PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL SPEAKS: "SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER!" ~ GROUNDHOG SUNDAES / CHOCOLATE SAUCE / SPICY GROUNDHOG COOKIES

Phil Says "Six More Weeks of Winter!"

Phil's official forecast as read February 2nd, 2009 at sunrise at Gobbler's Knob:

Hear Ye Hear Ye
On Gobbler's Knob this glorious Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2009
Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators
Awoke to the call of President Bill Cooper
And greeted his handlers, Ben Hughes and John Griffiths
After casting a joyful eye towards thousands of his faithful followers,
Phil proclaimed that his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers were World Champions one more time
And a bright sky above me
Showed my shadow beside me.
So 6 more weeks of winter it will be.

(Groundhog.org)

"Hang in there!"

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GROUNDHOG SUNDAES
~ Fun treat from the Gourmet & Groundhogs cookbook
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1 quart good vanilla ice cream, cut in slices
Groundhog Cookies
(recipe below)
Chocolate sauce

Place slices of ice cream on individual serving plates. Place a Groundhog cookie in the center of each slice. Drizzle chocolate sauce across ice cream and on plate to suggest a shadow.

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CHOCOLATE SAUCE

4 oz. unsweetened chocolate

1/2 cup butter

2 cups sifted confectioners sugar

1/8 tsp. salt

1/2 cup evaporated milk

1 tsp. vanilla

Melt chocolate & butter in top of double boiler over simmering water. Remove from heat and stir in sugar, salt, milk and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Serve warm. (2 cups)

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SPICY GROUNDHOG COOKIES

2 cups sifted flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg yolk
1 egg slightly beaten
currants or raisins

• Sift flour, salt, soda, baking powder and spices together. Set aside.
• Cream butter and sugar together until fluffy. Blend in molasses and egg yolk. Stir in flour mixture and mix well. Form into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap or wax paper. Chill 1 hour or longer.
• Roll out small amount at a time on a sugar-sprinkled board. Roll 1/8-inch thick. Cut out cookies with lightly floured cutter. Place cookies on greased baking sheet. Brush with slightly beaten egg. Decorate with currant eye, buttons, etc. Bake 8-10 minutes in preheated 350-degree oven. Cool slightly before removing from cookie sheet. (12-15 large groundhogs or 3-4 dozen small cookies.)
  NOTE: Groundhog Cookie Cutter (H.O. Foose Tinsmithing Co.)