Molasses Crinkles~

Looking thru cooking magazines with my hubby he came across this recipe...his favorite cookies...so of course what do I say?  I'll make them for you!  His grandma used to make these for him when he was little.  I have made those, my BFF in Idaho, her mom's friends recipe & now these.  They are easy have a nice bite to them & they have to be chilled for 3 hours!  That is the part I didn't realize, but I took them out at about 2 1/2 hrs & they were fine.  Just try to remember to refrigerate between bakings! 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees...Bake 9-10 minutes

2 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup butter, softened at room temperature  

1 cup packed dark brown sugar (I had light open so I used it)

2 TBS. vegetable oil

1/3 cup molasses

1 Lg. egg

Granulated sugar for rolling

Several hours (3) before baking sift dry ingredients together.  Then add butter & brown sugar beating well until light in color & texture.  Beat in the oil until blended add the molasses & the egg,  and beat until blended.  Stir in the flour mixture until well combined.  Wrap the dough in plastic & chill until firm.

Measure the dough into tablespoon-sized pieces & role each piece in your palms to form 1" balls, roll in granulated sugar to coat.  Place 2" apart on greased cookie sheets or use parchment paper (I love parchment, you can get a good sized roll at Costco)

Sprinkle the tops with more sugar & bake until the center surface of the cookie is barely dry, 9-10 minutes (don't over bake).  Let cool on the cookie sheets for 5 minutes...a must...transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

A couple of these & an ice cold glass of milk & you are right back in Grandmas kitchen!  Enjoy~

Donna's Holiday Bread Pudding~

As a child my mom always made bread pudding with the leftover bread heels & any other parts as well, when not using to make homemade bread crumbs.  Loving bread pudding made me convert the regular recipe to my own...Studded with raisins & apple chunks this is delicious warm or cold~

Preheat oven to 350 degrees...45 minutes

4-6 cups day old bread (french, bagels, white, wheat)

2 cups eggnog (more if needed)

1/2-1 cup sugar (depending on desired sweetness, but remember eggnog has a lot of sugar)

4 eggs beaten

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

1/2-3/4 tsp.  ground cloves

OR

pumpkin pie spice to your desired taste

1/2 cup or more raisins

Apple chunks & nuts optional

1. Tear up bread into chunks

2. Mix eggnog and beaten eggs, spices & raisins to bread mixing well.

3. Let sit for 30 minutes mixing again before placing in pan sprayed with cooking spray (11' x 7' or 13' x 9') depending on desired thickness.

4. Once stirred, place into greased pan & into preheated oven.

5. Depending on your oven temperature check @ 30 minutes, but usually takes 40-45.  You will be able to tell the difference.  Toothpick will come out clean.

6. Whipped cream & a caramel sauce are great over this also...

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Cream Cheese Caramel Sauce/Dip

8 oz cream cheese, softened

2/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

Combine cream cheese, brown sugar & vanilla,  mixing well.  Serve drizzled over whipped cream or just over bread pudding.  To uses as a dip with apples place in fridg til firm~

love walked in~

I get 99% of my books at the thrift store near us called The Hope Chest.  The reason I like this store is that the money they makes goes to hospice.  I find great books & when they are on sale I have gotten thirty two books @ one time for $3.20.  This is one of those books...

A smart coffee shop manager, Cornelia Brown who loves old Cary Grant & Jimmy Stewart movies, her best friend Linny & 'The Philadelphia Story'  (which I rented immediately & loved) is the backbone of the story.  She finds herself immersed in her boyfriends "family matters" when he shows up with his 11 year old daughter Clare Hobbes, that Cornelia had no clue about, does the story really get intense.  Enter Teo...hot best friend from childhood who married Cornelias sister Ollie.  Something nobody could figure out.

I really liked this book.  Kept me intrigued but also had a little romance.  This was the first book I have read by Marisa De Los Santos & will be on the lookout for more~



Donna~