Erica Cleary and I teamed up this year to make a joint house, and decided we wanted to make a "real" one for once.  Erica's influence made it artistic and pretty, mine made it the scene of Halloween trick-or-treating.  Two stories of gingerbread ("Most Ambitious") are used to make a Gothic Victorian mansion, complete with cresting.  The cresting is made from dried pasta topped with sugar pastillage finials ("Most Elaborate").  Windows are also pastillage, and the roofing is made from carefully cut pieces of chewing gum ("Most Likely to Leave that Minty Fresh Taste").  An inverted ice cream cone becomes a tree once covered in green icing, and the front gates swing open to admit a trick-or-treater, foolish enough to venture forth.

  Deb Bouchard was inspired by the Council of Elrond scene from Fellowship of the Ring, and used Marshmallow Peeps ("Puffiest", "Ari Cohen Memorial Award for Most Unintentional Use of the Media") to recreate that critical moment from the book/movie.  Prefab pieces are used to good effect to make a central gathering table, while the Eye of Sauron comes alive via M&Ms (tm).  The jovial expressions on everyone's faces led to this also garnering a "Nicest Smile" prize.

  Eric Brooks threw us all for a loop this year by breaking convention and constructing a working windmill!  Although he of course walked away with the "Ari Cohen Annual Honorary Award for Biggest Waste of Adam & Erica's Time Baking Perfectly Formed Gingerbread Walls, only to have their Work Made a Mockery of by Destroying Said Walls to Build Something," the use of wafer cookies and pretzels ("Best Use of Pretzel") led to the creation of a classic iconic windmill ("Most Likely to Serve Pea Soup").  Unfortunately, construction was slightly substandard ("Going to Fall Apart Real Soon"), although it lasted long enough for all to enjoy.

  Santa's sleigh tracks are visible on the roof of John Gardner's "Best Special Effects" creation.  Green grass sprinkles provide a luscious lawn, with cotton indicating smoke arising from the chimney ("House I'd Most Like to Live In").  And don't think that such a place as this is out of your reach.  Not at all, in fact it's the "Most Affordable" place of the bunch.

  House payments really can eat you up.  So can houses, in Mike Dashow's "Most Likely to be Seen in an LSD-Induced Trip" home.  Prefab pieces were molded as they cooled to provide the gaping maw, with candy pieces filling in the facial features.  The children's ("Most Likely to Devour Children") dialog bubbles are comical in their terror, with the whole tableau being a clear "Most Trying Location for a Honeymoon" winner.

  Molly and Martin Stoufer preach intergalactic tolerance at the Silver Bells Chapel.  Lest the location fool you, a yellow one-armed bandit waits out front to help offset the cost of all the neon ("Highest PG&E Bill").  Symbols of world religion line the roof, testifying to the diversity of wedding practices offered ("Best Business Venue").  One-eyed aliens out front show that folks come from far and wide ("Best Place to Pick Up Chicks") for a chance to settle down and do some hitchin'.

  The "Greenest (as in color, not environmental)" house that Sarah Morgan's ever created is a delightful place to stop and settle down.  Not only is it the "Best Smelling" of the lot, but its chewing gum roof and thoughtful front and rear yard make it the "Cutest" as well.  

  The construction firm of Scott Pullman, Erin Peltzman, and Amy Trimmer ("Rookie of the Year") are responsible for this "Best Scene from a Motion Picture."  The Kwik Stop from Clerks is recreated in all its glory, so much so that it's "Most Likely to Have a Corpse Inside."  Pasta alphabet letters are put to good use in making the sign, with a candy brick becoming a boombox.    

  John and Erica work on their respective houses -- John's busy creating icicles from the white icing, while Erica decorates the pastillage windows.

  Deb looks on with personal satisfaction as her Council has come together, while Sarah, Molly, and Martin are hard at work with decorations.  Mike's house dries in the foreground, with canned goods supporting the walls while they set.

  Amy, Scott, and Erin work out the details on the Kwik Stop, while Eric's windmill gets assembled.

Still not enough?

Have you seen any good gingerbread houses on the net? Let me know and I'll post a picture here for all to see.

Last updated: Sunday, December 30, 2007