Long Distance Baking.... and Gingerbread Men

Whats the best thing about Christmas cooking? To me its always been making cookies with the kids... but being so far away from them..its difficult. Not this year though. This morning.. Miss C and I made some cookies together ...via Skype! It was the first time she has made cookies herself and she was nervous... The whole business of being a grown up and running your own home can be nerve racking. She says she wants to show MrP that she is a good housewife. Seriously...she keeps a lovely home so she needn't worry.

She attempted to make our traditional Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies. After a shaky start.. she did really well. She said they were delicious and brought back memories. Im so pleased for her

Ive already made a couple of batches of that particular cookie...which as usual hubby takes to work to share.. so I made a few gingerbread men....and ladies. I used an recipe given to me about 30 years ago..and it has never failed me. The decoration seemed to turn out well even with a very shaky hand. And the best part.. its beginning to smell a lot like Christmas..

Gingerbread Men...and Ladies

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/3 cup molasses
1 large egg
2 tablespoons water
2-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

• Preheat oven to 350
• Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. 
• Beat in molasses, egg and water. 
• In another bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients 
• Gradually beat into creamed mixture. 
• Divide dough in half. 
• Shape each into a disk; wrap in plastic. 
• Refrigerate until easy to handle, about 30 minutes.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/8-in. thickness. 
• Cut with a floured gingerbread man cookie cutter. 
• Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets.
• Bake  for 8-10 minutes. until edges are firm
• Remove to wire racks to cool completely. 
• Frost as desired.

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x