Gingerbread Cookies

Greetings fellow culinary enthusiasts! This is modified from a very old recipe I learned about on the radio. I wanted to teach my food science students about the power of leavening agents, and this fit that lesson, plus brought in some holiday cheer. The molasses to brown sugar ratio has been altered a bit because I didn’t think kids had much of a taste for such a lightly refined product like molasses. Preparation and cooking time have also been altered from the original recipe so cookies can be prepared and eaten in less than one hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together 2 tablespoons of milk and 1 teaspoon of cider vinegar in a small bowl and set aside. In a medium sized bowl add 1 cup of flour, ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and 1 ½ teaspoon of ginger. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt together 2 tablespoons of vegetable shortening, 3 tablespoons of brown sugar, ¼ cup of molasses and a mixture of ½ teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in ½ teaspoon of water. Stir until evenly mixed and then pour into the bowl of flour. Stir to incorporate all ingredients and then add the milk/vinegar mixture you prepared earlier. Stirring together should produce a firm dough. If too dry, add a sprinkle of water, if too wet add a sprinkle of flour.

The dough can be rolled out to make gingerbread men or just spooned onto a cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. This recipes makes about a dozen cookies. The science behind the leavening agent: When the vinegar mixture (acidic) was added to the mixture containing the baking soda (basic), an acid-base reaction occurred producing carbon dioxide which allows the cookies to rise. You can simply demonstrate this cooking chemistry to your kids by adding a tablespoon of vinegar to a tablespoon a baking soda. Enjoy!

The Louise S. and W.H. Bauer Charitable Endowment Trust recently awarded Friends of the Port O’Connor Library, Inc. a $2,000. donation that will be used for the new POC Library Learning Center. Accepting the check were President, Ginnie Lichac and Board Member, Judy Whitworth. Representing the Trust are (left) Dee Harkey, Executive Vice President First National Bank, Port Lavaca and William H. Bauer, Jr., Chairman of the Board.

Texas Sea Grant and the Calhoun County Extension Office are proud to partner with the Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce to bring a series of educational meetings to the residents and visitors in our area. The series will run for 8-weeks, on each Thursday of January and February, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm in the Meeting Room at the POC Community Center. Each meeting will have a presentation followed by a question and answer time. Currently the schedule is as follows:

Jan. 8: The State of the Gulf — Rhonda Cummins (Coastal and Marine Extension Agent)

Jan. 15: Oysters– Nicole Pringle(TPWD)

Jan. 22: Local watershed information — Stephanie Shelly (GBRA)

Jan. 29: Why water matters to the bay (inflows)– Leslie Hartman (TPWD)

Feb. 5:  TBD — Madeliene Cantu (NRCS)

Feb. 12:  Seagrasses — Colt Cook (TPWD)

Feb. 19: The invasive Lionfish — Leslie Hartman (TPWD)

Feb. 26: TBD* — Aaron Adams & Andy Gosnell (TPWD)
*TBD – to be determined. At press time the topic was not yet decided.

Please come join us and learn something about our wonderful coastal resources.

Since beginning the campaign to raise funds to build a new library and learning center, some have had questions and concerns about the project. Hopefully this will help address some of those.

Why do we need a new library?

Our current library has been in a small temporary location since 1988. The space is no longer adequate to house books, computers and provide learning opportunities for children and adults. The computers are few and out-of-date. There are also a large number of wonderful books that are not available for readers, because we simply do not have the space.

Why is $1.2 million the goal of our campaign?

That amount was quoted to us by people who are experienced in this type project. The building, consisting of approximately 5,000 square feet, will not cost that amount. Included in the estimate are architectural and other fees, ADA compliance throughout, permitting, landscaping, etc. And, it is expensive to properly equip a library. The shelving alone can run to several hundred thousand dollars, not to mention the cost of furniture, computers and equipment. The Friends of the POC Library has formed a construction committee to arrive at a more comprehensive budget in order to more clearly define the exact cost.

Who will own the library?

Calhoun County will own the building and the land on which it sits. The land, conveniently located at 6th and Main, was donated by the county and a private trust for the sole purpose of building the library. No director or member of the Friends of the Port O’Connor Library will hold any ownership.

Why do we need a meeting room when there is one in the Community Center?

We would like to offer educational and entertaining programs to both residents and visitors to Port O’Connor along with fun and interesting activities for our children. While the community center offers a very nice meeting room, it is not accessible by foot, bicycle or even golf cart. One goal is to provide summer programs for both visiting and resident children, many of whom may not have transportation available.

The plan calls for a new office for our Justice of the Peace. Will that expose us and our children to sex offenders and other criminals?

No. The Justice of the Peace does not hear those type cases. And we are not building a court room or jury room. No criminal cases are now nor will be heard in Port O’Connor. No parolee or probationer reports to the Justice of the Peace Office. They must report to a parole or probation officer. The office will be used as it currently is but will be a much nicer permanent facility.

Is the drawing shown on the brochure and other literature the final plan for the building?

No, that is a conceptual drawing only.

Who are the Friends of the Port O’Connor Library?

Friends of the Port O’Connor Library, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing library facilities, service and resources and encouraging donations, gifts, endowments and bequests to the Port O’Connor Branch of the Calhoun County Library System. The Friends of POC Library is governed by a membership elected Board of Directors, Advisory I hope this helps answer your questions, but should you like more information, you are welcome to contact me or any board or advisory board member. Please join us in our effort to build this wonderful enhancement to our community. No donation is too small and if you cannot donate, there are lots of opportunities to help in other ways. Help us get the Port O’Connor Library Branch as up-to-date as the Seadrift Library Branch. Together we can do it. Thank you.

Judy Whitworth
Director, Friends of the Port O’Connor Library, Inc.
Contact: libraryfriendspoc@gmail.com

L to R: Mr. Jim Washek, Worshipful Master, Seadrift Masonic Lodge; Mr. Michael L. Wiggins, Most Worshipful Grand Master of Texas; and Mr. Mike Walker, Worshipful Master, L.M. Rogers Masonic Lodge, cut the Centennial Cake.

The 100 Year Celebration of Seadrift Masonic Lodge #1098 and L.M. Rogers Masonic Lodge #1104 at the Seadrift Masonic Lodge on December 13 was an outstanding event. The function was well attended by local and visiting Masons, their families and friends. Visitors from Seadrift and the surrounding area also attended and a great time was had by all.

The 100 year Certificates were presented to each of the lodges by Mr. Michael L. Wiggins, Most Worshipful Grand Master of the State of Texas.

A very prestigious award was presented to Mr. Ted Gill on his having reached his Fiftieth year of being a Mason. His dedication and active participation was recognized by Mr. Wiggins who presented him with a Certificate and Lapel Pin.

After the presentation, the Centennial Cake was cut, served and enjoyed by all.

Mr. Jim Washek presents Lapel Pin to Mr. Ted Gill.