Ginger's in the Bread Author:Annie Lang Cookies rank among my favorite “confectionery life delights” and gingerbread heads the top of that list! For years, the question of how gingerbread got its name remained a mystery to me until I discovered the answer one day as I was attempting to whip up some dough for my bread machine. Apparently, in days gone by, teeny tiny kitchen... more » helpers would often assist in the baking of the daily bread. One day, a little helper named Ginger fell into a bowl of bread batter and miraculously emerged as a cookie!
Eventually, all the helpers magically transformed themselves into cookies which explains why kitchen help is now so hard to find!
Nothing says “Home” like the aroma of freshly baked cookies cooling on the countertop in the kitchen...unless you live at my house, that is! I have all the necessary gadgetry, a well stocked pantry, and enough recipe books to fill the Library of Congress. However, when it comes time to actually create the culinary delights pictured in the books, my successes have been few and far between. I’ve yet to bake cookies that haven’t turned black, doughy, broken a few teeth (or windows!) or didn’t need to be scraped off the cookie sheet without a chisel! Likewise, my baked potatoes crunch, my roasts cry to be put out of their misery, and most casseroles seem to dehydrate before my eyes during the baking process! On the positive side...I’m usually only asked to bring ice or chips to large family potluck gatherings!
Being a creative individual does have its rewards, however. Mrs Fields, Famous Amos and Pepperidge Farms have come to my rescue on more than one occasion. Likewise, the “Pizza Dude”, Boston Market and my local deli have saved my family from starvation over the years! As for those wonderful kitchen aromas...cinnamon potpourri, vanilla candles and maple scented oils are strategically placed all over my kitchen to capture the ambiance of “home”. In lieu of oven mitts and spatulas, I opt to use my paintbrushes and palette knives to create perfect gingerbread creations that can be appreciated for years to come!
I’ve filled the pages of this book with dozens of wonderful gingerbread delights that will fill your heart and soul with happiness and joy. Best of all...each is guaranteed to be calorie-free! Enjoy!