When I was a little girl one of my fondest memories was coming in from school on a cool fall or cold winter day and having the smell of my mama's gingerbread or fresh apple cake baking in the oven drift by my nose. It's funny how now, years later, just the smell of cinnamon, ginger or cooked apples takes me back to a precious time in my life and conjures up all sorts of wonderful memories. My mama was the Martha Stewart of the 60's and 70's and even today her organization skills will put Martha's to shame! She always knew just what we needed when we walked in the door from school. So, when the cool temperatures of autumn knock on my door I can't help but get out the cook book and look for recipes that not only tantalize the taste buds but...take me back to my childhood with their fragrance. This weekend's cool temperatures brought that urge to me so I decided to bake up a batch of Molasses Cookies. These cookies have a bit of a nostalgic tradition tied to them as well. This recipe was shared with me by my sweet friend Sara who tells the story of her grandmother baking them every year in the fall. The story goes that her grandmother was a docent at the Levi Coffin House in Fountain City, Indiana. Each year during their Fall Festival Sara's grandmother would bake these cookies and serve them with tea on the back porch of the Coffin House for the visitors who came for a tour. Of course, it would become a tradition for her grandmother to bake them every year and now Sara tells me that every fall she bakes these cookies because... they just taste like fall! I can certainly vouch for that too because the first time she shared them with me I had to have the recipe. Saturday I baked a batch and as soon as everyone in my family took a bite they all said, "This tastes like fall!" So today I'd like to share the recipe with you in hopes that the smell and taste of these cookies will take you back to a sweet childhood memory of fall.
Molasses Cookies
3/4 cup shortening, melted
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup sorghum molasses
1 egg
2 teaspoons soda
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
Melt shortening in saucepan over low heat. Remove and cool. Add sugar, molasses and egg. Beat well. Sift dry ingredients. Add to first mixture. Mix well and chill. Form into 1" balls. Roll in granulated sugar and place on greased cookie sheet. Gently press the top of each ball to slightly flatten. Bake at 375 degrees for 6-7 minutes. You will think they are not fully cooked but they are ready! The cookies will have soft centers. If you would like a crispier cookie, let them bake about 9 minutes. ~Enjoy!
