Gingerbread sculptures have a special distinction among baked goods that few people remember. In 17^th century Europe, only professional gingerbread bakers were allowed to work with gingerbread except on Christmas and Easter, when the ingredients were made available to the public. Gingerbread molds were extensive and complex, including religious icons and three-dimensional sculptures that were made for special gifts like weddings and religious ceremonies.

After Grimm’s Hansel and Gretel became popular, German gingerbread bakers began crafting gingerbread houses with frosting and candy. German immigrants in the mid-1800s brought the practice to America, where gingerbread houses turned into a Christmas tradition.

Films Du Jour:

• Gingerbread Journey doc
• Shrek
• Thomas Kinkade’s Christmas Cottage
• All The Hansels and Gretels

Miscellaneous:

• Gingerbread house ideas
• World’s largest gingerbread house

Snacks du Jour:

• Gingerbread latte
• Ginger snaps
• Gingerbread Cookies

Cocktail Du Jour – Gingerbread Cocktail

This recipe is from aubreyskitchen.com

• 1 oz vodka
• 2 oz Bailey’s Irish Cream
• 1 oz gingerbread syrup
• 4 oz half-n-half

Rim chilled martini glass with syrup and then crushed graham crackers. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 30 seconds. Strain into glass.

Mocktail Du Jour – Gingerbread Mocktail

• 3 oz non-alcoholic Bailey’s Irish Cream
• 5 oz gingerbread syrup
• 4 oz half-n-half

Rim chilled martini glass with syrup and then crushed graham crackers. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 30 seconds. Strain into glass.

Beer Du Jour

Matso’s Ginger Beer from Australia was recently voted the best alcoholic ginger beer, but any Ginger will do, and you can find plenty of non-alcoholic brands too if you have a no-drinking policy while you’re baking.

Wine Du Jour

Wintertraum Gluhwein

Use freshly squeezed citrus in your cocktails and mocktails when called for – It makes such a difference! Here’s a reliable and inexpensive juicer.

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“Gingerbread house” by Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar is licensed under CC BY 2.0