Elta Zahn's Ginger Cookies

Notes:
 
(1) Grandma used Brer Rabbit molasses (yellow or green label) which I can't find, so use Grandma's Molasses (yellow).  

(2) Think the cookies roll out easier if 9 cups flour is used instead of 8.

(3)  Recipe can be cut in half as full recipe makes a huge batch (1/2 batch makes about 27 -    3" round cookies -- or less if you make gingerbread boys/girls)

(4) Don't even think about making these without an electric mixer, although apparently Grandma did.)


Ingredients:

1 cup shortening
1 cup granulated sugar
2 cups New Orleans molasses (see Note above)
2 large eggs, well beaten
8-9 cups all-purpose flour (directions said sift before measuring)
1 Tbsp. ground ginger (mix into the flour)
3 tsp. baking soda (mix into the flour)
2/3 cup buttermilk
Additional 1 tsp baking soda (stir into the buttermilk)
Additional granulated sugar for sprinkling on top of the cookies (think this helps keep them soft, plus this is how I remember Grandma used to do it)

Directions: 

(1)   In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening.
(2)  Add in the sugar and continue beating at med-high speed.
(3)  Add molasses, blending at low speed.
(4)  Add in eggs to mix well.
(5)  To the mixing bowl, slowly, and alternately, add in and mix dry ingredients (flour/ginger/baking soda mixture) and wet ingredients (buttermilk/ baking soda mixture).  Do this in about 4-5 additions, mixing and scraping bowl thoroughly between dry and wet ingredients until all is mixed in.  Dough should be stiff.
(6)  Chill at least several hours, or overnight.
(7)  Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
(8)  On a well-floured surface, with floured rolling pin, roll out portions of dough to about 1/4" thick.  Cut with cookie cutter.  Gently transfer to a cookie sheet (I usually brush off extra flour on top and bottom of cookie in the process).  
(9) If round cookies, I sprinkle granulated sugar on top before baking.  If other shapes, like gingerbread boys/girls/house where they might be frosted or iced, I do not.
 (10) Bake for 8 minutes, check, then add an extra minute, if needed -- 9 minutes is usually good for round cookies.
(11)  Cool and enjoy!  Cookies can be frozen and thawed later -- remember Grandma used to keep these in the freezer and take them out when we visited!




 

Kourabiedes (Greek Butter Cookies)

These are the first Christmas cookies I make every year.  I usually make them just before I start writing Christmas cards and enjoy a few while I'm writing.  I've had this recipe for over 25 years -- as originally printed in a South Florida newspaper:

Ingredients:

1 lb. butter, softened (4 sticks)

8 Tbsp. confectioners sugar

4 c. all-purpose flour

4 tsp. vanilla extract

1 c. blanched almonds, toasted and ground

Additional confectioners sugar 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cream butter and sugar.  Stir in flour, vanilla and almonds.  Dough should form a soft ball.  Shape into walnut sized balls (about an inch in diameter) and place on ungreased cookie sheets.  Press slightly with your thumb.  Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees, until slightly brown.  Let cool 5 minutes, then sift confectioners sugar over the top.  When completely cool, roll again in confectioners sugar. Makes 5- 6 dozen.

Lemon Macadamia & White Chocolate Cookies

This recipe is from my friend, Addy and her daughter, Caitlyn, who made them for a bake sale to benefit the local animal shelter. The recipe is adapted from a Mrs. Field's cookie recipe, with some changes. I knew when I heard the name that they would be good... Well, they were GREAT -- very lemony with lots of macadamia nuts and white chocolate bits. I had to ask for the recipe so I can make them -- here it is:

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mostly adapted from the recipe on the package of Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips. I started using these chips in the cookies recently after it seemed that the Nestles Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips and recipe that I have always used seemed to not be as good as they used to be. Was there a change in the formulation of Nestles Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips -- I don't know. Anyway, I use a combination of the Ghirardelli chips and the Nestles chips and like that variation of chocolate flavor and texture better than either of the chips alone. The perfect chocolate chip cookie is about the technique as well as the ingredients, and another key to getting the best results in consistency is in the mixing technique: (1) creaming the butter with the sugars very well before adding the other ingredients, (2) adding in the eggs by mixing at low speed and only until incorporated (so as not to beat air into the eggs which would contribute to a higher rising cookie), and (3) mixing in the dry ingredients gently and only until incorporated (thinks this creates a more tender cookie). I also like the way they bake using convection baking at 375 degrees and baking them after refrigerating the dough (at least 1 hour NOTE: can be refrigerated for a day or two before baking -- this allows you to make the whole recipe in small batches of dough, 1 or 2 dozen a time, so you can have fresh baked cookies when you want them. Alternatively, cold cookies can be reheated gently in the toaster oven to refresh their fresh-baked crispness and melted chocolate texture).

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups unsifted all-purpose unbleached flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 cup (2 sticks) sweet, unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 cup Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup Nestles Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare baking sheet by lining with parchment paper. Stir flour with baking soda and salt; set aside. Beat butter with white sugar, brown sugar and vanilla well, until mixture is very light and creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed and only until incorporated after each addition. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients on low speed, mixing only until incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips. Can be baked immediately by forming tablespoonful drops of cookie dough on the baking sheet and baking for 9 minutes (longer if not using convection baking), and reversing the sheet front to back 2-3 minutes before the 9 minutes is up. The rest of the dough can be wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated to be baked later. When ready to bake, cut off slabs of dough with a sharp knife, break into tablespoonful sizes and place on baking sheet. Bake as directed. Baking the cookie dough after refrigerating it like this also seems to improve the texture of the baked cookie.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Chocolate Drop Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup unsalted butter (1-1/2 sticks)
9 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

In a mixing bowl cream brown sugar and butter thoroughly until light and fluffy (about 5 minutes). Add cocoa, egg and vanilla; mix well. In a small bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt; mix lightly. Add some of the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, mix well and scrape the bowl. Then add some of the milk, mix well and scrape the bowl. Alternately add the dry ingredients with the milk, ending with the dry ingredients. Mix well and scrape the bowl after each addition.

Drop cookies by heaping teaspoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets. Bake 12 minutes or until done.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.