Little People In The House

Gingerbread Men

Little Lady has been reading the gingerbread man story at school. "Run, run, as fast as you can!" And the first day her family got to the farm she told us she had two things she wanted to do at the farm. Go fishing. (Thankfully pretend fishing in the yard was enough.) And she wanted to bake gingerbread men. If you are doing this with small children in the house, make a plan. 

1.  Mix dough before the little ones get up and and put into refrigerator to chill.

2.  While baby brother is napping, let the toddler help cut the cookies.

3.  Abandon all preconceived ideas of how a gingerbread man should be decorated.

4.  Appreciate that this recipe only makes enough dough for about 15 cookies.

That about matches our attention span.

She only eats the decorations and then tells me, "I need a new one."

GINGERBREAD MEN 

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup dark molasses

1/4 cup water

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour (or use self-rising and omit salt & baking soda)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

Cream shortening and sugar. Blend in molasses, water, flour, salt, baking soda, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. Cover and chill for 2 to 3 hours.

Heat oven to 375º. On a lightly floured board, roll dough to 1/4-inch thick. Cut with gingerbread man cutter and place on an ungreased baking sheet. (I use parchment paper on my pan.)

Decorate with candies, chocolate chips, raisins, can diced cherries, etc. 

Bak 10 to 12 minutes. Immediately remove from baking sheet and let cool. 

Makes about 15 4-inch cookies.

(In case you're wondering, Little Lady is two and a half.)