THE JOY OF A GINGERBREAD HOUSE EVERYTHING YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THIS HOLIDAY TRADITION
BUILD YOUR OWN! 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.
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! THE ORIGINS OF GINGERBREAD 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.
historians don’t know an exact date, it’s speculated that it gained popularity around the same time that “Hansel and Gretel,” the popular fairy tale recorded by the Brothers Grimm, was published. 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.
The gingerbread house first appeared in the early 19th century in Germany. Although
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: CELESTE OUR INVISALIGN AMBASSADOR AND CALENDAR GURU
Although technically her title is scheduling coordinator, Celeste does more to keep our office running than simply scheduling appointments. She also acts as our liaison to general practice dentists, tracks incoming cash flow, manages insurance inquiries (a brand-new responsibility!), and answers patient questions about braces and Invisalign. “I actually just started Invisalign myself a few months ago, so I’m basically the Invisalign ambassador! I can give patients the ins and outs and tell them the truth,” she says. Celeste came to Marshall Orthodontics after three years of administering cardiac ultrasounds, but she says working in dentistry has been her dream from the start. “I’ve always wanted to be in the dental realm. I actually studied predentistry after high school for a year and a half before I switched majors. I always wanted to be the in the dental field, and putting out that energy into the universe got me to where I wanted to be,” she says.
When asked what her favorite part of the job is, Celeste says, “Talking to patients and learning about their lives and what they’re involved in. That way, next time they come in, I can say, ‘Did you enjoy that trip you were talking about?’ or ‘How is that new baby doing?’ or ‘How are things going with your braces?’ I like engaging with my patients for sure.” On top of offering that individual attention, Celeste keeps our patients and employees cheerful by making sure our coffee and hot chocolate machines are stocked. It may seem like a small thing, but it’s just one of the many ways she goes above and beyond to keep people comfortable. When she isn’t in the office, Celeste likes to hike, camp, cook, and travel with her financé, Chris. The pair have known each other since fifth grade and are planning to get married next September on the 10th anniversary of their first date. In the meantime, they’re in the process of adopting a sweet pit bull puppy to start their family. Next time you see her in the office, don’t forget to ask to see a photo.
From all of us on the Marshall Orthodontics team, thank you, Celeste, for all you do!
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