Hmmmm, Gingerbread ....

Have you ever wondered why Gingerbread Men are the staple at Christmas time? I know for my children, when they think of gingerbread men they first think of Shrek then they think of Christmas. But why?

Did you know that the Gingerbread Man was actually a real person? Not just a cookie made in stories.

Rumor has it that the Gingerbread Man first appeared in the court of Queen Elizabeth 1. She presented courtiers with gingery likenesses of themselves. Hmmmm ...

Gingerbread has its deep roots throughout eastern Europe and, at one point, Nuremberg was knows as the gingerbread capital of the world. Also in Germany, the famous 'lubkuchen' was made and used to build special 'witches houses' (not Christmas, I know but I still thought it was interesting) from Hansel and Gretel. Some countries created a soft, delicately spiced cake while others produces a crisp, flat cookie or a warm, thick, steamy-dark squares of 'bread'.

I have a recipe for Chocolate Gingerbread Men I thought I would share with you ....

1 c. salted butter                     1 c. brown sugar

2/3 c. molasses                       1 egg

2 1/2 c. flour                           1 tbsp ground ginger

2 tsp baking soda                   2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp. ground nutmeg              1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/4 c. cocoa powder

Cream the butter, sugar, molasses and egg together. Sift dry ingredients and gradually add to the cream mixture. Mix well. Chill the dough for either 1 hour or 1 day. Roll out on a floured surface and cut into any shape (preferably gingerbread men though).  Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes, cool and then decorate to your heart content!

Enjoy!

Steena Holmes

Comments

[Kris Underwood]

Sounds yummy.