2013 Gingerbread House Plans

Each year my family gets together to decorate gingerbread houses.  My Mom and Dad are the construction crew and the grandchildren, myself, a couple of sisters and aunts are the decorators.

A couple of years ago, we decided that this would be our Thanksgiving afternoon craft.  You know, when the boys are all passed out from the huge meal and there's only football on TV. 

 

We all bring candy supplies and have a grand ole time.  Some of us... me mainly.... feel better if they have a plan in mind before the decorating begins.  This year I came up with two themes for myself .  I decided to go with Chocolate Explosion!  I am so excited!  I have Coco Puffs, mini Snickers, mini Reeses, a chocolate Santa.  Here are my inspiration pages and pictures. 

 

 

 

I love all the inspiration that can be found in books and online.  Crazy ideas!  Mine seems to always end up sloppy but it's all so much fun.  I will print out  my inspiration page to carry along with me so I don't get sidetracked.  Here's my inspiration and house plans from last year.



lovin right now

 

 

 

Just a teeny list of things I am slightly addicted to at the moment. 

 

 

Sweatshirt from Target men's department.  I seriously do not want to take it off.  It is so soft and warm, just long enough and just loose enough.  Hard to believe it's made for a man.

 

Also made for men... Hanes 4 pack, v-neck tees in black and gray.  I already expressed my love for the white ones, so I thought I'd get some other colors.  Comfortable and relaxing.

 

Dots skinny jeans.  I have had my pair for at least two years and never wear them... until recently.  They are so comfy and hold me just right and came in at a great price.

 

Roasted peanuts and candy corn!  I have to have a handful every night!  The combination of salted peanuts and candy corn sweetness tastes like a Payday candy bar.  Be sure to get the salted nuts and not be like me who was too cheap to spring for Planters nuts and had to get the lightly salted Kroger brand because that's all they had... not the same.  Boo.

 

Movies based at holiday time.  I was making ornaments last Sunday and watched The Holiday twice and The Family Stone once.  It made me cry too much to watch it twice.  I'm not quite ready tor Elf and A Christmas Story.  Easin' right in to the season here.

Gingerbread House Plans

Each year, around Christmas time, the kids in my family all get together and decorate gingerbread houses.  Mom cuts out brown foam core board and glues it together on wooden disks covered in aluminum foil.  We all bring candy to decorate with which always ends up with a huge assortment of building supplies.  The day of, Mom makes Royal icing that is just stiff enough to hold the candy in place.  We all have a blast. 

Last year, instead of finding a Saturday during December that we are all free, we decided to make them on Thanksgiving and fore go the nap after tearing into the bird.  So while all the guys are napping the gals and kids venture into the basement for gingerbread shop class! 

Generally, I like to plan what my house is going to look like or a theme that I would like to stick to.  This year I want to go a little more down to earth and natural.  I want to make a sort of "house in the woods" which won't be that easy to do considering I don't have any edible moss or tree branches.  Did I mention our decorated houses must be edible... the decorations anyway.  So we have simple guidelines to follow which means I will be carousing the candy aisle this week and pulling out the brown cereal.  My main items to work with this year will be Golden Grahams for the roof, sticks of gum for walk ways, and chow mien noodles of which I have no clue how I am going to use yet. 

So here are inspiring houses that I found.  Notice that not many of them are actual candy houses.  But still inspiring.  I am going to have to find lots of green candy and take a lot of patience with me!  Pictures will follow.

Confession Time

Well I did it. I managed to make something I can't stop eating... once again!

This winter I was lucky enough to get on the Florida grapefruit/orange bandwagon with my friend Jenn and order me up a box and a half of fruit. I got a whole box of grapefruit and a half a box of the sweetest oranges I think I've ever tasted! Great crop this year! A fellow blogging friend of mine made candied lemon peels last year from a batch of lemons she had ordered, you have to order these things when you're not in the state that they come from, and they looked so tasty. So last night I was squeezing some fresh orange juice, which is out of this world good, and at the same time wishing I had ordered and entire box of oranges and a half box of grapefruit, and I thought hey... save the peels for orange candy. BRILL!! After eating several of them after they were made last night I have continued to munch on them all throughout the day today! Hence.. blog-worthy!


Fruit Candy

3 oranges
Water
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
1/2 tablespoon corn syrup
Extra sugar

Cut oranges in quarters, remove pulp for another use. Cut slices into half inch wide strips. Place strips of orange peel into a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil of medium heat, boil gently for 2 minutes. Drain peels.

Combine sugar, water and corn syrup in pan and bring to a boil over high heat. Add rinds and boil covered for 15 minutes. Remove cover and boil rinds for 20 minutes more. Remove to cookie racks using tongs to separate pieces. Roll pieces in granulated sugar and few pieces at a time and place back on racks or wax paper. Allow to air dry 24 hours. Store in air tight containers.

The recipe I used tells you to store them in the refrigerator. Others don't say this. I don't figure mine will last long enough to go bad.