The Joy of a Gingerbread House EVERYTHING YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THIS HOLIDAY TRADITION
Of the many seasonal traditions that sweep
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. 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.
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. The gingerbread house first appeared in the early 19th century in Germany. Although historians don’t know an exact date, it’s speculated that it gained popularity around the same time Get in the Spirit of Giving
WITH THESE INEXPENSIVE SEMI-HANDMADE GIFTS
COOKING UTENSIL AND PERSONAL RECIPE CARDS
You might not have the means to buy expensive gifts this season, but buying cheap doesn’t mean you can’t also be thoughtful. Here are some great ideas for inexpensive store-bought gifts you can pair with handmade items for a more meaningful touch. BOOK AND HOMEMADE BOOKMARK For the avid readers on your list, get them that novel they’re excited to read, and then craft a bookmark they’ll use for many reads to come. Long and rectangular is ideal, so try for something like an old photo-booth photo strip or a postcard from a trip together. Or head to your local hardware store and pick up a free paper paint strip sample featuring their favorite color. Punch a hole in the bookmark and tie on some colorful string that dangles from the top of the book so they never lose their place.
For anyone who loves to cook, opening a kitchen utensil they can add to their collection is always fun, and it doesn’t have to be fancy. A sleek wooden stirring spoon or a fun pair of tongs can be useful and aesthetic. Make the tool truly meaningful by also gifting a stack of personalized recipe cards filled with your own concoctions. Handwrite some favorites you’ve made for them over the years, especially if it involves using the utensil you purchased. It really is the gift that keeps on giving. DVD AND HOMEMADE SNACKS This is for both the passionate movie fans and the cozy couch surfers on your list. Buy them a DVD of the newest blockbuster or keep an eye out for remastered releases of their old favorites. Pair it with a festive bag full of homemade goodies they can
snack on during movie night. Popcorn flavored with a blend of kitchen spices, homemade fudge to satisfy their sweet tooth, and strategically crafted trail mix consisting of all their favorite ingredients are sure to please. Meaningful and useful gifts don’t have to be expensive. It really is the thought that counts, so get thoughtful and creative with your gifts to make someone smile this season.
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