Valentine's Day Archives - Spindles Designs by Mary and Mags

Molasses Cookies

July 22, 2020 by Mary Ellen Stringham Leave a Comment

Last week we bought some Molasses Cookies that tasted really good but there were only 1 dozen in the package. They lasted about 20 minutes, well really a couple of days. So we bought another package and well…out came the recipe books combining an old with a new recipe, I came up with this “Molasses Cookies” recipe.

When my children were little ours was the cookie house. The cookie jar almost always had cookies in it and all the kids in the neighborhood new it. Most of the time they were chocolate chip cookies but I was always trying new kinds. Another favorite was Molasses Bars. I just didn’t want a bar cookie this time.

Molasses Cookies

3 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1 cup brown sugar, packed

1 cup butter, softened (not quit room temp)

3/4 cup unsulfured molasses

1 large egg

Shimmer Sugar

In a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer, cream butter and brown sugar until it forms a grainy paste. Scrape sides of bowl, add molasses and egg. Beat until fluffy. Sift together dry ingredients and blend into sugar mixture until just combined. Do not over mix. The dough is very sticky. Divide the dough in half. Roll each half in waxed paper forming 2 inch diameter rolls. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours. Unwrap chilled dough, slice about 1/2 in thick and place on un-greased cookie sheet. I use silicone baking sheets. Sprinkle with shimmer sugar. Bake at 325 degrees for 16-18 minutes. Makes about 3 dozen yummy soft Molasses Cookies.

Enjoy!

Coconut Macadamia Nut Cookies

April 12, 2020 by Mary Ellen Stringham Leave a Comment

Last October my husband and I went on a cruise to Hawaii. On one of our excursions we went to the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Farm on the Island of Hawaii. We were happy to find that they sold small packages of already chopped nuts. We stocked up. Coconut Macadamia Nut Cookies are a big favorite in our family. Even those who don’t like coconut love these cookies.

Recipe

1 cup butter

2/3 cup sugar

1 1/3 cups brown sugar

4 eggs

1 Tbsp vanilla

1 tsp lemon juice

4 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp salt

2 1/2 cups coconut

1 1/2 cups chopped macadamia nut

With and electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in the vanilla and lemon juice. Sift dry ingredients together and mix into sugar mixture. Add coconut and nuts, mix until just blended. Drop by Tbsp or ( use a small scoop ) onto a greased cookie sheep. Bake at 325 degrees for 15 mins or until golden brown and centers are a little soft. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

These are my husbands very favorite. Unfortunately for him I don’t make them very often. They are a wonderful chewy treat.

Chocolate Cake

February 26, 2020 by Mary Ellen Stringham Leave a Comment

Who doesn’t love Chocolate Cake? In our family NO ONE. We love chocolate cake. My husband has for some reason been collecting chocolate cake recipes. This one is by far the best. So far….

It is very similar to our last favorite but still different and richer.

Recipe

1 cup softened butter

3 cups packed brown sugar

4 large eggs, room temperature

2 tsp vanilla

2 2/3 cups flour

3/4 cup cocoa (powder)

3 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/3 cup sour cream

1 1/3 cup boiling water

In a large mixing bowl cream butter and brown sugar. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each. Add vanilla, beat well. Whisk together the flour, cocoa, soda and salt. Mix the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture alternately with the sour cream starting with the flour mixture. Beat well after each addition. Stir in boiling water until well blended. Pour into 3 – greased and floured 9″ round baking pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Frosting

1/2 cup butter

3 oz unsweetened chocolate

3 oz semisweet chocolate

5 cups powdered sugar

1 cup sour cream

2 tsp vanilla

Break up chocolate and cube butter into a metal bowl. Place it over simmering water, stir until all are melted and mixture is smooth. Cool about 10 minutes. In a large mixing bowl combine powdered sugar, sour cream and vanilla. Pour in chocolate mixture and beat until smooth. Spread frosting on each layer, the top and sides of cake. Refrigerate leftovers.

Now slice into and enjoy this moist creamy deliciousness. Yum!

Yummy Nanaimo Bars

November 7, 2019 by Mary Ellen Stringham Leave a Comment

Nanaimo Bars are one of those desserts easy to have a love hate relationships with. They are so richly wonderful you love to eat them and after you have eaten too many you hate them. Make them for any occasion.

I don’t make Nanaimo Bars very often. For family members celebrating a birthday I try to make their favorite dessert. Nanaimo Bars are easily one of Patrick’s favorite. He was our October birthday. My husband and I took trip to Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada a few years ago where I found this recipe. I am reminded of that trip each time they are made.

Bottom Layer

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup sugar

5 tbsp cocoa (dry)

1 egg beaten

1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 24 squares)

1/2 cup finely chopped almonds (I start with slivered almonds)

1 cup coconut

Melt first three ingredients in top of a double boiler. Add egg and stir to cook and thicken. Remove from heat. Stir in crumbs, coconut and nuts. Press firmly into a unreleased 8′ X 8″ pan.

Middle Layer

1/2 cup butter

2 tbsp + 2 tsp cream

2 tbsp vanilla custard powder

2 cups powdered sugar

Cream butter, cream, custard powder and sugar together well. Beat until light. Spread over bottom layer.

Top Layer

4 squares semi-sweet chocolate ( 1 oz each )

2 tbsp butter

Melt chocolate and butter over low heat. Cool. When cool, but still liquid, pour over second layer and chill in refrigerator.

Make some today. You’ll become a lover too!

Orange Rolls

February 16, 2016 by Mary Ellen Stringham 2 Comments

Orange Rolls became a family dinner tradition more than 40 years ago. My mother found them at a local bakery when I was growing up. They were purchased only on special occasions and holidays. When my husband and I moved our family away we were too far away to attend most of those family dinners. A few years ago we took our family and Thanksgiving dinner to my mother’s house. We purchased the orange rolls from the same bakery and somehow they were not as good.

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