Gingerbread houses

We did it from start to finish! Vegan Gingerbread houses

We made the dough, created templates (2 triangles and two rectangles), rolled it out, baked it, made the icing, put it together and decorated.

Gingerbread house

I want to make gingerbread houses this year... here is a recipe:
http://vegandad.blogspot.com/2007/12/vegan-gingerbread-house.html

I think I'll need a template... looking into ideas: Here is one like last years:

http://www2.ciachef.edu/media/pdf/CIA_Gingerbread_House.pdf



I'll be back with pictures when we get our act together ;)

Update: I made my own template- exactly like the ones pictured above (two rectangles against two triangles with a little door). And I found the perfect icing recipe here: http://vegetationramblings.blogspot.com/2007/05/molasses-cookies.html

Reprinted...

Vegan Royal Icing:

3 tbsp water
2 tbsp egg replacer powder
3 1/2 cups icing sugar
1/8 tsp cream of tartar

Add water to egg replacer and whip with electric beaters until it's thick. Add cream of tartar and 1/2 a cup of the icing sugar and mix until thick. Add another 1/2 cup of icing sugar and whip until thick again. Finally add the last 3/4 of a cup icing sugar and beat until a thick icing forms. If it's too thick (which mine was) add another 1/8-1/4 cup water slowly while beating until it softens a little (I added too much! Disaster area, seriously!!)

as you can see from reading the recipe, it actually calls for less powdered sugar than the list says. But this really works

Chocolate Recipes worth keeping

"Better-For-You Brownies"
1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 c. pitted chopped dates
1 tsp. instant coffee granules (I use decaf)
1/2 c. boiling water
1/3 c. walnuts
2/3 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 T ground flax with 1/3 cup water egg substitute
1 C plus 1 Tbs. sugar
2 T vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract

-preheat to 350, coat 9 inch sware baking pan with cooking spray
-combine cocoa, dates, coffee. add boiling water and stir until cocoa has dissolved, let stand for 10 minutes or until completely cool
-meanwhile, spread walnuts in shallow baking pan and bake until lightly roasted and fragrant (4-6min). Set aside to cool. Keep oven on.
-In a food processor, combine flour, vaking powder, salt and toasted walnuts; process until walnuts are ground. Transfer mixture to large bowl and set aside.
-With a rubber spatula, scrape cooled cocoa mixture into food processor. Add egg substitute, 1 c sugar, oil an dvanilla and process until smooth, stopping once or twice to scrape down the sides of work bowl. Add to reserved flour mixture and stire just until dry ingredients are moistened
-pour batter into prepared baking pan, spreading evenly. Sprinkle with remaining 1 T sugar. Bake until brownies are firm around edges and just set in center, 25-30 minutes.
-Transfer pan to wire rack and cool completely. To serve, coat sharp knife with cooking spray and cut into 16 squares.

The Best Vegan Chocolate Cake
3 C. four
2 C. Sugar
1/2 C. cocoa
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2/3 c. oil
2 Tbsp white vinegar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 C. water

-mix dry ingredients
-add water, oil, vinegar & vanilla. Mix well
-put into greased/floured cake pans (2 9"rounds) or muffin cups or any shape you'd prefer. Cake pans take 35 minutes in 350 oven, muffins less. Check by inserting toothpick.

Vegan Chocolate Frosting
1 C. sugar
6 T corn starch
4 T cocoa
1/2 t salt
2 T oil
1 C. water
1/2 t vanilla

-mix sugar, cornstarch, salt and cocoa in medium sauce pan. Whisk in water. Heat over medium utnil it gets thick and starts to boil. Boil for 1-2 minutes (not too long or it will set like taffy) Remove from heat and stir in vanilla & oil. Cool and spread on cooled cake (OR, freeze and use later)

Doll diaper set for NAMI exchange

Doll diaper set for NAMI exchange
Originally uploaded by DDN and friends

For the stocking stuffer exchange I made a doll diaper set. This includes a diaper, a wipe and a wetbag. Here you see Brit the bear showing them off.

Mei Tai for R 10.2010

Mei Tai for Ronin 10.2010
Originally uploaded by LMN and Friends

Here is a little Mei Tai that I made for a 2 year old birthday boy. He has a baby sis on the way and his mama has one just like it. Of course, Lillian thinks she needs one now too.

Tree Swap

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Originally uploaded by DDN and friends

Here is the little bag that I made for the recent tree swap. You can't see, but the inside is lined with brown fabric & I included a bunch of wooden 'coins' sealed with beeswax.

Tea Bags for a birthday girl

Tea Bags Aug 2010
Originally uploaded by DDN and friends

Here is the 3rd type of tea bag and so far, my favorite. The last ones used cotton embroidery thread which was breaking down so I tried ribbon this time. I like it a lot better. These are for a 2 year old's birthday.