Make a messy gingerbread house from scratch

How to make a Messy Gingerbread House from scratch – with Mumsymess and Lee Valley

 
First wake-up on a Saturday at about 6 a.m. excited to start the day baking a ginger bread house. Blow the dust off the box that your metal Lee Valley Gingerbread kit has been stored in for the last year and kick start your day. Don’t fuss when you don’t have any of the ingredients and candies that you might need. Hop in your cold car with your four-year old and head to the “banana store” aka No Frills, get every candy known to man- and almost forget the important part- all of the ingredients (don’t worry the nice cashier will find the lard for you)!
 
Now make the dough. Make sure you don’t get all the lard or molasses out of the measuring cup because then your ginger bread will be extra crispy and crumble when you try to put it together.
Now after everything is mixed- and cooled – and your day is almost half over, it is now time to start baking the house.  In the middle of the baking time, decide that it would be a fantastic idea to go on a little tour to downtown Oakville to take your child on a horse wagon ride. Don’t worry, your husband can look after your ginger bread mold- not a problem.  
 
The best part- Candies, icing sugar and food colouring- Make sure your little one has a princess dress on, and is able to sort all the candies for you- that is a good job for her. While you huff and puff and curse in your head about how much you suck when it comes to baking ginger bread. and please do not yell for your husband to help because he will only tell you- that you did not put all the lard and molasses into the ingredients which made it really dry and that is why it is crumbling- No fear, just use a lot of icing and candy to cover it up and everyone will be happy.
 
A tip- please eat alot of candies because they are just so tasty! And your child will love that you are loosening up just a bit when it comes to sugar!
http://www.leevalley.com/en/html/kc303ie.pdf
Shari Nelson is an advertising sales rep at City Parent and a contributor to the magazine's social media, including Facebook and Twitter. She has a background in Early Child Care Education, a 3-year-old daughter, a 9-year-old dog, and a hamster. She aspires to own chickens and a goat – maybe a farm one day, a dream she shares with her amazing and talented husband.