held :)

Why do people gain weight in the winter? Is it because of the holidays? Not entirely. For some reason, we've created this desire for "cozy winter nights curled up with a blanket, a fire and some hot chocolate." Doesn't that sentence just make you want to do exactly that??? Well, obviously it needs some modification, so change that to a "cozy winter night with some hot, home popped popcorn, Christmas lights, a candle and a good movie." Yes, I did exactly that last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. But of course, it needs yet another modification because after the popcorn is gone, I'm still feeling like I'm missing some gingerbread for the season, so I decide to make some delectable molasses cookies and eat too many to mention on this blog. :) I'm blaming this on Trader Joe's because they had a sample the other day of some gingerbread cake, which I have been unable to get out of my head since sampling the gingerbread.

If you like cookies with a punch and a recipe for the only cookie recipe that I've ever made that calls for PEPPER, then make these cookies. I love them! They have the perfect crusty outside, with a soft and chewy inside.

This recipe is taken from America's Test Kitchen (page 507 for those who own it).

Molasses Spice Cookies

1\2 cup plus 1/3 cup sugar
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 Tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup light or dark molasses (I used blackstrap!)

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat to 375 degrees. Set aside 1/2 cup sugar for coating.

Beat butter, brown sugar, and 1/3 cup sugar til light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla for 30 seconds and add molasses until just incorporated.

Slowly add dry ingredients and mix until just incorporated.

Roll 2 Tablespoons of dough into balls and roll in sugar. Bake one sheet at a time and rotate halfway through cooking and bake until edges are set and the tops are cracked but the centers are still soft and underdone. Cook 10-12 minutes.

Enjoy!!

For some reason I struggle to make chocolate chip cookies turn out perfectly, but these seem to work for me...oh, and molasses is good for you, so bonus!!  http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?dbid=118&tname=foodspice