"G" MEN

Ha...you thought I meant Giants, boo no.....even though my Eagles are playing like doo doo.

So this weekend I went cookie crazy, but I saved a new cookie for tonight. GINGERBREAD MEN!!!!

This recipe was easy though some tweaking occurred, I am unsure if I would tweak it again.

Apparently Paula Deen is my cookie hero (wow, weird), but this seemed like the least involved recipe.



NEEDS:
2 3/4 C flour (I used 2 1/2 and needed more, recipe calls for 3 3/4)
1 Stick soften butter
3/4 C dark brown sugar (packed)
1/4 C molasses
1 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
2 Eggs
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg (Someone recommended 3/4, but I am not a nutmeg gal)
2 tsp ginger
1 tsp salt

Icing needs 1 C confect. sugar and 2 tbsp milk with desired food coloring.

First cream butter and brown sugar on low speed until well combined. 

Add eggs and molasses. Mix on med- med-high speed, until the mixture comes together. BTW: Molasses looks and smells gross.

Now for the dry ingredients it tells you to sift them, but who in the world owns a damn sifter anymore? Therefore I simply dumped it all together and mixed it well and carefully with a spatula.  So it's important to note that you need more than 2 1/2 C of flour.....

I actually used a gingerbread man spatula to make gingerbread men HA HA HA

Add dry mixture to wet, using a spoon or spatula to combine.

THIS WAS SUPER STICKY......needed to add tons of flour later, but I could not even handle the dough.  Transfer the dough to saran wrap and wrap.  Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. 

Flour a surface and a rolling pin (NOTE WOODED ROLLING PINS SUCK FOR THIS!!!!!).  Taking small portions of the dough ball, roll to 1/8- 1/4 in thick, cut with cookie cutter.  Before each roll I had to flour the board, the rolling pin and the dough! I line my sheets with parchment for easy cleanup!

Bake at 350 for 8-10 min.

To make icing, mix sugar and water until mixed through.  Add food coloring and decorate as desired

I don't know when the last time I had a Gingerbread cookie was, and therefore don't have a point of reference to compare the taste too.  I ate an entire cookie and wanted more, so that must be good.


In other news, I DESTROYED MY KITCHED....damn flour!  I call myself CHEF MESS for a reason.

Happy Baking!

Chocolate "Gooey" Butter Cookies

O.M.G.

These cookies are to die for.....they are like a cookie, cake, and chocolate doughnut all in one.

These are a Paula Deen creation. I don't usually do Paula because, quite frankly, I'd like to NOT have a heart attack, but these are super simple and worth it.


You need:
1 8oz package of cream cheese at room temp (I used 1/3 less fat)
1 15-18 oz box of moist chocolate cake mix
1 stick of butter at room temp
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
Confectioner's sugar.

First, take cream cheese and butter and cream together with a mixer until mixed thoroughly.  Then add egg and mix til mixed through.  Finally add the vanilla.

Next, dump the cake mix into the cream cheese and butter mixture and mix well.

Next chill the batter for 1-2 hours or until its solid enough to roll into balls. 

Roll into balls of desired size then roll to completely cover in confectioner's sugar.

Bake for 12 min at 325-350.  Allow to cool.

These stay super soft! Simple and amazing.......I made 4 dozen small cookies and they were gone in a day!!!!