Gingersnaps #FoodieReads

I am sharing this after reading The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan.

On the Page

This book explores what it means to be a family. Maggie, Liza, and Tricia Sweeney grew up as a happy trio in the idyllic seaside town of Southport, Connecticut. Their mother's death fifteen years ago left them adrift; their father, Bill Sweeney, remained the center of gravity for the sisters until he dies unexpectedly. Liza still lives in town with her husband and her twins. The other two return to put their father's affairs in order. They soon discover that there is a fourth Sweeney sister! And she lived next door to them for their entire childhoods.

Each sister has her own story line, but it's the intersections that bring you to tears and fits of laughter. I will definitely be looking for other books by this author. I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

On the Plate

There was actually quite a bit of food on the pages.

"Liza had decided they would spend the night at her house instead of Willow Lane. 'Trust me. It feels like a crime scene. You’ll sleep better at my house. And Lolly dropped off her signature boeuf bourguignon. She freezes it in bulk for such occasions. We can heat that up'."

"AS THE NIGHT wore on, the mood went from somber to celebratory. The guests polished off all the food and most of the drink, including her father’s favorite lobster rolls, trays of roast beef sandwiches, and Garelick & Herbs jumbo cookies, plus a case or two of Jameson’s whiskey, several kegs of local beer, and a keg of Guinness. The more alcohol that was consumed, the faster the barrier between locals and literati disappeared."

"'“So, do you want to come for dinner on Sunday? I’ll be back and making a quinoa salad and soft-shell crabs'."

"Maggie put a grilled cheese, egg, tomato, and pesto sandwich next to Tricia. 'I’m headed back to the studio. One more hour. Get some sleep, Trishie'."

But what sent me to the kitchen was this passage...

She dropped in apple cinnamon tea bags and poured over the hot water. While the tea steeped, she fixed a plate of gingersnaps. She carried the full tray over to the couch and set it down on the well-worn pine table.

Ingredients

makes approximately 4 dozen cookies

3/4 cup butter, room temperature

• 1 cup dark brown sugar, lightly packed

• 2 teaspoons baking soda

• 1 large egg

• 1/3 cup unsulphured molasses

• 2-1/3 cup flour + more if needed

• 1 Tablespoon ground ginger

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

• granulated sugar for sprinkling

• Also needed: silicone mat or parchment paper, cookie scoop

Procedure

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line baking sheet with silicone mat or parchment paper.

Cream together the butter, sugar, and baking soda. Add in the egg, then the molasses. Gradually add in the flour and spices. Mix until you have a smooth, fairly stiff dough.

Drop the dough by scoop onto the prepared baking sheets with at least 1-inch between them as they will spread.

Sprinkle the cookies with sugar. Bake the cookies for 11 to 12 minutes; these will have the cookies crispy around the edges and with a bite in the center. For cookies that are crisp all the way through, leave in the oven for another minute or two.

Cool the cookies on a wire rack.

I am adding this to the April #FoodieReads link-up.