Bye Bye 2008!!

I guess you could say we went out with a CRASH! :lol: We celebrated coming into 2009 by destroying the gingerbread house.
The recipe I used, is one I would highly recommend. You can make it soft enough for cookies, or hard enough to build a 5-story castle ;)

Loreta’s Favorite Gingerbread Dough

5 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp ginger
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cloves
1 cup shortening (I used butter flavor crisco sticks-1)
1 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups molasses
2 eggs beaten

In a large saucepan, melt shortening over low heat. While shortening in melting, (we are all about multi-tasking) in a separate bowl stir together flour, salt and spices (if using cookies add 1 tsp baking soda). When shortening is half melted, remove from heat and continue to stir until completely melted. Add sugar, molasses and beaten eggs. Mix well and quickly (to prevent eggs from cooking). Add molasses mixture to flour mixture. For best results mix it all in counter-top mixer. This is a lot of dough!! Cover and refridgerate until firm enough to handle.

Bake at 35 degrees for up to 14 minutes. Smaller pieces for as little as 6 minutes. The longer you cook it the harder/firmer it is.

Royal Icing

2 lb bag of powdered sugar
5 egg whites
1 tsp cream of tarter

Mix well, it should be very stiff. Add water (by the teaspoon) if you want it thinner.