Gingerbread Man Cookies

We've tried MANY different recipes for gingerbread men.  This one is simply from the McCormick spice company and in our opinion, the best.

Ingredients:
3 cups flour
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup softened butter (1.5 sticks)
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

MIX first 6 ingredients.  Set aside.  Beat butter and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.  Add molasses, egg and vanilla, mix well.  Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed.  Press dough into a disk.  Wrap in plastic wrap.  Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

ROLL out dough to 1/4-inch thickness on lightly floured work surface.  Cut into gingerbread men with 5-inch cookie cutter.  Place 1-inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE in preheated 350 degree oven 8 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies just begin to brown.  Cool on baking sheets 2 minutes.  Remove to wire racks and cool completely.  Decorate cookies by piping designs with plain and Colorful Royal Icing (see mccormick.com for recipe).

Makes 2 dozen.

Recipe Video Link

Bea's Brisket

Ingredients:

flat cut brisket 

small can tomato sauce

1/2 can water

2 -3 onions

paprika

salt, pepper, garlic powder

optional:  peas. carrots, potatoes

Directions:

1. Brown meat in large quart pan on all sides without liquid

in pan. 

 2. Remove meat when brown on all sides.

3. Salt, pepper, & garlic meat on all sides.

4. Slice onions and completely cover bottom of pan with onions.

5.  Liberally sprinkle paprika on top of onions so you see mostly paprika.

6.  Place meat back on top of onion/paprika mix.

7.  Cover pan.

8.  Cook on low heat for 30 minutes.

9.  Add 1 can tomato sauce and 1/2 can water.

10.  Cover and cook on low heat for a few hours until brisket fork tender,

11.  An hour before ready, you can add potatoes, carrots, peas. etc.

*  The onion/paprika mixture with the tomato sauce makes a natural gravy so no other liquid is needed.

**  Goes great with mashed potatoes!!!

Grilled Peaches

Ingredients:

Peaches, halved with pit removed
Vanilla Greek yogurt or ice cream (optional)
Honey to drizzle
Mint leaves or brown sugar (optional)

Instructions:

Heat grill to about 350 degrees.
Place peaches on grill flesh side down for 4 to 5 minutes.
Flip for an additional 4 to 5 minutes.
Remove and serve warm with vanilla Greek yogurt or ice cream.
Drizzle with honey.
Garnish with mint leaves or brown sugar.