Holiday Baking

First off, I apologize for not having a lunch post today.  I totally flaked on a Christmasy themed lunch this week.  So instead...I want to share some yummy sweet recipes that I find myself making during the holidays.  And what kid doesn't appreciate some cookies in their lunchbox?!

One of my favourite cookies of the holiday season is ginger snaps.  My grandmother used to make these all the time...the smell of ginger, cinnamon and molasses....yummy!

Gingersnaps

3/4 cup margarine

1 cup white sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup molasses

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup white sugar to roll your cookies in

Optional ingredients:  chopped candied ginger OR zest of one orange

Preheat your oven to 350.  Cream the butter and sugar together until smooth.  Add egg and molasses and mix until combined well.   If you are adding orange zest or candied ginger I would add to the wet now.  Mix together your dry ingredients (minus the sugar for rolling).  Add your dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until incorporated.  You are going to have a dense dough that you can roll into balls.  Roll into 1 inch balls then roll the balls into the sugar.  I have used decorative sugar for this as well and it gives the cookie extra crunch since the sugar crystals are so large.  Regular granulated sugar works just as well.    Place your cookie dough balls onto an ungreased cookie sheet about 2 - 3 inches apart.  Bake for 8 - 10 mins.  Cool on a rack and done! 

The next recipe also holds some wonderful childhood memories.  Shortbread cookies!  I love these buttery, crumbly, sweet cookies.  The best and most easy recipe I have come across so far is the one that comes off of the Canada Cornstarch box. 

Shortbread Cookies

1/2 cup cornstarch

1/2 cup icing sugar (aka confectioners sugar or powdered sugar) 

1 cup flour

3/4 cup butter, softened

Preheat your oven to 350.  Sift the cornstarch. flour and sugar together into a bowl.   Mix your room temp butter into your dry ingredients.  Form into 1 inch balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet....I use either a silicone baking mat or parchment paper because I don't want them to brown much.  Flatten the balls with a fork or the bottom of a drinking glass that you have dusted with icing sugar so it won't stick to the cookie dough.  Bake for 15 - 20 mins.   

You can change up these cookies with some lemon zest in the dough or top with some candied cherry pieces. 

These recipes are peanut free and safe for school and work lunches!!  Happy baking!

Holiday Inspiration

I need some serious inspiration.  I know a lot of people won't be packing lunches over the holiday break--but for those of us who have to, we might as well put together some charming bentos to lift our Christmas spirit!

• I love all the stars in this cute bento lunch!  It's an easy and perfect way to add some sparkle to your lunch.
• I giggled when I came across these adorable Santa and Rudolph chicken nuggets, click the link to see how they are made.  Too cute.
• It's hard to resist an adorable Snowman.  The perfect shape for a sandwich. 
• You have to check out all the cute holiday bentos over at Hapa Bento, lots of inspiration in the form of Rudolph, snowmen, presents and stockings . . . how fun!
• And we can't forget the Gingerbread Man with presents made of apples, we can't have Christmas without him.

There are great bento ideas for holiday inspired lunches around the web.  I can't wait to try some of these examples.  What will you be making?  Please share your lunches with us!