Tonight I baked some ginger snaps, my first batch of Christmas cookies this year.
I got this recipe a very long time ago. 7th grade home ec class, to be exact. Remember back when all the girls took home ec and the boys took shop? Now few schools offer either, when I think that all students should be required to take a bit of both. But I digress.
As I was measuring ingredients, I noticed something rather odd. The recipe calls for 3 teaspoons of baking soda. That’s not an amount you often see in a recipe.
Then it struck me. The tablespoon probably hadn’t been invented yet when I got the recipe in 1970.
Recipe below if you’re interested. (I tried to do it as “More” in an expanded post, but couldn’t get it to work–darned Wordpress!)
King Size Ginger Snaps from Skaneateles Middle School Home Ec
4 c. sifted flour
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground cloves
1 ½ tsp. ginger
2 tsp. cinnamon
3 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 c. shortening
2 c. sugar
2 eggs
½ c. molasses
Sift flour, salt, spices, soda and baking powder together. Set aside. Cream shortening until light and fluffy. Gradually add sugar; blend in eggs and molasses. Blend in flour mixture. Shape into ½” balls (maybe ¾”), roll in granulated sugar. Bake 3” apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees.
3 Comments
When I was in jr. high (that’s what we called it back then), we were given the option to take one or the other (why we couldn’t do both, I’m not sure). I wasn’t much of a girly-girl, so I took shop. Can’t sew a thing, but I can use a hammer, a few saws and got really good with a wood burner!
I remember the two sewed items I made in home ec. One looked like a maternity top. I don’t think I ever wore it! The other was a skirt with ribbon trim and a ruffle, and I wore it a few times. The sewing thing didn’t stick with me! Baking did though. These sound yummy!
Marie,
I sewed for years, but gave it up long ago. The cookies, on the other hand, I still bake. And you’re right–they ARE yummy!