Weird News and Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses

I always enjoy reading the news of the weird.  You can always find a gem or two in these stories.  The top one for me today was about a man who got shot in the ass by his dog.  Another stand-out was a near Groupon related riot in York, England.  Apparently, the mall went to Groupon to sell discounted tickets to their Winter Wonderland.  The mall was swamped by customers and an employee “dressed as a Christmas tree” was verbally abused and an exhausted “elf” ended up quitting over the chaos.  And finally, as if we didn’t already know this…you can’t save your job by casting a spell on your boss by spreading birdseed around the place.  When you read about things like this you don’t want to be involved in them, but instead sitting comfortably in a recliner with a cocktail watching from a safe distance.

Here is an easy and holiday appropriate activity that isn't weird at all.

Graham Cracker Gingerbread House (http://pbskids.org/zoom/index.html)

Example from:  the-wilson-world.blogspot.com

Ingredients

10 whole graham crackers (8 for the house, 2 for the roof)

Can of frosting

¼ teaspoon cream of tartar

Candy to decorate your house (gumdrops, licorice, hard candies, etc)

Large plate or tray

Spoon

Butter knife

Small plastic bag

Scissors

Here’s What You Have to Do:

Start by preparing your frosting.  Add ¼ teaspoon of cream of tartar to about 1 cup of frosting.  You can use homemade frosting or store-bought.  Cream of tartar helps the frosting harden to your house will stand up.

Put your frosting mixture in a plastic bag and cut a hole in the corner, so you can squeeze the frosting out of it.

Using the frosting as “glue,” glue four double graham crackers in the shape of a rectangle on a tray or plate.

Then, glue two half-sized crackers to the sides to make a complete box.

You can prop the walls of the house up against something so the house dries straight.

Now put the frosting on the corners of two more graham crackers.  Place the crackers on either side to make a peak.  This is the roof of your house. 

Let your house dry for an hour.  Once the structure is dry, coat each side with frosting and use candy to decorate your house.  Use your imagination.  Be sure to decorate one side at a time so the frosting doesn’t get hard before you can stick candy to it.