I am in rambling mode at the moment.  So rather than make this post about any one thing in particular I'm going to shoot out my thoughts in no particular sequence other than how they pop into my head.

1.  I'm tired of politics.  I don't even live in the U.S. and I'm tired of politics.  Maybe if there was a real difference between the political parties than I might understand some of the conviction and vehemence. However, realistically there isn't much difference and it seems kinda, well, silly from the outside looking in.  I'm saying this as a Canadian where we are essentially in the same boat except we have 3 parties instead of 2 - big diff.  BTW, don't we all know the game?  It's all just grand standing.  I love how Peabody put it.
2.  Every year I tell myself I'm going to get better organised about clearing up my garden.  Every single year.  And then it's the middle or end of October and I'm looking out at wilted tomato plants still in the ground.  Why is it so hard to get out there and pull the damn plants up?
3.  It still makes me agitated when I see people putting out there that they are boycotting certain 'food' products because they contain High Fructose Corn Syrup or Hydrogenated Palm Oil or some kind of Soy concentrate thing.  It amazes me that after all this time we are still convinced that pre packaged food is easier or more convenient.  Guess what, make real food and then you pretty much don't have to worry about that crap anymore (with a few exceptions ;-)
4.  Even though I'm kinda working toward less and less sugar in my life (does that count against #3 BTW) I still have a boat load of birthday chocolate to bake my way through.  And yes, I do dream about the brownies and chocolate chip cookies the chocolate will make.


5.  I made cookies today for the first time since the summer (and even then I think I only made one or two batches of cookies for the whole summer).  I love making cookies.  My BFF KT has said goodbye to a beautiful little bundle that she and G fostered for the last 6 months.  The little bundle is 6 months old so they've been there since the beginning.  I can't imagine having to give that gift away so soon.  It's hard not to be utterly and completely depressed I think.  However, KT is one of the most emphatically positive people I know (I think that she likes me because we are such polar opposites) and if there is a way to put a positive spin on this than KT will find that way.  I think that some of her favourite things in the world include molasses, oatmeal and ginger so I'm going to take some of these fantastic cookies (and trust me, they are fantastic... or maybe I just haven't been eating many cookies lately) over to her and see if they don't just help to kick start the 'positive spin' machine.


6.  I like things that aren't mucked up too much.  This recipe originally called for chocolate shavings and dried apricot.  I couldn't do it.  I wanted to straight up ginger cookie.  I wasn't disappointed.  And yeah, I ate the cookie.


Ginger Cookies adapted from 'SuperNatural Everyday' by Heidi Swanson
makes about 2 dozen med/small cookies

1 cup whole wheat or red fife flour
1 cup unbleached all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup unsalted butter, cubed
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup unsulfured blackstrap molasses
2 tbsp ginger, peeled and freshly grated
1 egg
3 - 4 tbsp coarse grain sugar, in a bowl and set aside.

Combine the flours, baking powder, ginger and salt together.  Mix well and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment or a silicon liner and set aside.
Melt the butter - only just - and combine with the sugar by removing the butter from the heat source and mixing well with the sugar.  That way the sugar will melt into the butter well.  Add in the grated ginger and the molasses.  Mix well.  Make sure that the mixture isn't too hot - should be just barely warm at this point.  Add in the egg and mix well.
Make a well in the flour mixture and pour in the wet ingredients.  Mix just until everything is incorporated.  Form the dough into 1 1/2 inch balls (approximately).
Roll each ball in the sugar that was set aside.  Place each on the cookie sheet and press down just a little.
Bake for anywhere from 7 - 12 minutes depending on your oven and the size of your cookies.  The cookies should be just golden on the bottom.
Remove to a cooling rack and store in an airtight container.