Holly Jolly Blog Hop - Open House Recipes

 

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Good morning lovely readers.  The time for the Holly Jolly Blog Hop hosted by Kristin at Windy Poplars, Natalie at Extraordinary Love and myself has finally come.

Today we want to hear about your favorite holiday recipes - no matter how easy or how difficult!  Spread a little holiday cheer and tell us what recipes turn your kitchen into a Winter Wonderland.

My favorite recipe by far would have to Gingerbread and Chocolate Sauce.  I grew up eating this rich, heavenly dessert at my Nana's house.  Something about the contrast of spicy gingerbread smothered in delicious chocolate sauce makes my taste buds do a happy little dance.

To Make Homemade Gingerbread:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 cup light molasses

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup water

Directions:

Preheat oven o 350 degrees.  Grease and lightly flour on 8 inch square baking pan.  Cream shortening and sugar until light.  Add the egg and molasses and beat thoroughly.  Sift together the flour, salt, baking soda, ground ginger and ground cinnamon.  Bring water to a boil and add alternately with flour mixture to the creamed mixture, beating well after each addition.  Pour batter into prepared pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.

To make Homemade Chocolate Sauce:

Ingredients:

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

1 2/3 cups sugar

1 1/4 cups water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine cocoa, sugar and water.  Bring to a boil and let boil 1 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

To be honest, I usually make my gingerbread from a box, because it's just easier.  The real secret to this holiday dessert is the chocolate sauce.  Hope you enjoy!

Please feel free to link up and join in on the fun.  Be sure to stop by tomorrow for to tour my home decorated for Christmas and share pictures of your home as well.  Tomorrow I will announce my giveaway prize that will be given to one lucky participant. 


**Sorry for the delay in posting the Blog Hop, Blogger was not being very user friendly for my first linky experiment!  :)