Cookies and Fall Just Go Together...Soft Molasses Spice Cookies

I have a serious SWEET TOOTH, and one of my favorite things to do all fall and winter long is bake cookies...which is not good for the waist line, but they are just SO GOOD. You know a cookie is good when you find it in several places. Well, one of my own favorite fall cookies are Soft Molasses Spice Cookies. I stumbled upon these cookies originally in one of my Cookie Recipe books titled, "The Great American Cookie Cookbook" and again this morning on the TLC website. My own recommendation...3 or 4 of these cookies on a crisp fall day with a cup of hot mulled cider are the PERFECT TREAT. Give them a try and let me know what you think.

YIELD Makes about 3 dozen cookies

INGREDIENTS
2‑1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, softened, divided
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup molasses
1‑1/4 teaspoons vanilla, divided
1/4 cup plus 2 to 3 tablespoons milk, divided
3/4 cup raisins (optional)
2 cups powdered sugar

PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease cookie sheets. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, salt and cloves in medium bowl.

Beat 1/2 cup butter in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in brown sugar until blended; increase speed to high and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in egg until fluffy. Beat in molasses and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. Beat in flour mixture at low speed alternately with 1/4 cup milk until blended. Stir in raisins, if desired.

Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of dough about 1-1/2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets. Bake 12 minutes or until set. Let cookies stand on cookie sheets 5 minutes; transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

For icing, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in small saucepan over medium-low heat. Remove from heat; add powdered sugar and stir until blended. Add remaining 2 tablespoons milk and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla; stir until smooth. If icing is too thick, add milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency.

Spread icing over tops of cookies. Let stand 15 minutes or until icing is set. Store in airtight container.

MASSIVE Girl Scout Cookie Migration in Mountaindale

I live next door to 60 Main Street...home of the Cookie Pantry for this year's Girl Scout Cookie Program for our area. Pleased to announce that there is a serious migration taking place as vast quantities of delicious, yummy cookies arrive in large trucks, only to be spirited away by troop leaders and Girl Scouts who seem to be arriving and departing around the clock, pick up trucks and mini vans loaded with these tasty morsels as they leave for destinations unknown, for homes anxiously awaiting their arrival. I captured a great picture of one such migration of cookies as they prepared for their trip out of Mountaindale.

On another related note...some of the Girl Scouts have been/are very involved in raising money, collecting donations of food for the Benjamin Coser Elementary-School CHILDREN'S FOOD PANTRY...would encourage all of you to consider purchasing some Girl Scout Cookies and donating them back for inclusion in the food stocks of this wonderful Children's Food Pantry at the Benjamin Coser Elementary School. For questions about the food pantry, or to make a food donation please contact Barb at (845) 434-4747

OMG! GIRL SCOUT COOKIES ARE COMING!

I know, a bit too much enthusiasm, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE Girl Scout cookies, and they are going to be arriving ANY DAY NOW! I have a case on order, but wondering if that is going to be enough...I mean seriously, is there ever such a thing as TOO MANY GIRL SCOUT COOKIES? I don't think so. I know these are hard economic times we are living in, but please support the Girl Scouts by getting your cookie orders in EARLY AND OFTEN!

If you would like to support the Girl Scout cookie sales program, but do not want the cookies in your house, I am ALWAYS willing to take in orphaned boxes of these delicious treats for later enjoyment and sampling...LOL

As Promised...Girl Scout Cookie Breaking News...ORDER NOW

It's Girl Scout Cookie season again and all 8 of your favorite kinds will be coming very soon to make Mountaindale even sweeter! The Sullivan County Cookie Cupboard will be located right on Main Street all during April. You can pre-order now by calling (845) 434-4747 or stop by next month and pick up your treats which are still only $3.50 per box.

Barb Schmitt has been running the Cookie Cupboard for the past several years and is very happy about this year's selection. The usual top sellers are on hand, such as Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs and Trefoils. Many people also look forward each year to the peanutty goodness of Do Si Dos. The three specialty cookies of last year are back, which are Dulce De Leche, Lemon Chalet Cremes, and the surprise hit, Thank You Berry Munch, with sweet, tangy cranberries. There were some alarming rumors about fewer cookies being available but Barb can assure the loyal public that no cookie was left behind. Yet, it's important to remember that the luscious cookie season is a fleeting one and all the cookies will be gone by early May.