My tradition of making Christmas gifts stretches back to grade school and most likely the Brownies (the Scouts version not the dessert).  As I was cutting, gluing and painting I thought about the person I was going to present my handmade treasure. At 8 years old, these creations went to the people I loved most - Mom and Dad, Grandma and Aunt.  Not much has changed today as I frost enough gingerbread house pieces to create a sweet subdivision.   This year I’m assembling seven houses but my top has been 13.  (Yes, there is a housing slump in gumdrop land!) Each house takes about 7 hours of work, and I usually get started on the baking the first part of November.

I use a cast iron mold for “log cabins” passed down to me from my mother.  The two-sided mold was made by The John Wright Company of Wrightsville, Pennsylvania (www.jwright.com) that is America’s oldest, continuously operating manufacturer of cast iron products.  I am not a skillful decorator, but I pipe on the basic white icing trim and then box the houses up for families with small children to add the candy touches.

I still spend time during the construction process thinking about those who will receive my Gingerbread Houses: my friends, family, the children and grandchildren.  One family on my list is the Krempaskys: Greg, Kathleen and children Tolye and Yana.  Last Christmas Eve Greg and Kathleen arrived back in the states with their newly adopted family, a brother and sister from Russia.  I hope that my simple homemade gift brings them as much joy as it did for me in making it for them.  After all, I had the pleasure of thinking about them for 7 full hours and that is the secret of home made gifts!

 

Travel safe on the BlueHighways this holiday season!

Denise