It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
My kitchen certainly smelled a lot like Christmas this past week, with batches of gingerbread and shortbread filling the air with the gorgeous smell of ginger, golden syrup, lemon and butter.
A newly acquired icing kit finally got a workout on my gingerbread shapes, made using my usual tried-and-trusted gingerbread recipe. I think my royal icing was probably a little thicker than it should have been, but it was certainly fun decorating the gingerbread. In fact, I think the use of plain white icing is much more visually effective than our usual coloured icing efforts.
I made only a slight variation to the gingerbread recipe, reducing the brown sugar a little and replacing it with golden syrup to ensure extra crisp biscuits (my favourite!). For a triple batch of gingerbread (yes, I never bake by halves) I think you probably only need one egg white's worth of royal icing, maybe two but certainly not three (oops).
So as 2008 draws to a close, I wish you, dear reader, a wonderful Christmas that is spent with good friends and cherished family. May you celebrate with great food, great company and lots of laughter.
Related GrabYourFork posts:
Recipe: Gingerbread men
Making a gingerbread house
Adorable Helen! I agree that the white icing looks much more striking.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
yum yum. they look so cool. i should try and find time next year to bake as well for xmas gifts.
ReplyDeleteS :-)
Merry Christmas, Helen! Are you making gingerbread houses this year? I still remember the ones you made before, that were amazing!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous. Just love the hats on the boys.
ReplyDeleteHappy holidays!
They look beautiful! Have a great xmas Helen:D
ReplyDeleteah they look delicious indeed. have an awesome christmas dude and may 2009 be just as food and fun filled!
ReplyDeleteGingerbread girls with little bows - so sweet. Happy Christmas!
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great Christmas, Helen, with all your lovely gingerbread. And it was nice meeting you this year.
ReplyDeleteI was lucky enough to have sampled one of these and they were more than delightful!! DELICIOUS!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen!!
Merry Christmas!!
shame you are not going to be at K's boxing day party to share cookies!!! Wish you a feastful xmas with lots of yummy food!
ReplyDeleteI like the snowflakes, and the ringers on the bells. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteMerryy XMASS ^^!!! Hope you have a fun and relaxing one so far hee hee :)
ReplyDeleteI would love to be in your kitchen for this past week yummmmm! They look to tasttyyyy!
Happy Christmas Helen! Thanks so much for all your great work on the blog this year. Hope you have a grea holiday season and I love the cachous as ringers on the bells!
ReplyDeleteVery cute, the bells are especially adorable with the cachous. I hope you had a Merry Christmas full of fun, food and festivities! :)
ReplyDeleteHope you had a wonderful Christmas.
ReplyDeleteYour cookies look so cute and yummy!
Here's to a wonderful 2009.
Hi Christie - I think I'm going to stick to white icing from now on :) Actually easier to do and much more fun! Hope you had a lovely Christmas too!
ReplyDeleteHi Simon - I always have grand plans to make Christmas gifts but don't get around to making half as much as I originally intended too! Gingerbread men are always a must though!
Hi Y - No I didn't get around to making gingerbread houses this year. A shame as decorating is so much fun! Maybe next year?
Hi Veruca Salt - lol. I like the dresses, myself :)
Hi Miss Honey - Thank you, and hope you had a lovely Christmas too!
Hi Chocolatesuze - Thanks. It's been a delicious year. Here's to more ice cream and chocolate adventures together in 2009 :)
Hi Annie - Thank you and hope you had a Merry Christmas too!
Hi Belle - Great to meet you too. Go food bloggers! Hope your Christmas was equally tasty.
Hi Alexandra - lol. Glad you managed to sample some! Hope you had a great Christmas too.
Hi Billy - It would've been fun to have a cookie swap! Looks like you guys had tasty fun tho'. I'm sure we both feasted wel!
Hi Arwen - Thank you and hope you had a wonderful Christmas too. The cachous were a last-minute inspiration!
Hi FFichiban - It's been lotsa fun and whilst my mind has been relaxing, my stomach hasn't really had a chance to!
Hi Suyin - Thank you and hope you had a great Christmas too!
Hi Lorraine - Thanks and hope you had a lovely Christmas too. It's been non-stop feasting, much like yourself I'm sure! It's all about priorities hey, tasty tasty priorities.
Hi Obachan - Thank you and so wonderful to hear from you. I was just thinking about you as I surveyed the sorry state of my balcony herbs! lol! Here's to a wonderful year ahead.