I know of few other baking aromas more evocative of Christmas than gingerbread. When the spices begin to perfume the air, I'm time warped back to my grandmother's steamy kitchen as she baked pierniczki in the shape of Swiety Mikolaj to give us along with our ration of oranges and nuts on Dec. 6, St. Nicholas Day. Enjoy this collection of gingerbread recipes, tips and memories.
1. Gingerbread House Picture Gallery
© 2008 Barbara Rolek licensed to About.com, Inc.
These are pictures of some of the gingerbread houses I've made for every season and occasion imaginable over the years.
2. How to Make a Gingerbread House
© 2008 Barbara Rolek licensed to About.com, Inc.
Here you'll find recipes for gingerbread house dough and royal icing, a gingerbread house pattern, step-by-step instructions for filling a pastry bag, rolling and cutting gingerbread dough, assembling a gingerbread house and decorating a gingerbread house.
3. Gingerbread Disaster Part 1
© 2008 Barbara Rolek licensed to About.com, Inc.
When I was in culinary school, Santa's Kitchen proved to be a brush with reality.
4. Gingerbread Disaster Part 2
© 2008 Barbara Rolek licensed to About.com, Inc.
If you have a gingerbread disaster, remember, it's just a mess of sugar and you can always build another one -- maybe next year! Believe me, you'll get better and better.
5. The History of Gingerbread
© Flickr by Janedon
An early form of gingerbread can be traced to the ancient Greeks and Egyptians. Discover how it came to take the three most common shapes we see today -- cookies, cakes and houses.
6. Polish Gingerbread Cookies Recipe - Pierniczki
© Flickr by Imago
Pierniczki were originally made in the Shape of St. Nicholas and given away to good boys and girls on Dec. 6. Bad boys and girls got a lump of coal.
7. Polish Gingerbread or Spice Cake - Piernik
© Flickr by Aleksandrawy
Piernik is a dense spice cake that can be plain or loaded with glaceed fruit and nuts, and soaked in brandy for three weeks.
