Bridging the Gap

Well, it has been a while since I last posted. Jack and I had an eventful summer with some camping, backpacking, a trip to Alaska, and three weddings! There were some adventures in food for sure, but no time to record them.

I thought I could start catching up by starting with Halloween. Jack loves to dress up for this holiday so he went to work as a cow. I waited until we went to our neighbors for a little party that evening. I was a milkmaid. I think Jack looks very handsome in black and white don't you?

Both Jack and I had Halloween potlucks at work, so I baked molasses cookies or each of us to take in. As we sat together on the bus for our commute to work, I stared at the cookies on my lap (they were in a plastic bag). I realized that they could be the perfect accessory for Jack's costume - cow patties! He loved the idea and put a little sign near his cookies that read, "Jack's Cow Patties - Fresh!"

Here is the recipe for the Molasses Cookies from Cooking Light, October, 2005:

Yield

4 dozen (serving size: 1 cookie)

Ingredients

• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 large egg
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (about 10 ounces)
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• Cooking spray

Preparation

Combine brown sugar and shortening in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add molasses and egg; beat well. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients (through salt), stirring with a whisk. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture; beat at low speed just until blended. Cover and freeze 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 375°.

Place water in a small bowl. Place granulated sugar in another small bowl. Lightly coat hands with cooking spray. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Dip one side of each ball in water; dip wet side in sugar. Place balls, sugar side up, 1 inch apart, on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 8 minutes. Remove from pans; cool on wire racks.

Chewy molasses goodness!

I also have been very busy working to set up a jewelry shop at etsy.com. My store features beaded jewelry and loose beads and is located: www.stasiatart.etsy.com You can see a sneak photo preview to the right of this post too.