Soft Gingersnaps

Oh my are these good!  I love Starbuck's Ginger Molasses cookie and this is the closest I've ever tasted to it.  They were soft...they have the perfect amount of spices so they aren't too sweet....I love them.


I got it from allrecipes...you can print it off from here.


I followed the recipe exactly...except the salt.  I only had salted butter, so I just omitted it from the recipe.  I found in my oven they took exactly 9.5 minutes to be perfect.  You don't want to pull them out before they crack on the top.  They probably won't look done, but they are if they are cracking.  Mine flattened as they cooled.  Even 2 days later, they are still perfectly soft.


A new favorite recipe for sure!

Christmas Baking

I've only attempted "Christmas Baking" once.  Years ago.  We needed practice.  It wasn't pretty.


Only this year have I started to enjoy baking, so I thought I might try this "Christmas Baking" again instead of just mooching off my mom.


I want to try some things she wouldn't make, so we can share our goods.  My mom does a lot of traditional Christmas baking...which I love. 


I'm having a hard time deciding what to do.  Here is what I have so far...

Rum Balls courtesy of Martha Stewart

Peanut Butter Cups courtesy of Joy of Baking

Peppermint Bark courtesy of Joy of Baking

Peppermint Patties courtesy of Joy of Baking

Peppermint Whoopie Pies courtesy of Joy of Baking

Here's my problem.  You probably noticed they are ALL chocolate.  I'd like to step out of my chocolate box and try something else...but what?  I love soft chewy ginger molasses cookies (especially Starbucks), but there are so many recipes out there...where do I even start at finding the right one?


I'd also like to make homemade marshmallows but I don't have a candy thermometer.  Yes, I could easily go out and buy one, but I just don't want to right now.


I don't like nuts in baking, so any of those recipes are out of the question.


Do you have some recipes or suggestions for me?


Please...help a sistah out.

French Dip

I made this last week.  It was so good! By far, one of the best I've ever had or made.


You can find the recipe here.


My only suggestion is to cut back on the salt.  I wouldn't salt the roast before, it was a tad on the salty side.


Also, even if you're not a beer drinker, you have to trust me on this...you don't taste the beer. 


I toasted the buns with provolone cheese first and then added the meat. 


Make sure you use the juice to dip your sandwich in!!

Ham and Asparagus Crepes with Hollandaise Sauce

Okay so there is no real recipe for this.  I sort of made it up, I think.


I roasted my asparagus in the oven first.  You could also grill or boil it or however you like it.


I also made a basic crepe recipe, but omitted the sugar and the vanilla and added some grainy mustard to it.


Then I put some ham and aspargus in the crepe...

...rolled them and put seam side down in a baking dish...

....and sprinkled asiago cheese on top.  Next time I'd put the cheese in the crepe.

Baked it at 350 for about 15 or so minutes.  You just need to heat everything up all the way through and melt the cheese.


Then I made this hollandaise sauce and drizzled it on top just before serving.

 

Yum.  So good!

Creamy Spinach Ravioli

Need a quick easy dinner idea?


I got this one from Kraft Canada right here.


I loved it.  The only change I made was that I only had plain cream cheese, so I added some minced garlic and dried herbs to it myself instead of buying herb and garlic cream cheese.  Make sure you don't overcook the ravioli...you don't want pasta mush for dinner.


I served it beside some lemon pepper grilled chicken....delicious!

December 6 - 10

Here's our meals for the week....


Monday - creamy spinach ravioli with grilled chicken

Tuesday - taco pie (didn't end up having it on Friday night)

Wednesday - chicken broccoli divan with fusilli

Thursday - warm quinoa, spinach and shiitake salad

Friday - tuna cakes with homemade tartar sauce and mixed greens

Baked Beans

Is it weird that I love baked beans?  I don't know what it is...but I love them.


They are so easy to make.  I dump all the ingredients into my slow cooker in the morning and I let them cook all day long and when I get home from work, I have a pot of deliciousness waiting.


I got the recipe from my mom.  You can print it off from here.


What are your feelings on baked beans?  I know my sister hates them...it's funny watching her trying to be a good example to her kids when eating them.