The Gingerbread House

Found in London fairs in the 1600s, appearing in American cookbooks in the 1700s, and flourishing in the late 1800s and beyond, thanks to the popularity of Engelbert Humperdinck's opera Hansel & Gretel, gingerbread houses have become such a beloved craft that pre-fab kits are now sold seasonally in department stores nationwide. Patti Hudson, a.k.a. The Gingerbread Lady, an accomplished author and workshop presenter at the Smithsonian Institution, shows viewers a much less expensive, suitable for all seasons, and--darnit--more fun alternative to using the (literally) cookie-cutter store-bought kits. Audiences will learn the basics of building a scrumptious gingerbread house, from preparing the dough to decorating the finished product (including a delicious winter lawn made of various confectionery delights). In addition to providing a basic house plan, Hudson suggests that viewers consider their own houses as models: just think, whenever mortgage payments got you down, you could re-create your home...and then have it for dessert (this would not, of course, take a bite of your monthly payment, but it should taste great). Good instruction, a wonderful display of incredibly detailed houses and the comforting knowledge that you can always eat your mistakes make The Gingerbread House a smart choice for public libraries and home economics cooking classes. Highly recommended. Also keep in mind Hudson's two previously lauded programs, The Joy of Gingerbread Housemaking (VL-6/87) and Gingerbread Land (VL-11/91). Aud: E, I, J, H, P. (R. Pitman)