Soft Molasses Cookies

Soft Molasses Cookies
*oh boy!!!  what a wonderful recipe!!!!  these have made #1 on Santa's list!  try them, he'll thank you for it :)
~1 c. butter, softened
~1 1/2 c. sugar
~1/2 c. molasses
~2 eggs, lightly beaten
~4 c. flour
~1/2 tsp. salt
~2 1/4 tsp. baking soda
~2 1/4 tsp. ground ginger
~1 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
~1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
In a large bols, cream butter and sugar till fluffy.  Beat in molasses and eggs.  Set aside.
In another bowl, combine flour, salt, soda, ginger, cloves and cinnamon.
Blend thoroughly w/ whisk.
Gradually mix flour into creamed mixture till smooth.
Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls.  Dip tops in sugar.
Place on cookie sheet.  Bake @ 350 for about 10 minutes.
Cool on rack.  Dip 1/2 of cookie in melted white chocolate.  Place on waxed paper to cool.
Makes 3 dozen

Heavenly Pumpkin Bars

Heavenly Pumpkin Bars

~from Martha Stewart

• 1 tablespoon pumpkin-pie spice
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 c. flour
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 1 package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pie spice, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
• With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar on medium-high speed until smooth; beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in pumpkin puree (mixture may appear curdled). Reduce speed to low, and mix in dry ingredients until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips.
• Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake until edges begin to pull away from sides of pan and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely in pan.
•  Cut to desired size.  Devour.

Empty Tomb Rolls

Empty Tomb Rolls
~these are an Easter tradition must!  so fun and simple that the kids can do it!!!

-2 tubes crescent rolls
-16 large marshmallows
-1/2 c. sugar w/ 1 tsp. cinnamon
-2-3 Tbs melted butter
Separate the dough into 16 triangles.  Dip marshmallow in melted butter and then roll in the cinnamon/sugar mixture.  Place 1 marshmallow in the middle of each triangle. 
Bring up all of the sides of the crescent to completely cover the marshmallow, pinching all of the edges together so that none of the marshmallow shows.
Dip tops in cinnamon sugar and place on a cookie sheet.
Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.

*The symbolism here is that marshmallow represents Jesus.  Have the children seal the "tomb" well.  When they are done there will be a big hollow space in the middle representing the empty tomb.