I would guess more insane on a Sunday afternoon before a major holiday than a Monday morning, yeah.

My fear is that I can't take care of two different sets of errands all during the morning tomorrow. But I guess I'll try.

Maybe I should do laundry? I gotta do something useful, right?

Yeah, sounds like you have to pick one thing off the list.

FTR, Cindy McCain's Oatmeal Butterscotch cookies? They kinda blow.

That's because Cindy McCain probably never goes into the kitchen, nor do most campaign staffers.

Yes, but surely someone at the website they ripped them off of does?

I was thinking, they wouldn't have any way to tell if it was a good recipe or not.

Hivemind: does anyone know if Cook's Illustrated has a good gingerbread men recipe?

I went to Walgreens to pick up a few things. Less than 5 minutes outside, I was at an "OH SHIT BEARS" level of cold. Yeah, staying in tonight. And possibly calling a cab to take me to the train station in the morning.

Plei, yes, the CI New Best Recipe cookbook (checks the copyright page on our copy--oh. 2004. Not so new anymore) does indeed have a "Thin, Crisp Gingerbread Cookie" recipe with a notation that they're crisp but sturdy and perfect for making ornaments, which sounds like gingerbread men to me. Should I just go ahead and post the recipe, or is that enough for you to go on to find it yourself?

Bah. Got back an hour ago from the East Bay to find an empty apartment and Hec's cell phone plugged in and charging in the nerd hole. Where are they?

Plei, there's a recipe in the database but I've never tried it myself. Want an email? (Or if you're already a member, it's under "Spice Butter Cookie Dough")

[edit: Or I could just post the damn thing:

Yields approximately 6 dozen single-layer cookies. Published November 1, 1993.

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon mace
Pinch ground nutmeg
Pinch table salt
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons light cream
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup brown sugar
12 tablespoons unsalted butter , softened
2 tablespoons molasses
4 tablespoons vegetable shortening

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or silicone paper.

2. Mix flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt in a medium bowl. Mix yolks, cream, and vanilla together in a measuring cup.

3. Cream sugar with butter, molasses, and shortening until lightened and pasty. Beat yolk mixture into creamed butter until just combined.

4. Add dry ingredients and beat until mixture begins to clump together (about 18 to 20 seconds on lowest speed of electric mixer).

5. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead gently to shape into a soft dough. (Can be wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen up to 6 months.) Proceed with rolling, shaping, and baking instructions under selected cookie.

Suggested shapes: Gingerbread men; classic cut-outs; Linzer cookies filled with lemon curd.

The only thing I'm lacking for that recipe is mace. Mmmm.