The world can wait

There is just something about the smell of gingerbread at Christmastime. There is also something about the taste of gingerbread at Christmastime. There are a billion different recipes out there featuring combinations of ginger and molasses. Some are for functional gingerbread, such as for building a house. Others are cookies, either dropped or made into men or other shapes. Others make actual bread in loaf form or as bars. I've tried a number of recipes over the years. When it comes down to TASTE, this is the best by far. It also helps that they are super-easy to make and also travel well; when my husband was in the Navy, I even mailed these to him during deployments! The sealed-up bars remained soft and delicious, even after a week of abuse in transit. EASY GINGERBREAD BARS 1 1/4 cups sugar 1 cup butter, softened 1 egg 3 tablespoons molasses 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons ground ginger For the top: 2 tab...

Today's guest is Beth Cato. Baking is a very dangerous hobby, especially when you're a writer working from home. During those quiet moments when revisions aren't quite coming together, those cookies in the kitchen begin to talk. "Eat me and you'll feel better," they say, their tone as seductive as the snake speaking to Eve. This recipe creates Heath cookies, and they don't whisper. They scream to be eaten and enjoyed, and even at Christmastime they can be heard above the fray. Consider yourself warned. Don't be home alone with them or by January you'll be carrying some extra padding to keep you warm. Heath Cookies 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened ¾ cup white sugar ¾ cup brown sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups Heath or other toffee brand, in pieces (either a bag of chips or approx 11 ounces chopped candy bars) Optional: add more chopped mil...