Lavish Rebellion [DOT COM]

I haven’t built a classic gingerbread house since my days in kindergarten (I want to say I did sometime again between second and fourth grade), and it’s been years since! I was definitely in the holiday and Christmas spirit this December, so while browsing the Christmas merchandise at Target, I purchased a “Build Your Own Gingerbread House Kit” complete with gingerbread pieces, frosting as glue, and candy bits.

I built my house on Christmas Eve while watching classic Christmas specials featuring Garfield, The Simpsons, the California Raisins, Frosty the Snowman, Peewee (yes) and Charlie Brown. I also poured myself a glass of wine in order to have this kitschy cross-generational within myself. I’m a late twenty-something, drinking wine, and building a gingerbread home.

It was fun once I got the hang of it, but dang, at first I was confused! I didn’t realize the roof would be so long on both sides of the house! Twice the house fell apart before the frosting could officially dry and I had to start over. Once settled, I got to placing the candy. In the end, I could’ve been more creative with mine, but oddly I discovered that squeezing out the frosting was like a hand and arm workout. They were tired! But I was able to put it together!

Gingerbread houses are really a big deal with every holiday season too. There are conventions and competitions in which builders create or re-create the most elaborate houses and buildings, all with just food items. After my photos, watch a video of the Taj Hotel’s, in Boston, re-imagining of the Boston Tea Party, entirely done with the gingerbread house rule of thumb!

Happy holidays!