Mustard Gingerbread Food

THE SPICIEST GINGERBREAD COOKIES EVER

Steps:

• Make the cookies: Whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, salt, baking soda, allspice, nutmeg, cayenne, and baking powder in a medium bowl.
• Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes (scrape down the sides of the bowl, as needed). Beat in the molasses until combined, then the egg (the mixture will look curdled). Add the flour mixture and beat on low speed until the dough comes together. Divide the dough in 2 pieces, flatten each half into a disk and wrap each disk in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
• Position 2 racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Keeping one disk refrigerated, roll the other disk on a well-floured work surface to 1/4 inch thick, sprinkling flour on and under the dough as needed and sliding a spatula underneath every so often to prevent sticking (If the dough looks crackly or breaks apart, press it back together from the outside edge in). Using cookie cutters, cut out gingerbread shapes as close together as possible. Pull away the extra dough around each shape then use a small offset spatula to transfer the shapes to the prepared cookie sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart. Reroll the scraps and cut out more cookies. Freeze the cookies until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Bake the cookies, rotating the baking sheets from top to bottom and from front to back halfway through cooking, until they are slightly firm to the touch but not browned at the edges, about 12 minutes. Repeat the rolling, cutting and baking with the remaining dough disk.
• Cool the cookies for 5 minutes on the baking sheet then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely, about 20 minutes (The cookies will continue to firm as they cool).
• Make the icing: Combine the confectioners' sugar, meringue powder and 3 tablespoons water in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the frosting thickens, trying not to incorporate too much air. (The icing should be pure white and thick, but not fluffy and bubbly.)
• Scrape the icing into a resealable plastic bag and snip the corner to the desired size. Pipe the icing onto the cookies to decorate, as desired, sticking the candy onto the icing while it is still wet. Let the cookies stand at room temperature until the icing hardens, at least 1 hour.

REAL GINGERBREAD

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-inch square baking pan.
• Whisk together flour, baking soda, spices, and salt in a bowl.
• Beat together butter, molasses, brown sugar, eggs, and ginger in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until combined. Reduce speed to low and mix in flour mixture until smooth, then add hot water and mix until combined (batter may appear curdled).
• Pour batter into pan and bake until a wooden pick or skewer inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool to warm in pan on a rack.

HOMEMADE MUSTARD

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan combine mustard, vinegar, salt, pepper and sugar. Simmer over low heat for 3 hours.
• Beat egg yolks into mixture and stir until thickened. Pour into hot, sterilized jars and seal. Cool at room temperature and store in the refrigerator.

STARBUCKS GINGERBREAD

Steps:

• Set oven to 350°F.
• In a bowl cream butter with sugars and vanilla until fluffy.
• Beat in eggs, orange zest and fresh minced ginger, water and applesauce until well combined.
• In a bowl sift together flour with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, mustard powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed ingredients and beat until combined.
• Mix in the candied ginger.
• Pour into a well greased baking dish and bake for about 35-40 minutes or until cake tests done.

GINGER-MUSTARD BARBECUE SAUCE

Steps:

• Whisk ginger ale, yellow mustard, and Dijon mustard in a medium saucepan to combine. Bring to a simmer over medium heat; reduce heat to low and gently simmer 3 minutes. Whisk in ginger, garlic, onion, honey, sugar, salt, vinegar, black pepper, and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring occasionally, until flavors have come together and sauce is very fragrant, 15-20 minutes. Let cool before using. Do ahead: Sauce can be made 2 days ahead. Transfer to an airtight container; cover and chill.