Sunday, December 11, 2011

Chewy Ginger Cookies for The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap

Wow, y'all. It's been a long week (and you know that's true for me when I break out the Southern slang!).

Two of my coworkers lost family members in the past week, and one of them has been out for two weeks. I spent many days by myself in the office = I needed serious Christmas music blasting from Pandora on my office computer to keep me going! I also had a night meeting after work on Wednesday (=14 hour day) and another work event yesterday. So...blogging...not on the top of my to-do list after all that!

Nevertheless, I had a lot of fun participating in The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap, hosted by Lindsay of Love & Olive Oil and Julie of The Little Kitchen. Lindsay and Julie matched me up with three groovy ladies, and we each received 3 dozen cookies (1 dozen from each person). I absolutely love receiving packages in the mail, so these cookies made my day each time a new package arrived.

First off...
Christina from 2 Hour Party sent me these tasty treats!



Mmm...shortbread sandwiches with a chocolate and plum filling. They melt in your mouth!



My second batch arrived from Crystal at Eat*Drink*Cleveland.

Too cute!


Chocolate Ohio...love it :) Fun fact: it's one of a few states I have never visited!



What did Santa bring?


Yummy cookies! I tasted almond, coconut (maybe?), and of course the cherry on top :)



And finally, Jamie at Kanga and Roux sent me these. Jamie lives in San Diego too so I was excited to 'meet' a fellow SD blogger.

Delicious mixed chip cookies!



For my own recipe I was to send out, I had a hankering for gingerbread cookies. There was also a container of crystallized ginger chips hanging out in my cupboard begging to be used. Believe it or not, my recipe came from the side of the container, and it was delicious! The cookies are chewy and not super sweet, and the ginger flavor is very pronounced (which I love). A great alternative to your traditional gingerbread cutout!

Blogger fail: I totally remember taking pictures of my cookies, but when I uploaded them onto my computer, they were nowhere to be found :( Oh well. Use your imagination and you'll probably get it just right :)


Update: Crystal let me borrow the picture she took below of my cookies :) Thanks Crystal!




Chewy Ginger Cookies
makes 3 1/2 dozen cookies
recipe adapted from The Ginger People

Ingredients:
  • 2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 tsp. ground ginger
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 3/4 cup butter (I used Earth Balance), softened (= 1 1/2 sticks)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup dark molasses
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 1/2 oz. (1/2 can) Ginger Chips

Directions:
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Sift dry ingredients together in a bowl and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, mix butter and sugar until fluffy. Stir in molasses and egg.
  • Add dry ingredients to wet mixture, and mix well.
  • Stir in ginger chips.
  • Chill dough for 1 hour.
  • Form dough into 1-inch balls.
  • Roll in granulated sugar.
  • Place on greased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
  • Remove while still soft. Transfer cookies to cooling rack to cool.

I had so much fun participating in this and look forward to the 2012 swap! If you'd like to take part, sign up here to receive notifications for next year's event.

6 comments:

  1. I was so excited to be partnered with you for this swap! Thank so much for showing my cookies here. I wish I had thought to take pictures... but it dawned on me after the last one of yours had already been shoved in my mouth. :-/ Delicious, though!!!! Wow, seriously. One of the best cookies I've ever had!

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  2. Wow all those cookies look mint! I wish I would have known about the swap because it looks like so much fun. Hopefully I'll get in next year.

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  3. Just had to stop by and say THANK YOU for your wonderful cookies! They are, or er, WERE fabulous! Absolutely delicious! So nice swapping with you. I've been to San Diego several times and love it. If you ever do find yourself in Cleveland, OH please be sure to give me a shout!

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  4. Thanks all! The cookie swap was a blast and I'm so glad I got to partner with you all :)
    Maren, I hope you get to participate next year!

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  5. These cookies sound so yummy! This cookie swap really was so much fun! I am already excited for next year! :)

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  6. Thanks Elyse! They are really easy too :) Glad you enjoyed the swap as well.

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