Our family Christmas tradition is underway - absolutely free!!

Tupperware_Queen

Every year I make an old fashioned gingerbread house with my kids. Its a real event, we make the gingerbread one day, either that night or next day build the house, and decorate the day after - usually Christmas eve.

I have had a tough year, OH left me and I have had to move out of our family home just a few weeks ago. I was determined to keep up the tradition, and even though money is tight, its such a lovely thing, and the kids have so much fun, I had to manage it.

Went shopping the other day to get the ingredients which I don't have lying about, and spent:

Butter £1.15 (it really doesn't taste the same with marg!)
Flour £1.00
Muscavado sugar £1.88 (again, really needs to be this type)
Treacle £0.59
Sweets and bits for decorating - about a fiver.

all the other ingredients I have in the cupboard anyway, so got the whole lot for less than a tenner (and I used my tesco tokens, so actually cost me zilch!!!) :j:j:j

The gingerbread is baked, and is now cooling ready for later. With all those ingredients, I made enough dough for some gingerbread men, which we will decorate for my nieces and nephews

The gorgeous smell is all over the flat, and its really making it feel like home.

I am feeling very positive for 2011, such good vibes from a bit of biscuit!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Tupperware_Queen

just had a sneaky taste...well, I have to quality control right?

it was yummy!!!

Hollie84

mmmm sounds lovely and sorry to hear u have had a tough year but being cheerful is the way forward,wishing u all the best for 2011 and enoy your gingerbread and most importantly xmas with your children

MumofMiriam

What a lovely tradition! I hope you have a Christmas full of wonder and good memories xx

themull1

thats great, i bought my gingerbreaqd house kit from Lidl for £4.99, will do it on xmas eve, and i'll add a bit of glitter to it. And maybe a stained glass boiled sweet window!!

Greytlove

Good on you for carrying on the tradition :j it's amazing how abit of baking and those gorgeous smells wafting can do :j.

Tupperware_Queen

I think its important to have these little traditions, hopefully the kids will remember them the way I remember our childhood traditions...like new PJ's on Christmas eve, which I also do by the way!!

LalaGomay

Aww.
I really fancy some gingerbread now!

Tupperware_Queen

its so easy to make.....I use the recipe from the BBC good food website, http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4900/simple-gingerbread-house

I use a different template though, as that one is too pointy for my liking! The recipe makes fab gingerbread...crisp on the outside and slightly gooey in the middle...(I add a bit of cinnamon to mine too!). If you do small shapes, then 7-8 mins is long enough to bake for.

Go on, give it a go!!

LalaGomay

...*drool*

Tupperware_Queen

All done, just uploading some photos...