Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Feeling Snappy!

Look out!....the flour is flying!
I am in the midst of Thanksgiving baking.
As we speak, the timer is beeping in the kitchen.
Another pan of Ginger Snaps is finished.


Ginger snaps are one of my favorite cookies,
and I am very picky about their taste.
To me, a great ginger snap should have many layers of flavor.
And these little cookies deliver.

I took a basic recipe and worked with it until it had just the right amount of "snap."
Take a bite....
first your salivary glands will start to moisten your mouth from the buttery, slightly salty taste.
Chew a little and you become aware of the sweetness and spiciness.
Then....WHAM!..
the snap hits you and you get a peppery-ginger sensation on the back of your tongue.
Perfect wind-up and perfect follow through.....in baseball terms.

In honor of this sensational experience,
I am sharing my recipe with you.....

Enjoy!!!

Snappy Ginger Snaps

3/4 cup butter 
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup molasses
2 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cloves (I use a heaping 1/2 tsp.)
1 tsp. cinnamon (heaping, again)
2 tsp. finely chopped crystallized ginger
1 tsp. ground red cayenne pepper

Cream butter and sugar.  Add egg and beat til smooth.  Add salt, molasses and spices and beat til well mixed.  Add flour and beat until  well mixed.

Roll tsp. sized dough into balls. (cookies will flatten)  You can roll balls in sugar if you choose, but I don't bother.   Bake at 375 for 14 minutes

Let me know if you don't think these are just the snappiest EVAH!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 14, 2011

I'm Back!

Oh my gosh....
it has been forever since I have had a chance to post on this blog.
Farming (and especially the addition of 2 piglets)
has kept me exceptionally busy.
On rainy days, though, I do take the opportunity to catch up with a little sewing.

Here is what I have been up to these past few weeks.
A blog friend contacted me to see if I could make a particular type of purse for her.
It was called a Grace Kelly purse and was constructed on a purse frame.

Unable to locate the particular frame for her,
I thought I would at least try my hand at this type of purse.
So, I de-constructed an old bag that I never carry and used the frame from that bag
and some fabric that we bought this past October at a fabric rummage sale,
and constructed this new bag.


It is lined....


and trimmed with an antique doily and button...


Over the past few weeks, 
I have also had a chance to make a few more aprons.
These are made over my 1940's style pattern.
This time I shortened the length to make it more contemporary.


I made the bias binding in a coordinating fabric.


I love the detail of the back of this apron.
It fits all sizes as it is quite generous in width,
with very long ties.
The ties actually slide through slits in the back panel and then tie in front.


Another version of the same apron...

Made from the same fabric,
but different coordinating fabric.


Another bag that I made in the messenger style...


from an old feed sack...
lined in quilted fabric 


and trimmed with antique buttons.


I have so many other projects on the cutting table,
and oodles more to follow them.
If only I had a few elves to help me complete them!!
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