Cookie Disasters!

I knew my planning was going all too well. I made some gingerbread cookies and mistakingly used ground ginger instead of fresh thinking how different can it be?? Well, with the gingery after taste, I would say very. No clue how to fix that so I might end up tossing them. They are cool now so I can't even pop a hole into them and make ornaments.

My second disaster..I failed at No fail Sugar cookies!!! I've made them numerous times with no problems. I made them last night and the dough is dry and crumbly. I did the same things I've done every time and added the same ingredients. I did have the dough in the fridge so it's cold and I'm bringing it to room temp now but I don't think that will fix it. Has anyone ever goofed this bad? Anyway to fix these issues?

Oh but I did have a few successes!! I made a monster cookie recipe from Good Housekeeping--or another because I picked up every magazine with a cookie on it last month and it was wonderful. I used choc chips, M&Ms, oats of course and peanut butter plus the usual suspects. I was shocked that DH compared them to his mothers. HUGE compliment. Mind you, didn't say they were better but comparable and that's a start. I'm really not a horrible cook though I tried to make her veggie pizza a week ago and again, a disaster.

All the recipes I had called for Hidden Valley Ranch mix and etc so that's what I went by but DH's mom just uses a bit of dill and cream cheese and that's the recipe her family loves...so mine was a flop.

The other recipe that was more than awesome was the Chocolate Mint Snow cookies. The exact name escapes me but they are in Martha's cookie mag too. Basically a chocolate, chocolate chip cookie that is rolled in sugar. My recipe called for rolling in powdered sugar only but Martha's said granulated then powdered so I went with Martha. I also skipped the mint and used more vanilla in its place. They came out wonderfully! They actually melt in your mouth. I will find that recipe and share it because it was probably the best cookie I've ever eaten and that's a huge statement based on my waistline.

I just read an article that said I can add a bit of water or milk to the sugar cookie dough to fix it. I'm thinking it was the size of my egg as all large aren't really the same. No clue what to really do now.

A bit late, but I wanted to add that althought I didn't take any pics of them, I was able to make beautiful snowman and Xmas tree cookies for the holidays using the No Fail recipe and the Royal Icing from Antonia. Everything came together perfectly. The only problem was that my MIL thought they were too perfect,as in store bought. LOL! She wouldn't eat them because she said they looked too perfect but I included some in her gift basket on her way out and she raved about them. Can't wait to make them again this weekend...and I have a ton to make. Thanks all for your advice. Practice and patience, I guess.