Gingerbread Cookies

HELLO!

I'm pretty excited right now because Christmas is coming! When I was really little, my mama convinced me that robbers would come down the chimney and steal my Christmas gifts if I didn't sleep next to the tree to guard them. At that age, I already doubted the existence of Santa. Those robbers? Yeah, I thought they were a legitimate threat. This "Santa" business was probably a cover story for these highly trained, ninja-present-robbers.

Looking back, this might have been a vaguely malicious thing to tell a four-year-old girl... and yes, I did sleep in front of the tree every Christmas Eve. And I still do. I'm twenty now, you do the math. Was this an awkward story? Probably, huh. Well, you wanna know something ELSE that's awkward?

Attractive guys! Attractive guys are not inherently awkward, but I never know what to say to them. One of my friends told me that I shouldn't be awkward because I'm attractive as well. However, I think the real problem is that I have the subtlety of a brick wall.

Me: "I wish it was socially acceptable to just say, 'Hi! You're really cute and I'M really cute, so we should just be cute together and get coffee!'"
Friend: "Uh... that might work. I mean, maybe if he was really desperate he'd be willing to overlook that awkwardness. I think you're supposed to show that you're interested in his PERSONALITY, not his looks."
Me: "So... 'Hi! You're really cute, and I'm really cute, but I like people based on MORE than their appearance, so we should find out if we have compatible personalities and get coffee!"'
Friend: "No. Just... no. No."

Clearly, I'm a lost cause in the romantic realm. That would be pretty depressing if it weren't for the fact that I make awesome food for myself to eat, and I would probably have to share that awesome food if I were playing the dating game. This would cause there to be less awesome food for myself, so I'll stay single and stare at good looking guys from my window using binoculars.
...
I'M  SERIOUSLY JOKING, SHEESH. (Besides, there's a giant tree outside my window and it blocks my view.)

Now that you probably think I'm a certified creep, it's time to do some damage control on my image and talk about one of the awesome foods I made...

GINGERBREAD COOKIES!

I know that you were expecting me to say "Gingerbread Men" but that is an astonishingly patriarchal and stereotypical assumption. Nah, nah, I kid. It really comes down to what kind of cookie cutters I have available. In this case, I had teddy bears, hearts, crescent moons, Christmas trees, and stars. BUT! Regardless of their shapes, they are seriously delicious and slightly crispy. I got  the recipe from Mrs. Fields (I love that woman) and bought icing in squeeze-y tubes to decorate them. They really don't need frosting, these cookies stand well on their own.

Gingerbread Cookies/Men

(Makes 3-4 dozen cookies, Recipe from Mrs. Fields Cookie Book)

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 cup salted butter, softened
3/4 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
1 large egg
1/2 cup unsulfured molasses

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. Mix together flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in a medium bowl.
3. In large bowl with an electric mixer cream butter and sugar. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add egg and molasses, and beat on medium speed until smooth. Scrape bowl and add the flour mixture. Blend on low speed until combined; do not overmix.
4. Separate dough into 2 balls and flatten into disks. Wrap each disk lightly in plastic wrap or a plastic bag, and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.
5. On floured surface with a floured rolling pin, roll dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. With floured cookie cutters cut into gingerbread men. Gather scraps and reroll dough until all dough is used. Place on ungreased baking sheets 1/2 inch apart.
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes. When cookies cool, you can eat them. Or decorate them. Or do both. Have some fun!

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas, and that you spend it with your loved ones. Presents are great, but I really just love the family-time that Christmas symbolizes to me. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, at least you should enjoy all the seasonal drinks that Starbucks has right now! Mmm, eggnog latte. Here is an unnecessary photo of me enjoying that very beverage.

 I hope you try making the gingerbread cookies! I will write more blog posts soon. I have a few new recipes I want to share :)