Last Wednesday night, our doorbell rang at about 8:45 in the evening. "Geez," I grumbled to myself, "don't you know we go to bed early?" I got to the door and looked out and there was Scott, holding a large ice cream bucket filled with.....strawberries, just picked from their garden. I quickly recanted all my grumbles. I also gave him back his empty honey jar.
Yesterday evening, the doorbell rang again and there was Scott on his bicycle, with another quart jar of honey for us.
Isn't it beautiful?
I plan to take Scott's empty strawberry bucket back today and I'm going to fill it with some ginger snaps I baked after work this afternoon. It's definitely not a fair repayment, but I'm sure thankful for the bountiful gifts from their yard and garden that they share with us.
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Old Fashioned Gingersnaps
3-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 tsp ground ginger
1-1/2 baking soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter (softened)
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 cup dark molasses
2 tsp cider vinegar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease baking sheets. Combine flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt in a large bowl and mix well.
Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Lightly beat eggs and add to butter mixture. Add molasses and vinegar and beat well.
Gradually add flour mixture to molasses mixture and mix until stiff dough forms. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place on baking sheet about 1-1/2 inches apart.
Bake cookies until the edges are slight browned, about 10 minutes for chewy cookies or 13 minutes for crisp cookies. Place cookies on paper-towel covered wire racks until cool.
NOTES:
I made my cookies bigger than 1-inch and got about 4 dozen.
I rolled my cookies in granulated sugar before putting them on the baking sheets to bake.
11 comments:
Yumm-I'm going to the store to get some strawberries and a snack-right now-I don't have the patience to make this but you've inspired my stomach.
Strawberries are so good this time of year--don't forget the ice cream!
Ruth,
I'm taking a break from Dateline, interviews with William and Harry on the 10th anniversary of Princess Diana's death to read your blog. That honey looks so pure, and the cookies so delicious. All I need is a cold glass of milk to dunk a cookie in. Imagination is so wonderful.
Mom
Ruthie your whole post is making my mouth water!!!
I want your neighbor to be my neighbor too!
Oooo gingersnaps--an equally-prized traditional kitchen creation!
What is it about those classic cookies, honey and fresh strawberries that says HOME.
Ruth - You have a very generous neighbor. Isn't it nice to have those kind of neighbors? Where we used to live (a few miles up the road) we had a neighbor who always shared his fresh apricots and figs with us. He would also bring me a handful of his beautiful irises, too, when they were in bloom.
What a great neighbor you have! Yummy looking honey and gingersnaps you are sharing too. Oh and we go to bed around 10 or so, so just ring the front door bell... :c)
Strawberries, honey and gingersnaps. Sounds perfect!
Ruth
Mom,
That honey is really good. I like to think that some of it is from the bees visiting my wildflower garden.
Lynne,
My mouth was watering too when I made the cookies--I probably ate at least 3--just in cookie dough.
Nina,
You know when I was a little kid I wouldn't eat a gingersnap for anything. Now they're a really special treat--an old-fashioned cookie, but so good.
Mary C,
He is a generous and nice neighbor. My garden is very small, so I really appreciate it when he shares with us.
Jayne,
We are such early birds. It's really hard this time of year when it's light out and the birds are singing when I go to bed.
Ruth,
Life is good (and sweet!)
I wouldn't mind my neighbor ringing my bell with treats at all! But, you see, both of my neighbors are leaving. One house in for sale and the other is sold. I'll miss the ones who are leaving in August. I'll make them gingersnaps. I printed out your recipe.
Mary,
I'm sorry about your neighbors leaving. I hope your new neighbors are good ones. I like all of my neighbors except for one and I'm pretty sure we'll move before they will.
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