Recipes from Aunt Flora -- Ginger Crisps

l-r: Aunt Flora, Grandma Roa, Aunt Teddy c. early 2000s at Grandma Roa's apartment

I found this while going through photo albums last week. It's appropriate to add this photo as we're undertaking the baking of Flora's family recipes. Aunt Flora and Grandma Roa were sisters. Aunt Teddy is the widow of Roa and Flora's brother Wayne. We visited Aunt Teddy on the RiverTrip 2010, but it was a bittersweet visit, as our sharp as a tack Aunt Teddy is receding more and more into a world that only she knows. She sure did love our Grandmother and Aunt Flora though.

Ginger Crisps

1 ½ cup shortening (marg.)
2 cups sugar
½ cup molasses
2 eggs
5 cups flour
5 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ginger
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cloves
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Cream together shortening and sugar.
Add molasses and egg. Mix well.
Sift in dry ingredients. Mix well.

Form into 1 ¼ inch ball. Roll in (additional sugar).
Bake 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet.
375 degrees, 10-12 minutes.

These are really good gingerbread cookies. They come out of the oven a bit soft, and then as they cool they firm up. If pressed down, they might be more like crisps. I left them as balls, just for fun.

Letters from Roa S - Feb. 2, 1993

This is actually a really chatty letter from Grandma Roa. So much news about my aunts and cousins. Aunt Jerry pulled through and hasn't had a recurrence, as far as I know. Aunt Cora is also around and kicking, though has had back issues. I think all of the cousins got their GEDs, eventually.

Feb 2 1993

[Ogden, Utah]

Dear [Granddaughter],

The rison[sic] I’m doing this so early is I’m going on a little trip next week & wont be back until the 12th so I have to send this before I go. I’m going on a bus trip with my Sister in Law & senior citizens to Death Valley & back down through Las Vages[sic] back home in 5 days. I didn’t think I should go I had a little pressure so I’m going. They had a storm down that way last week end In fact they are still digging out. We only had a little this time we still have it pilled[sic] up. We have had more snow this year than we have for a long time & its cold on top of it.

Jerry is doing pretty good she is still having Kemo[sic] once a week & will until May. Then she has to have 5 weeks of Radition[sic] every day. She is losing some of her hair but she says she can handle that.

Cora got over her galblader[sic] operation pretty good She had to have a tooth pulled last week & she is going for a mammogram[sic] Friday Jerry has been after her every since she had to have her operation. I sure hope she doesn’t have anything else.

Clint has gone back to school trying to get his G.E.D. Ray never did anything about school. Cindy has to take the GED Test. She doesn’t seem to be able to settle down. She has moved so I don’t see the kids very much I miss them but I’m sure I’ll be OK after awhile & they will be to[sic]. I talked to your mom & she said you are doing good & like you job but you wouldn’t be home for your birthday so I’ll send it to school.

Have a good birthday

Love

Grandma

Letters from Roa S - Sept. 14, 1993

Views of Ogden, c. August 2010
L: Background: second floor apartment where Grandma Roa used to live. Foreground: the ground floor apartment where she lived for the last decades of her life
Right across the street from
R: Aunt Jerry and Uncle Jack's house (Behind the pine trees, there is a house --I swear.)

Sept 14 93

Ogden, Utah

Dear [Granddaughter],

I’m sorry I’m so slow in writing. I just keep putting it of[sic] and don’t get it done. I had a real good birthday the girls said they thought since I was 75 it should be a little diffrent[sic]. I said I didn’t want to have it at all but I guess its somthing[sic] I couldn’t put off. 75 is old I didn’t think I would get there now I guess I’ll have to look for 80. Thank you for the nice card!

Now we have to think about Jed going on his mission and your Dad coming with him in Dec. It’s been a long time since he was here last & you guys its been for ever.

How is school & work coming are you going to be through after the quarter if so what are you going to do or hope to do.

Cora had a weeks vacation & we took a day & went to Park City. I’d like to go when we had more time. Aunt Teddy [Grandma's brother Wayne's widow] came up from Provo & she got lost & got on a road going the wrong way. The police stoped[sic] her & excorted[sic] her to where she thought she wanted to go. We were waiting at McDonalds & saw her go by so we followed & by the time we got where she was she had turned around & went back where we had been finly[sic] got together had lunch & went looking around. I was looking for an outfit like the one you guys to me for my birthday for Jerry. Jack had said he wanting Jerry to have one well I didn’t find one but it was fun to do something diffrent[sic]. Then we went down provo canyon so we could see how Teddy’s cabin was coming along. It is going to be real nice she thinks it will never be ready but you can’t just say you want it bilt[sic] & have it done in a week.

Jerry is doing well she will start reconstruction pretty soon then she will feel better about everything. [Aunt Jerry is a breast cancer survivor. I need to remember that more often. Go Aunt Jerry!]

Cora likes her new job better it isn’t pressure like she did have & she is getting a little more mony[sic] & that helps.

I’ve had a good summer hope you have to[sic]

Lots of Love

Grandma

Views from Aunt Teddy's Cabin in Provo, c. August 2010:

The new bridge dedicated in honor of Uncle Wayne's service. You can see the plaque on the left side. Uncle Wayne's name can also be found on the Wall at the Vietnam Memorial in D.C.

Squaw Peak in Provo

Letters from Roa S - April 9, 1995

I'm finally done cataloging, transcribing, and archiving my grandmothers' various letters to me ... the ones that I had the foresight to save and survived various moves/purges. I wish I could travel back in time and admonish my younger self to treasure this correspondence. To see a relationship of such importance summed up in such a small amount of paper is so bittersweet--especially now that I have enough "wisdom" to put some perspective on my life and theirs, and to realize how more I value them, their time, and their advice.

The timing of this missive is poignant, especially given the events of this week, a mere nine years later.

4-9-95

[Ogden, UT]

Dear [Granddaughter],

At last I have to send a card so I’ll write a little note.

We are having snow today its having a hard time to see what it should be doing. The sun was out a while ago. They have been saying we would have snow it looks like the mountains has got quite a bit this afternoon. It’s also cold.

Jerry [my aunt] is doing lots of things she is getting [illegible] up ready for Cindy’s [my cousin] wedding doing flowers for people & making porcaline[sic] dolls she made a little boy doll for Cora [my other aunt] its Kavin[sic][Cora's companion, now husband] he got her one for Xmas they realy[sic] were cute.

Cindy & Dan [Cindy's husband to be] came down & the kids just left they were going to the store Jerry cut DJ’s [Cindy's son] hair. We don’t get to see them very often. Cindy has worked a lot of 10 hr shifts & they are trying to buy a house. The kids go to day care at 3 o’clock & Cindy picks them up when she gets off work. I hope things go OK for them.

I’m glad your Dad is going to get to come and see us. It will seem good I know I call to[sic] often but I get low some & when I don’t feel so good it helps to talk to someone else. I’m doing a lot better. I should go back to work but I guess I’m not quite ready yet.

I’m glad you are happy with what you are doing. I wish someone could help Jed to find something he would be happy with, then it would take the worry off your folks.

I’m watching Sound of Music the Music is so nice I think I like this as well as any show I’ve seen.

Aunt Teddy [Roa's sister-in-law] leaves for England for a month on Tuesday (quite a lady).

Don’t work to[sic] hard & have a good Easter.

Love
Grama