Imagine Childhood : Magic & Memories That Last a Lifetime

. . . baking fall

For most of my life this is what autumn has looked like.  Fall is my favorite season, I love everything about it.  I love the crisp cool air, the sound of fallen leaves under foot, the light as it passes through the canopies of red and gold. . . I could go on and on. . . and on and on.

But this year, I'm experiencing a different kind of fall in a place where seasons are much more subtle.  While I'm enjoying the new landscape, this week in particular I've been longing for the autumn of my early days.

So I decided if I couldn't feel fall, I would try to bake it. . .

. . . with sweet cream. . .

. . . a hint of chocolate. . .

. . . and just the right spices. 

Molasses Sandwich Cookies with Ginger Cream Cheese Filling and Dark Chocolate:

Cookies:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1.5 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground clove

Filling:

• 4oz cream cheese (room temperature)
• 3 oz of butter (room temperature)
• 1/4-3/4 cup powdered sugar (sweeten to taste)
• 2 tbl whole milk
• 1/4-1/2 tsp ground ginger (to taste)

For the cookies:

Cream the butter and sugar together.  Add the molasses and then the egg.  At this point mix in the spices and the baking soda.  When everything is well incorporated, slowly add the flour making sure not to over mix.  Cover and refrigerate for an hour or so (If you don't have time for this you can also simply drop them onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake them).

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

After the dough is chilled, roll 1" balls and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake for 7-10 minutes or until they are golden brown on the bottoms.  Cool on a wire rack.

For the filling:

Whisk the butter and cream cheese together adding the milk to help smooth things out.  Add powdered sugar and ground ginger to taste.

Putting it all together:

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler (you can also use a metal bowl over a saucepan of simmering water or you can simply microwave it).  Spread a thin layer of chocolate on the flat side of the cookies.  Then spread a layer of the filling on one side and make your sandwich.  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

 Happy Friday!

~ Sarah

P.S. Don't forget to enter our Wizard of Oz giveaway here!

*Last time in Recipes: For the Love of Blueberries

... tell me a story: the wizard of oz giveaway!

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of being cuddled up on the couch watching the black and white of the movie screen turn to technicolor as Dorothy wakes to a whole new world filled with wonder, adventure and magic.



As I grew older I discovered the words written by L. Frank Baum that led to the movie I so adored, and to my delight, they were even better. From the moment Dorothy is swept up into the cyclone to the moment she arrives back home, there is no putting this book down; or any of the many other books in this lovely and timeless series. 



Written by L. Frank Baum with wonderful illustrations by W.W. Denslow, the book was originally published in 1900. Since that time it has been turned into a play, a beyond classic movie, and most recently recorded as an audio book by the actress Anne Hathaway. What is so impressive about this story is that no matter the context in which it is portrayed, the message, the magic and the sheer delight experienced changes very little.



Although I am going to argue that the book, in all its original 112 year old glory, is the still the best version to date. What is even better is that it doesn't stop there. There are fifteen stories in all, and all of them are completely magical.



But we thought we would start with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz first, and let the grand adventure go from there...

Experience the magic of Oz first hand by entering to win a copy of your own!

  

For a chance to win a copy of this book, simply leave a comment on this post by 8am MST Thursday October 4th. The winner will be chosen by random number and announced later that day.

 

And the winner is: Katie T. who said...

"I would LOVE to win this! My daughter is going to be Dorothy for Halloween and her little brother is going to be Toto. : )"

 

Thank you to everyone who participated!

 

 

 ~Jordan

 

*Last time in Books and Stories: In Hand

... barn stories: the great sunflowerseed count

I've said it before and I'll say it again, this year's garden was a bit of a bust. It did not yield the produce I had hoped for, but it is giving me lots of seeds for next year! What is so exciting is that the plants have been able to create such a bounty of seed in a drought year.

This makes me wonder, could these seeds be stronger than others in a drought?  Working in a garden is all about possibilities, and one of the most rewarding experiences to share with a child if land and opportunity come together.

This years bean crop would not have been enough to feed us more than several meals. But it did create enough seeds for a much larger planting, even if that little field mouse visits again next year. I think I am going to start beans, corn and squash inside, and try to fool that little mouse.

I just left the pods on till they had lost their green color and had dried and when I opened them there was a glorious dried bean, to use in cooking or saving. Just look at it's coloring! To think that this comes from an Anasazi Cave in New Mexico. Just imagine how old the seeds must be? It just reminds me that saving seeds is important for the next generation. I can't wait till next year, I found bean seeds that come from the Mayflower which  I hope to share with you next year.

As promised, I have counted the seeds from the Fat Mama Sunflower and there are....1,520!

 

Which means Sasha who wrote:

"I am actually going to guess- around 1500 seeds (if I have to pick an exactly amount- 1521 seeds :))."

Is the lucky winner of a Four Sisters Seed Kit!

 

Thank you to everyone who entered! The seeds are now drying and will be stored in seed packets in a cool dark place till next spring. I have two others that are almost ready, when they are harvested I am going to try to extract their oil by boiling the seeds like our native people did.

To saving seeds and sharing them with our kids.

~ Deb

*Last time in Barn Stories: Dunker

... knowing green: signs of the season

Can you see it? Off to the left a bit, towards the horizon... yep, autumn has arrived! Tinges of gold and red and orange are popping up everywhere.

Like all good things it started slowly, with little glimpses of gold peeking through the green of summer.

Then before my vary eyes, an explosion of golden aspen magic! 

This year is bit different though. For one, this lovely change is happening about a week or so early. Also, we have had the fourth hottest summer in our state's history...

... which is quite visible in the aspen leaves. Many of them are burned around the edges like the one above. It looks beautiful to start, but the red eventually turns brown, showing just how hard the heat and dryness has been on these mountain loving trees. 

The air was crisp and cool off of Peak to Peak Highway a few weekends ago, just as it should be this time of year. The early morning light slowly made its way above the Eastern horizon, illuminating each golden leaf as it did. Yes indeed, Autumn is in the air!

 

Happy Fall!

 

~Jordan

 

*Last time in Nature: Natures Optics

... nature walk: sitka, alaska

This week's lovely nature walk comes to us all the way from Sitka, Alaska.  There Courtney and her family explored the dynamic landscape while filming it's beauty and mysteries through the lens of 16mm camera.  Thank you so much Courtney for sharing these wonderful stills from your film!

If you would like to contribute to our weekly Nature Walk series, you can learn more about submitting photos here, or you can also visit our Nature Walk Group Pool on Flickr to add your adventures to the collection.

Thanks again Courtney for sharing!

*Last time in Nature Walks: Kings Canyon National Park, California