Gingerbread House - Santa's Home

My Cutter Set - years old but perfect.

A few years back I bought a cutter set for a gingerbread house as I always wanted to make my own little creation. Everytime I saw one at one of the many Christmas markets I went to in my life, I thought, I want to make that (it's a curse as I think that about a lot of things). Anyway, there I was with my set and no idea how to start. Gingerbread has a long tradition in Germany, especially at Christmas time where stalls at Christmas markets are bursting with hearts decorated beautifully with coloured icing and adored by beautiful sayings (most of the times, the hearts would have been made months beforehand and didn't taste that nice anymore but it was delicious if you got a fresh-ish one).

Adding the roof tiles carefully

My wise mum stated the obvious 'have you ever made gingerbread before?' - so I went off and tried all recipes out there until I found the one that not only tasted nice but also stood up to the task of becoming a house covered in icing. The recipe below has been tested over years and I have made many houses and have given classes in making your own gingerbread house and it worked everytime.

It is great to make with children (although you might not get a standing house) as they have fun putting all the sprinkles on (so much that you will still find them around Easter in your kitchen) and it's a great way of getting kids involved in baking and cake decoration. And if you are not confident to start with a house, try your hands on a gingerbread heart instead. 

Gingerbread 

250g unsalted butter

200g dark muscovado sugar

7 tbsp golden syrup

600g plain flour

2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

4 tsp ground ginger

Hardboil sweets (coloured) (optional) 
Sparkles, sugar decorations, mini marshmallows etc. 

Royal Icing

3 egg whites

450g icing sugar

½ teaspoon cream of tartar

½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)

Cake board to fit the house on (use a larger size to create a garden etc)

Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Melt the butter, sugar and syrup in a pan. Mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda and ground ginger into a large bowl, then stir in the butter mixture to make a stiff dough. If it won’t quite come together, add a tiny splash of water.

Cut out a template (or buy cutters). Put a sheet of baking paper on your work surface and roll about one quarter of the dough to the thickness of about 0.5cm. Cut out one of the sections, and then slide the gingerbread, still on its baking paper, onto a baking sheet. You can cut out doors & windows. To create a 'glass window' crush some of the coloured (make sure they are the clear type sweets) and place it in the cutout of the window. It will melt during the baking process and creates a beautiful glass effect. Repeat with remaining dough, re-rolling the trimmings, until you have two sidewalls, a front and back wall and two roof panels. Any leftover dough can be cut into Christmas trees, if you like.

Bake all the sections for 12 mins or until firm and just a little darker at the edges. Leave to cool for a few mins to firm up, then trim around the templates again to give clean, sharp edges. Leave to cool completely.

I normally leave the gingerbread to dry overnight before I am starting to use it for building the house. 

When ready to start, prepare the royal icing. Beat all ingredients on high speed for 10 minutes. The icing will be thick and glossy. This icing hardens quickly, so leave the bowl covered with a damp cloth while working.

It is easier to decorate the  pieces before assembling the house, making sure that the roof tiles are not overloaded. Let your imagination run wild. 

Start with one wall piece and set it on icing

When the icing has dried on the gingerbread pieces, it is ready to be assembled. Start by spreading some of the icing on the cake board and gently press the first wall piece in it to stand up. Don't press too hard. Now, add the side wall to the first wall, again, pressing into the icing gently. Now, still while holding gently, pipe icing in the gap of the joining pieces. It should now stand on its own. Pressing it won't help, so let it be. If you think it is falling, pop something on the inside to hold it up. 

Continue with the other pieces until you have the foundation ready. Now comes the most frightening part, attaching the roof. Pipe a good measure of icing on the rim of the walls and attach the first roof tile, gently pressing it down. It should hold on its own - please don't press as you will move the tiles (trust me on this one). Wait until the icing sets before adding the last piece. 

In case you have used the hardboiled sweets and your door is wide enough, why not light a tea light and put it inside. The light from within will shine through the 'glass' windows. 

Please send me your photos if you are making your own gingerbread house - love to hear from you 

Creation at a class I gave in late November

Creation at a class I gave in late November

Pieces needed for a house with stained window effect

Have everything ready to go

Using an adapter helps if you like to use different nozzles for piping

Add the second wall

Pipe icing into the cap to join the 2 pieces

Adding finishing touches

Use different sprinkles and decorations

Can a menu be creative??

Handwritten Menu 1905

My grandmother used to collect unusual menus from restaurants - she was extremely charming and people couldn't say no when she asked to take one home. She had a small collection as menus are not really that unusual most of the time. I laughed the first time she came home with one - she was so proud that she was able to persuade the waiter to give her the menu. We sat over it and discussed all the items on it, some were in French so we tried to figure out what they were and we even tried to re-cook some of the dishes at home.

Her collection was small because restaurants have normally just simple menus, especially if they change the items on the list. I have recently an article about the science behind written menus and it states that menus should be only one page long, prices only be displayed without the currency sign (kinda agree) and that it should be not be sorted by price but after a chart that has been developed according to how we screen a menu when reading.

Creative modern menu

I always say to chefs, keep the menu simple - the items at least. But what about the design of a menu? Are we really happy with just a page, printed and maybe a little picture on it? Or would we prefer a creative design?? I for example hate laminated menus - it looks cheap and most of the times it is sticky and dirty (funny as it was laminated to keep the paper beneath clean). Don't get me wrong, I am talking about the design not the food.

Printed Menu

So what should be on a menu? Of course, the food, the prices, now also allergies like nuts etc. (a complete list can be found here) and some are now displaying calories (which I don't agree with at all to be honest). These are the fundamental items that need to be on the menu (doesn't make much sense having a menu otherwise now, does it) but the second one is the design of the menu itself. Font, size, colour etc are decisions that most people don't pay much attention to - unfortunately if you ask me.

By researching vintage style menus I came across some beautiful samples - some handwritten ones, some painted and some even so simple, still gorgeous. The Workshop Tea Room in Ballygarvan had a wonderful example from the Cork Airport Restaurant about 50 years old and it looked simply stunning.

So, back to the question, why are modern menus so boring?? Obvious, it can be expensive if you are changing your menu regularly (let's face it, menus should be changed any now and then) and having to reprint it but there are many ideas on how to create a beautiful one. Craft shops are a great place for inspiration, look at vintage samples or simply leave your imagination run wild. Hey, there could be even a new business in for the right person - designing beautiful menus.

Handmade Christmas Stocking

I am really in the groove for Christmas crafting - and these Christmas Stockings are so easy to make and ideal if you have scraps of leftover fabric in your basket, draws or boxes. You could even stitch a name on the top of the stocking to make it even more personal. The size can be varied by enlarging the template. Colours are up to you - I would just recommend that you decide on the order beforehand. The template can also be used for just one colour. Simply cut 2 pieces of fabric according to the template and sew together and finishing it off as below.

You don't need to be a sewing wizzard - as there is no real measuring and you have lines to follow - it couldn't be easier. You can sew it with a machine or by hand - result will be the same.

You will need:

Fabric Scraps
Vlieseline/Rasterquick
Thread
Needle
Bias Binding
Embellishments

Transfer the template onto the vlieseline (available from any fabric shop like Vibes & Scribes, Hickeys etc.) and cut out, leaving a seam of about 0.5cm.

Take 2 fabric scraps and lay them right on right and sew along the line of field 1 (see photo above)

Fold down and press the fold down with your fingernail (we will be ironing the seams later)

You can of course also do it with a machine - I just love the fact that this is so easy to do that I can do it on front of the telly. But of course, the machine will do it a lot faster. 

Continue with the rest of the fabric - always following the numbers and laying the fabric right on right when sewing and folding it down

Continue until all numbered fields have been covered. It will look a bit messy but we are trimming it all nicely into place.

Cut off the overlaying fabric along the lines and iron the seems flat out. It will soften the fabric out as well. You can see now how the stocking will look like.

Add a backing fabric and lay it right on right and sew along the edge, leaving the top open. Taking a bias binding (here I used green) and sew along the top of the stocking. You might like to stitch a name onto it - the best way of doing that would be to use AIDA fabric.

You can add now embellishments - here I added a little bell. You can use beads, sequins etc. your imagination is the limit.

Handmade Christmas Cards

The shops are bursting over with Christmas Cards - from the simple to the extreme - from the naive to the naughty - cards - cards - cards everywhere you go. Buying packs of 10 or even 20 cards is cheaper but you end up sending the same cards to your friends and if they know each other they will know.....(awkward)..... but why not make your own cards. It is simple, less expensive and very personal. It is a great way of spending a cold evening in front of the fire - let your older kids help you - and create unique cards that your friends and family will love.

With the opening of Vibes & Scribes Craft Shop in Bridge Street in Cork, it has never been easier to get hold of crafting material. There is also a craft shop in Princess Street as well as in Paul Street Shopping Centre and most of them will have demonstrations or workshops coming up to Christmas.

Here I am showing you how to make a raised card. All you need is a motive that repeats itself at least 3 times. I have used a sheet of wrapping paper but you can also buy 3D sheets where the motives are printed in copy. A sharp scissors (I am using a really small one), card & envelope, extra paper (I am using here some cotton paper but you can use silk paper or the paper that comes with gifts etc. I am stamping a message in the card and for that I need a stamp with a message, ink pad and embossing powder (only if you want to emboss the message) - last but not least, little 3D pads. You can also use craft silicon - a small drop here and there will have the same effect. 

Selection of items for making a card

Card Sets in craft shops are inexpensive - make sure to look for special offers. I personally love colour coordinating paper but the sky is your limit.

Repeat motive for raise image

Choose a motive that is easy to cut out. Here I am using robbins on flowerpots. I bought this sheet (there were 20 of the same motive) a few years ago for £1 but good quality wrapping paper will do as well. Make sure that the paper is not too thin (just doesn't look right) and that it is easy to cut the motives out.

Cut out each image as it appears

Keep one motive complete - take the second one and cut away the background. You will have to look at the image as if it is already in 3D - the motive that is closest to you is the one that is cut last.

Add little pads on the back of the image

Using the little 3D pads, start arranging them along the single layers - making sure that the pads are not too close to the edges as it could be seen when looking at the card.

Making sure not to go to close to the edges

Start building up the image

Start building up the image - using the first layer as guideline. Add the second layer - third etc. The smallest cut should be last. 

The finished 3D image

Look from the side

Stick 3D motive onto extra paper

Now place your matching paper on a flat surface, add some glue to the top and place the 3D image on top. Press down slightly and let dry. 

Place motive onto card

Now take your card, put some glue to the back of your 3D image and paper and place in on the card. You can place it either in the centre but sometimes it looks nicer off-centre. Here again - your imagination is the limit.

Print or stamp message on inside of card

I have stamped a message in the card but you can print simply a message on matching paper, trim it to fit and affix it to the card. When stamping, dab the ink pad slightly onto the stamp and press the stamp onto the card - press down but don't move your hands at the print will smudge otherwise.

Ready to post

Let it all dry and the card is ready to post. Making your own cards is so easy and quick and a great way of passing an afternoon of rain. Get your girlfriends together, put the kettle on and happy card making :-)

Transforming a Chocolate Tin

Ok, this is not a recipe but since Christmas is coming up and these chocolate tins will pile up in my house (let's face it, Mr T is a chocoholic) I was thinking of ways to dispose or use them. So, since packaging a gift is always tricky and can get expensive with all the wrapping paper etc I thought I am using the tins as gift boxes. It is so easy and possibilities are endless - all you need is a bit of paint (I used a Dulux paint tester but you can use any paint you have left over), PVC glue, a piece of sandpaper, a brush, paper napkin with motives, a scissors and that it all.

Everything to need to transform a box of roses

First, scratch the surface of the tin with the piece of sandpaper - just to ensure that the paint will stick. Wipe the metal clean and apply the paint. Colour is up to you but keep in mind that a dark colour might not be suitable for the napkin motive (but then you can just paint a motive on it yourself). Leave to dry. When dry, apply a second coat of paint - I always leave the inner rim of the tin unpainted to make sure that the lid still fits. Leave to dry again.

Scratch the surface to ensure paint will stick to the metal

Now take the paper napkin and cut out the motive you like to apply onto the tin. You will see that the napkin has three layers of paper. Remove the lower layers so that you are left with just the thin top layer. Now brush a layer of PVC glue to the area where you like to attach the motive. Carefully place the motive on top and smooth onto the tin, removing all bubbles and wrinkles. Leave to dry - the glue will turn transparent when dry. Now paint the top of the motive with a new layer of PVC glue, careful not to damage the motive. If you want it to look professional, paint the entire tin in PVC glue - the motive will feel after about 2 layers as if it has always been on the tin. I didn't and it still looks good :-)

Place a decorative ribbon around and et voila, you have a nice gift tin.

Leave to dry and add second coat

A nice napkin with a motive

Remove layers of paper

Brush with PVC glue and leave to dry

The finished box with a nice ribbon