Gingersnaps, the smell of the holidays!

Well yesterday Becky Evans and I made cookies. I also had a two kids from the neighborhood and with them it made for 6 kids making cookies. These gingersnaps are perfect for kids. Every child got to pour, crack, or mix until the dough was made then we scooped the cookies out and the kids rolled them in sugar and pressed them flat. Pressing them flat was the kids favorite part. So the first batch the kids made were not the prettiest cookies since many of them were severely flat. But the few older kids did a very nice job pressing their cookies. While were were mixing the spices for the cookies Becky said to me, "Wow now it smells like Christmas" I think the smell of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves it what most of us associate with the smell of Christmas. While the first batch of cookies baked Becky and I mixed up another batch since we wanted there to be plenty for everyone to take home. So the kids played while waiting for the cookies to bake. Becky scooped the rest of the cookies and made them a bit smaller than the cookies we let the kids make. I think the afternoon went very well, the kid enjoying playing and making cookies, but even more they enjoyed eating them. I think about by making these cookies I am beginning to introduce my children to them the smells of Christmas. Unless I am baking and making those smells they won't think of Christmas when they smell cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Sometimes I am overwhelmed by all the things I want to teach my children. But I am grateful for parents who took the time to bake and do fun things at the holidays so that I could have fond memories of these times and can now do the same with my children.

Gingersnaps

2/3 c. butter or shortening
¾ c. sugar
¼ c. brown sugar
1 egg
¼ c. molasses
2 c. flour
2 t. baking soda
1 t. cinnamon
½ t. cloves
½ t. ginger

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and molasses and mix well. In a separate bowl combine the rest of the ingredients. Add to butter mixture and mix well until you have a soft dough. Add a little more flour if dough is too sticky. Scoop into small balls and roll in sugar. Gently press down with two fingers on the cookies sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-9 minutes. Just until edges are set like you do for sugar cookies. Let cool slightly on pan before moving to wire rack to finish cooling. If you are having a hard time removing them from the cookies sheet without breaking them up spray a bit if cooking spray on your spatula.