Zoe Perisson

Our House

Zoe Perisson — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:11:17 +0000

: Our House

Its beautiful! I love it! Our house. We made it! Its complete. Well, almost, it needs a few trees and reefs.

Completing Our House-The Roof

Once the walls and roof had been attached, it was time to complete the roof. The roof had a few special placed that required attention. They were patched with pieces of paper towels and Royal Icing. Rough patches, or places of uneveness were also patched with royal icing. Once the patch work was completed. The entire roof was covered with SNOW (Royal Icing), complete with icycles. Beautiful…

The Smell of Christmas

This house is AMAZING…However, one of my favorite attributes of this house is the perfect aroma that fills the air. It is the smell of Christmas…cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.

Perfect…just PERFECT!

Construction

Zoe Perisson — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:05:19 +0000

Drying the Panels

It’s time! The time has come to carefully construct this Ultimate Gingerbread House. The moment that we have all been waiting for…

Johnathan, my good friend Pam’s nephew and his good friend Amy came by to assist and for dinner.

First

Johnathan completed the Royal Icing . While he complete that, I prepared the rosemary chicken. The chicken was served with organic potatoes, rosemary bread, organic salad greens, and a little champagne. While dinner was cooking and Johnathan had completed the icing, I piped all of the windows and attached all of the shutters and door frames. After about 15 or 20 minutes, his good friend Amy arrived. Both then helped me to create a right angle with the front panel and one of the side panels. A long THICK strip of icing was placed at the bottom of those panels before setting them upward. I used a book (that I didnt mind getting icing on) to confirm the 90 degree angle and tall glasses and a decanter to hold the sides. I then placed another thick strip of icing along the front and back sides of each panel. Once I confirmed that the corner was at 90 degrees and that the walls were straight and standing up, I placed a fan on the house to set the icing.

The Other Panels

Once the icing had set (almost dried) we affixed the opposite side and back panels in the same manner. However, in this case, I had to move quickly to be sure that the opposite side panel and back panels had the perfect fit – the back panel was the last panel to be set into place. I placed the fan at the opposite end of the house to begin the process of drying the other side. Then, a very, very yummy dinner was served.

The Roof

After, a fantastic dinner and great conversation and fun, it was time to complete the house by beginning on the roof. The middle panel was the first panel to be placed into position, as that is the easiest to set into place. After that, each side roof panel was put into place and held in position by the decanter. The fan was again placed on the roof to increase drying and setting.

SUCCESS! Our house was now standing!

Cutting The Panels

Zoe Perisson — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:25:37 +0000

: Cutting The Panels

My good friend Pam was absolutely AMAZING and BRAVE! She and her niece, Selena, rolled out most of the dough and completed all of the preparations for me to cut each panel.

Dough Thickness

The dough had to be rolled out – EVENLY – to about a little thicker than 1/4 inch. First Pam placed a piece of parchment paper, a little longer than the baking sheet on the counter, and began to roll the dough out on the parchment. Pam would check to see if the size of the dough was correct by gently placing the template on the dough and judging if it would fit. If not, she would add more dough to the sides to 1) increase thickness, or 2) add length to the dough so to fit the template. Rolling over the dough after the dough has been added, smooths out the lines of the newly added dough. The baking soda, when baking the panels, will also smooth out lines and wrinkels. (Only works on dough-sorry!) The cut panel on the parchment paper was then moved to the baking sheet.

Windows

After the cut panel had been placed on the baking sheet, then the process of window installation began. We unwrapped all of the candies, placed them in a brown paper bag, and crushed the candy using the rolling pin. We then took our fingers and began filling up each square with candy, being careful to fill the space to all of the edges (height and corners). The panels went into a 200 degree oven until they are rock hard!

Meanwhile…

Dinner, champagne, and candy were overflowing! We all had such a good time!

Cooling & Drying

Once the panels looked complete, they were set out to cool. Once they were cool enough and stable enough to move, the panels were placed in other cooling locations (the table, fridge, fire place). If the panels are not strong – they bend or are a little soft – place them in the oven again until they are stable.

This was enough for now. More to complete the next day.

The Dough

Zoe Perisson — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:06:48 +0000

Mixing the Dough

The Dough!

Today is the day! I have really been looking forward to having a great time with friends.

Make This An Event!

My good friend Pam and her family – Robert & Selena came over to join me in the mystery and making of my gingerbread house. I made a day of it! Complete with champagne, homemade spiced apple cider, home made hot chocolate (made with cream top organic milk), almond bark and other chocolates, organic rosemary chicken, and organic quinoa. Mixing of the dough and the creation of the templates was delicately scheduled around courses of champagne, dinner, and hot drinks. This IS the spice of life!

Mixing

We started the process of mixing the dough! I followed the recipe from my site and made a few adjustments. I cannot tell you how good the aroma is from all of the spices – cinnamon, ginger, cloves, all spice. It is Christmas. Christmas Music was playing, and we had so much fun!

Gingerbread House Templates

Zoe Perisson — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:49:45 +0000

Completed side panel template cutout

I started the task of creating my gingerbread house templates. This is a process that I really try to take my time with. IT IS SOOOO EXCITING! As you are cutting, slowly, the new beginnings of your house begins to take shape.

Using the template provided, I downloaded my own template and printed it out on 11×17 paper. I used a medium grade cardboard and a paper-cutter (knife) blade. To keep the template steady and in place, I placed a piece of tape to the top of each template. That really helps to keep the template steady! Keeping my eyes on the 90 degree angles, I try my best to cut as straight of a line as possible. After all, this is the line that you will use to create the shape of your house.

One-by-one, I completed each template. They are READY TO GO!!!!

I started the task of creating my gingerbread house templates.

Helping Hands and Good Friends

Zoe Perisson — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:48:15 +0000

I am starting my gingerbread process! Excitement is filling the air. I can’t wait-really. I will make at least three houses – one for me, one for my mother and family, and one for my good friend Kate.

Now that Thanksgiving has ended, it is time to ring in the joy of Christmas with decorations, baking, gifts, family, friends, and fun. Creating the Ultimate Gingerbread House is the perfect way to do all of those things – and include family and friends as well.

I am still in the planning stages. I will make a house for me and I will create just the panels for my mother and family and hand carry the panels on the plane. I’m thinking of going to UPS to find just the right packing boxes to fit them and the packing materials that I will use.

I want my house to be just a tad bit different. Therefore, I have been creating new sketches of an addition to the house. I will add that later for you.

I am trying to find just the right color brown sugar as the color of that sugar will determine the color of my gingerbread house. I like for my houses to be a medium brown and to definitely resemble GINGERBREAD.

Finally, I’ve saved the best for last. My good friend Pam and her family will be joining me. It will be nice to see her giant dog almost take out my tree and I’m looking forward to serving champagne and to having the aroma of spiced apple cider. The following week, my good friend Kate will join me as she requested that she help me make her gingerbread house. I ADORE KATE! I can’t wait to host her.

Christmas 2009

Zoe Perisson — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:53:36 +0000

Have Life More Abundantly!

Christmas would not be complete without an Ultimate Gingerbread House. This elegant house will warm and become a delight for any home or apartment during this holiday season.

Enjoy the step-by-step instructions as you are lead to create a one-of-a-kind holiday treasure.

After your holiday shopping is complete, take in the lingering aromas of cinnamon, clove, and ginger that will permeate your home from this house.

Friends and family will ooooh and ahhhh over your creation!

ENJOY! and…Merry Christmas!