merry christmas

I know a lot of people will be travelling today and tomorrow, off to visit family for the holidays. I wish everyone a fantastic Christmas, and I hope you all make it to your destinations safely. And of course, if you need something to bring to the family dinner, here are two dessert recipes, easy enough for children to make.

Gingerbread Men

Prep: 35 minutes | Chill: 3 hours | Bake: 5 minutes per batch | Makes: about 36 cookies

Ingredients:

½ cup shortening

½ cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon ground cloves

½ cup molasses

1 egg

1 tablespoon vinegar

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

Tools:

Wax paper

Mixing bowl

Hand mixer or Kitchenaid or extreme talent with a spoon

Cookie sheet

Cookie cutters

Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl, beat shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking powder, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in molasses, egg, and vinegar until combined. Beat in as much of the flower as you can with the mixer. Stir in remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill dough about 3 hours or until easy to handle (I skipped the chill step and just floured my hands, the rolling pin, and the wax paper I was working on).
2. Preheat oven to 375^oF. Grease a cookie sheet. On a lightly floured surface, roll half of the dough at a time until ¼ inch thick. Using a 2 ½-inch cookie cutter (or any size really… I made miniature gingerbread men), cut into desired shapes. Place 1 inch apart on prepared cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 5 to 6 minutes or until edges are light brown. Cool on cookie sheet 1 minute. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool. If desired, decorate cookies with icing, candies, and sugars.

Peanut Toffee Chocolate Clusters

Ingredients:

1 ½ pounds of chocolate candy coating

1 bag of toffee bits

16 oz. of peanuts

Tools:

Large mixing bowl

Wax paper

Microwave

Directions:

1. Chop the chocolate coarsely and then melt it according to the directions on its packaging. The chocolate should be smooth.
2. Add peanuts and toffee bits. Stir until well coated.
3. Spoon mixture onto wax paper. Let cool.

Seriously, easiest candy recipe ever.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas/Festivus/Winter Festival celebration. Happy Holidays.