Run, Run as Fast as You Can . . .

For Family Home Evening treat we decorated gingerbread people. The funnest part was eating all the decor, of course. Grandma was on icing duty, daddy and grandpa were decorating assistants. I was the photographer. YUM!











The best gingerbread cookie recipe ever, from Southern Living:

Gingerbread Men
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups firmly packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
2/3 cup molasses
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
6 1/2 to 7 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tablespoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup red hot candies
White frosting

- Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add brown sugar, beating well. Add eggs, molasses, and lemon juice; beat well.
- Combine 2 cups flour, baking powder, and next 6 ingredients; stir well. Add to butter mixture, beating at low speed until blended. Gradually add enough remaining flour to make stiff dough, mixing well. Shape dough into 2 balls. Cover and chill at least 1 hour.
- Roll 1 portion of dough to 1/4-inch thickness on a large greased cookie sheet. (place damp towel under cookie sheet, if necessary, to prevent cookie sheet from moving.) Cut gingerbread men with a 5 1/2-inch cookie cutter. Remove excess dough, using the tip of a knife. Add excess dough to remaining half of dough; wrap in wax paper, and chill until needed.
- Press raisins and cinnamon candies in each gingerbread man for eyes, nose, mouth, and buttons.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 to 14 minutes or until golden. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet. Remove to wire racks and cool completely. Repeat procedure with remaining dough. Decorate gingerbread men with White Frosting.

White Frosting
1 (16-oz) package of powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 cup shortening
1/3 cup half-and-half
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

- Mix all ingredients together