Recipe for Ginger Cookies

Ginger Cookies

Ingredients

.....1/2 cup chopped crystallized ginger
.....3/4 cup sugar
.....6 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
.....1 large egg
.....2 cups all purpose flour
.....2 teaspoons baking soda
.....3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
.....1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Preparation

In a food processor (or blender), whirl ginger and 1/3 cup sugar until ginger is finely ground. Pour from container.

Put butter and 1/3 cup cup sugar in food processor (or bowl) and whirl (or beat with a mixer) until fluffy.

Add ginger mixture, molasses, and egg; whirl (or beat) to mix.

Mix flour, soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add to butter mixture; whirl (or stir, then beat) to blend well.

Cover dough and chill until firm to the touch, about 1 hour.

Shape dough into 1 inch balls and coat in remaining sugar. Place balls 2 to 3 inches apart on nonstick or oiled baking sheets.

Bake in a 350 degree oven until slightly darker brown, 11 to 12 minutes total (if using 1 oven, switch pan positions after about 6 minutes). Transfer cookies to racks to cool. Serve, or store airtight up to 1 week; freeze to store longer.

Yield: 4 dozen cookies