It has been awhile, I know.

It's Super Bowl night. I made the chili for hubby and his buddy, and spent about 2 hours surfing the net. Then I realized I haven't written on my very own blog, my very own "baby" of the WWW, in a very long time!!

Okay, so I made some Ginger cookies during the Christmas holidays for my dad, who loves ginger anything. He absolutely LOVED these cookies. So did hubby. So did I! It came out crunchy and chewy all at the same time. And my favorite part: it was very easy and quick to make. Ina Garten's Ultimate Ginger Cookies was my inspiration. I tweaked a few things to my taste, though.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsps ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsps ground cloves
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1 cup dark brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup unsulfured molasses
• 1 extra-large egg, at room temperature
• granulated sugar, for rolling the cookies

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and salt and then combine the mixture with a fork.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer beat the brown sugar, oil, and molasses at medium speed for 5 minutes.
• Turn the mixer to low speed, add the egg, and beat for 1 minute.
• Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula and beat for 1 minute more.
• With the mixer still on low, slowly add the dry ingredients, and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.
• Scoop the dough with 2 spoons or a small ice cream scoop.
• With your hands, roll each cookie into a 1 3/4-inch ball and then flatten lightly with your fingers.
• Press both sides of each cookie in sugar and place them on the sheet pans.
• Bake for exactly 13 minutes.
• The cookies will be crackled on the top and soft inside.
• Let the cookies cool on the sheets for a minute or two, then transfer to racks to cool completely.

If you like ginger cookies, this is the one to make and have with coffee or tea for breakfast, or as midnight snack.