You Can't Catch Me I'm the Gingerbread Man...
Well it seems like a lifetime since my last post on Monday. Why? Well, I feel sad even admitting it. I've given up Facebook. Yes, I admit it - I am addicted. I spend hours wandering it's realms chatting with friends, reading blogs, joining silly groups, playing scrabble, being a mobster... the list is endless and very very sad. When I heard 2FM DJ and fellow Blogger Rick O'Shea was challenging people to give up social networking for a week I volunteered. I was on the show on Monday admitting my very sad addiction to the world. I thought it would be easy, but then on Monday morning I get an email saying I have a message from one of my best friends, my maid of honor, who recently moved to NYC and we had been out of touch for awhile, so I am dying to know what it said. Yesterday I find out that a friend of mine from high school's Dad died. I only communicate with him through Facebook, so now I have no way to send my condolences.
Yesterday I had to tear myself away from the computer and went into Dublin for a day out filled with shopping and sushi nibbling (review to follow.) I arranged to come home right as The Tudors was starting, so I could get my JRM fix and then headed straight to bed. I toyed with the idea of checking my email, but knew I'd just be tempted to log in. But wait... it gets worse...
I DREAMT about it! Yes, I actually dreamt I was all over the place on Facebook and then debated whether or not I should lie to Rick on the radio the next day. How sad am I? But I've been good and there's only two days left.
I am trying to avoid the temptation, so I had to immerse myself in a world of life insurance quotes and then to get away from that I had to whip up some Gingerbread men to keep me busy!
Easy Gingerbread People
Ingredients:
115g / 4oz butter, plus extra for greasing
450g / 1lb plain flour, plus extra for dusting
2tsp ground ginger
1 tsp mixed spice
2 tsp baking soda
100g / 3 1/2 oz Golden Syrup
115g / 4 oz Light brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
Preheat oven to 160C/325F. Grease two large baking sheets.
Sift flower, baking soda and spices into large bowl.
Place butter, syrup and sugar in a small saucepan over a low heat and stir until melted.
Pour onto dry ingredients, add egg and mix until combined.
The dough is sticky to begin with, but firms up as it cools.
Roll the dough out to 3mm / 1/8 inch thick and using an appropriately shaped cookie cutter cut out your gingerbread people. You can re-knead and re-roll as necessary.
If you like, you can add raisins or glace cherries at this point for eyes or lips.
Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until firm and lightly browned.
Decorate as you like. I used icing tubes.
Recipe from Home Baking by Parragon.
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