For Kim

Kim asked what mold I use for the houses. It's shown at left here. I love it! It's cast iron and weighs a ton but it bakes to perfection.

The molds say "John Wright Company" on them. I highly recommend having two of them as one only makes a half of a house and the baking goes much faster when you can bake a whole house at once.

Also here is the recipe for the houses. Note these are not for eating- you would break a tooth! The dough is very nice and sturdy, almost like clay. No eggs, and no leavening agent so it bakes just the way you roll it or press it in the mold. Also note the "icing cement" uses egg whites so it really shouldn't be eaten either.

3/4 cup shortening

3/4 cup dark molasses

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup cold water

4 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cloves

3/4 tsp salt

cream shortening, molasses, sugar, and water together. Add flour and spices.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or so, until the parts seem done. This will make a lovely aroma in your house so you may want to make real gingerbread cookies for actual eating!

Icing Cement

2 large egg whites

1 tsp cream of tarter

beat until stiff peaks form

add about 3 1/2 cups of powdered sugar.

Make sure the cement for assembling the houses is good and stiff. For decorating it can be a bit softer, and to make icicles you can add a bit of water to a small portion of the icing.