my mom's secret weapon

did you know that yesterday was national cookie day? somehow i failed to bake or eat a single cookie! i guess i'll have to make up for that today.

this weekend my mom baked pies and cookies for a fundraiser for an organization that gets 10-18 year old girls out of human trafficking. she dropped off a few of the cookies at our house on the way. if you look at them they don't look like anything special. in fact, they look kind of bland; the sort of cookie you'd never waste calories on. oh, but you would be so wrong. my mom's molasses cookies are like soft gingersnaps, and are kind of dangerous to have around. they are perfect for chillier weather and they are a nice break from the ubiquitous chocolate chip cookies. plus they are super fast to make and an ode to my mom's (and my own) maine roots!

happy baking and sampling! remember, they don't look like much, but they are pretty addictive and a great afternoon snack on dreary days like today.

Molasses Cookies

1 Cup butter flavored Crisco or butter 
1 Cup Brown sugar                                        
1 Egg                                                                
1/4 Cup Molasses                                         
1/4-1/2 tsp. salt                                             
2 1/4 Cups Flour                                            
2 tsp. soda                                                  
1/2 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp ginger 
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla    (or even a dash more than that)

*small bowl of sugar to roll cookie dough in*

Preheat oven to 375.  Lightly grease cookie sheet (*I never do that part personally)
Mix in order; my mom uses her Kitchenaid  but i usually do it by hand, and mix for a couple of minutes til smooth. Chill the dough in the freezer at least an hour (um, sometimes you might just want to bake them sooner than that- i usually pop one cookie sheet in and then chill the rest for longer.)
Roll dough in hand a little larger than a walnut. Roll dough balls in granulated sugar to coat.
Bake 12-15 minutes.  I usually take them out at 12 minutes (or sometimes less) They should be soft looking when you take them out.

***Getting the cookies out of the oven early rather than later is the best plan!***