Gingersnaps

 

It would not be Christmas if there wasn't at least something with ginger in it, whether it be a gingerbread house, gingerbread men, or gingersnaps. Since I am not a fan of gingerbread I prefer to make these gingersnaps instead. These cookies are sweet, chewy, and festive making them my staple cookie to make at Christmas time. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! See you Monday for the fourth cookie recipe and stocking stuffer ideas!

 

Gingersnaps:

 

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup molasses

1 egg, lightly beaten

2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon cloves

Additional sugar to roll cookies in

 

Directions:

Preheats oven to 350 degrees.

Sift together dry ingredients and set aside.

In large mixing bowl mix first 4 ingredients.
Add dry ingredients and mix well.

Pinch off dough about one teaspoon size.

Roll into balls and roll in sugar.

Bake for 10 minutes or just until cookies begin to crack.

Remove from pan and let cool.

Store in airtight container.

Lots of Love,  Natalie

 

Winter Wonderland

The best part about going to Chicago in December is that there is always the possibility that it may snow. This is a big deal since I am from Mississippi and snow is a very rare sight here. I love the snow and it only makes Christmas shopping more festive. With only 8 days left until Christmas I can say that I am almost completely done shopping I just need to get started on wrapping all the gifts. I hope you are on top of your shopping but anyway here are some of my favorite pictures from my Chicago trip! See you tomorrow!

 

Lots of Love , Natalie

 

Tacky Christmas Party

Sunday night was the Midtown Pilates work Christmas Party. We decided that we would make it tacky themed. I decided that I would go very tacky and of course our dates had to be tacky too so I supplied jay with plenty of things to complete his tacky outfit. I love themed parties because it is always fun to see what everyone ends up wearing. Along with having to dress tacky we were all assigned something different to bring and no surprise here but I was assigned the dessert. Since, the owner and my boss does not like peppermint I was supposed to make anything as long as it does not include peppermint. Well for this time of year Peppermint flavored desserts are everywhere. I decided that I would try something new but still festive for the holiday. The dessert that I ended up making was a Red Velvet Bundt Cake with a Cream Cheese Frosting Glaze. I hope you enjoy all the pictures below and don't worry the recipe for the cake is below also! Happy Tacky Tuesday!

 

 

Red Velvet Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Glaze:

Ingredients:

Duncan Hines Red Velvet Boxed Cake Mix (I was pressed for time so had to use the cake mix)

8 oz. Cream Cheese

1/2 cup Unsalted Butter

4 cups Confectioners' (powdered) Sugar

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

 

Directions:

1. Grease and flour your Bundt pan thoroughly. But when flouring use the dry cake mix so that the cake does not have white flour residue when it comes out of the pan.

2. Follow directions on the box to prepare the Bundt cake.

3. Set Cream Cheese and unsalted Butter in your mixing bowl to soften.

4. Once softened add the Confectioners' Sugar and Vanilla Extract. Mix until smooth like a frosting.

5. Once cake cools, warm up your frosting in the microwave so that it is able to be poured over your cake to create the Cream Cheese Frosting Glaze.

 

 

Lots of Love,  Natalie