Gingersnaps with Ginger Nibs

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Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup molasses
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoons ground cloves
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cardamon
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup ginger nibs (6 oz.)
Turbinado sugar to roll cookies in.

Preparation:
Heat oven to convection 350 degree.  Cream together butter and sugars.  Add egg and molasses.  In a separate bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients.  Add dry ingredients to batter and mix.  Then fold in ginger nibs.  Chill for an hour.

Roll dough into 1-inch balls and roll in turbinado sugar. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown.

History:
Recipe comes from the Spice House in Milwaukee.

Blinis

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Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk
1 large egg
4 ounces unsalted butter, clarified, divided

Preparation:
Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.  In a separate bowl whisk egg, milk and 1 tablespoon clarified butter. Whisk egg mixture into flour mixture.  Put 1 tablespoon clarified butter on griddle heated to 340 degrees and drop 1 tablespoon of batter on the hot griddle for each blini. Cook until bubbles form on the top and pop then flip and cook for 1 more minute or until brown.

Mini Lemon Pound Cakes

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Makes Three  5" x  3" Loaves

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

2 whole eggs

1 large lemon, zested (about 5 teaspoons)

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 cup sour cream

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons cream

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray three mini pans with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together.  In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Stir in eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice, and sour cream.  Scrape the sides and mix again.  With the mixer on low speed, incorporate all dry ingredients until just combined, then stir in cream. Scrape down sides and mix a few more times by hand.  Spoon batter equally into prepared pans filling 1/2 full.  Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until edges are golden brown and a toothpick placed in the center of the cake comes out clean.  Remove from oven and cool 15 minutes before removing from pans.

Variation:

These are great with coffee or try frosting them with the Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting.

Chili Cheese Squares

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Ingredients:

1 pint cottage cheese
4 eggs
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 lb. grated jack cheese
1/2 lb. grated cheddar cheese
7 oz. canned, chopped, green chilies
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder

Preparation:
Mix cottage cheese, jack cheese, cheddar cheese and green chilies together. Combine flour and baking powder in separate bowl. Add flour mixture to cheeses. In a separate bowl, lightly whip eggs. Add butter to eggs then add egg mixture to cheese mixture and stir well.

Pour ingredients in a 9” by 13” pan or Pyrex dish. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes. Turn oven down to 350° and bake another 30 minutes or until light golden brown.

Serving Suggestion:
Cut into squares while still warm. Arrange on a plate and serve warm.

Variation:
For variety, try adding pimentos, olives or cooked ground beef, or bacon.

History:
This was my mother’s recipe and was simply called “Cheese Appetizers”. Through the years, we just referred to them as Chili Cheese Squares.