December 2006 Recipe of the Month--Gingerbread People

One of my favorite cookies (and that of my family) is Gingerbread.  So it is only fair to share with you a recipe that we have used for over 50 years in our family.

Yummy Gingerbread

   
Ingredients Needed:

1 cup shortening
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 cup molasses
2 tablespoons vinegar
5 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground clove
red cinnamon candies, raisins and nuts for decorations
canned frosting or decorator's tube frosting

Have on Hand:

Mixing bowl
Hand mixer or large mixing spoon
Measuring cups
Measuring Spoons
Spatula
Rolling Pin
Cookie Cutters
Cookie sheets
Potholder
Cooling Rack


Directions:

1.  Beat the shortening and the sugar together.
2.  Stir in the egg, molasses,and vinegar.  Beat well.
3.  Blend in the dry ingredients and form a soft dough.
4.  On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to less than 1/4" thickness.
5.  Cut dough with gingerbread person cutters.
6.  Place cookies on a greased cookie sheet. Decorate with candies and nuts if desired.
7.  Bake at 375 degrees for 5-8 minutes (until slightly brown around the edges or firm to the touch).
8.  Cool slightly and remove from the cookie sheet and cool on a rack.
9.  When cooled, they can be decorated with canned or tubed frosting.

Children love mixing ingredients, rolling out dough and decorating their cookies.  This recipe not only gives them great tactile input, but olfactory as well, not to mention the sense of taste!  Cold weather and gingerbread--they go together!!!


AND if you haven't checked out our products lately--look what we have that fits this month's theme!
  Just look under our Food Fine Motor  Category!