Foodie Blogroll

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Another Cookie revisited and sharing some Christmas



I first posted these cookies two years ago, I was looking for a gingerbread that used crystallized ginger...just like I had bought when I was up in the Lake District in England years before. I never found that gingerbread recipe or any that came close, but I did find this ginger shortbread that soon became a favorite of mine. I like the buttery flavor of the shortbread, then you get that little gingery kick when you bite into a piece of the candied ginger. I did increase the amount just a touch, you don't want too much or it could over power the buttery shortbread. I make these for Christmas, but have froze one of the logs and pulled it out later to use at another time! Thought I would bring them back and share with my new friends.

These delicate, buttery cookies are nice with a cup of tea or coffee.

Ginger Shortbread cookies
Bon Appétit March 1997
yield: 36 cookies

2 1/3 cups unbleached all purpose flour
3/4 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup coarsely chopped crystallized ginger (I used a little more about 1/3 cup)
1 tablespoon sugar (for chopping the ginger)
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Additional powdered sugar (optional)


Combine flour, 3/4 cup powdered sugar, ground ginger and salt in medium bowl. Combine crystallized ginger and 1 tablespoon sugar on work surface; chop finely.

Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until light. Add lemon peel and extracts. Beat in crystallized ginger mixture. Beat dry ingredients into butter mixture in 4 additions.

Transfer dough to floured work surface. Divide dough in half. Roll each half into 6-inch log. Shape each log into 2x1x6-inch-long rectangular log. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly butter 2 large baking sheets. Cut each dough log into 1/3-inch-thick cookies. Transfer cookies to prepared baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart (cookies will spread slightly during baking). Bake cookies until edges are pale golden, about 24 minutes. Cool cookies on baking sheets 3 minutes. Using metal spatula, transfer cookies to racks. Sift additional powdered sugar over warm cookies, if desired. Cool completely. (Can be made ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.)



I also wanted to share little Christmas with you. I received this card from Mrs Yoder's class. She had emailed everyone at school that was chosen to get a card and handcrafted ornament (I left the ornament hanging at school) from her class explaining that her writing prompt was for everyone to choose a person that they think was helpful and write a letter to them.



Miguel chose me and here is my letter. I just love gifts like these, my favorite and they are always cherished. (But I don't help the kids get hurt, just help when they do...hehe)


I have been trying on some new wings on the shell angels that I make. Here is some nylon tulle instead of the feathers.


and this is the one with some wired sheer ribbon with snowflakes on it. I think I will double it next time.


First attempt on making a character ornament...reminds me of the shell figure my grandma used to get when she lived in Clearwater. I think the slice shells that I used for the antler would make good angel wings too. This was a gift to one of the diabetic students that I see everyday...he helped me decide what to do for the ears. I think he liked it.


a different way to display the sea urchins other than my jellyfish and placing them over the little bulbs.


This was so delicate, some liked it better without the pearl trim.

There you can see the sea urchin over the light.

I dropped my daughter off at Cha Cha Coconuts at St Armand's Circle so she could meet a friend for lunch. Such a fun place to visit and shop...especially around the holidays!


Okay I had to sneak a shot of my favorite owl that I bought at Pier 1 . I gave a few away as gifts, but they all have such personality it was difficult to part with. The rest of the photos are just more of the ornaments that I made, except the snowman...he came with the owl. I sold quite a few this year. So if you just want to skim past them I understand.















I finally caught something, and have been feeling miserable for the last couple of days...I don't get sick!!! I work around sick kids all day, the nurse caught something and so did my husband...I was bound to, but I have not been sick for quite sometime now at least two years...like with a cold or flu that is. I just get allergy related things. Well at least I didn't miss any work...I have two weeks of Christmas break, and I still can't seem to get things done.

23 comments:

  1. love your decorations simply beautiful and what a fun idea to add ginger to shortbread

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  2. Lyndsey these look delicious and love that you sharing with us :) Lovely:)
    Have a nice Christmas

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  3. Your ornaments are gorgeous! And the gingerbread cookies sound delectable with the crystalized ginger! Love that stuff.

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  4. giner cookies sound lovely, gingery and buttery, prefect for christmas! What a sweet message on the card, i agree with you that these are great christmas gifts and the socks..haha! maybe you could stuff something inside and hang around your christmas tree! merry christmas and enjoy your holidays!!

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  5. Looks like my kind of cookie! Those are so much fun.

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  6. I love shortbread, and ginger sounds good! Lovely presents and Christmas decorations! You are really creative! Hope that you get well soon! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

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  7. those ornaments are beautiful! how creative!

    hope you feel better soon :)

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  8. Great combo of ginger and lemon peel, totally delicious!

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  9. Brilliant cookies! I love seasonal treats :) Great ornaments too!

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  10. The post made me smile - especially the letter! (And the sock???) I have some crystallized ginger to use up.... another smile! Wishing you the Merriest Christmas. May your days be merry and bright!

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  11. What lovely Christmasy post! and those cookies... Hope you feel better real soon.
    Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your family.
    Rita

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  12. Poor thing that your kids got sick. Christmas is alway hectic period for everyone. Too much shopping, cooking and Christmas decorating and wrapping... These ginger shortbread are great. They are easy to bake and very delicious to eat. Very nice too to relieve stress from Christmas preparation.

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.

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  13. Thank you Rebecca, I hope you are enjoying yours. :)

    Gloria, Wishing you the best this holiday season!

    Reeni - I just adore crystallized ginger so good!

    lena - you know, you're right I should make something out of the socks! :)

    Belinda - thanks, Happy holidays!

    Kitchen Flavours - Love the ginger, thanks so much. Happy holidays!

    Susan B - aw thanks. I now have laryngitis, so the only way I can talk is...via computer! :P

    Treat and trick - thank you,

    Parsley Sage, thanks, I made them seasonal, they were in the spring magazine.

    Claudia - thanks, so glad to make you smile! I would love to record what the kids say to me at school and play it back. I could be rich if it could get published :) Wishing you the best this holiday season!

    Rita, thank you, and hope your holidays are bright!

    Zoe - at least the sick kids were the ones that I take care of at school. I have 2 weeks off from work in the school clinic, but now I finally caught something. :P not fun, I don't get sick!! very often!

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  14. I love those shell ornaments.

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  15. This was definitely a good read and your cookies do look delicious. A spicy gingery shortbread cookie is something well worth putting on the cookie tray this holiday season.
    Your ornaments are lovely, I wish I could be more crafty in that area instead of my tree being loaded with store bought ornaments.
    Enjoy this holiday season!

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  16. I'm usually kind of eh on shortbread but add ginger to anything and I am instantly enamored!

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  17. Nice recipe..looks so yummy!!
    i loved that shell!!! so cute!

    Merry Christmas Dear !

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  18. I am taking with me the recipe will be nice to give it a try.

    Love the card but how weird the gifts of socks.

    Anyway, have a merry Christmas.

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  19. Oh Lyndz, how nice to make your own ornaments. They all look really cool. Love how you made them shine. Really lovely.
    Kristy

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  20. Finally have some time to sit back and ogle at everyone's Christmassy posts. I really love your sea shells ornaments! They're so beautifully done! So glittery, so pretty! You are so talented, Lyndsey.

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  21. I'm catching up posts that I missed... :-) You have beautiful collections of shell ornaments! And these cookies look delicious.

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