FairieMoon

Goodwill Baking...

You've heard of Goodwill Hunting, right?

Well, this is goodwill baking. Along with engaging in a bit of fun with a Gingerbread House Baking Contest, the girls thought it would be nice to bake a large batch of gingerbread hearts to send to friends, family and other deserving souls this holiday season.

As they were baking, smell of gingerbread and cinnamon filled the whole house.

They worked really hard and made batch after batch after batch.

By the way, I promised FIVE episodes, but I ended up combining two of them...it made more sense. But if you enjoyed this adventure, please check back because I have a few more in the works.

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Any one who purchases one of our gingerbread dresses will also receive a small batch of cinnamon hearts as a wee holiday gift.

Because I wanted to make something that was non-toxic rather than using polymer clay, I made these "cookies" from cinnamon dough. You can make them as well.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cinnamon powder
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup white glue like Elmer's
• extra water, if needed

Mix together the ingredients until a cookie like dough forms.

Kneed the dough until smooth.

Place dough in a bowl and cover lightly with a piece of plastic wrap and let it sit for at least 1/2 hour.

Remove the dough and knead again until smooth if needed.

Placing small amounts of the dough between two pieces of wax paper, roll the dough out to a thickness of about 1/8 inch. If the dough is too sticky, you can dust the paper and the top of the dough with cinnamon to prevent sticking.

Cut out desired shapes, make holes in them with a straw for a ribbon and place them on a clean piece of wax paper to dry.

Place cinnamon "cookies" in a warm dry place to dry. Depending on the size and thickness of your pieces and the humidity in your house, this will take anywhere from a half day to 3 days. Turn the pieces at intervals to encourage even drying. (The tiny hearts dried in about a half a day and the larger, ornament sized hearts dried in about two days sitting in the room with the pellet stove).

Once dry, you can decorate them as you wish.

These make sweet smelling ornaments and gifts.

Enjoy!

 

(I adapted this recipe from one I found here. I wonder if you could also add ginger for a little different flavor.)

 

I would love to hear from you. Do you have any fun recipes or small crafts to share with me? Or suggestions for new stories? Please leave me a comment or drop me an email.

 

 

The Results...

If you remember, yesterday we left the girls making their way to the living room to enjoy a snack while they awaited the results of the contest.

In the living room, the Weathertop girls are getting quite anxious. I believe a few of them have been biting their nails with the suspense.

They are standing in small tightly formed clumps waiting for Mrs. Witherwax to arrive and announce the results. Dido Twite and Niamh seem to be engaged in a deep conversation.

Hitty Dauphine, though nervous on the inside, remains remarkably composed on the outside.

Hitty Moon nervously helps herself to a piece of cake.

Hitty Too has a piece as well, but she feels far too anxious to take a bite. They've all worked very hard and although only one of the teams will walk away with the prize today, I think they all deserve a big round of applause.

"Girls. Gather round." Mrs. Witherwax exclaims. "After consulting a few guest judges on loan to us from the Weathertop Primary School, I believe we have settled on a winner."

"Although each and every one of your houses was spectacular, the judges and I feel that one house in particular really captured our imaginations. I am pleased to announce that the winner of the First Annual Black Friday Gingerbread House Bake-off is..."

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What do you think? Are you ready to hear who will be taking home the trophy this year? Oh...okay, I will get on with the storytelling.

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"The Woodland House, created by Hitty Dauphine and Hitty Too!"

They do look pleased, don't they?

I wonder what the Weathertoppers will do with all of those fancy gingerbread houses now that the contest is over?

I wouldn't worry about that too much. I am sure we will find a way to put them to good use.

It seems that a few of the judges felt the need to take an even closer look...if you know what I mean...

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Although the contest is over, there is still one chapter left to come. The girls have one more baking task left to complete before they are done.

Join us tomorrow any time after 8 am for the final installment of the Gingerbread Adventure.

Listen...I absolutely LOVE creating these little adventures for you, but even more fun for me is to hear what you think about them. Please leave me a comment or drop me an email. I will even try to answer them! Imagine that!

 

Pins and Needles...

The work is done, the kitchen has been cleaned and the Weathertop girls are waiting on pins and needles for the judging of their gingerbread houses to begin.

Mrs. Witherwax will be officiating.

"Hmmm..." she says as she inspects Hittys Dauphine and Too's house, "I like the woodland details on this house."

"Oh!" Mrs. Witherwax exclaims looking at Hitty Moon and Niamh's candy shop house, "This one is really different."

"Wow! This one is elaborate." says Mrs. Witherwax. "I love the clock detail!"

"Well done girls! All of these houses deserve awards! I am going to have a hard time choosing. I think I might need to bring in a few helpers. In the meantime, why don't you go on up to the living room? I have prepared a snack for you to enjoy while you wait the results."

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I wonder which house will win?

What do you think?

I had to bring in helpers to decide as well...

Be sure to tune in tomorrow any time after 8 am for the final results of the contest.

Weathertop Black Friday Bake-off

This year the Weathertop girls decided that instead of going shopping on Black Friday, they would host a Black Friday Gingerbread House Bake-off.

The girls, decked out in festive gingerbread dresses and crisp white aprons, gathered in the living room for the opening ceremonies.

Hitty Too and Dauphine do a little last minute strategizing.

Dido Twite is excited to get started.

Mrs. Witherwax calls them all to order. "Hear, hear! Welcome to Weathertop's First Annual Black Friday Gingerbread House Bake-off! I hope you are all ready to get baking. All supplies and decorations for your houses have been generously provided by the Weathertop Primary Schoo. If everyone is ready, please proceed to the kitchens and get started."

Hittys Too and Dauphine get ready to mix up the batter.

The other girls gather supplies and get started.

While the gingerbread is in the ovens, Hitty Too cleans up the kitchen in preparation for the house assembly.

Niamh rolls out some decorations while Hitty Moon arranges candy on the front of their house.

Butterbean works on the front of the house while Dido Twite prepares a special feature.

Meanwhile Hittys Dauphine and Too arrange the details of their house.

I am sure you are all anxious to see the results of all the girls work. Please stay tuned for each installment of this five part Weathertop adventure kicking off the 2010 Holiday season. Tomorrow's installment featuring the big reveal will be scheduled to air at 8am tomorrow morning.

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All of these dresses and aprons are available for purchase. I have now more than completed the Weathertop 100 Dresses Project; however, I have not attached the final two tags to any dresses. The first two people to purchase dresses/aprons will receive the final 100 Dresses Series dresses complete with numbered tags.

The Plain Jane Gingerbread Dresses...

...are available for $18 + $3 shipping within the Continental United States (please contact me for shipping overseas). There are four Plain Jane Gingerbreads available for purchase. They look fabulous with either apron selection.

There are two Gingerbread Crossover Dresses available.

These are available for $22 + $3 shipping within the Continental United States.

These dresses close in the back with a small brass safety pin. I will include snaps with your purchase so that you can install them to fit your doll. Alternately, if you prefer to have the snaps pre-installed, I would be glad to install the snaps for you for an extra $2.

There are two apron styles available for purchase. I am selling them separately in case someone wants just the dress or just the apron. These aprons compliment any style dress.

Apron No. 1 has a dainty pinafore bodice with a gathered apron attached. The waistband snaps closed in the back.

Apron No. 2 is a smock-style apron which closes in the back with a snap.

I have four of each of these aprons available. They are cute as they are, but they would also be sweet with some embroidered embellishments. I will leave all embellishment and personalization of these aprons to your imagination. Theys are available for $25 + $3 shipping within the Continental US. However, if you purchase a dress and an apron together, you will receive a $5 discount plus combined shipping.

If you are interested in purchasing any of these dresses/aprons, please email me for details.