DIANE'S CORNER ..
Celebrate Gingerbread House Day
Gingerbread houses are a favorite holiday pastime with families, be it with parents, grandparents, or even both! But these delicious, decorative bread houses have always been a staple of the holiday season for as long as people can remember. Where did they come from? Who came up with the idea? To answer those questions, we must follow the ghost of holiday’s past into the history of Gingerbread House Day!
Learn about Gingerbread House Day
Whether you consider yourself an expert at building gingerbread houses or you are the type of person that starts eating your creation half-way through, you’re going to love Gingerbread House Day. After all, we can all agree that the best part of the process is eating the delicious gingerbread and decorations, no matter whether you managed to turn it into a work of art beforehand or not. Gingerbread House Day is a great way to bring the family together, have some fun, and most importantly, eat some tasty and festive gingerbread.
Gingerbread is a broad category of baked goods. It relates to goods that tend to be baked and flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and gingers. Molasses, sugar, and honey are also used to sweeten the gingerbread. Gingerbread foods can range from something resembling a ginger snap to a very moist and soft loaf cake.
Of course, when it comes to gingerbread for gingerbread houses, you need a good, strong biscuit. The last thing you want is for your gingerbread house to crumble to the ground. Of course, don’t bake it until it becomes a brick either unless you don’t intend on eating it afterwards!
History of Gingerbread House Day
Food historians ratify that ginger has been seasoning foodstuffs and drinks since antiquity. It is believed gingerbread was first baked in Europe at the end of the 11th century when returning crusaders brought back the custom of spicy bread from the Middle East. Ginger was not only tasty; it had properties that helped preserve the bread.
According to a French legend, gingerbread was brought to Europe in 992 A.D. by the Armenian monk and later saint, Gregory of Nicopolis (Gregory Makar). Gingerbread figurines date back to the 15th century and baking human-shaped biscuits was practiced in the 16th century.
The gingerbread bakers were gathered into professional baker guilds. In many European countries, gingerbread bakers were a distinct component of the bakers’ guild. Gingerbread baking developed into an acknowledged profession. In the 17th century, only professional gingerbread bakers were permitted to bake gingerbread except at Christmas and Easter. In Europe, gingerbreads shaped like hearts, stars, soldiers, trumpets, swords, pistols and animals were sold in special shops and seasonal markets.
The tradition of making decorated gingerbread houses started in Germany in the early 1800’s. According to certain researchers, the first gingerbread houses were the result of the well-known Grimm’s fairy tale Hansel and Gretel. In modern times the tradition has continued in certain places in Europe. In Germany, the Christmas markets still sell decorated gingerbread before Christmas. (Lebkuchenhaus or Pfefferkuchenhaus are the German terms for a gingerbread house.)
There have been some pretty significant dates in the world of gingerbread over the years. We’re sure you’re familiar with The Gingerbread Man fairytale, the one that goes “Run, run, run as fast as you can, you can’t catch me, I’m the gingerbread man!” Well, this was released in 1875. It was part of the St. Nicholas Magazine’s May issue at the time.
One of the most significant dates when it comes to gingerbread houses, though, was in 2015. This is when the biggest gingerbread house in the world was created. The gingerbread house covered an area of a monumental 2,520 square-feet. To put this into perspective, this is roughly half of the size of a typical tennis court. It reached 21-feet in height. It also amassed to 35.8 million calories, but let’s not think about those pesky things! Crowned as the biggest gingerbread house in the Guinness World Records, this feat occurred in Bryan, Texas.
thanks, Michele, Picture Coordinator
JOKE OF THE DAY
checking out the tree - the star is at their eye level
WORD OF THE DAY
bibliophagist
MEANING:noun: One who loves to read books; a bookworm.
ETYMOLOGY:From Greek biblio- (book) + -phage (one who eats). Earliest documented use: 1881. Another form of the word is bibliophage.
USAGE:“Birkerts has always been a bibliophagist, from his early days roaming in The Jungle Book and adventuring with the Hardy Boys and James Bond, and he recognizes one of his life’s great fortunes -- to be able to read and write both for pleasure and profit.”
Books for the Ages; Kirkus Reviews (Austin, Texas); Nov 15, 2006.
Books for the Ages; Kirkus Reviews (Austin, Texas); Nov 15, 2006.
get festive the PEI way xoxo
TODAY'S ARTIST
IDIOM OF THE DAYWhat does 'bottoms-up' mean?
Meaning:
Equivalent to 'Cheers' when drinking with someone.
thanks, Patsy
thanks, Patsy
on Christmas Day back then....
(Not So) TOTALLY USELESS FACTS OF THE DAY
If you try to hold a sneeze, you can injure your diaphragm, bruise your eye, rupture an eardrum, or even burst a blood vessel in your brain.
In 1987, a man named Mike Hayes persuaded 2.8 million people to send him a penny each for his college education.
People who wear crazy socks may be more brilliant and successful, according to researchers from Harvard University. Nonconforming behavior can be more beneficial to someone than trying to fit in and wearing unique socks can make a
person appear to have a higher status.
guys sure do this well....
person appear to have a higher status.
COFFEE
thanks, Ella
Oregon, USA
knit
thanks, Paige
knit
thanks, Cindy
knit
knit
knit
KNIT PATTERNS OF THE DAY
Ruby the Christmas Monkey -
Juliana Christmas Tree Sweater -
crochet
PANTRY RECIPE
Dear Santa, Cookie wants a bigger bed please
CROCKPOT RECIPE
VEGAN/ VEGETARIAN RECIPE
Both vegetarian and vegan diets may provide health benefits, including reduced body weight, lower cholesterol levels, and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, it is important for vegetarians and vegans to ensure that they are meeting all of their nutritional requirements.
RETRO RECIPE
SWEETS RECIPE
Ingredients:
- ½ Cup Coconut Oil
- ½ Cup Monkfruit Sugar
, blended in food processor to a powder consistency
- 3 tsp. Pure Peppermint Extract
- 1/3 Cup Cacao Powder
- 1/3 Cup Coconut Oil
- 1 Tbs. Monkfruit Sugar
Directions:
In a small bowl, whip together the first three ingredients until creamy. Microwave the coconut oil for a few seconds if it is too firm. Drop by the heaping teaspoon onto wax paper, and flatten with a knife or spoon. Freeze the patties for 15 minutes. In a small bowl, microwave the coconut oil and monkfruit sugar until warm, and whisk in the cacao powder. Quickly dip the patties into the chocolate mixture, and set back on the wax paper. Redip each patty 1-2 more times, until you get the coverage you like!
ADULT COLORING
Answer:
CRAFTS
PUZZLE
WORD SEARCH
| banker beguile destination elope enter flair | grain holster ideal listen mate mental | onion prove rails remit resign rifle rinse rolling | sees sloth snags sole sommersault speed stale start state stir surrealist | tarot temperature theme timer tours troll twitch waist |
SUDOKU .. hard
poor, poor western Canada... but getting warmer....
Should Someone Be Sorry For Wanting To Be Perfect?
QUOTE
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
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