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Thursday, December 9, 2021

2021 Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange Blog Hop!

Welcome to the 2021 Virtual Cookie Exchange Blog Hop!
Come on in and have a cookie and some Irish coffee or hot cocoa..
 

It's time for Christmas carols and Ho-Ho-Ho and good cheer and jingle bells. And with that in mind, it's also time for the Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange! A big thank you to Carol of Just Let Me Quilt, who has hosted this fun event for several years. When I saw it mentioned by Pat at Life In The Scrapatch, I wanted to join in and Carol graciously agreed. Be sure to click on the links below to see other blogs participating for Christmas inspiration and cookie recipes. I'm sharing my recipe for Gingerdoodles below!

For those of you who are reading my blog for the first time, I want to invite you to come back for our weekly event - To Do Tuesday! We love to read about your tablescapes, cross stitch, embroidery, crochet, knitting, quilting, photography or anything that you would like to share. Click on the To Do Tuesday logo  or in my sidebar for more information!

 

Runner photo from the internet
For my project, I had planned to finish up a Christmas quilt I have in my UFO pile, but I decided instead on a runner for our entry table. I found a picture of a runner I liked on the internet and away I went!


I absolutely love log cabins, but I always have trouble sewing them together in the correct order. After a few stops and starts I made four blocks and joined them like the photo I had found, then added a border and a pointed edge. I wanted a runner that would drape softly, so I left out batting and fashioned a backing to fit. Some in the ditch quilting and a binding and it was a finish!
 
Here is a peek at the back

Quilting was mostly stitch in the ditch, some cross hatch, and a couple of decorative stitches
from my Janome, all done with variegated red and green thread
 
A perfect fit for our entry table - all ready for Irish coffee and hot cocoa

Runner Details
Pattern: My own design based on an internet photo
Finished size: 18" x 54"

Fabrics
Esprit de Noel by French General for Moda
My Christmas stash
Jo-Ann Fabrics
Mary Engelbreit Cranston Village

Superior Threads
Piecing - 50wt So Fine #402 Pearl
Quilting - King Tut #1002 Holly and Ivy (variegated)

And here is the best part of my post - cookies! Everyone has a favorite recipe for molasses or ginger cookies, and this one is mine. I updated a recipe I've used for years called Mrs. Ekoff's Molasses Cookies, and it is from our old church cookbook. I added ginger and rolled them in a sugar/cinnamon mixture, and now they are Gingerdoodles! They are buttery and chewy with slightly crisp edges and are fragrant with molasses and ginger. If you would like to make her original molasses cookies, you can read my original post about them on my old blog right here.

 
Gingerdoodles
Makes about 26 cookies*
 
6 tablespoons Crisco Butter Flavor Shortening
6 tablespoons salted butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup molasses
2 cups unbleached flour
2 teaspoons soda
Scant 1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
 
Topping - mix together:
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Cream shortening and butter until smooth, add sugar and mix until fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, and molasses and mix until light in color. Whisk together flour, soda, salt, and spices; add gradually to batter and mix well. Scoop and form into 1" or 1-1/2" balls*. Roll in cinnamon/sugar mixture and place 4-5 inches apart on baking pan prepared with parchment paper. Bake in 350 oven 8-10 minutes. Cool in pan until firm, then remove to wire rack or to mouth. ;)
* I weigh the scooped dough at 1 oz, and then roll into a 1-1/2 inch diameter ball. For that size I leave in the oven the full 10 minutes.
 
I am belatedly linking this post to Alycia's Finished or Not Friday!
 
 Be sure to visit these other blogs participating in the cookie exchange for December 9!


35 comments :

  1. Your cookies look so good - I can't wait to try some.

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  2. Your table runner turned out beautifully! I use Hobbs Thermore Batting when making table runners it doesn't add the loft like a regular batting does.

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  3. I love your log cabin runner and the gingerdoodles look wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

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  4. I love the name you gave your cookies! Just as fun as snickerdoodles! They look amazing! Thanks for sharing.

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  5. Welcome to the blog hop. It's so nice to see new faces. Your cookies look incredible. Hubby loves gingersnaps, so I am definitely going to give these a try. I love table runners, so you have definitely got my attention! Thanks for sharing with us, and I hope we see you again soon!

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  6. How nice to see you joining in the hop this year. Your table runner is a wonderful pattern for using up Christmas fabric scraps. Your cookies look yummy. I have made ginger cookies rolled in sugar for many years, but never though to make it cinnamon sugar and call the Gingerdoodles. What a wonderful idea! Thank you for sharing in the hop ... :) Pat

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  7. I love log cabin runners, and yours works so well on your bar! Those cookies looks so good - is it okay to have cookies for breakfast (haven't had my breakfast yet)?

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  8. Those log cabins can be tricky. After the first round , just remember that you always sew over two perpendicular seams and you will always go around the same direction! Enjoy those cookies, stay safe and sew on!

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  9. These cookies sound GREAT, Linda! I love log cabin blocks too, and your table runner is perfect! Your entry table looks very festive...and yummy!! LOL

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  10. The cookies look yummy. Your log cabin projects look wonderful! I always things mixed up and have a lot of ripping out! Happy Holidays!

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  11. Your runner is so pretty, Linda - I love the log cabin design with the white in sections and Christmas colors in sections! It looks perfect for your space there, too. And, oh, the Gingerdoodles - yum! I'm going to have to try those!

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  12. love the runner, cookies and that little bar set up. nice.

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    1. Thanks Sandy! Yes I'm anxious to try out the bar - lol!

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  13. Hi Linda! Oh, that runner looks fab on your entry table . . . and I'm all in for the Irish coffee, too. Or cocoa, too, for that matter. Sounds yummy with those cookies. Don't you just love that you can see an idea on Pinterest and just sit down and do it yourself. I am not a huge fan of the log cabin block but your runner turned out really great. My dislike stems from having to make 100 million (perhaps a slight exaggeration) blocks for the sweatshirts we made back in the 90s. I haven't made the block since then - I should probably get over my dislike. Anyhoo . . . I can almost those cookies ~wafting~ through the house. Swoon. Thanks for sharing these lovelies for the eyes and tummy. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne

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  14. What a lovely runner you made. I know that thing about log cabins can be funny. I try to remember to go one direction clockwise or counterclockwise, but not to confuse it, but I often do! I can almost smell those cookies, they sound so delicious.

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  15. Pretty table runner. Made me giggle I always end up getting my log cabins wonky at times too. Love molasses cookies. We make a batch at the store almost daily lately and sell out that fast. I make them at home, great go to cookie for a kid that is not a chocolate fan, and has nut allergies.

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  16. They do look delicious, Linda! I saved you recipe You made a beautiful log cabin runner.

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  17. Beautiful runner. Will you share that Malibu Rum instead of cookies? If so I will be right down.

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  18. I love snickerdoodles so there is definitely a plan for me to try your ginger doodles soon. They look yummy and even the name is delicious!! Your entry table is gorgeous. I have to say that the photo looks like right out of a design magazine. I think you have quite a knack for setting up photographs. The runner looks simply wonderful and folksy with a touch of elegance. You totally nailed this hop!! I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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  19. Gingerdoodles?! Yes please & thank you! Many Blessings for a Merry Christmas!

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    1. Thank you so much! I hope you have a Merry Christmas as well. Thank you for visiting my blog.

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  20. I'm so happy to see new faces in our hops. Welcome! Your runner is super and I like the idea of no batting to make it lay better. I've hit the jackpot with molasses today. It's one of my favorite flavors and these cookies look yummy!

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  21. That is a perfect runner for your room!!! Love the prep for yummy drinks!
    Your cookie recipe sounds lovely!

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  22. Lovely post, Linda. I enjoyed reading about your table topper that worked out perfectly and what pretty stitches your Janome can make. Thank you for the recipe...love those cookies very much.

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  23. Hi Linda. Your runner is just perfect on your entry table; a lovely welcome and invitation to enjoy those hot drinks at this time of the year. Thank you for sharing your recipe for those tempting molasses ginger cookies. Glad you jumped in on the hop! ⛄️

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  24. Love your runner!! But I'll pass on the cookies, never been a fan. Just give me plain old sugar cookies, but with Cream Cheese icing. LOL

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  25. What a great idea to add ginger. I like Snickerdoodles, so should definitely give the Gingerdoodles a try. Your entry table is just perfect, so welcoming. Thank you for sharing.

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  26. Festive table runner, Linda, and those cookies look delish!!

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  27. Such a beautiful table runner and the cookies look so yummy! Thanks for sharing with us! xx

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  28. The runner is gorgeous, and the cookies look very good. Thank you for the recipe.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Danice! Hope you are having a great week. Thank you for visiting!

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