THE JOY OF A GINGERBREAD HOUSE EVERYTHING YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THIS HOLIDAY TRADITION
BUILD YOUR OWN!
Of the many seasonal traditions that sweep our nation, few are as creative, delicious, and satisfying as building your very own gingerbread house. Whether you’re looking to create a simple table decoration or bake a tasty treat to nibble on, everyone can enjoy this holiday activity! Ginger was first cultivated in ancient China, then traded into medieval Europe. There, Europeans incorporated it into culinary traditions and used it to bake cookies into elaborate shapes and works of art, including figures of animals and people. The gingerbread house first appeared in the early 19th century in Germany. Although historians don’t know an exact date, it’s THE ORIGINS OF GINGERBREAD
speculated that it gained popularity around the same time that “Hansel and Gretel,” the popular fairy tale recorded by the Brothers Grimm, was published.
While you don’t have to challenge yourself to beat the Guinness World Record, you can still have fun creating your very own gingerbread village. Starting your gingerbread house from scratch can be a fun activity for the whole family to enjoy. Give the kids a chance to mix the ingredients, roll out the dough, and set out plenty of candies and frostings to use, and remember to have fun! If you’re looking for unique gingerbread house ideas, take a look at 20 gingerbread house ideas at TasteofHome.com/collection/ gingerbread-houses.
THE LARGEST GINGERBREAD HOUSE
In 2013, the world record for the largest gingerbread house in the world was broken. The house, topping out at 21 feet and covering 2,520 square feet, was built by Traditions Golf Club in Bryan, Texas, to raise money for a local Level II trauma center. To construct the house, builders created a recipe that required 1,800 pounds of butter, 2,925 pounds of brown sugar, 7,200 eggs, 7,200 pounds of flour, 1,080 ounces of ground ginger, and a few additional ingredients.
MAKE THE ROADS A LITTLE SAFER DRIVE RESPONSIBLY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON The holidays are here, making it a great time to celebrate with family and friends. However, all these gatherings pose a risk: Every year, people make the mistake of getting behind the wheel after one too many celebratory drinks. This often results in many tragic accidents between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. But these devastating incidents can be avoided if we all do our part. IT STARTS WITH YOU The best way to guarantee one less intoxicated driver on the roads this holiday season is to not be one yourself. With the hectic nature of the holidays, it can be hard to plan ahead. But having a way home from a party that doesn’t involve drinking and driving is paramount. Consider going with a designated driver, or using a rideshare service like Lyft or Uber. Any alternative is better than risking your life and the lives of others. LOOK OUT FOR LOVED ONES If it’s your turn to host the celebrations this year, you can do a lot to keep your guests safe. Simply providing plenty of nonalcoholic beverages, even if there are no minors at the party, can be a great way to keep guests from overindulging. Most people want to have a drink
in their hands while socializing, but, if there are only alcoholic options that’s what they are going to default to. Soda, water, nonalcoholic eggnog — these can all be great alternatives to help guests pace themselves. Just in case someone does get too intoxicated and has no way of getting home, keep a guest room open, or at least a couch. They can safely sleep it off and drive home in the morning. DRIVE SAFE Of course, keeping yourself and loved ones safe is just half the equation. Just because you are responsible, doesn’t mean everyone on the road this season will be. The best you can do while behind the wheel is drive defensively. If a drunk driver crashes into you, call the police and seek medical attention. Then, call an experienced personal injury lawyer. They can walk you through your legal options when seeking compensation for your injuries.
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The Law Offices of Elliott Kanter APC | www.enkanter.com
Published by The Newsletter Pro | www.TheNewsletterPro.com
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