Hardware Baby turns Sweet 16

Our sweet lil' baby Kate, Hardware Baby, Bouchy,  Katie Magoo, Princess Kate turned Sweet 16 this September.  So proud of our girl.  She gives us so many things to be thankful for and blesses us daily with her gentleness and kindness.

While we couldn't arrange for everything that she desired for her birthday (friends from BC are hard to arrange),  she did get to ride her horse and we surprised her with a great birthday cake if I do say so myself!

 Now the above photo can use some explanation ~ Kate had no idea why she had 30 envelopes to open.  I have asked a few family and friends to write a little note or advice "To my 16 year self" for Kate.  She had wonderful responses.

 There were some hilarious ones from our BC neighbors, advice to travel and explore the world.  Advice to stop saving up for those sensible shoes and buy that Poodle skirt instead.  Advice to save some of her favorite clothes from this age for 20 years from now.
Advice on picking a life partner, advice to relax and to trust her parents and those who loved her.

Finally her own cuddly house coat ~ now Mei can have her's back!

 She has her cards and letters posted all over her wall in her room ~ thank you to everyone who sent a little note.

Always a horse lover, another horse blanket

 I had originally planned to order a cake from a dear friend who has a great cake decorating business in Oak Lake MB ( "Candace's Creations" on Facebook).  Sadly, her father in law died suddenly and we decided that I would just make a cake and Kate was happy with that.  Little did she know that in the last minute, Candace pulled off this GLUTEN FREE, Dairy Free Hobbit House cake in no time flat!  What a wonderful surprise for Kate and all the little cousins that got to OHHH and AHHHH over it!

 We didn't want to cut into it, it was so adorable... but... well....little mouths didn't mind digging in and eating the pathway and butterflies, etc.

Ginger Jam Jams AKA Ginger Bread Cookies

I will upload a photo when I can, but here is the recipe I use for Ginger Bread Men.  It is really a Ginger Jam Jams recipe, but the flavor is so nice, we like them better than most really crunchy ones.

Ginger Jam Jams AKA Ginger Bread Men Recipe

1 cup Butter
1 cup White Sugar
1/2 cup Molasses
1/2 cup Syrup
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 cup Hot Water
1 tsp Ginger  ( I usually add cinnamon as well, but this is the original recipe)
1 tsp Salt
2 tsp Vanilla
6 cups (approx) Flour

Cream butter and sugar.
Add molasses and syrup.
Dissolve baking soda in water and add.
Mix dry ingredients together in separate bowl and slowly add to dough.  Add enough flour to make a rollable dough.
Make into your favorite shapes.  Small cookies take less time to bake.
BAKE 350 for 10-12 minutes.

You can also let cool, then spread with raspberry or strawberry jam and make them into a sandwich cookie.

This is a LARGE BATCH.  Feel free to half it.