[Donna]

Sunday we met with friends out at Marshall, on Tomales Bay in Marin County for an Oyster Fest! It is a biennial ritual with good friends and brilliant food. Everyone likes to eat and drink WELL, so there's always a spread - plus the raw oysters we gleefully consume.

This time I took dessert and because everything is usually quite rich, I wanted something simple and light. I decided to make the Chez Panisse gingersnaps.

I was very surprised, upon reading the recipe, to see only 2 1/2 teaspoons of dried ginger. Being a Chez Panisse recipe, I was expecting fresh or candied ginger also - for a real POP!

Usually I don't mess about with recipes the first time I make them. But I love really GINGER-Y gingersnaps, so I added about 2 Tbsp. fresh finely grated ginger and 2 teaspoons candied ginger, minced finely. I was a tad worried I might have overdone it (who am I to try to improve on Alice's creations??) but the consensus was that they were quite tasty and not too sharp. (I am really only reporting the facts, not bragging. )

This is a really easy recipe and a good thing to have in the freezer, I think. I used about 2/3 of the loaf of dough to make 4 dozen cookies. Now I have the remaining portion in the freezer for the next time I need something simple but yummy. I stored the leftover cookies in a ziplock bag and they were still crisp 3 days later. I can't report on the fourth day - because they're all gone!
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L'appetit vient en mangeant. -Rabelais

[Rainey]

Donna- It sounds like a sensation event. But the recipe's missing!
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God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is, he's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny. -- Garrison Keillor

[Donna]

I forgot to mention that the Chez Panisse Gingersnap recipe is in the C&Z Recipe Index. Someone who was trying out for a pastry job at Chez Panisse asked for and received the recipe - and gave it to Clotilde!

Our oyster fest IS a sensational event! Maybe you can come up for the next one, Rainey!
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L'appetit vient en mangeant. -Rabelais

[Donna]

Well, third time's the charm, right? Here's a link to the recipe for Chez Panisse Gingersnaps:

http://chocolateandzucchini.com/archives/2005/02/chez_panisse_gingersnaps.php

Sorry about that!
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L'appetit vient en mangeant. -Rabelais