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Mmmmm! The Muse Swings' Gingersnaps!

I mentioned gingersnap cookies - that I used to make - in yesterday’s post. These are by far the most delightful gingersnaps of all. They are small, thin, crunchy, melt in your mouth cookies. You can make the dough ahead of time and freeze until ready to bake. Baked cookies can be stored for about a month in the freezer or in a cool dry place in airtight tins.

They collect moisture rather quickly, so you may not get the best results in the humid southern states as you get in the dry cold northern states. I always doubled the recipe – which makes hundreds - and gave them as gifts, took some to parties and still had plenty to fill plates for the holidays at home.

The Muse Swings’ Gingersnaps

1 ½ cups dark brown sugar
¼ cup dark molasses
1 egg
1 cup butter melted and slightly cooled
2 2/3 cups sifted flour
2 tsp ginger
1 ½ tsp ground cloves
1 ½ tsp cinnamon
1 ½ tsp baking soda
3/8 tsp salt

sugar for dipping

Combine sugar and molasses and egg in large bowl and mix well. Beat in butter, stir in flour, spices baking soda and salt.

Turn dough out onto waxed paper and shape into logs about 5/8th inch in diameter. Freeze until hard. Can be made a day or two ahead.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put about ¼ inch of sugar in small plate for dipping. Lightly grease baking sheets. Remove 1 log from the freezer.

Slice log in ¼ inch slices, dip both sides in sugar to coat thoroughly and set about ¾ inch apart on baking sheet. Bake until lightly browned but still soft – about 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to racks. (a paper lined table will do). Cool thoroughly and then store in airtight containers. Can also be stored up to 1 month ahead of time in freezer bags, in the freezer.


Recipe makes lots of little delightful cookies.


You may also want to serve these with Cream Cheese Pumpkin desert dip.


Cream Cheese Pumpkin Desert Dip

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1 jar (7 oz.) JET-PUFFED Marshmallow Creme
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

MIX all ingredients until well blended; cover. Refrigerate several hours or until chilled. Serve.

Enjoy!

Q: Do I Smell Cookies Baking? A: Nope.

So what if she didn't make snicker doodles, you pedantrious prunes! Now see what you have done!

You don't really believe I made these, do you?

A conversation with my semi-guilty conscience:

Guilty Conscience: Sooooo, Muse, Just how many Christmas cookies have you made this year?

Muse Swings: Zip, nada, zilch.

GC: (While making my left eye twitch) Are you planning on baking?

MS: I'm thinking about it.

GC: Just what are you thinking about?

MS: I'm thinking about crashing a cookie exchange.

GC: I see you have a grocery list with some potential cookie ingredients listed.

MS: Yes, it's a bit optimistic of me.

GC: And you are planning on going to Publix, when?

MS: Tomorrow, I guess.

GC: I'd suggest you at least set the alarm. Otherwise by the time you show up the sugar and flour aisles will be as empty as your cookie jar.

MS:

GC: And what about those teeny little gingersnaps you used to make by the thousands? I haven't seen one of those in 17 years.

MS: It's the humidity in Florida. They puff up - no crunch.

GC: And the problem with that is?

MS: That's the whole point of the cookies. The crunch.

GC: I saw you thumbing through a recipe book at the check out counter the other day. The recipes all call for that pre-made sugar cookie dough. Where are your morals? Your pride?

MS: Look, I've been semi-super Christmas Mom for 40 years. My priorities have changed.

GC: So, what exactly are your priorities?

MS: I don't really have any right now. I'm good with that. Actually, I'm wallowing in it.

GC: Do you think Santa will be "good with" not having a plate of cookies waiting for him this year?

MS: Who sez he won't get cookies? I still have a box of Girl Scout Thin Mints in the freezer. Those things are like gold this time of year.

A North Pole Adventure!

I got a bloggy-gram from my new bloggyfriend Linda of Life's A Calling, Who Is This? announcing a North Pole Adventure at her place! Stop by any time from 12/22 until midnight 12/24. It involves Santa, Elves and Reindeer! Pop over to Linda's and say you'll be there!

I've been there several times - that's me looking for the powder room

I know for a fact there are no trees to hide behind when one of these guys comes a-callin' so I'm bringing some of my buddies.

They are assigned to Ice Station Zebra. I realize this doesn't fit completely with the Christmas Spirit, but Polar Bears don't celebrate Christmas. They celebrate lunch.

I "borrowed" the Royal Snow Castle from the royally redundant Count Vladimir Vladimirovich Vladimiriskov of Vladistov Vladland. There are rooms for everyone and excellent dining. Don't look for borscht though - sorry -you know I don't like beets. So, pop over to Linda's and make a note on your calender! See you there!

It's really quite lovely!

A Pretty Exciting Day For A Hermit

Wow! You're Still Alive! Congratulations!

I had a pretty exciting day for a hermit. I was on my way to help out at the church office, and made my obligatory stop at Starbuck's. The store is being redone on the outside, and each time I stop, there is something new and different going on the impede my progress. Today they had the entire front of the store blocked off and some burly guys were busy doing something to the parking lot that created some nasty dusty smoke. I had to park next door and then hold my breath while I entered the side door. When the cashier took my order I coughed (politely, of course) to indicate it was no easy matter finding my way in. Having to breath probable carcinogens in order to get a cuppa joe is not a pleasant thing.

I was waiting for my drink (trying to think of several good excuses about why I was going to set a new record for being late at church) when another customer popped in front of me for a refill. The what do you call those coffee making people? barristas? set my drink down on that teeny tiny counter and the person immediately snagged it and went over to the sugar and straw station. I asked the barrister if that was my drink that she had just place on the counter - it was - so she had to remake it, thereby giving me an extra excuse for being late. Certainly more believable that the others. It's volunteer work, so I'm not going to get fired or anything, but I like to put my ducks I mean my excuses in a row. Whatever. Then I had to make my way through the smoke and dust to my car. By now there were several cars trying to figure out where to park with all the construction work going on. Starbucks people get grumpy where there isn't easy caffeine access. Lots of beeping of horns and squealing of tires. Get over yourselves, I say.

Caroline and Jessica shopping -probably at my Books-a-Million

Prior to my Starbucks adventure I was stopped at the light at Alderman and US 19. The light that keeps you waiting for something like 39 minutes. There was a little red Volkswagen convertible next to me with the top down (Was too - this is Florida) and a Spay/Neuter license tag. Did too. We have thousands of different tags here in Florida). I swear the driver was Caroline Kennedy. Could've been. You weren't there. I was about to roll my window down and give her a high five for the Senate seat thing, but she was busy putting on mascara and I know how much I would hate being interrupted during rush hour beauty treatments so I just winked knowingly and continued my wait at the light.


SPOILER ALERT! Before you move on let me warn you the next picture is of a snake, and I know some people who are so afraid of snakes they don't even want to look at pictures of them. If that's the case, either pop over to someone else's blog right now or close your eyes and scroll down, whichever.






I had the opportunity to hold a python today. A very small one , maybe 2 1/2 feet. Much too small to think of me as lunch. The owner (if anyone can truly own a snake) said this brand - I mean species - will only grow to 5 feet. Only. The snake was fine with me holding him/her/it. He felt like a really expensive pocketbook.

I have an acquaintance who is so terrified of snakes, not only will she not look at pictures of them, she calls 911 any time she sees one in her back yard. This is Florida! The 911 people just love her to death. She told me about a non-mutual friend who bought a rubber snake, thinking 'Fraid a Snakes Person might get over her fear if she would just hold the rubber snake. She whipped it out of her pocketbook and flapped it in the air. 'Fraid a Snakes Person almost died on the spot. Not a good plan.

So that's it. Just some random thoughts about my day. How's your day going so far?

Lost and Found and Misc.

Back to normal today! I left the bonfire burning all day yesterday so bloggyfriends could stop by and warm their toes by the fire and their noses by the vodka.

The Happy Woodsman was very accommodating in that respect. He was busy popping into the woods all day picking up kindling. I think it was Stevie that drew this sketch of him enjoying a breakfast of french toast - might of been Mim or maybe, since the french toast is round it was Marianne.

His visits to the woods turned out to be quite an adventure! He found several bloggyfriends who had strayed a little too far from the fire and brought them back to safety!

I was on my way to Grandmother'sHouse. blogpot.com and I got lost and the bigbadwolf.blogspot.com came after me!

Why yes, ..er...um... this is the..ah.. what did you call it? Bloggyland Christmas tour? Come in, little ones.

We still have one missing person:

Whoever has Mr. Peck is asked to return him at once. He has an appointment at the unemployment office at 3:00 today. You know how cranky they can get if you don't show up.

A special thank you to the bonfire cleanup committee for their hard work and inventiveness!

Piling the trash on top of the no dumping sign is always a good idea. Thanks for recycling all the vodka bottles! It was a good idea to haul them up to Michigan so you could get refunds.

Have a safe trip home, everyone! See you all at our next adventure!

Bloggyland Christmas Tour - What A Day!

Come and sit by the bonfire with Stevie Wren, Trish and I! Put your feet up, and grab a blanket if you like. It's been quite a day, hasn't it! I managed to visit every bloggyfriend who opened their homes and their hearts to us today - this is by far the most attended event yet!

Oh, I almost forgot; I have some vodka chilling in the snow - it's cold, but it will warm you up right down to those frozen toes of yours.

I thought some french toast would be a good idea. Would you like some? here's a plate (I "borrowed" it from Lisa's pretty cupboard) I'm sure she won't mind.

Would you rather stay inside by the fire? I have a glass of eggnog for you. It's very cozy here. A nice spot to sit and talk about our day

Oh, how about some chestnuts roasted by the open fire? (humming the song...la la la hum hmmm). Would you prefer a latte? Comin' right up!

I sure thank you for participating and/ or spending time visiting Bloggyland Village today. Everyone had such wonderful and unique posts to celebrate the season. Mr. Peck says over 1,200 folks took sleigh rides today! Well, who wouldn't with Mr. Peck at the reins! By the way, have you seen him lately? You haven't met him? CLICK HERE for mug shots..er.. I mean pictures. If you see him ask him to bring the sleigh around front, Janeen's been standing out there for an hour!.

The best part of the tour was this great opportunity to meet new bloggyfriends. We had 52 participants - many of whom I had not met prior to today! It's such a busy time for everyone. That makes this adventure even more special - that you took the time to post and visit. Thank you so much!

Oh, you had a late start? No problem, visitors are welcome in Bloggyland Village anytime! Just CLICK HERE and hop on a sleigh to any of the links of participating bloggers.

Are you warm enough now to go back outside for a few minutes? Good!

What better way to end such a spectacular day than with fireworks!

Thank you again, and Merry Christmas dear bloggyfriends!

Oh, and pass me one of those marshmallows, would you please?