Jam & Bread

This year we have decided that our neighbours and friends will receive Christmas gifts from our kitchens - the very heart of our homes.  We think the best "home-made" gifts are those which have already been proven successful to the tastes of our family members, and this years' offerings - Laura's Gingerbread and Anne's Homemade Jams - certainly fall into that category. Gingerbread with the molasses and fragrant spices seems to speak "Christmas" to our senses, and jams made from the ripe produce of the summer past bring a taste of the warmer weather to the chill of winter.


Here is Laura's Gingerbread recipe:


Ingredients:
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup molasses
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup hot water
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch square pan or two small loaf pans.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the egg, and mix in the molasses.
3. In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Blend into the creamed mixture. Stir in the hot water. Pour into the prepared pan.
4. Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in pan before serving.

Makes one gingerbread loaf

www.allrecipes.com

The finished product to inspire you:

Here is the jam that is making its way to our friends:

This week isn't one to start making jam, but if a jar comes to your household, be sure to open it up and enjoy the contents.

Bless you all as the Christmas countdown is on.

Laura and Anne