We decorated gingerbread houses last year and we enjoyed it so much I decided I want to make it a tradition. I still haven't figured out how to include our Utah Brewer's in the fun, but I am open to ideas. I fixed invitations and handed them out on Thanksgiving. The goal was to get my single adult kids on a day they wouldn't be working and catch Jason in town. We figured on the second Sunday in December. The grand kids asked me every time they saw me was time for the party yet. I made a made list of the candy I thought we would like and still forgot plenty. I am saving on the computer and adding the things we wished we would have had so hopefully we will do better next time. I spend several weeks, everytime I went to the grocery store collecting the candy.
I used Wilton boards I bought at Joann's in a pack for the base. I believe they were 10" circles. I used 2 boxes of graham crackers for the houses, but wished I would have gotten 3 because I had to piece a couple of walls in a few houses. There is always breakage in the packages. I used Royal Icing from Wilton for the cement for my houses. I doubled or tripled the recipe, and we almost ran out. I need to quadriple it next year. I built all the houses the night before.
Everyone came straight here after Church that day, we had a quick, but nice lunch of French dip sandwiches, chips, and a salad. Rick asked what dessert I was fixing....who needs dessert when you are going to be decorating houses and eating candy?
The best part was, though we missed her, Zoë slept through the whole thing. 16 month olds and a project like this, just don't mix!
Hint: I don't every decorate- though I keep planning to do mine ahead of time- you really need one person to be the helper, especially with the children. The parents helped the children too, but I like watching and seeing everyone...plus someone needs to document the fun! Merry Christmas!
