Fa la la la la

For my entire adult life, I have wanted to build a Gingerbread house from scratch.

Do you remember how I said I make a list of things to accomplish before Christmas?  Well, this is always the number one item on my list, and every year it is the first to be cut

To be sure I didn't scrap it this year, I made a pledge to my little Amelia that we were going to make a Gingerbread house together.  Two actually... One from scratch and one of the prepackaged kind you can pick up anywhere at this time of year.

Daddy and Amelia scaling the template

who knew making a Gingerbread house involved so many pieces?

A mixture of sugar and water cooked to "Hard Crack" stage

My "glue" could have used additional time on the stove as it wasn't quite ready... but I was too impatient to wait.

 Cautiously dip gingerbread pieces in the candy mixture and use it as a glue.  Careful not to burn yourself as the mixture is extremely hot.

The Sugar mixture dries almost immediately so there isn't the need to wait as long as you do when using royal icing.

The first roof

Shingling with Shreddies

The first roof had to be removed for a few reasons:

1)  The roof hadn't cooled completely (from the oven) before starting to assemble (Trust me... I knew this was a big mistake at the time, but I allowed myself to be talked in to it.)

2)  The roof was too thick and therefore too heavy.

3)  The sugar mixture wasn't cooked long enough, so it was still a little too soft.

The second roof was a much better size.  I also rolled it thinner and baked it longer.

These two Photos are the Gingerbread House that Amelia made!

I hope to continue this Gingerbread house tradition every year, as I had way more fun than I had imagined!

Happy Holidays!

Run, Run, as fast as you can...

Every December I make a list.

A very extensive, unreasonable list of things I would to like to accomplish before Christmas Day...

Items such as making a Gingerbread house and decorating cookies for every single person I know.   Oh, and  making my own Christmas cards and chocolate truffles.

Perhaps, I could learn how to sew in time to make gifts for the entire family.

Oh, how I would love to see the look on my Brother's face after seeing his shirt made by me... Did I mention I can't even sew a button?!

And the list grows and grows...

And grows...

Now, for my friends wondering why they have never received a Christmas card in the mail or a single cookie delivered to them, it's because I said I make a list...

Before I know it, December 25 has arrived and I haven't accomplished nearly what I had planned.

In my perfect world, December would have 62 days, not 31.

A Simple Gingerbread Man

Given that I am on maternity leave this year and my work schedule wasn't a concern, I began my list a little earlier... and although I have managed to decorate many cookies, I know that by December 24th I will still be running to the store looking for last minute Christmas gifts.

But I will worry about that on the 24th...

So, this year, I thought I would try something new.  A little giveaway...  

So here it is... A chance to win 6 Gingerbread snowflake cookies.  It may not seem like much, but hey, I only have 3 followers so your chances are pretty good.  :)

To enter simply leave a comment on this blog post.  To double your chances, add a second comment to my facebook page telling me you are entering the cookie contest!

Contest closes on Friday December 17th at midnight, and will be chosen by Random.org

Good Luck.
(Due to Shipping regulations, contest open to Canadian and Americans only)

"... you can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!"