Sunday, December 27, 2009

GINGERBREAD HOUSE - THE DARING BAKERS

Wow, I can't believe that time has come to post yet another Daring Bakers' recipe. This month passed so quickly. Here I am blogging about the latest Daring Bakers' Challenge again, crazy!

The December 2009 Daring Bakers’ challenge was brought to you by Anna of "Very Small Anna" and Y of "Lemonpi" who chose to challenge Daring Bakerseverywhere to bake and assemble a "Gingerbread House" from scratch. They chose recipes from Good Housekeeping and from The Great Scandinavian Baking Book as the challenge recipes.

Making a "Gingerbread House" was a big first for me. Although I love baking, I'm not too keen on decorating cakes or cookies. The reason is that I'm not skilled in that domain and lack experience. It is my weak point, yet I'd love to learn how to decorate baked goods and the like. Anything having to do with being an artist when it comes to food sends shivers down my spine and scares me to the highest point...

Anyway, I was not going to let myself get impressed by the task and started the job without thinking about the challenge that was awaiting me. I made my gingerbread dough using Beatrice Ojakangas' recipe, rolled it, cut it in the desired shapes and baked it. Then, I decorated each part and built the house as best as I could.

I really put all my heart to the task and it showed.
The final result was rather stunning and it filled me up with pride. My house actually looked like a house and was pretty enough to be exposed right next to my miniature Chritsmas tree!

I wish to thank Anna and Y for having chosen such a great recipe! I really enjoyed making that "Gingerbread House" and was so happy to have proved myself capable of having certain decorating skills...

~ Gingerbread House ~
Adapted from "The Great Scandinavian Baking Book" by Beatrice Ojakangas.

Preparation Time:
5-10 minutes to mix the dough
2 hours to chill
5 minutes to roll
10 to cut 15 minutes to bake
Estimated 4-7 hours from start to finish including chilling

Equipment Needed:
Stand or handheld electric mixer (not required but it will make mixing the dough a lot easier and faster)
Plastic wrap
Rolling pin
Parchment paper
Baking sheets
Cardboard cake board or sheet of thick cardboard
Foil, if desired
Small saucepan
Small pastry brush (optional)
Piping bag with small round tip, or paper cornets if you're comfortable with them.

SCANDINAVIAN GINGERBREAD

Ingredients:
1 Cup 8226g) Unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 Cup (220g) Light brown sugar, well packed
2 Tbs Ground cinnamon
4 Tsps Ground ginger

3 Tsps Ground cloves
2 Tsps Baking soda

1/2 Cup boiling water
5 Cups (875g) All-purpose flour


Method:
1. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until blended. Add the cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Mix the baking soda with the boiling water and add to the dough along with the flour. Mix to make a stiff dough. If necessary add more water, a tablespoon at a time. Chill 2 hours or overnight.
2. Cut patterns for the house, making patterns for the roof, front walls, gabled walls, chimney and door out of cardboard.
3. Roll the dough out on a large, ungreased baking sheet and place the patterns on the dough. Mark off the various pieces with a knife, but leave the pieces in place (I rolled out the dough on a floured bench, roughly 1/8 inch thick - which allows for fact that the dough puffs a little when baked-, cut required shapes and transferred these to the baking sheet. Any scraps I saved and rerolled at the end).
4. Preheat the oven to 375'F (190'C). Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the cookie dough feels firm. After baking, again place the pattern on top of the gingerbread and trim the shapes, cutting the edges with a straight-edged knife. Leave to cool on the baking sheet

***************

ROYAL ICING

Ingredients:
1 Large egg white

220g Powdered sugar
1 Tsp Almond extract


Method:
1. Beat egg white until frothy, adding the powdered sugar gradually to get the desired consistency.
2. Pipe on pieces and allow to dry befo
re assembling (If you aren’t using it all at once you can keep it in a small bowl, loosely covered with a damp towel for a few hours until ready to use. You may have to beat it slightly to get it an even consistency if the top sets up a bit. Piped on the house, this will set up hard over time).

****************

SIMPLE SYRUP

Ingredients:

2 Cups Sugar

Method:

1. Place in a small saucepan and heat until just boiling and the sugar dissolves.
2. Dredge or brush the edges of the pieces to glue them tog
ether (If the syrup crystallizes, remake it).

***************

Etant donné la longueur du texte original, je n'ai malheureusement pas pu faire une traduction française de ce billet et je m'en excuse auprès de tous mes amis lecteurs et blogueurs francophones!

C'est pourquoi je vous suggère de vous rendre sur le blog mentionné ci-dessous. Vous y trouverez cette recette en version française.

Chez Isa de "Les Gourmandises d'Isa" (Canada)

118 comments:

  1. Rosa that is lovely. I was just talking about making one with my son.He's getting ambitious and is suggesting how we could make a mansion. Scares me :)

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  2. wow Rosa, elle est tout simplement magnifique ! Bravo :)

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  3. Rosa, (my mom's name so a personal affection for this lovely monarcher)
    Your G-House is absolutely gorgeous! The pics are very cool, too. Great job. It was my first time also and I just may add it to the traditions.

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  4. Rosa, it looks pro! Gorgeous.Happy Holidays.

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  5. This is fantastic! I've always wanted to make my own Gingerbread House..

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  6. Awesome Rosa! we made one too-- my mom has a swedish recipe :) Hope you are having a great holiday-- can't wait to see you in the new year!
    bisous- jess

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  7. Wow..I love it..pretty and neat and not too fanciful!

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  8. Beautiful house Rosa. Love the decorations

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  9. Well now, aren't you crafty! The gingerbread house looks fab...may I eat a wall?

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  10. Wow, you did fantastic job Rosa! Very festive.

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  11. une maison de fée elle est magnifique
    bonne journée

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  12. Well done Rosa! It'[s so very pretty, and I love how you used almonds on the roof. Happy holidays and best wishes fro the new year :)

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  13. How lovey! I hope you are having wonderful holiday time!

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  14. For being your first, you did a super job.

    Gingerbread houses are so much fun to make and so beautiful to look at.

    Happy New Year.

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  15. Rosa, your Gingerbread house looks so lovely. You did a great job in decorating!

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  16. This is absolutely beautiful and hope to remember and make one next year.
    Happy holidays and all the best for the upcoming New Year.

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  17. Ce qu'elle est belle ta maison !!!!
    C'est dommage de la manger !
    Je te souhaite un excellent dimanche,
    Bisous, Doria

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  18. verry tres tres tresssssssss beau....et surement verry tres tres bon(lol) bisous a toi et "bon bout d'an"

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  19. Ola Ola Rosa,so beautiful a ginger bread home...am so inspired to make one myself ....
    Happy hols......

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  20. Rosa this is absolutely georgeous, I admire you had time to this Rosa!! really you love this! the pictures are awsome as well!! huggs gloria

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  21. What a wonderful job you did!! Happy happy Christmas to you and your family!! Hope you had a great celebration too :-)

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  22. It looks wonderful Rosa! And you know what, I'm not much of a cookie decorator either, but I think we both managed to pull through on this one :D

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  23. J'ai adoré l'expérience lors de ma formation en pâtisserie. C'était tellement le fun!
    J'aurais bien aimé en faire une cette année, mais faute de temps, j'ai pas pu.
    Je me reprendrai peut-être l'an prochain.
    :)

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  24. Très belle ! On ne l'oublie jamais, les filles adorent, mais ça prend du temps... Je note la déco en sucre poudré coloré

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  25. That is simply beautiful, Rosa! I am loving this bakers challenge! Never had the patience to do one. Probably never will either. No patience. And these take patience! Great work!!

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  26. elle est magnifique quel travail
    félicitations!!

    Bonne Année
    Sakya xx

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  27. C'est magnifique, bravo !
    Joyeuses fêtes à toi Rosa !

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  28. Trop jolie ta maison, bravo!
    Je n'aurais tout simplement la patience de la faire et de la décorer:)

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  29. I love your gingerbread house! It looks gorgeous and cute!! Amazing job on this challenge

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  30. A lovely gingerbread house, Rosa! The decorations are really pretty.

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  31. absolument superbe ! encore merci pour tes commentaires et bonnes fêtes! biz

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  32. wow!! excellent rosa!!! ye are a genius!! :)

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  33. oh wie hübsch, kann man sich da drin einmieten ?

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  34. Ciao Rosa, what a beauty you created !! I hope you had a great chrismas, happy new year !

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  35. Your gingerbread house is absolutely lovely, Rosa! I hope you and yours had a wonderful Christmas!

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  36. You did a wonderful job with your gingerbread house, Rosa! So lovely!

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  37. wawwwww, beautiful

    bravo *

    joyeux nöel

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  38. You've made a wonderful gingerbread house. Simple and pretty!

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  39. ah des souvenirs d'enfance quand j'allais chez ma correspondante allemande !
    bisous

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  40. I adore your house! Its gorgeous, and flawlessly decorated =D. Happy Holidays!

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  41. Rosa your gingerbread house is so beautiful! Just a tad of gingerbread house envy going on over here, your colours and decoration skills are so wonderful :)

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  42. Elle est bien jolie cette maisonnette.
    Bisous

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  43. Rosa, I love your gingerbread house. Particularly the cute little gingerbread boy and Christmas tree. So cute!

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  44. Hi Rosa
    Congratulations, awesome work.
    I have never done a gingerbread house, yours it`s absolutely beautiful.
    Wishing you all the best x

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  45. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Rosa! Your Gingerbread House is so cute! I love looking at it!

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  46. Love all of the little detail shots of your gorgeous house!

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  47. your house looks just lovely Rosa! Well Done! Have a Blessed Xmas season and a happy new year!

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  48. beautiful home! i love the decorations you made with the royal icing, great job!

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  49. Your gingerbread house really looks like it was from Hansel & Gretal!! So pretty and adorable! :)

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  50. I'm speechless at the sight of this magnificent house. It's prefect in every way and oh so pretty! You should have more faith in your talent Rosa because I think you can make just about anything. Congrats!

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  51. The icing looks so pretty,love the almonds.My best wishes for the new year.hugs :D

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  52. I agree, "dreamlike" little house! Great job!

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  53. Fantastic job Rosa as always! I love the little details :D

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  54. Fantastic Gingrbread house dear! You did a great job!
    Advance New Year wishes to you and your family!

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  55. Perfect! You did such a fantastic job on it! Love the house, I definitely want to try this next year.

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  56. What a wonderful-looking gingerbread house.

    Paz

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  57. just so orgasmic to see your ginger bread house!

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  58. Il est splendide, tout droit sorti d'un conte, bravo!
    Je tes souhaite les meilleurs voeux pour une nouvelle année lumineuse :-)
    Bises
    Dada

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  59. Cute little house you got there! Beautiful detail and absolutely brings out the festive mood :)

    Sawadee from Bangkok,
    Kris

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  60. Wow your house looks fantastic, almost like a fairytail house. Love how you decorated the roof

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  61. C'est franchement adorable. Je me demande ou tu trouves le temps de faire ca. Elles est super reussie.
    Joyeuses fetes de fin d'annee Rosa, a bientot.

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  62. What a cute looking gingerbread house. Really pretty!

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  63. You cannot decorate well? But your gingerbread house doesn't look like that. Its looking very good!
    Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for a very Happy New Year!

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  64. How adorable! I love that you attached almonds as decoration - looks delicious! Very nice looking and so festive.

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  65. Your house is sooo cute! You did a great job!

    Happy holidays and all the best wishes,

    Monika

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  66. Nice to meet you. I love your recipes. Congratulations for all the hard work.

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  67. HOla Ola...would love to ask for i really i need helppppppppppp and a precious vote ..hop on here for details
    http://vanillastrawberryspringfields.blogspot.com/2009/12/ola-holahiyahii-need-ur.html
    or hop strait below...puleeze...pinky promise please.....
    ...a few moments of ur time
    http://www.sweetestkitchen.com/2009/12/cupcake-hero-roundup-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-1370
    before 1st jan ...
    tthanxxx a ton Rosa !!!
    Cheers and bright new year...

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  68. Looks beautiful, Rosa! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to you and yours!

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  69. magnifique de chez magnifique, je découvre ton blog et je suis sous le charme, bravo

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  70. Nice job! Your house is adorable

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  71. What a beautiful gingerbread house!

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  72. what a lovely gingerbread house you did Rosa, its gorgeous, it really shows your hard work, and looks fantastic...
    awesome photos as well..

    wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful, happy and healthy new year.

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  73. Rosa, I just love this house. It is adorable. You did a beautiful job. Good for you.

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  74. Rosa the Gingerbread House is gorgeous.I was awed by its beauty. What a wonderful creation you have made. Perfect decorations!!

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  75. Dreamy & ever so pretty! You did a wonderful job with the challenge Rosa...love it!

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  76. dear friend it's so beatiful! your photos amazing :)i guess, i could not have done :DD I'm not talented as you ;)))

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  77. That gingerbread house looks beautiful! Very sweet indeed! Put one together with the children this year as a trial run (used the premade components) but next year we will try to tackle a purely homemade version.

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  78. Hi Rosa

    Your did a wonderful job! Your house looks perfect ...not too overly decorated and yet fanciful and sweet!

    I did not do the challenge but I have some professional bakery creations on my blog today that were part of a competition. From what I have been seeing many DB's could have entered the competition!

    Happy New Year!

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  79. That is such a pretty gingerbread house! One of these Christmases I'll get courageous enough to try and make one myself, but until than I'll just eat lots of gingerbread! :)

    Happy New Year, Rosa!

    Greetings,
    Tiina

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  80. Rosa, your gingerbread house is a little palace! For someone who's never made one before I think you did a fantastic job.

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  81. Wow, this is gorgeous! I wish you a rewarding and exciting 2010 ahead of you!

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  82. yep, this is outstanding. i would expect nothing less from you, rosa, but it truly is a work of art. bravo!

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  83. I sure think your gingerbread house looks adorable! :) Happy New Year!

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  84. So charming! I love it. Very nicely done. Nice use of almonds . . .

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  85. Too pretty and cute to eat Rosa :)

    Here's wishing you a blessed year ahead my dear friend. Thank you for visiting me always :D

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  86. ..que fais-tu debout à cette heure toi?? lol!!!!

    ..de toute beauté!!de toute beauté!!!!!!!tu m'impressionnes toujours ma belle Rosa..

    ~nancy xx

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  87. Rosa, you did it again..totally ROCKED yet another DB challenge. Your talent knows no end! Your house is beautiful, clean and perfectly executed. Love the colors too! Have a wonderful New Year! *hugs*instor

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  88. Rosa have a nice and a Happy New Year!! huggss! gloria

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  89. You daring bakers knock me out. I love it. I'm too scared to join, but maybe I should.

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  90. Wow, this is impressive and turned out darling! Wishing you a very Happy New Year.

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  91. Hi Rosa,
    Your gingerbread house is fantastic darling. It looks really wonderful! Great job on the challenge. Je te tire chapeau ma belle.
    Wish you a very happy healthy peaceful new year for you and yours.
    Cheers,
    Mamatkamal

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  92. I thought that I had already commented but anyway always I love seeing these sweeties again :)
    Your ginger house worth not eating it, totally magnificent :)

    Happy and Joyful New Year 2010 for you Rosa!!

    All the best,

    Gera

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  93. Rosa, your ginger bread house is sooo beautiful! We made one with Marissa too, it did not turned out so great, but we had a lot of fun :)

    Happy New Year!!!!

    Margot

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  94. OMG! The ginger bread house it's soooo beautiful!
    I love the christmas tree. :3

    Whish you a happy new year!
    Kisses :b

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  95. Une merveille!!!!!
    Félicitations pour cette magnifique création!
    Belle fin d'année et plein de bonnes choses pour celle qui arrive!
    Bisous

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  96. Wonderful job on the challenge, you made a pretty little house!

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  97. The little gingerbread man waiting to get into his glam house is the piece de resistance. Beautiful job on the cookie house, Rosa.

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  98. Yep, you can be proud of that gingerbread house. I can tell you put a lot of heart of soul into it. Nice work!

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  99. si j'habitais dans ta maison les murs auraient vite des trous et le toit laisserait passer la pluie....

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  100. Waouh superbe ta maison Rosa. La honte et dire que j'étais à deux doigts d'acheter le pack à assembler chez Tesco.
    J'en profite pour te souhaiter une excellente année Rosa.
    Je t'embrasse

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  101. Hi Rosa!
    Your house is sooooo cute!
    It's so jolly and colorful-
    Suits great with Christmas spirit.
    Fantastic job as always!
    Inbal

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  102. Your house looks fantastic! I want to attempt one some day. Maybe next year.

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  103. c'est très réussi! bravo
    bisous

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  104. Rosa, I think yours is actually one that looks appetizing, pretty too and one that people would not hesitate to devour!

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  105. How did I miss your lovely little gingerbread house? It's one of the prettiest that I have seen. I love it! You are so talented!

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  106. ça c'est sur c'est une super maison: on y habiterait presque!
    iza:)

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  107. Tu l'as très bien réussie. Un vrai chef d'oeuvre!

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  108. What an amazing gingerbread house!

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  109. It turned out great! I like how you made a gingerbread platform for it. As well as other nice touches such as the shutters.
    ~ingrid

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  110. Can't believe this is your first attempt! The house looks amazing!

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  111. Elle est trop jolie!

    Je n'ai pas eu le courage d'en faire une cette année, trop malade depuis octobre :( Là ça va meiux:) La preuve, je suis devant mon pc, à dévorer tes jolies photos :)

    Je te souhaite une année toute douce, toute jolie, pleine de gourmandise, d'inspiration et de beaux et bons moments à partager :)

    Bisous!

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