Dipped Gingersnaps

This month, we celebrated my Grandma Peirce's 80th birthday! While scattering old pictures of grandma and I on the tables, it reminded me of a little adventure she and I had a few years ago.

It was Christmas time and I was probably nine years old. Since we had the whole day to spend together and I had never tried gingerbread before, we decided to bake and decorate gingerbread cookies from scratch! Five hours and over 100 gingerbread men later, I took my first bite-- and concluded that they tasted awful. I'm pretty sure she and I just sat there for ten minutes and surveyed the mess we had gotten ourselves into.....but ended up laughing and realized we had a blast making memories, even if the situation wasn't ideal.

I'm certainly no food blogger and will willingly admit I'm not at the point in my culinary career where I can whip up my own recipes. That's why I turned to my mom for help when choosing which family Christmas recipe to share this year!! These gingersnaps had a much better impression on me than the gingerbread men from years ago, and they're a lot softer than what you would traditionally imagine.

This recipe is adapted from a Taste of Home Dec/Jan 1997 issue. Enjoy!

Cookie Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1-1/2 cups vegetable oil
2 eggs
1/2 cup molasses
4 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
Additional sugar for rolling

Frosting Ingredients:
2 (12 oz.) Ghirardelli white chocolate chips
1/4 cup shortening

Begin by combining sugar and oil in a mixing bowl.

Add eggs one at a time and beat until well incorporated. Stir in molasses.

In a large separate bowl, combine flour, ginger, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda. Gradually add dry ingredients to creamed and mix well.

Set aside a small bowl of sugar. Take out a ball of dough using a medium cookie scoop. Mold the dough in your hands and roll in extra sugar. Place on baking sheets and bake at 350º for 9-11 minutes (the less you bake them, the softer they are!) Let cool on a wire rack.

For the frosting, melt chips and shortening in microwave or on the stove, stirring until smooth.

Dip the cookies halfway in the chocolate (or drizzle on top) and place on wax paper.

Buy this cute 'Merry and Bright' platter here (originally purchased at Faith & Life Bookstore)

Merry Christmas and happy baking!

His Biblical Beauty,
Paige

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Christmas with the Kauffmans

Hello lovelies! I'm a little late posting this seeing that our house has been decorated since Thanksgiving weekend, but I figured it would be neat to share pictures of our home during the Christmas season. My mom does an amazing job making everything look so pretty (and not just during December; she decorates our house for every season!!) I swear, every square inch is covered in red and green. I'm picking up tips and traditions that I hope to carry into a house of my own someday.

I'll begin the tour with our living room. Count how many times you find the word 'joy' in our house....it's actually hilarious.

My favorite Christmas memories originate from an odd family collection of....nutcrackers! My parents have bought a new one every year since I was a baby, and it has grown to be quite the group. I used to have names for all of them but I can't remember them anymore.

Back when mom was in love with Longaberger Baskets in the 90's, she thought it would be cute to buy this sleigh. Now we just use it to hold our Christmas cards ;)

We have a kitchen tree with cooking utensil ornaments like spatulas, whisks, and cookie cutters!

Even dad has his own Christmas mug when he's doing work from home on Saturday mornings.

In the piano room/office, we keep this cute caroler my dad made as a kid.

Because the obsession I hold with Christmas is so strong, I have my own tree and decorations in my room! It basically consists of angels, ballerinas, and Lennox Classics my Grandma Phyllis has given me over the years.

I love the little display I put together on my teacup shelf! (Those are actually American Girl Doll ice skates. I knew they would come in handy someday, haha)

My parent's room hosts a beautiful nativity.

Down the stairs.....

Dad built this gorgeous star a few years ago that hangs on the side of our house and lights up at night. It's a great reminder of the Biblical reason behind what and who we celebrate at Christmas.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!

His Biblical Beauty,

Paige