December’s Recipe of the Month is certainly special: Gingerbread Cookies! A treat with a scent that fills the entire home with peaceful nostalgia. Perfect for glasses of milk, as well as a creamer for your coffee.
Gingerbread cookies are said to have volumes concerning their existence and origins. For these purposes, suffice it to say an early form of gingerbread may exist in the times of ancient Greeks and Egyptians, for ceremonial purposes.
Additionally, gingerbread makes an appearance in 11th-century Europe. Crusaders brought the spice with them from the Middle East. The cooks of more affluent families then used the spice to experiment with tired recipes.
As ginger and other spices became more affordable for the masses, gingerbread began to catch on. An early European recipe consists of ground almonds, stale breadcrumbs, rosewater, sugar, and ginger.
The first gingerbread man is creditable to Queen Elizabeth 1, who knocked the socks off of visiting dignitaries, presenting them with one baked in their likeness! Gingerbread tied with a ribbon, when exchanged, is a token of love.
Do you love gingerbread as much as we do? Give our recipe a try and let us know what you think!
Have a gingerbread recipe you want us to try? Drop it into the comments and we will share our results.
Have a happy holiday, folks!