Oooops!

So I got it into my head to make my Grandmother's Ginger Lace cookies ie: gingerbread cookies but all rolled up in a ball coated with more sugar! Perfect for an after dinner snack, or study snack, or breakfast...

Anyway, after the panic of not finding molasses (the key ingredient) on the UK continent, then discovering that something called Black Treacle is the substitute I set out to make the dough. I've brought my own cup and teaspoon measurements so that wasn't a problem. The treacle is a bit darker and thicker but seemed to do the trick. I chilled the dough over night. Tonight was the night! And the kitchen was still relatively clean from my thorough going over Monday night.

Then things began to go downhill even though I didn't know it....

Two friends had said I could borrow their cookie sheets - which I found after a bit of scrounging around in the kitchen cubicles. One was brand new and I felt a little guilty about christening it, but it was for cookies! So, I turned on the two tiny ovens we have but the dials only went as high as 300 degrees and I needed 350. Figured I'd let the cookies bake 12 mins instead of 8. No problem...

I put in the first batch and noticed a large burnt goop pool in the bottom but didn't pay much attention. The second sheet went into the second oven a few minutes behind the first. About ten minutes later Kohleen came into the kitchen. I thanked her for letting me use her cookie sheet. She said her sheet was still in her room. I had christened someone else's brand new cookie sheet... which was now smoking up the kitchen. I dashed in, yanked open the oven door and was almost asphyxiated by the smoke. I thought the goop had caught fire. NO the cookies were burnt beyond recognition - turns out the oven is in Celsius, not degrees. I had baked the cookies for 12 mins at approx. 575 degrees! By this time the second sheet of cookies could not be saved either.

Kohleen went to her room - where she stores her cookie sheet - and let me borrow it for one more try. I shut off the smoking oven and opened the windows; turned down the second oven to 200 cel hoping that was closer to the actual temp; scooped another dozen cookies and started a 10 min attempt to wash/scrub/destroy the evidence from the now not-so-new cookie sheet.

The last dozen cookies came out ok but a bit dry (turns out 350 degrees = 175 cel. Good to know for the next attempt). I left an apology note on the door of the suspected not-so-new cookie sheet owner and put the dough back in the fridge for another day. I know when to cut my losses and listen to the universe! The remaining dozen are on a plate on the kitchen table for anyone brave enough... Good Night!!!