LESLIE B's GINGERSNAPS (WORLDS BEST!), AND LET THE MERRIMENT BEGIN!

Before I share with you my kickoff to Holiday Baking Recipe #1, I have a confession to make : This year, I decorated for Christmas WAAAYYY before Thanksgiving, which is normally a big No-No for me, as I hate rushing holidays. Usually, I like to celebrate the "Harvest" at Thanksgiving, and then decorate for Christmas afterwards. Not this year--HO HO no--the weather was just so nice and mild in mid-November, and I really didn't feel like having my fingers and toes go numb and blue, hanging little white lights on my porch. I just don't find it to be much fun anymore to be precariously perched on a step ladder with a staple gun and 65 feet of garland and lights in a blinding snowstorm, with ice pelting my cheeks. Call me crazy. Sheesh, I must be getting old!!

Another perk of decorating early ( after avoiding frostbite)--now I can really relax and enjoy the holidays at home, eagerly looking forward to our annual Cookie Party with Little Miss Thing and her friends. I've kept my decorating simple this year, inside and out...here's a little tour of my humble efforts at good cheer.......

Lots of red, gold and candlelight for cozy winter evenings......

My motto this year....SIMPLIFY!!......

I've had this little Willard truck ornament for a million years, and many moves.....

I made this 6 foot long popcorn string when we lived in Omaha, and am always amazed that our dog hasn't eaten it all up!......

Woodsy St. Nick.....

Lazy old dawg--he's NO help!.....

I added twigs and a bird's nest to our dining room chandelier....tres North Woods....

Outside, I like to decorate with buckets of fresh greens that I scavenge from our wooded lot...they stay fresh and green here until April, thanks to our super cold winter temperatures.....

I always fill up our little ball topiary planter boxes with greens, also.....

A fresh wreath from the National Honor Society booth at our annual Holiday Bazaar.....

Cheerful snowmen welcome you to our home....

And always a cozy place to rest.....

One of my homemade gingerbread ornaments from a few years back.....

***********

Back inside, I've been a baking fool....I like to make batches of cookie dough in advance this time of year, then freeze it in plastic wrap. That way, I can just defrost and have warm, fresh cookies whenever we'd like them. I started this year with my dear, dear friend Leslie B's WORLD'S BEST Gingersnaps....you may remember Leslie from previous posts............

Leslie used to be my boss as the Editor in Chief of our local newspaper. She is also one of my walking buddies....she, her darling dog George, Willie Nelson Willard and I  have been known to walk for miles and miles in zero degree temperatures.....stoic Adirondack women that we are!

Leslie was given this recipe by a quilter at our local Arts Center a few years back, and I feel so lucky that she's shared it with me, because it is simply one of the best cookie recipes I've ever tried..and soooo simple to make! And, you will not believe how heavenly your home will smell while these little babies bake. To begin, sift dry ingredients together..........

Cream Crisco together with sugar in a mixing bowl (can I just say how magnificent I think the new Crisco sticks are? No more messy measuring of shortening!)......

Add sugar and molasses and egg to shortening (here's a great tip..spray your measuring cup with Pam before pouring in Molasses, or any sticky substance, such as honey, and you won't believe how easily it pours out).......

Gradually add flour mixture to shortening mixture.....dough will be VERY stiff.......

Shape dough into 1 inch balls and roll in sugar...place on a greased or silicone lined baking sheet......

Bake for about 12 minutes, and cool on wire racks......so YUMMY with a cold glass of milk! Enjoy!.....

Here's the recipe.....

LESLIE B's GINGERSNAPS

Makes a billion

2 cups sifted flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. powdered ginger

1 tsp. ground cloves (or Allspice)

1 tsp. cinnamon

3 / 4 cup vegetable shortening

1 cup sugar

1 / 4 cup molasses

1 egg

Additional sugar

Sift together the first five ingredients and set aside in a medium bowl. Cream shortening until light. Add sugar, molasses and egg to shortening, beating well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating until smooth. Dough will be very stiff. Shape into balls, about 1 inch, and roll in sugar. Bake on greased cookie sheets at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until firm. Cool on wire racks.

TODAY I'M SO THANKFUL FOR.....

***The fun Thanksgiving B.A. and I had at the Adirondack League Club with some of our favorite members....lots of fun telling ghost stories, scaring the pants off of each other, and teasing our husbands. Good times!

***That our daughter has been spoiled rotten at her Grandparent's home in the Sierra Mountains this Thanksgiving.

***The cocktail party we will be attending tonite at a friend's GORGEOUS lakeside mountain home.....Home tour to follow in upcoming post, promise!