Big Soft Ginger Cookies

2 1/4 Cups flour
2 teaspoons ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 t cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cups butter or margarine (softened)
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 c molasses

Beat butter 30 seconds. add sugar beat till fluffy.  Add egg and molasses; beat well.  Stir in combined dry ingredients.  Shape into walnut sized balls and roll in sugar.  Bake on ungreased sheet for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Teething Biscuits

I haven't made these yet, but I've had them when Mom made them. They are great for adults too.

1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon baking powder
6-61/2 cups flour

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

Lightly grease a baking sheet, or line with parchment paper. In a bowl combine sugar
(use only 1 cup for teething biscuits), eggs, oil, and water. Combine with a mixer. Add vanilla. Stir baking powder into 1 cup of the flour and add to egg mix.Stir until flour is almost dissolved. add remaining flour 1 cup at a time until dough is smooth and thick enough to shape.

Use 1 teaspoon of dough to form a 3 inch rope. Bring ends together to form a ring. Place on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Variation: Brush with egg white and sprinkle with sesame seeds before baking if not using for teething.

Oatmeal Cookies

These were very good. Not too sweet, so they would be great for breakfast. You could also load them up with other dried fruits and nuts for a healthy snack.

1 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 eggs, well beaten
1 cup granulated sugar (I used 1/2 cup maple sugar)
1 cup butter, melted
4 tablespoons molasses, (I used sorghum)
4 tablespoons milk
2 1/4 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup coarsely chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
In a bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Stir to blend; add sifted ingredients and beat until thoroughly mixed.
Lightly grease cookie sheets, or use non-stick. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until edges are slightly brown. Remove carefully and cool on wire racks. Store in airtight containers.

No Bake Cookies

mmmm.....My very favorite recipe for no-bake cookies.

1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup cocoa
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup coconut
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups quick oats

In a medium saucepan combine milk, butter, cocoa and sugar. Bring to a rolling boil and cook for 1 full minute. If it's a wet (humid) day, you may have to cook the mixture a little longer, unless you like your cookies on the gooey side. I think they are wonderful no matter how they turn out.
Next, remove from the heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla, When peanut butter is melted add coconut and oats. Stir to combine. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto waxed paper to cool. Enjoy!

Grandma Amelia Ganger’s Sugar Cookies

Soft cookies that are yummy no matter how many times you roll the dough. I wonder if the difference is the way the cookies are mixed. The butter and sugar are not creamed together like in every other recipe I've seen. The sugar is mixed with the flour instead. Whatever the difference, these are delicious.

Mix together:
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon salt

In a separate bowl, cream:
2 eggs
1 cup shortening
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon flavoring

Combine these into one bowl. Add more flour until right texture to roll out. Gently roll or pat out. Cut with cookie cutters. Bake. Frost when cool.

Notes: This is the recipe exactly as I received it. I have made it using both butter and shortening, both are good. When adding the flour the second time, it takes 3-3 ½ cups more. I baked them at 350 degrees for around 10 minutes, less for thinner cookies, more to thicker ones. The best recipe for sugar cookies I have ever tasted. This makes a lot of cookies.

This was Aaron's Great Great Grandma. (Amelia Hoffer, married to Harvey J Ganger.  Daughter Myrtle Elizaberth married Manford Stouder.  Son Donald Lavern Stouder is Aaron's Maternal Grandfather)

The umbrella cookies were in the April 2008 Family Fun magazine.