2016 holiday cookie swap: Old-fashioned gingerbread cookies

This is a classic German gingerbread cookie recipe perfect for a Christmas tea.

It was a wonderful surprise to be nominated for the One Lovely Blog Award by Christine Geschke, a German food nutritionist who has a fabulous blog, genussgeeks. This German gingerbread cookie post is dedicated to her for her kindness and her encouraging words in the comments she leaves me through our Facebook blogs.  In the cyber world, there is a tradition that once you get nominated for this blog award, you must tell 11 things about yourself and nominate 11 other blogs. 

1.  My maternal greatgrandmother was German.  She lived in a tiny little house in Chicago and didn't speak much English but she taught my grandmother how to make great cookies!  I feel lucky to have some of the recipes.

2.  My mother was not a good every day cook.  She worked full time, had three children, and spread herself way too thin.  But, when she had the time, she loved to make gourmet meals.

3.  However, I got my interest in cooking and entertaining from my mom.  I loved helping her prepare for wedding showers, baby showers, and dinner parties.

4.  I also have three children and recently "retired" from teaching school after working more than 30 years.  I remember spending hours in the car driving them and their friends to lessons, etc.

5.  During the time my girls were all at home, I felt that serving them healthy homemade meals and eating together as a family gave them strength and support to face and to be successful in the outside world.  Sometimes we ate in shifts, but always at the table!

6.  I developed some quick, easy, but healthy meals so I could get dinner together quickly, and not be tied up in the kitchen.  My husband, Roy, used to laugh that everything I made took 15 minutes.

7.  Now that I am "retired", I am busier than ever.  I have committed to several activities and organizations that occupy much of my time and I still wish I had more time to cook!

8.  My greatest joy continues to have plenty of people around to cook for.  I love it when the kids bring home several friends and I hear the laughter and their shared stories.

9.  The travels and experiences of my daughters have opened my eyes to different cultures and views.  I love to experiment with the cuisines of different countries.

10.  At the present time my favorite cookbooks are:  "Jamie's Food Revolution" by Jamie Oliver, "The Family Chef" by Jewels & Jill Elmore, and "The Working Mother Cookbook" by the Editors of Working Mother Magazine.

11.  Treat yourself to these 11 gorgeous blogs that I drool over!  Most are food related but a few are not.  All inspire me!
Sumptuous Spoonfuls
could i have that?
ModHomeEc
Polly Castor
Home is Where the Boat Is
Hunters Healthy Kitchen
Cooking at Sabrina'sT
he Two Bite Club
SkinnytasteS
avory Simple
Naptime With Yasmine

Old-fashioned gingerbread cookies

1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon dark molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1-1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon cardamom
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
Some sugar for sprinkling

1. With an electric mixer, mix the butter and two sugars together until they are well creamed. 

2. Add the molasses, vanilla, and eggs. Beat well. 

3. Stir in the dry ingredients a bit at a time until they are entirely combined with the wet mixture. 

4. Cover and chill the dough for at least an hour. Line a cookie sheet with foil. Shape the dough into walnut sized balls and space them out on the cookie sheet. 

5. Using the bottom of a glass, press down on each ball to flatten it into a 1/4-inch thick circle. Sprinkle each circle with white granulated sugar.  Bake at 350 degrees F. for 12 to 15 minutes or until cookies are slightly browned around the edges.

Read the original post on Yates Yummies.

Do you have a favorite Christmas Cookie recipe? Join in our Holiday Cookie Swap by emailing your recipe and a photo to food@csps.com.