The return of the handsome men!
It felt so weird to be listening to Christmas music and making cookies when the weather outside was 80 degrees and I was wearing shorts! Texas weather is so strange. Tomorrow, it’ll be back in the 30s.
Because I have such a hard time making decisions, you get to see a lot of photos. Hey, but who would complain about seeing too many handsome-men photos???
Raw Gingerbread Men and Ladies
Word of warning: This dough is so good that you might just want to eat it all out of the food processor/Magic Bullet and save yourself the trouble of forming handsome ginger guys.
- 120g dates (packed 3/4c) If unsure what dates to use, see Fudge Baby FAQ.
- 3 tbsp raw almonds
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg
- 1/16th tsp cloves
- tiny pinch salt
- 1/4 to 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions: Blend, baby, blend. Then form into people. Or Christmas trees, reindeer, angels… Heck, why not go crazy making yourself a little Gingerbread World?
Changing subjects…
Remember Picture Day at school?
It was a big deal, right? Some random photographer got control over how you’d be remembered for years to come. (Thank goodness, at least, for Picture Re-take Day.) Luckily, with Christmas cards, I get to have a little (read: a lot) more control. ‘Course, if we don’t get them ordered and mailed out soon, it might turn into a Valentine’s Day card!
We narrowed it down to these two.
Above, CCK and the Mashed Potato Sister.
Poor dear; I am very sorry for your nickname. But you brought it upon yourself! Plus, I’m getting you back for all those years you called me ‘Has. (Has came from Tejas, which somehow came from Tatie, which came from Katie. My sister is a strange one… but I love her!)
Yum! Those raw gingerbread men look awesome. As for the pictures, I prefer the 2nd one but they’re both cute!
Well for some reason my cardigan that I wear to school (uniforms) has been smelling like maple syrup lately. I think it’s because of this candle in my house but even when I wash the sweater the smell remains and it’s kind of become a joke at school. So, people have taken to calling me Ann-cakes and pan-Claires. Haha they think they’re so creative 🙂
Woah, a maple-syrup-smelling candle? Sounds like something I’d want to EAT!
Whoo! Return of the gingerbread! One of the best Christmas treats out there, in my humble opinion… So glad you have a recipe for it! Also, I have to say… Your photos are always wonderful, but the fourth photo in this post looks particularly professional! (Looks like something I would see in a cookbook!)
Both photos of you and your sister are great! My preference is for the first one… Probably just ’cause it has you two centered? I don’t know. XD
I haven’t been called too many nicknames… but my family has one in particular that is super embarrassing and that I wish would just be forgotten one day. D: But otherwise, they [my immediate family] and some close friends nickname me Jenjen, which I don’t mind~ Oh and I’ve also been called “Early Bird”! 🙂
I was “Early bird” because I accidentally slept through a varsity soccer match one day :(. My teammates were not exactly happy with me!
Oh. D: I didn’t realise it was in a sarcastic sense! I’m guessing you must’ve had an important position on the field though, if they got upset with you. (Looking at it in a positive light – it means you were important to the team! :D) What position did you play? (I used to be a defensive midfielder, when I played as a kid~)
I get called the “early bird” because I do actually like to wake up early… Always without an alarm clock, but always early!
It’s so funny, because now I AM an early bird just like you. I grew into my nickname :).
I was a forward, so lol I scored the goals… I think we lost that game. Oops! 😉
i’m making raw gingerbread balls to give out to my coworkers as gifts! they may get a few raw cookie dough in there too 🙂
You look great in both photos but I think the second one is the best!
Nicknames…sigh. So many ridiculous ones: Jill pickle, jilly rancher, JT, Jules, Jill of the Future, but most often I get Jillybean (which I secretly like!) And my dad calls me Sparky. Haha, parents!! 🙂
Jilly Bean is super-cute! It sure beats Tator Tot! 😕
Now those are some cute lil fellows!
🙂
The weather has been all over the place here too–60s yesterday 30s tomorrow!
Weird nicknames: Carnie, Crannie, Cran Puss, Cran Apple, Francine (like the aardvark), Frannie, Frannie Pants…
Girl, you are so beautiful in both of those pictures, I really can’t choose. Your sis looks gorgeous just the same 🙂
Cute nick names! I get Clarabelle, Clarence, Clarice – I have original friends 😛
In responce to the other day, no I hadn’t heard about the NY chef! Well done you’ve found my limit, hadn’t considered anything from humans, that’s just so so wrong. Doesn’t matter how good it may taste *shudder*!
Hi!!
You probably don’t remember me, but it’s Vanilla, I just wanted to say that the guest I made probably wouldn’t be worth posting anymore since I’m no longer blogging ^_^’
Cute gingermen <3, I'm only capable of rolling them in ball form :p
Merry Christmas (1 week left!!!) 😀
Oh dear pretty vanilla swirl, I could NEVER forget you! And I didn’t forget your guest post either. In fact, I just came up for a title for it last week: Vanilla-Covered guest post hehe. I’ve just been so backed up, especially with moving blogs, but I always intended to post it. I would still love to feature you and your adorable drawing especially… but if you’d rather I didn’t, that’s ok too. Whatever you wish, dear friend! 🙂 Let me know.
Of course! I admit I was a little bit worried at first but hey, it’s not the end of the world, lol. Vanilla covered chocolate, so cool!!
Love the new style of your blog, by the way. <3
p.s: Strange nickname, you say? Mine is ''Baby (insert my family name)''. It's because of the fact that I'm so short (4'11'') and that my family name is chinese, so it's ''fun'' to pronouce. (Yes, that's why I chose ''babyvanilla'', not because I like girly names, lol)
I like the second picture!!! You two are so beautiful!!
Love the gingerbread men, we will have to make them.
We’re *almost* twins… hehe but I guess almost doesn’t count, right? We don’t have that cool twin sense like I bet you do! 🙂
First picture 😀
xoxo
I can’t find dates anywhere. Not in the produce section, nor the dried fruit and nut isle.
Where are they usually located in your grocery store?
And are there any substitutes I can use for dates until I find them? Such as raisins.. maybe?
Ah, stupid dates are hiding and don’t want to be eaten D:<
Thanks 🙂
Oh no! Meanie dates! They need to come out of hiding!!
I find mine next to the raisins (SunMaid brand, in a red package). But at stores like Whole Foods, you can find them in the bulk aisle… or sometimes with the nuts.
As for substitutes… some people say you can use raisins, but I’ve never tried it. If you do, let me know whatcha think! 🙂
I’ll look harder next time them, and if they so chose to hide some more, I’ll just slaughter some raisins (:
lol, thank you!
I know its not Christmas but these look so fun and good! Im going to make them then freeze them for a Christmas treat through out the year!
can these be made with raisins instead of dates?
Haven’t tried it, but I don’t see why not!
Haha, I call my friend “Fina” – Which came from “JoeFina” – Which came from “Josephina” – Which came from “Josephine” – Which came from “Joseph” – Which came from his actual name, which is just “Joe”!!