Gingerbread Men

This is a great recipe that I've tweaked a bit since I don't like the taste of molasses that much.

1/2 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 - 1/3 cup molasses (I use the mild flavor kind)
1 egg yolk
2 cups sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1.5 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

In medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Stir in molasses and egg yolk. Combine the remaining ingredients in a separate bowl and blend into the molasses mixture. Cover and chill for at least one hour.

Preheat oven to 350. Roll out small portions of the dough into 1/2 inch thickness. It gets sticky fast, so don't dilly-dally. Cut into desired shapes. Place cookies 1-2 inches apart on baking sheets. Bake for 8 minutes. Cool a few minutes and then move to wire racks. Frost when cool with powdered sugar icing.

Easy Apple Galette

This is a great dessert that you can throw together in 45 minutes or less, and uses inexpensive ingredients---a lot easier than an apple pie.

1 refrigerated pie crust (the kind that rolls out)
2 large apples peeled, and thinly sliced
1 tbs of white sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tbs of brown sugar
1/4 cup (approx.) of pecans (or dried cranberries or favorite nut)
2 tbs of fresh lemon juice (if you don't have this, I think you will still be okay)
2 tbs of butter

Preheat to 375. Roll out pie crust on cookie sheet flat. (Laying parchment paper down first would probably prevent sticking and make for an easy transfer to serving plate.) Put apples in a bowl and mix with white sugar, cinnamon, and pecans. Spread apple mixture evenly in the middle of the pie crust leaving about 1 inch of the crust uncovered. Slice the butter in slivers and place on the top of apples. Sprinkle the brown sugar on top. (you could eliminate the butter and brown sugar for a lower calorie alternative) Gently fold the outside flap of pie crust around pile of apples to form a one inch border. Bake for 20 minutes. Allow to sit for at least 5 minutes to make for easier. Great with a scoop of icecream or coolwhip!!! Serves 4-6.

mmmmmmm!