It is my absolute pleasure to welcome a guest poster to the blog today! Melissa K Norris is a writer and a pioneer girl at heart. Her new book, Pioneering Today, was recently released and after eagerly awaiting the chance to order my copy, it just so happens to have landed in my mail box last night! I flipped through it and can’t wait to try out her recipes. And we have one for you here today! I hope you enjoy getting to know Melissa as much as I have.
Thankful Harvest and Molasses Sugar Cookie Recipe
There is something about fall and harvest time that makes me rejoice. I get to ingather all that I’ve spent the spring and summer tending to. This hiss and jiggle of my pressure cooker is an almost constant percussion to the song of our household. (I was blessed to have Joanne share her apple butter tutorial and recipe on my blog)
Gardening and preserving our food, much like our pioneer forefather and mothers, thankfully we have some modern conveniences to help us, has always brought me closer to God. When out among His creation, my eyes feasting on the nature He made, I can’t help but feel His presence.
I’ve found the parables hold so much more meaning when we take the time to look at them beyond the pages of our Bibles. When your hands are covered in dirt, the parables of the rocky soil take on a whole new meaning.
Fall is an especially busy and yummy time for my family in the kitchen. It’s not the holidays until we’ve had these cookies at least a time or two.
Molasses Sugar Cookie-From Melissa’s book Pioneering Today
3/4 cup softened butter
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (original recipe called for cloves, but I don’t care for cloves so I substitute nutmeg)
In a large bowl beat together the butter and sugar until creamy. Add molasses and egg, beating until well blended.
In medium bowl, blend flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger; add to molasses mixture, mix well. Cover and chill. (If you’re pressed for time. You can freeze the dough, then allow to thaw when you’ve got time to bake)
Form dough into 1 inch balls, roll each in sugar, place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.
Bake at 375 degrees for 6-8 minutes. Let stand 1 minute before removing. Makes around 5 dozen. (I tend to get 3 dozen, but they’re so good I like a bigger cookie)
To make Gingerbread, just cut 1/4 cup butter and increase the molasses.
These are a soft, melt in your mouth, one is never enough kind of cookie.
For those of you who enjoy the homemade pioneer lifestyle, I’m doing a fun 7 week series on my website at www.melissaknorris.com A Pioneer Homemade Christmas.
I have a special offer for Joanne’s readers. For anyone who purchases a copy of Pioneering Today and forwards me their proof of purchase email from Amazon, you’ll receive a free “secret recipe” postcard and a bonus chapter on Dutch oven cooking. Offer expires in one week. Be sure to note you’re from Joanne’s blog.
Huge thanks to Joanne for hosting me and for her books. Be Still My Soul, her debut novel, was one of the best books I’ve ever read. I can’t wait to read the stories that flow from her fingertips, copies of her wonderful story will be wrapped and under the tree for some lucky people on my list this year.
* * * * *
Giveaway!
Thank you, Melissa! I cannot wait to try out this recipe! I just know your heart for the Lord and for enjoying the beautiful world he created, is going to bless many readers.
We’re giving away an ebook of Pioneering Today. If you’d like to enter, simply leave a comment below! The drawing will close on Saturday, November 3rd and will be chosen using random.org. You can leave any comment, but feel free to share a “pioneer today” story of your own, maybe from your childhood or something you do today!
Those cookies look so good for Christmas!
Don’t they?! The dusting of sugar makes them so festive. I’m going to make them this week for our bible study. 🙂 So glad you stopped in today!
Whitney, they are! Honestly, they melt in your mouth. It’s kind of like Christmas in a cookie, if Christmas had a taste. lol There’s also a lemon ginger cookie recipe in Pioneering Today that’s super yummy and fun at Thanksgiving, Christmas, or anytime. I confess, I make these all your long.
I love it, Melissa “If Christmas had a taste.” Now I’m REALLY excited to try them 😉
The cookies look delicious. I wish there was a substitute for molasses. I cook for a diabetic. It is not good to have any thing that sweet around. But I would love to win the book.
Phyllis, that’s a great question. I wonder if there is a substitute for the molasses. I bet Melissa will know! I will check 🙂 I wonder if natural, plain peanut butter would work in it’s place.
Phyliss, here’s what I found. There’s more on this page, here’s the link http://tribes.tribe.net/thesecretlifeofaveganbaker/thread/608e5e35-95f0-4a9b-bacc-b1d5237abdd5
I teach raw and living foods classes in austin tx and one of the sweeteners we use to substitute for molasses is yacon syrup. It’s safe for diabetics and actually helps the beneficial flora in the gut. It’s dark, rich in color and has a similar flavor to molasses.
It’s kindof pricey but it’s a sweetener that you don’t need a lot of in order to get the flavor. Sometimes using dark agave nectar can also work as a molasses substitute but it’s not quite as rich. You can find this at essential living foods. We also carry it for our classes. See below for more information on this sweetener.
I can’t wait to try these cookies. The other recipes of melissa’s I have tried so far are very tasty! So glad to know others share the same little pleasures in life!!
Jentry, I’m so excited to try some of Melissa’s other recipes. I did her apple pie filling and loved it. I just got her book and know it’s going to be so handy! Welcome and I’m so glad you stopped in for Melissa’s post!
Jentry, I’m all about enjoying life, especially in the kitchen. lol
I would be “mighty grateful” to receive a prize you are offering 🙂
Blessing
Ruth
Ruth, I like the way you talk 🙂 So glad you stopped in for the recipe and you are entered!
Love your wording Ruth. May I say thank you kindly in return. 🙂
Think I’ll try this recipe tonight? Both your book and the rrcipe sound wonderful!
Wonderful, Jean!! It sounds like you’re in for a treat tonight 🙂 Doesn’t the book sound wonderful? I love what she’s put together. A welcome addition to any bookshelf!
Thank you, Jean. I’ve been so touched by the reviews. And I have to say, the recipe is really yummy. 🙂
Can’t find your book on Nook?
Hi, Jean
It’s not available on Nook yet. I’m in a three month exclusive program with Amazon on the Kindle version. But, I found this link that says you can “convert” the kindle file for nook. Or look in the app browser on your Nook someone else suggested. Here’s the link I found. http://www.istonsoft.com/epub/read-kindle-books-on-nook.html
Nice work, Melissa!
I know Missy to be a wonderful woman of God. One day I will get my hands on her book… maybe thru this giveaway. 🙂
Thank you, Rachel. I’m definitely a work in progress in the Potter’s hand. Glad you entered and good luck!
Welcome, Rachel! SO true. Melissa really allows the love of Christ to shine through her and her writing. S0 glad you entered!
Those cookies sound yummy! Will have to try them this weekend!
Enjoy, Beth! If you’re a baker, I’ll be sharing my pumpkin applesauce cake with a buttermilk glaze next week on my blog. I’d love a picture of the cookies to share on my author Facebook page if you’d like to take a shot and share it. 🙂 I’m starting an album with photos of the recipes from the book made by readers. I love getting a peek into everyone’s kitchens.
Wonderful, Beth! Don’t they look delish!? So glad you’re going to give them a try. Blessings on your day!
They look yummy! 🙂
Hi Lindsay! They do look GOOD! 😀
Anxious to see my name posted as a winner!!!!!
LOL, Roy. Glad you entered!! And welcome!
Christmas in a cookie! Yes! This recipe reminds me of my great-grandmother’s 19th century recipe for mollasses cookies. My childhood favorite! Congratulations on your book. Pioneering Today sounds fantastic!
Wow, Carla, what a special memory of your grandmother! And you just won my heart at “19th century”. So glad you stopped in today for Melissa’s post. Great seeing you here!
Hi, Carla! The Shadow Catcher’s Daughter is on my shelf to read! I’m love grandma’s recipes. In Pioneering Today I share my grandmother’s eggless cornbread recipe and my great-grandmother’s chocolate cake. Family recipes hold so much more than just food, they’re dear memories.
Well here I find three of my favorite things…Author Melissa K. Norris, Author Joanne Bischof, and molasses cookies! What a lucky find!
Thanks for the delectable recipe, I am definitely pinning it to try this winter, my boys love them although they always say “chocolate cookies” – it is interesting because to me they taste nothing like chocolate!
Thanks for hosting this giveaway, I am dying to read Melissa’s book – she does such an amazing job with the Christian Fiction book club and I admire her greatly.
Be blessed!
Lindsay, I can’t tell you how glad I am to see your comment! I’ve been wanting to get my hands on the link to your blog for awhile now. I guess I could have just asked, lol.
I have been so blessed by meeting Melissa too. She has such a special heart for the Lord and using her pioneering roots to minister to others. I’ve had such fun chatting with both of you this month at the Christian Fiction book club. God bless you too!
Lindsay, it must be a day for favorites, because I have Joanne, cookies, and awesome peeps like you here! Thank you so much for your sweet words. I hope you get to read Pioneering Today soon. 🙂
Yum! Those sound delicious! I will have to try that one out. Thank you for sharing. I would love to be entered to win Pioneer Today!
Beth
bharbin07[at]gmail[dot]com
Hi, Beth! So glad you stopped in for the recipe and giveaway. You are entered! I know there are going to be so many good pioneering recipes in Melissa’s book. I’m especially looking forward to this one. Thanks for stopping in!
YUM! molasses & ginger:-)
Right, Abbie?! Yummy combo! 🙂
I wish I lived in pioneer times. Love anything to do with this era. We have a lovely pioneer village here in Toronto called Black Creek Pioneer Village. I love to visit there.
I want to come visit from the name alone! The photo on the front of Pioneering Today is the cabin my father grew up in. It was built in 1898, has no power, an outhouse, and the kitchen has the only water supply, an old hand pump!
That sounds like such a great place to visit. I agree, with Melissa, the name alone is so intriguing!
Wow, Melissa, I didn’t know that about the photo on the cover. How cool!
It’s still in our family and I love going over to visit. You go a mile down an old dirt road, over a creek with no bridge (no getting over in high water), and then it sits at the edge of the first field. My dad still runs about 20 cattle over there. Maybe I should put some of this on the book page. 🙂
I love molasses cookies! A favourite from my childhood! I’d love to win a copy of Pioneer Today!
I’m glad you entered, Marie! Isn’t there something about childhood recipes that make us smile.
Glad you entered, too, Marie! Fun that it’s a favorite from your childhood! I haven’t had too many molasses cookies before, so I’m really looking forward to trying these. 🙂
Thank you for the recipe. It sounds really good. Got it just in time for the holidays.
It’s perfect for the holidays, but I love it so much I tend to make it all year long. Enjoy!
Hi Amy! Isn’t the timing nice? They are so festive looking and a nice take on more traditional flavors. 🙂
joanne…thanks for sharing this delicious cookie recipe…and for the giveaway, too 😉
Hi Karen! It’s such a pleasure to have Melissa hanging out this week and for the giveaway! I hope you get a chance to make these cookies. I just baked them yesterday and they are amazing. =)
Just drew a winner using random.org and congratulations to Carla Gade for winning an ebook of Pioneering Today! Thanks everyone for your great comments! I know Melissa and I have had fun chatting with you. I made these cookies this week and they are amazing. They will definitely be around our home this Christmas!
Congrats, Carla! Joanne, thanks for hosting me. I had fun hanging out with you guys. I love to share things that bring me joy, be it recipes, books, or what God’s doing in our lives. Thanks for being part of that joy!