Gingerbread

I love gingerbread, especially when it is cold outside-you know, like it has been for the past month.

BBBRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!

This recipe is also versatile to a certain extent and can be used as is to make pancakes on the stove. Just turn the heat down low so the thick batter can cook through without burning the outside of your gingercakes.

Ready? Here we go.

Gingerbread

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a medium size bowl sift together:

2 1/2 cups AP flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder(aluminum free please)

1/4 tsp baking soda

2 tsp powdered ginger(this is spicy if you have good ginger-take note and adjust to your liking)

1 tsp cinnamon

a pinch of cloves(if you don't like cloves-though I can't imagine that at all-this pinch can be omitted)

In a medium liquid measuring cup mix together:

3/4 cup milk(any kind will do, I always buy 1% cause the fattier stuff is too thick for my cereal habit and skim is too watery)

1 egg

2/3 cup unsulphered molasses(use cooking spray on your measuring cup before you start-oh, and if you set the bottle of molasses in warm water it will pour much more easily)

In a large bowl cream:

1/3 cup butter

Add dry ingredients to the butter and mix until it looks kind of like sand then pour in the wet and stir vigorously for one minute.

Spread into a greased 15"x10"x1" sheet pan(what I call a cookie sheet but I don't think that is what they really are) and bake for 15-18 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Let rest in the pan for a couple of minutes and then turn out on a cooling rack. I usually then turn it back right side up cause I like the way it looks. Add a little lemon glaze or whipped cream if you are feeling fancy. I usually don't (feel that fancy).

This is of course best served a warm with hot coffee, hot tea, hot cider or cold milk-depending on age and preferences I guess.

Oh yeah, this is perfect for Christmas morning and is one of our traditions here( which is why I discovered the gingercake option because we had no power, just a gas stove top, this past Christmas) right along with new pj's for everyone in the house.

Enjoy!