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Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Gingerbread Bars


What is it about the Autumn and spiced foods. Around this time of year I start craving spiced foods such as Chai, gingerbread, and now even Indian food. Last week I think I made three Indian type dishes. Maybe its because spices are warming. I wonder if this is a "me" thing or a Northeast thing or an American thing.

A lot of people don't realize it but the spices, besides tasting good, have healing or nutritive properties. Recently turmeric was undergoing some study that found it reduced the incidence of Alzheimers. The big one that most people are aware of now is cinnamon, it actually lowers blood sugar. Then there is licorice root that actually raises blood pressure ( which is a good thing for people with low blood pressure).

Gingerbread Bars
recipe from Epicurious

2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
7 1/2 tablespoons sugar, divided
2 large eggs
1/4 cup light (unsulfured) molasses

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour 15x10x1-inch baking sheet. Place 2 cups flour in medium bowl; transfer 2 tablespoons flour to small bowl and reserve. Add spices, baking soda, and salt to flour in medium bowl; whisk to blend. Using electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, and 6 tablespoons sugar in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then molasses. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture and beat to blend. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. *(Sift reserved 2 tablespoons flour evenly over batter, then sprinkle evenly with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar.)

Bake gingerbread until golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 22 minutes; cool completely in pan on rack. Cut gingerbread crosswise into 4 strips, then cut each strip into 6 pieces, forming 24 bars, each about 31/2x13/4 inches.

* In my opinion this step really does nothing for the final product. The bars are great tasting in and of themselves.
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13 comments:

  1. RoSiOctober 20, 2009 at 9:28 PM

    oooh im trying this tomorrow...yay!, fall

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  2. Katy ~October 21, 2009 at 5:08 AM

    Gingerbread is a HUGE personal favorite of mine. This sounds dee-lish!!

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  3. graceOctober 21, 2009 at 5:16 AM

    when you started talking about turmeric, i was afraid for a second that it was in your bars--wouldn't that be weird!! i'm glad it's not, and i'm glad the spices that you DID use are there. great, great bars. :)

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  4. katOctober 21, 2009 at 6:49 AM

    All those smells & tastes just scream fall to me

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  5. JenOctober 21, 2009 at 8:41 AM

    These look like they'd have a great fall/winter taste. I love gingerbread. Reminds me of the holidasy

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  6. Coloring Book ReviewOctober 21, 2009 at 8:56 AM

    It just reinforces good food is good for you and makes you feel good. Cinnamon is a favorite of mine, Ginger for tummies and chocolate for everything.

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  7. Ingrid_3BsOctober 21, 2009 at 9:30 AM

    Those look good! I'm thinking a swirl of pumpkin or pumpkin cheesecake.

    Btw, I don't get that flour and sugar sprinkled on top. Weird.

    Oh, yeah and how about them YANKS!? A-Rod's been strong but how about CC?! He's a beast! :) We need AJ to be in control today. No wild pitches and hit batters to put runners on base, run, steal, and score!
    ~ingrid

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  8. ellieOctober 21, 2009 at 11:06 AM

    Ooh i can almost smell the spicy goodness from here. That and the crisp falling leaves fall is my avourite season.

    and i'm a true believer in foods to heal.
    x

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  9. Mary BergfeldOctober 21, 2009 at 2:35 PM

    I've made these and they're every bit as good as you say they are.

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  10. AnhOctober 21, 2009 at 4:42 PM

    My husband would love to try this! It looks great and I can sense the fragrance in the air.

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  11. AnonymousOctober 21, 2009 at 5:12 PM

    I love me some gingerbread. Those sound amazing.

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  12. Murasaki ShikibuOctober 22, 2009 at 1:36 AM

    I love gingerbread anything but molasses have been difficult to get in some of the countries that I've lived in.

    As for the smells, I've noticed that in North America, a lot of the stores begin to smell pleasantly spicy (you know those Christmas smells) at this time of the year and maybe this has a subliminal effect on your brain? ;)

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  13. Murasaki ShikibuJune 6, 2010 at 9:41 AM

    It's that problem with finding molasses as usual. Well, one of these days. My mouth is watering just thinking about these...

    ReplyDelete

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