Merry Monday Week 2!

Merry Monday is technically coming to you on Tuesday this week (sorry for the delay)

However, I still have some very Merry finds for you on this Tuesday evening… I hope you will enjoy!

Today while browsing the web for some yummy new cookie recipes, I stumbled upon www.marthastewart.com and I found so many great recipes, but one in particular caught my eye “Gingerbread Snowflakes”!

Leave it to Martha Stewart to come up with a cute and fun rendition to the traditional gingerbread man.

Here is what you’ll need to whip up these awesome cookies:

Makes 16 cookies
6 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 cup packed dark-brown sugar
4 teaspoons ground ginger
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
1 teaspoon finely ground pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
2 large eggs
1 cup unsulfured molasses
Royal Icing (Links to her recipe)
Fine sanding sugar, for sprinkling

Directions
1.Sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder into a large bowl. Set aside.

2.Put butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy. Mix in spices and salt, then eggs and molasses. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Divide dough into thirds; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.

3.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to a 1/4-inch thick. Cut into snowflakes with a 7- inch snowflake-shape cookie cutter. Space 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.

4.Bake cookies until crisp but not dark, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

5.Put icing in a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip (such as Ateco #7). Pipe designs on snowflakes; immediately sprinkle with sanding sugar. Let stand 5 minutes; tap off excess sugar. Let icing set completely at room temperature, about 1 hour. Store cookies between layers of parchment in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.

Yum Yum Yum.... They are almost too pretty to eat!

Now that we have had our cookies, it’s time to wrap the gifts and Hobby Lobby is having an incredible sale on gift-wrap. They are offering 50% off all gift-wrap from now until December 19th!!

They are also offering 30% 50% off storewide! This is the prefect opportunity to stock up on all of your crafting supplies and find some great gifts too!

The clock may be running down for all of you last minute shoppers, but even if you’re late, you can still be frugal.

Here is a great website I happened upon today that will guide you toward some of the best ways to stretch your buck and still find those great last minute gifts! http://moneysmartlife.com/the-best-websites-for-christmas-shopping-deals/

That’s about all for this late edition of Merry Monday….. Visit us next week for more great holiday finds!

Have a great night!