Gingerbread houses, that is... Gingerbread house cookies, to be exact.
I just couldn't resist the title, even if it is a little hokey!
The first cookie request came from Tawes Garden in Historic Annapolis for their holiday event, a poinsettia, fresh greens and cookie sale December 11 and 12 - 3-4 dozen cookies, please...
Then there was Hammond Harwood House, another historic Annapolis site, which is all decked out for their holiday event December 10-14 - 3-4 dozen cookies, please...
Of course, there's the Crofton Holiday House Tour on December 13, 4 dozen cookies, please...
(Who came up with this magical figure of four dozen?)
And then there's my office - nibblies for a dozen people for our holiday party...
If my math is correct, that brings us to more than 12 dozen decorated cookies BEFORE I make any for my mother, brother's family, children's families...
Making that volume of cookies requires some compromises, however - just one kind of cookie dough, no colored frosting, no fancy cake-decorating techniques. This is mass production, baby! They'll probably be mixed with cookies from other people, providing plenty of color and variety. And, if I'm going to spend that amount of time making cookies, at least these will serve as a subtle reminder that I'm a real estate lady.
The inspiration came a few weeks ago, as Cindy Jones and I were talking about a post she had written titled Lake Ridge-Avoiding the Cookie Cutter Home Syndrome (LOCALISM FEATURED). She was saying that she had trouble finding a picture of a house-shaped cookie cutter to use as an image in her post - the rest is history.
Maybe after the house tour is over tomorrow, I can think about making some fancier cookies for the family. After all, I have a reputation to uphold. Anyone who has known me for a while remembers the days when I sold more gingerbread houses than real houses - They were pretty elaborate, and I got $100 for them back in the 70's. My individually wrapped large decorated gingerbread Santas sold for $1 each. If I'd had any idea the real estate market would still be dragging in December, I would've started building Gingerbread houses months ago to sell in December.
I would say "Maybe next year" but hopefully the market will be back and any baking I do will be for donating to community groups, not selling.
P.S. - If you want your own house-shaped cookie cutter, check out this eBay store.
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DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice.
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Margaret Woda, REALTOR and Associate Broker
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Hi Margaret, It may be mass production but I swear they look good enough to eat. And I am sure they are. WHo needs fancy decorating when you your love baked into each one.
These are beautiful! What a gift they are, too...I love to bake and can realy appreciate your efforts.
I Margaret! Congratulations on selling those beautiful houses (or donating them!) regardless of their type of 'construction!' You've at least, got a second career in this slow market!
Margaret - You could also hold your own cookie party...that's what we are planning for next weekend... a client appreciation party based on cookies...lots of cookies and lots of different types of cookies...maybe if I get a chance I'll post on our blog about the making of the client cookie party :)
Margaret, that's a boat load of cookies. You are a sweetheart for making and donating them. Btw, the look scrumptious!
mmm, they look delicious. I would like to bite the chimney off one.
Yea now I have a picture that I can request permission to use in a post :-) You didn't tell me that you were going into the cookie business when we met. Impressive and they do look delicious. All of the groups were fortunate for your time and cookie making skills. Happy holidays!
Good morning Margaret,
What a novel idea. Your gifts will be remembered and appreciated, over tea, for a long time to come.
Oh my goodness... thank you for the compliments! I'd almost be embarrassed about these simply-decorated cookies, if I weren't so pressed for time. Maybe I'll get a chance to do some of my masterpieces and photos of those. P.S. They are good - I had to test them, of course! I'm headed out the door right now for my duties as official photographer at the Crofton Holiday House Tour. It's gonna be a loooooong day!
Margaret- Obviously a lady of many talents! The photo of the cookies, is certainly making me hungry. I hope you have a great day today!
Margaret....My Gosh....that is some baking going on there in MD!!!! Your post brought back great memories of when my Mom use to do lots of holiday baking...but not anymore! You'd never know I got my degree in Hotel and Restaurant Managment for the way I cook (or lack thereof) these days.
But you just may have spurred me to bake up a batch of something....hmmmm....I'll have to scour a cookbook or two! In fact one of these days, I'm gong to get back to really cooking at least one good meal a week. (Ok, we cook, but not the family-type dishes you think of!
Happy Holidays and here's to the cookies!
Yay, we got to bring a few home from the House Tour - I may not have to bake any more, after all! Thom, unfortunately the Terps don't get to play in the Peach Bowl this year, so we'll have to meet you in Atlanta another time. :(
Good job in getting our attention with that title!!!
Margaret we just did our houses today. It's a family tradition. This year we let my son have her girlfriend over and because my daughter doesn't have a boyfriend we let her bring our adopted daughter . . her best friend. I'm going to blog it but I will let you get a sneak peak!
Thanks for posting. I ordered my own house cookie cutter set and an extra for a gift.
Yum! They all looked so good, and judging by all of the requests that you received they must be fantastic. Care to share your secret? It was very nice of you to do all of that extra baking during the busy holiday season. We'll take a couple dozen, too!! -S
Stephanie, thanks for the comment. My secret? Just belong to a few community organizations - they ALL want cookies for their holiday parties or bake sales! LOL.