How To Build A Gingerbread House

When December rolls around, it's time to make the gingerbread houses.   I learned this skill at a homemaking meeting years ago and I'm sure Bev and Lindsay had no idea the countless houses that would result from that class.  My family and friends have been blessed over and over as a result of those two women giving of their time and talents.  

Our houses aren't fancy, but they're constructed with lots of love and candy.  Those are the two most important ingredients.  Here's a picture I dug out of an old photo album when my eldest must have been around eleven years old.  We were having a gingerbread party with the cousins and it probably took months to get all the candy swept off the floor when we were finished.  I wish I had a picture of all the kiddos that were around the table that day, I think there were at least eight of them.  Those are good memories.

This house was constructed a few Christmas' ago.  Although I can't remember who gets the credit for it, it's awfully pretty, isn't it?

Last year, I had my sister, niece, daughter and good friend here to make houses with me.  That was a fun day.

This year I decided it was time to bring in the children again and boy did we have fun.  But let me start at the beginning.  Before decorating, you have to bake the houses.  This may not be the most exciting part of the process, but it sure makes your home smell wonderful!  When I can, I like to bake the houses on one day and decorate on another.   After mixing up the dough, I knead it a few times and it's ready to roll.  This dough is so easy to work with!

 I roll it out on the back of my cookie sheet.  I know this seems strange, but believe me it works like a charm.  It prevents you from having to move the cut pieces from the counter to the baking pan, which causes them to lose their shape.

Then I cut out the shapes,

and remove the excess dough from between the pieces.

This pan is ready to go in the oven.

As soon as they are finished baking, you have to go around each of the pieces again, trimming them to the proper size.  Here's a warning: protect your fingers.  There's something about taking upside down baking pans out of the oven and trimming around freshly baked dough that has the potential for burns. I do it every year.

I don't throw away any of those scraps.  They are yummy for people and chickens!

One by one, the houses are baked and cooled on racks.

Now... it's time to assemble them.

With plenty of royal frosting (make more than you think you'll need, 'cause it's a pain to have to stop and make more), I start piecing the walls together.

The roof goes on next.

I'm heavy handed with the frosting.   I don't want this to fall apart when we start piling on the candy.

I hold this together for a few minutes to make sure it's not going to slide off and

finish it with a thick layer right down the top.  I let them sit and harden for a while before we start  to decorate (sometimes for days).  I've found it's best to work to this point before bringing in the children.  Assembling can be frustrating for little hands.  Decorating is what it's all about!

Let the fun begin!

I discovered right away that it didn't matter how pretty the candy might look on the houses ( like hot tamales and mint m&m's) if these little elves didn't like the way it tasted, it wasn't going on their house.   They planned on eating these!  I guess that surprised me a little, because having a family of boys (and then one little princess), my kids always took their houses outside on New Year's Day and with a hammer,  deconstructed them "demolition style".  They weren't really into consuming them, they were into destroying them.  I think that was almost as much fun for them as putting them together.

Abby has to test the frosting

and the candy too.

They did almost all the work, while I took pictures.  It was fun hearing the constant chatter about their decorating and the exclaims of delight when they noticed something especially pretty on their sister's house.  Every once in a while I would hear, "this is so much fun!"  And I would smile.

Wouldn't this make you smile?  Gingerbread houses are for young and old and a cherished part of my holidays.  Thank you, Abby and Kelly for helping me keep this tradition alive.  We had a fun day!

Bev's Gingerbread Houses (or Cookies)

5 to 5 1/2 cup flour (may need to add more)

1 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

2 t cinnamon

1 t. nutmeg

2 t. ginger

1 t. cloves

1 cup shortening

1 1/4 cups molasses

1 cup sugar

2 eggs, beaten

Melt shortening in a large pan.  Add sugar, molasses, and eggs.  Mix well and cool slightly.

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl and add 4 cups to liquid ingredients in large pan, mixing well.  Continue to add flour until you havea dough you can turn out onto a floured surface. Knead in remaining flour mixture.   Roll to1/8 inch on floured surface for cookies or as shown above for gingerbread houses.  Place on greased sheets and bake at 375 for 8 - 10 minutes. 

 This recipe makes three houses and one pan of gingerbread boys.  Email me if you would like a copy of the pattern pieces and I'll mail them to you.

A Christmas Program for Jesus

I've been to many Christmas Sacrament programs over the years and always enjoyed them.  I love hearing the Christmas story read from the scriptures and other inspired works, complemented by beautiful music.  The chapel decorated with poinsettias and the congregation dressed in lots of red and green, lends a festive atmosphere.  It's one of my favorite Sabbath's of the year.  And today's program was no exception. In fact,there was something about it that just might have made it my favorite program ever.

I guess I should set the stage a little for those who might not have attended a Sacrament meeting in the Mormon Church.  Our Sacrament would compare to most worship services of other faiths.   It's called Sacrament because each Sunday we have the opportunity to partake of the emblems of the sacrament of the Lord's supper.  We consider it our most sacred meeting in the church.  We are also a lay church, which means we don't have paid ministry of any kind.  The programs and all the administration of the church is taken care of by the members, who are called to their positions by inspired leaders.  We humbly accept and do the best we can, believing that we will receive grace from the Lord and support from each other.  We have many opportunities to learn and grow.

Today's program was written by one of our members and others were asked to participate through song or narration.  Far from being a "professional production", it was an offering of love and it was perfect in all the ways that matter.  On the way home, I pondered what it was about this particular program that made it different from others and why I loved it so much.   And here's what I've come up with; it's because the program highlighted children, the elderly, the handicapped and parents with children in tow.  And because of the smell.  Let me explain.

The program opened with a sweet family standing at the podium and a solo by the cutest five year old  boy you will ever see.  He sang a cappella and enjoyed having that microphone all to himself as he sang about a star that shone brightly on the first Christmas.   A men's quartet sang several songs and included one of the oldest members of our congregation who I've never heard sing before and had to be helped to the podium because of his difficulty with walking.  He was front and center and could be heard well and I was so happy to be there to hear him.  Our small group of primary children sang two lovely songs.  I was near the front and could hear, as well as see , the cute wiggles, nudging and elbowing by brothers standing beside each other, and the precious blonde haired, blue eyed angel who was standing on tip toe and could still barely see over the railing.  From the back of the chapel, I could hear the "almost Sunbeam" protesting that he wanted to sing too and before the songs were over , he had made his way up the aisle and stood just in front of the little group.  Later in the program, when one of the fathers handed off his toddler to a grandparent, so he could sing, she starting crying and couldn't be consoled until he picked her up again.  While trying to sing, she took his face in both hands and turned it around so he would look at her.   He managed to make it through the song and even though he's talented, she stole the show!   So cute!  Even the aroma of a dirty diaper (from that adorable baby behind me) that drifted my way, was a reminder that the first Christmas was not clean and hygienic.  The program concluded when the benediction was given by a vision impaired member of our congregation, who was helped to the podium by a friend.

I thought to myself how pleased it must make the Savior to see the offerings of love made by young and old at this Sacrament meeting.  When Jesus was on earth, he was often found spending time with and blessing the fringe members of society,  people like women, children, the sick and afflicted.  Rather than hobnobbing with the elite, he sought out those lower on the social ladder.  Everything about his birth, demonstrated humility.  Into poverty, the King and the Savior of the world, was born in a stable and laid in a manger.  The lowly shepherds were the first to receive the news of his birth.

The first Christmas was simple and humble and unpretentious in every way.  Our Christmas program today was much the same and I think it was a perfect gift to the Savior.  I just know He loved it.  Sometimes we get so caught up in wanting everything to look, sound, smell and taste perfect at Christmas.  I'm certainly guilty of that.  I spent six hours in my kitchen yesterday baking lots of goodies, so it would taste like Christmas for my family.  But it's because of my love for them that I did it.  And it's because of the Savior's love for me that I can love them so much.  The true Christmas spirit is love.   I'm thankful to my brothers and sisters at church this morning who reminded me once again how to focus on others as Jesus did and how to love unconditionally.  With His help, I hope I can.

Merry Christmas!

O Christmas Tree!

Picking out the perfect tree...

Transporting it home...

Getting it in the house...

Trimming and putting it in the stand...

Straightening it... and straightening again...

Stringing the lights...

How many strands work this year?...

Decorating...

Favorite ornaments...

The finished tree...  So pretty!

Love putting up the tree when there are helpers around!

Thanks Dillon, Jantzen and Kenzie...

and Mark!

A Different Kind Of Advent Calendar

How I love Advent, those days leading up to Christmas, filled with longing, joy and preparation.  There are so many types of counting that could be done that I can't narrow my choices down to just one.  So among the Advent celebrations that I enjoy, is this one that's a little different than most.  From the first of December until Christmas Day, I will be counting the appropriate privilege/blessing and putting my monetary contributions in a small jar.  I guess it would be easier to just write out a check for a set amount, but I like the counting involved each day.  It's a fun and meaningful way to be reminded of how very blessed I am, to have things I take for granted every day, like dishes and hot water.  And even though my contributions may not add up to a large sum, I do believe every little bit helps.   After Christmas, I'll donate the money I've collected to a charity that helps those who live in poverty.  Would you like to join me in this countdown to Christmas?

Countdown to Christmas

1- 50 cents for every hot water tap in your house
2- 75 cents for every vehicle your family owns
3- 25 cents for every pair of jeans you own
4- 50 cents if your family subscribes to the newspaper
5- 25 cents for every bed in your house
6- 10 cents for every beauty makeup item you own
7- 10 cents for every pair of footwear
8- 10 cents for every light switch in your house
9- 25 cents for every tub/shower
10- 50 cents for every flushing toilet
11- 10 cents for every bar/ dispenser of soap
12- 50 cents if you have dishes to eat off of
13- 50 cents if you have cooking pots in your cupboards
14- 10 cents for every window in your house
15-  25 cents for every outside door
16-  50 cents for every television in your house
17-  25 cents for every magazine subscription
18-  50 cents if your family has more than twenty five music CD's
19-  25 cents for every meal you had with meat this past week.
20-  25 cents for every non-water beverage you drank yesterday
21-  50 cents if you have a snow blower or a gas/electric lawn mower
22-  10 cents for every item of hair care stuff
23-  25 cents for every bedroom in your house
24-  10 cents for every blanket in your house
25-  10 cents for every gift you received this Christmas

Pan Pizza

How about another pizza recipe?  I know, I know.  I already gave you this one and this one, but pizza possibilities are endless.  And this one is totally different than the recipes I've already given you.  Pan pizza is decadent, what with all that crust and those yummy toppings, and I probably wouldn't order it if I were eating in a pizza parlor.  The guilt would kick in before it was ever set on my table.  But every once in a while, it's okay!  Pan pizza can be eaten in moderation, or so I've convinced myself.  And when you can make it at home and it tastes as good, if not better, than your local pizzeria, then that just makes it all the better.  This recipe delivers in every way, except the one where they ring your doorbell and you have to pay a ridiculous amount of money in exchange for your pie.  Do it this way instead. 

A couple of hours before you want to eat, mix up the dough.

Pan Pizza Dough

1 1/3 cup warm water

1/4 cup nonfat dry milk

1/2 t. salt

4 cups unbleached plain flour

1 T. instant yeast (SAF)

1 T. sugar

2 T. vegetable oil

Put water, sugar, yeast and dry milk in bread mixer.  Mix. Allow to sit for a couple

of minutes.  Add oil and mix again.  Add flour and salt and mix until flour is absorbed.

Knead for ten minutes.  

Divide dough into three balls.

Cover the bottom of three 9" cake pans with oil

Using a rolling pan, roll each ball into a 9" circle

and place in cake pans.

Spray the top with cooking spray and cover with a plate.  I hope you're reading this and not just looking at the pictures, because I would suggest you flip that plate upside down.  I obviously did not and the dough stuck to the top of the plate a little.   Next time I will spray the top of the plate and put it on upside down.   Allow to rise in a warm area for about an hour.

Top with your favorite pizza sauce.  I like to make my own while the dough rises.  It's easy, easy and tastes so delicious.  You can find my recipe here.  Then add some cheese, your toppings and top with a little more cheese.  Oh, why not?  If you're going to be eating pan pizza, I see no reason to scrimp on the cheese.

Bake at 450 degrees for about fifteen minutes.  Be prepared to be amazed at how yummy this is.

If you don't have enough people to eat three pizzas, that's okay, because they freeze beautifully.  I love that we can eat pizza tonight and then I can have one or two stashed away for another day.  "Cook once, eat twice" is a smart use of your time. 

Doesn't that make you want to have pizza for dinner?  Go ahead.  It's worth a little extra treadmill time.