Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Ginger Spice Cookies (Bon Appetit)

Food Librarian - Ginger Spice Cookies (Bon Appetit)

I donate a pint of blood every 56 days or so. I think it builds good karma (hee hee) and you get served a cookie and juice. It takes very little to amuse me.

I really love my blood donation center...Nurse Jan is so nice!

However, the "don't-pass-out-on-us" post-donation cookie is...well...you know...just okay. Oh, how Tuesdays with Dorie and this baking blog adventure has killed me. I can now taste chemicals in box cake mixes. I can tell if stuff is made with real butter or not. And I can tell those blood donation cookies wandered over from the hospital kitchen.

Today, after giving a few gallons of blood, it FINALLY dawned on me to bring in my own damn cookie!

Of course! I heart ginger so I tried Bon Appétit's Ginger Spice Cookies.

The batter comes together very easily. It has cinnamon, ground ginger and 3/4 cup of crystallized ginger. You need to chill it for at least 1 hour. I let it hang out overnight. In the morning, I shaped them into balls and rolled them in sugar. Bake until the top cracks but the center is soft and yummy. Using a small scoop, I got 53 cookies.

Food Librarian - Ginger Spice Cookies (Bon Appetit)
A Cookie for A Pint

You should definitely make these Ginger Spice Cookies. And don't forget that giving blood is easy and very much in demand! Only 3% of American adults donate. Your local hospital or the Red Cross will welcome you with open arms and orange juice. Just be sure to plan your treat. You deserve the best! :)

Recipe:
Ginger Spice Cookies
from Bon Appétit, March 2000

P.S. My TWD entry this week is a bit delayed! Sorry but I should have a double entry next week!

28 comments:

  1. LindaJune 30, 2009 at 9:12 PM

    Mary, I don't mind that you procrastinate, as it give me an opportunity to catch up on all your awesome posts!

    Hey, a mediocre generic brand cookie is a small price to pay to do some good.

    Even better, you bring some of those delicious cookies, and I'll be ready to donate!

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  2. LeslieJune 30, 2009 at 9:17 PM

    What an inspired idea! I'm scheduled for Saturday so I better whip up something to munch on and share with the nurses.

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  3. KatrinaJune 30, 2009 at 9:18 PM

    That is too funny--bring your own cookie. You should donate (for a price!) cookies! I know what you mean though. Whenever I'm shopping with any of the boys and they see a baked good they want me to buy I have to try to kindly explain to them that I don't BUY stuff, I make it--and much better than anything you can buy! ;)

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  4. Nutmeg NannyJune 30, 2009 at 9:31 PM

    Hooray for homemade cookies and donating blood. I too donate. My rare blood type (AB-) keeps the Red Cross calling me every time they are around:)

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  5. UnknownJune 30, 2009 at 9:35 PM

    I think it's awesome that you brought your own cookie to the blood donation! Kudos to you for being such a regular blood donor!

    Thanks so much for stopping by and for your kind words :) I think your blog rocks (but you already knew that)!

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  6. CarrieJune 30, 2009 at 11:15 PM

    Hello, my name is Carrie and I am a Ginger-oholic! I will absolutely make these cookies, they look awesome!

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  7. AudrieJune 30, 2009 at 11:45 PM

    Love ginger-anything! I don't know if you've tried the Chewy Choc Gingerbread cookies by Martha Stewart, but if you haven't, you must!!! They're so amazing! Here's the link:
    http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/chewy-chocolate-gingerbread-cookies?autonomy_kw=chocolate%20ginger%20cookie&rsc=header_6

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  8. Donna-FFWJuly 1, 2009 at 3:59 AM

    I love ginger cookies and these look beautiful!! I am a believer in eating this year round, not just Christmas time. I will try them soon.

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  9. JenniferJuly 1, 2009 at 4:15 AM

    I love that idea! How fun!
    Great cookies!

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  10. StephJuly 1, 2009 at 5:04 AM

    I know what you mean...I don't think I can eat nonhomemade anymore. Everything is too artificially.I wasn't heavy enough to donate blood when they came to my school, but after all this baking I am! Hopefully the weight stops climbing!!

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  11. AnonymousJuly 1, 2009 at 5:14 AM

    Mmmm, these look really good. I love your pic of the spoon with sugar. I like action shots. :)

    And thanks for the reminder to donate blood. I haven't been able to donate since becoming pregnant but I'll have to check and see if I can donate once I deliver (and while I'm breastfeeding).

    Mary, you're such a good citizen. I want to be more like you.

    With love from your admiring fan in D.C., Racheal xoxoxo

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  12. PamelaJuly 1, 2009 at 5:34 AM

    Thanks for reminding me to get off my butt and donate some blood! These cookies look fantastic!

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  13. CarmenJuly 1, 2009 at 5:35 AM

    It is so sweet of you to give blood so regularly! I admit that I only gave blood once, and then I blacked out afterwards, so I have been too chicken to try again. I don't meet the weight requirement (and didn't back then either), but the nurses told me it was fine. After eating my cookies and drinking some juice, I was off, but fainted at work about 10 minutes later! Maybe I need to bring my own cookies next time. :)

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  14. AnshikaJuly 1, 2009 at 5:44 AM

    Thats an easy way to make tempting cookies.

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  15. 2.46%July 1, 2009 at 6:07 AM

    I can't wait to try these cookies. They look so good!

    I think it's so great that you give blood. There is such a big need that can be remedied so easily and quickly. Have a great day!

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  16. Nancy/n.o.eJuly 1, 2009 at 6:18 AM

    Did you know you were posting these cookies on National Gingersnap day? I am a huge fan of ginger cookies, so I'm bookmarking this recipe. And I give blood but not regularly enough. I am the universal donor type, so they love my blood (and I can give for babies, too, b/c I don't have that antibody).

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  17. BethJuly 1, 2009 at 7:05 AM

    These cookies look great--I love ginger, so hopefully I will be making these soon! There is no shame in being able to taste artificial ingredients in baked goods, or being able to tell when something isn't made with butter!

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  18. dharmagirlJuly 1, 2009 at 7:27 AM

    yummm! i love ginger spice cookies! and i love the idea of bringing your own goodies:)

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  19. Snooky doodleJuly 1, 2009 at 8:36 AM

    oh you re so courageous I really wish to donate blood but every time i see a needle I m almost fainting. I m a coward. These cookies look so good. surely a well deserved treat :)

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  20. ElianaJuly 1, 2009 at 9:21 AM

    Donating blood is so important. I try to do it a few times a year. If there were cookies like these waiting at the end I'm sure more people would do it.

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  21. AnonymousJuly 1, 2009 at 11:42 AM

    Those cookies sound wonderful! I would love to donate blood more often, but I get banned b/c of travel a lot. Silly, but I understand.

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  22. TeannaJuly 1, 2009 at 2:05 PM

    You should donate some of those cookies to the blood donation centers! The people would be lining up to give blood for a taste of one! Haha! But seriously, those look absolutely gorgeous! I LOVE Ginger Spice Cookies. LOVE. Have you seen David Lebovitz's non-fat version? If you haven't, try it. They are amazing!

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  23. Mermaid SewsJuly 1, 2009 at 8:32 PM

    So nice of you to donate, I should do that more. Ginger cookies are my fav, these look amazing.

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  24. KerstinJuly 1, 2009 at 8:41 PM

    Yum, these look amazing! My blood pressure is too low to donate blood - sigh. I'm sure they would have a line out the door of donors if they served your cookies instead!

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  25. MeganJuly 2, 2009 at 12:16 PM

    I love ginger cookies - and since you do too, you should try Ina Garten's version - they pack a punch!

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  26. eatme_deliciousJuly 2, 2009 at 7:17 PM

    I looooove ginger cookies but I'm so wary of making them at home because the ones I've tried have been too molassesy. These ones do look really good though - nice and soft. I'll have to save the recipe!

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  27. Carol Peterman/TableFareJuly 5, 2009 at 8:02 PM

    I get to start donating blood again this month after having to sit out for a year because I traveled to China. My center actually has great cookies and they serve espresso and lattes. Yes, even the blood centers serve great coffee in Seattle.

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  28. Boyd BrackenJuly 12, 2010 at 11:51 PM

    Cookies are a favourite when we go on our wildlife trips. I haven't tried em ginger cookies though I have eaten them. My cookies always some how or the other manage to stick to each other however much space I leave between them.

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