Paula’s New Year’s Eve Gingerbread Party Animals

A year ago today I was putting the finishing touches on my *Doves of Hope* cookies for the first post of this 365 project.  I remember being so excited to kick-off Frosting for the Cause and being very hopeful that many other people would get excited right along with me and join in.  As the year unfolded and the emails kept coming in from people asking to volunteer, my hope never waned.  Nor did the hope of those who believed that that they could make a difference by sharing their own stories and recipes, by donating $25.00 and by handing their cookies, cupcakes, cakes and bars happily over to a hospital, hospice or other institution affiliated with cancer patients. Now, here we are on the last day of this 365 project and I have put the finishing touches on another batch of cookies and I know that this project has made a difference on so many levels, to so many people.

While the original goal was to have 365 posts completed by 365 different volunteers, each donating $25.00, that exact number did not come to pass.  What did occur throughout 2011 was a total of 342 posts completed by 330 different volunteers.  Of those 330 volunteers, 12 of them returned on 18 different occasions to fill-in when either another volunteer had to cancel or could not otherwise meet their commitment.  On 23 occasions throughout the year, we unfortunately did not have any posts at all.  However, for every volunteer that did submit one post, donate their baked goods and make their monetary donation to their favourite cancer organization, we raised a total of $8,100 for cancer research.  There were also other funds donated to cancer research by volunteers who held their own bakes sales in conjunction with their guest post for Frosting for the Cause and by volunteers who had their employers donate as well.  So, on the monetary objective alone of this project, I think it’s safe to say that it was a success.

Some heart-felt thank-you’s must be made.  To everyone who participated so fully in this project I am sincerely grateful.  You shared your stories of profound personal loss, of triumphs, successes and of unwavering hope.  You made us privy to your fears, your faith, and to the remarkable courage of not only yourselves, but of your beloved family members, friends and relatives.  Your story connected with each and every one of us in a manner that not only touched our hearts but made a place for itself within it and I thank you.

To all the volunteers who found the time somewhere, somehow to not only do one post, but to come back and fill in for someone else, I am indebted to your unwavering support, Nicole (5 pinch-hit posts), Lora (3 pinch-hit posts), Callye, Landa, Heather, Ali, Shelly, Cristin, Susie, Wendy and Jacqueline.  You humble me with you generous hearts and I am grateful.  Thank you.

To four talented business women who supported this project in another manner as well, that of their sponsorship.  I am honoured to have your links on this site.  Thank you, Renee, Marda, Laurie and Jeanmarie.

To the very talented Jessica who not only designed a site that so suited the project but made it possible for an IT challenged person such as myself to manage it without too much stress or headaches.  Thank you.

To the handful of ladies I threw out this project idea to over a year ago who all responded with your encouragement and support of it, I am indebted to you; Bridget, Gail, Callye, Renee, Catherine, Michelle, Amanda, Becky, Cheryl, Jen, Janet, Diane, Kate, Rachel, Cat and Pam.

And to Ron, my husband who for the past year, every single day without fail (except today) asked me *Did your post come in yet?  Did you finish your intro?* Who, practically every evening for the past year watched television alone in the den while I worked on the project and who, without complaint over the past year, got used to talking to me without me making eye contact with him because more often than not, my face was focused on my laptop screen.  I could in no way, have done this project without his constant and ever-present understanding support of it and of me.  Thank you.

I had hoped, at the beginning of the year, if response was favourable to the project, that perhaps I could continue it throughout 2012. Unfortunately, due to events occurring within my family in 2012, I will not be able to dedicate the time required to keep it running every day.  I have however, paid to keep Frosting for the Cause up and available for viewers throughout 2012.  All the work and dedication that all of the volunteers put into their posts deserves at least that and I hope to continue keeping it available for viewer even longer.

This project began with hope and I know that we all continue in hope.  To everyone who is battling cancer, I hope you are all successful against this disease.  I hope that for all those counting down to your dates of being declared *cancer free* that you all celebrate that anniversary with your loved ones. To all those who have never had to deal with this disease personally within your families, I hope that you never do.  I hope that everyone looks forward to 2012 with much anticipation and may the year bring each and every one of you all that you are wishing for while we all continue to pray and to hope for a cure.

I have no words that can truly nor adequately express what you have all blessed me with over this past year.  Happy New Year ♥

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

New Year’s Eve Gingerbread Party Animals (gingerbread recipe from Nick Malgieri)

2 sticks of unsalted butter (use cold)

2 large eggs

2/3 cup of firmly packed dark brown sugar

5 cups of flour (I use unbleached)

4 teaspoons of ground ginger

1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon of freshly grated nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves

1 teaspoon of salt

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

2/3 cup of molasses

Add your flour and spices together in a large bowl, whisk together well and set aside.  Cut your cold butter into little cubes and beat with your mixer until creamy.  Add your dark brown sugar and beat on medium until well blended. Beat in your eggs, one at a time the batter is smooth.  Now take a minute to scrape down the sides of your mixing bowl.  Lower the speed to two on your mixer and add 2 1/2 cups of the flour and spice mixture until combined.  Add in your molasses until combined.  Scrape down your bowl once again before adding the remaining flour mixture, a cup at a time with your mixer still set on the second speed.  Once all the flour mixture has been incorporated scrape down your bowl and beater blade one last time and gather your dough into a ball.

Divide your dough into two equal sections, set one aside as you roll out one section between sheets of parchment paper.  Roll dough to 5/16″ thickness and cut out cookie shapes with your choice of cutter.  I used a 4″ oval cutter that I re-shaped into the shapes shown in the pictures.  Place cut cookies on parchment paper lined cookies sheets and place in freezer for a few minutes before baking in a pre-heated 350° oven for 10-12  minutes.  Do not over-bake.

Step 1:  Using black piping icing and a number 3 tip, outline the shape of your party animal and fill in the nose.

Step 2:  Using white flood icing, flood the eyes of your party animal and with gold flood icing, fill in the party hat.

Step 3:  Using you choice of colours for the face, fill in with flood icing.  In the sample shown below, orange flood is used.

Step 4:  Using a different colour of flood icing, fill in the party horn.  In the sample shown, dark blue is used and white is used to make a design in the party horn.  With different colours of flood icing, make little rectangular shapes around the cookie for confetti.  Using black piping, squeeze little dots in each eye.

Step 5:   Using small tipped clean paint brush dipped in dry gold glitter dust mixed with a tiny bit of vodka, dab brush the un-decorated sections of the cookie and then dab a little bit of gold glitter dust onto each of the party hats.