Let's Bake Gingerbread! Vlogmas Day 22

[@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge]

In today's video I referenced my newsletter and if you'd like to sign up head here! www.jenlefforge.com

[@sarahisroaming]

I bust out laughing when you pulled out that unknown item right after discussing your thoughts on the l’occitane advent calendar.

[@WMac-ul2tk]

Hi Jen! I never usually comment on videos, but I wanted to share a new baking habit I’ve started implementing that truly changed the game for me. I know we all have our particular ways of doing things when we are baking, but from watching many of your videos, you always exude a sense of curiosity and seem open to learning new things, so here it goes. In the past few years, I’ve been using a kitchen scale for any ingredients where it makes sense to do it - things like butter, sugar, flour, oats - even used it for molasses when I was baking ginger sparkles yesterday :) I measure in grams - it takes the guess work out of measuring (I worry about overly compacting brown sugar and I don’t have the patience for spooning flour). Instead of using measuring cups, I just put an appropriately sized bowl on the scale, tare it out, scoop or pour the ingredients into that, then transfer into to the mixing bowls. And that little dopamine flood from hitting -exactly- the right number on the scale? So satisfying. I’ve found there are also fewer dishes to wash as well. Win-win! Any old family recipes I have used for years, I have been measuring the traditional way, then putting each ingredient on the scale so I can convert the volumetric measures to mass. There are also conversion charts online that I have found to be quite reliable for many ingredients. Honestly, this switch has made baking much more manageable for me, so I wanted to share it with you. I appreciate your content and look forward to it each week. Keep up the good work and best wishes to you and your family for a happy holiday season!🎄❤️

[@fabavb]

This is exactly what I am doing. I am so happy that there are other viewers who do it the same way

[@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge]

I've seen others do that (always in Europe and more so here in the US) and it makes sense!

[@mle-d]

I’m in the Uk and that’s how it’s done here.

[@trishflanagan4806]

I was so happy to hear that you have to consult the recipe over and over again. I have to do that too.

[@lucyluvz12]

The dancing while creaming the butter in fast mode was hilarious..way to go Jen for the laughs

[@lisasproul8027]

You were on fire today! With the movie quotes and singing Les Mis. Loved this video so much. And we will have to try this recipe.

[@lilyellens]

I LOVE Gingerbread! Gingerbread bread, gingerbread cookies, gingerbread lattes, gimme all the gingerbread, the spicier the better! Also I really appreciate your reassurance throughout the season- no panic buying, doing things for you, if it’s not done by now release it. It’s really helped me, I’m such a perfectionist about the holidays, particularly about making sure everyone else is having the best possible time. It’s honestly exhausting but I’ve tried to let that go this year. Although I did still spend 6 hours baking four different batches of cookies 🙈🙈🙈

[@tdutch1038]

I use my fine mesh colander to sift flour. Easier to clean than a real sifter. But love the whisk idea.

[@dianafischer1299]

Me too

[@Mama_C_22]

@@tdutch1038 Same

[@Sabazinus]

I love gingerbread so much. Along with molasses/ginger cookies or anything with that sharp kind of flavor.

[@rachelspollett3930]

This was a lot of fun! love gingerbread! Our family tradition is to make hermits (molasses cookies). My mom’s trick with the molasses is to very lightly grease the glass measuring cup and the molasses slips right out.

[@rachelspollett3930]

PS. I LOVE Christopher Guest movies! I introduced my husband to “Best in Show” on a red eye flight to Paris years ago. FYI, NOT the best idea when the people around you are trying to sleep. We were nearly in hysterics.

[@spurmarks]

I usually use that baker's spray that has both oil and flour in one can. I love your vids by the way! Merry Christmas to you, the hubby, kids and dogs!

[@fabavb]

That looks so good! Would love to try that recipe. I love Gingerbread, my East German Grandma made sure of that…

[@mle-d]

Loved this video - will certainly give this try :)

[@amyp4966]

The Charlie Brown album is also my favorite! What a sweet gift from your son!

[@ColleenDerry-b4e]

I love gingerbread. It must smell divine. My mom used to butter leftover gingerbread and grill it like you’d grill a grilled cheese sandwich. Oh my gosh that was good. Great memories.

[@micheleemmerich680]

The item you didn’t know what was a soap bag. They are suppose to make your soap last longer. Watching you bake leaves me feeling the way I felt watching Martha Stewart. Who in the world is willing to wash all those dishes. I worked as a substitute teacher for several years, almost 20 years off and. One day I was substituted in FCLA and was making kool-aid, the students had a fit when I used the scoop to measure the sugar. I tried to explain it was just kool-aid. Thank goodness the bell rang, because I was at the point I didn’t know if I was going to laugh or cry.And no they would drink the kool-aid.

[@AEO123]

Merry Christmas 🎄🎄🎄

[@marisadawndesigns5458]

That’s exactly how I grease a pan, except I do use shortening. I keep shortening for banana bread and buttercream frosting, so we always have some at hand.

[@karenprince8905]

I would love to try a light orange sauce or drizzle on the gingerbread. Looked yummy!!

[@marcussaintly-ox8ue]

So good!!! Going to have to try. Well done.

[@ck2d]

Molasses trick - give the measuring cup a spray with cooking oil before you pour in the molasses and it will slide right out. Also much easier to clean the cup afterward.

[@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge]

So smart!

[@dawnturpin]

And check your extracts! I ruined a recipe that way. As soon as it hit the dough I knew it had turned, but it was way too late. Had to start all over again.

[@janehynes8319]

Is that pouch thing a soap keeper?

[@LouieLouie505]

Agreed.

[@valeriegoulettalbot9900]

My mom taught me to grease my pans the same way 😊

[@lindamiddleton6785]

I first thought you send you were in the “wine-down stage”! Lol. I’m so gonna make that gingerbread tomorrow! And I think the cloth in the l’Occitane box you put over two fingers and use it so wash or sluff dead skin off your face. That’s what I’m gonna do with mine!

[@Dance678anda1]

❤❤❤ merry Christmas! You are a natural comedian

[@brendabrinkley8029]

Love gingerbread

[@mjhadley2001]

I have been looking forward to this video!!! I love gingerbread!!!

[@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge]

It’s my absolute favorite!!

[@traceyhill7784]

Looking forward to this BUT feeling guilty about wanting to make this because hubby doesn't like it and I love it 😂

[@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge]

MAKE IT

[@traceyhill7784]

@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge oh alright then 😂

[@donnajohansson4105]

It might be a little pouch for travel soap?❤

[@juliedi2]

Another wonderful vlog that I enjoyed with my coffee. And I looked up that cloth on the L’Occitane website, and it turns out that it is a Face Make-up Remover Glove. Hmmmm…

[@samsamsam22]

Is the mystery item for the soap? Soap goes inside and lather up like a wash cloth?

[@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge]

Oh maybe?

[@heatburg]

That's what I thought, too. They are called "soap savers," if indeed that's what it is. Edited to add: I just searched for another video with the L'Occitane advent calendar, and in a different version, that thing came in a little envelope and was labeled as "face makeup remover glove."

[@minniemcg.3186]

Greasing the pan with butter is how we do it here in Germany. So I think it‘s the propper way for gingerbread ;)

[@catgodfrey6451]

Yum 😋

[@anne-marievr5710]

I grease my pans the exact same way. My first year baking in my new house and I burnt an entire batch of sugar cookies. Using a new oven or new recipe i should have baked just 1 cookie…..great tip .

[@joseelemonde6405]

Hi. Just loved the recipe. For the natural twins question, ask Céline Dion about it !😊 I bought for the 1st time my calender this yea. So much fun, very good idea to splurge on me for once. Bless you. Have a nice yule time 😊

[@lisag.2459]

The late, great writer, Laurie Colwin, has a chapter devoted to gingerbread in her second food memoir, More Home Cooking, Both this book and Home Cooking, her first food memoir, are terrific reads.

[@sharonm8634]

Absolutely agree! I don't know any other Laurie Colwin fans, so it's nice to hear that! She had a unique way of food writing. Gone too soon.

[@nicolechapman6440]

I love gingerbread with Cool Whip!

[@tannerclark4019]

Gingerbread❤ and I butter my pans the exact same way.

[@debh6455]

Yum!!

[@joannewilliams41]

Yaaaaaaaaaay love this 😃🥰🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄xxx

[@lucyluvz12]

This is my kinda unhinged vlogmas

[@cloudheartgames1632]

Gingerbread is, like, best thing ever! My mom and I will be making no bake cookies tomorrow and enjoying Charlie Brown Christmas! We also like to watch Muppet Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve. Easily my favorite version of Christmas Carol ever :D (totally not bias because of me being super Muppet fan XD and first version I ever saw of Christmas Carol lol) I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday, Jen! Been watching your channel for a year now mainly came from your other channel but still look forward to watching your videos!

[@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge]

thank you for the kind words! And YES Muppet Christmas Carol IS the best one!

[@cloudheartgames1632]

@@JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge I always smile when I see Scrooge dancing with the Ghost of Christmas Present! :)

[@lucyluvz12]

It’s to hold a bar of soap I think

[@stichybird]

I think, THINK it's an exfoliating mit? For your face??