Soft Ginger Cookies

 

I love Christmas baking. I ADORE it. The smell, the hustle and bustle, the taste (best bit). Even early November you might catch me humming Christmas carols with my apron on having a merry time in the kitchen. But hey, there’s nothing wrong with getting into the Christmas spirit early, is there?

These cookies are a 12 out of 10 (you seriously have to make them). I decided to be adventurous and try a new recipe (yes, I call this adventurous, don’t judge) and I found myself making them. They are definitely going to be a keeper for next Christmas! Heck, I’ve only made them once and they’re already a family favourite!* Imagine soft, chewy ginger bread – rolled in sugar. If that hasn’t got you jumping out of your red and green striped socks to make them, then good luck with the festive season.   

*Take the last cookie, and you’ll be getting the evil eye for at least a week. Guaranteed.

This recipe makes 24 cookies (roughly).

Prep: 15 min

Cook: 10 min

Ready: 50 min

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon baking soda

¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground cloves

¼ teaspoon salt

¾ cup butter, softened

1 cup white sugar

1 egg

1 tablespoon water

¼ cup golden syrup

2 tablespoons white sugar

1.       Preheat oven to 175o degrees C. Sift together flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt.

2.       In a large bowl, cream together butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, then stir in water and golden syrup. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the golden syrup mixture. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, flatten slightly.

3.       Bake for 8 – 10 minutes in preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking tray for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in airtight container.

A few tips:

1.       Try not to eat them all in one go. :)

2.       They spread out in the oven quite a bit so make sure you place them far enough apart.

X

Christmas Countdowns (really just a little festive reminder)

Summer’s finally crept up on me, and caught me without a tan (thank goodness for the fake stuff in the bottle – right?). Or maybe it’s gotten colder for all you people on the other side of the world (and yes we still in the sunnier parts sing carols like White Christmas, and all the ones about snow even though the coldest thing during our Christmas is the ice in our lemonade).

I've been really busy lately, but I'm really determined to do a lot of blogging this December, and when I'm determined, there's not much that can stop me (except for slow wifi - THERE'S NOTHING WORSE - #firstworldproblems).

So, here goes.

                  

I love waking up every morning and jumping (or slowly rolling to be completely honest) out of bed and opening the countdown calendar. This year I found the sweetest little string of stockings countdown, similar to the one pictured above from Crate and Barrel.

There’s quite a few options – the easiest would be to go and buy one (there are heaps of different types), but for all you crafty types, making one is just as pretty.

This year I'm going to put little sweet treats in them (mini chocolate bars, candies, etc) and an encouraging note. Aww, how nice is that?! (I'd love to know what you're doing - comment below and inspire us all).

I realize most of you will already have your countdowns sussed – I applaud you if you do! But even so, this is just a little festive reminder if you like, that IT’S NOT LONG TILL CHRISTMAS. *sings Christmas song*

Ach hem.

So yes, have a very merry day and stay tuned for more Christmas-y posts!

X

Nothing Can Make Me Love You Less

This is for the broken, the weak, the weary. Those who feel like they aren’t worthy or aren’t “perfect” enough.

This is what God is saying – “None of your scars can make me love you less.”

Right before I sat down to write, I prayed and the next minute as I was surfing the web (as you do) I read this. It stood out because I think a lot of us feel not worthy enough, and this is what God wants to say. He loves us with all his heart, and when we criticize ourselves and feel unworthy, it breaks his heart.

It brings tears to my eyes. Honestly.

No matter how many mistakes we make, how many times we fail … God still loves us with all his heart.

We are sons and daughters of a King, and who said royalty isn’t worthy?!

So stand tall. You’re worth everything in the world, you’re worth dying for – in fact, He already did die on the cross for you.

X

The Scary Word: Future

Life is full of questions. Yes? Such as “who do you want to be?” and “what do you want to do in life?”

If you’re having trouble answering those questions, then welcome aboard the ship (you may call me Captain).

There are SO many options, millions (ish) of topics that we could study, and thousands of different jobs we could take up. But which one?

A few months ago, my heart would’ve started racing and my mind would’ve started spinning and going into an overdrive. Panic, basically. Panicking that I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life!

Then I found the Truth.

The truth is this simple: giving your life solely to God is all that matters. You and I are both made for a unique purpose. Jesus’s command was to love each other (John 15:17), so if we beginning by learning more about Him and the word of God and doing everything out of love, then that’s a great start right there.

“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3)

That’s what really matters, see?

It’s really ok to have no idea what you want to do. In fact, now is the perfect time to give God the reins of your life and let him steer you.

In Proverbs 16:9 it says “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”

I can truthfully say that I’m excited to wake up every morning knowing that I’m on an adventure with God.

Adventure.

That’s the way we should look at life. As an adventure with Him! It’s better to be right beside Him than anywhere else in this world, or the next. Psalm 84:10 says it exactly:

“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.”

That’s what we’re striving for, right? To be with Him.

God’s listening, watching, right now as you read this. I bet he’s absolutely full of joy and excitement that he wants to share with you about your future. So trust him, and lean into the Truth.

He’s calling you by name – and it says that “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”. So dare to love him.

And when he asks you to do something? JUST SAY YES. It’s simple, and so rewarding. In my life it’s happened over and over, when God asks me to do something and I DO IT, the reward is amazing (better than a whole block of chocolate. No, seriously, it is.)

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8)

Together, let’s be the kind of people that jump off the chairs for the Lord. Let’s be the people that shout “PICK ME!!!!” at the top of our lungs (if you know me well, then you can definitely imagine me doing this). Let’s not even worry about our future, okay?

Amen.

X

Thanks for joining by the way – it’s been a real pleasure. I’ll be praying for you as you embark on the best journey E.V.E.R. (the one that God has planned for you.) Aye aye, me hearties!