Ace Of Cakes Valentine Gingerbread Houses: Two Thumbs Up!

This past Christmas seemed busier than usual.

So I tried to scale back a bit.

We ended up not making any Gingerbread houses this year.

But in the back of my mind I hadn't totally given up on the idea.

Every January I will check out the sales after Christmas.
At Michaels I came across these Ace of Cakes' Gingerbread House kits.
They were normally $25, and I wouldn't have given them a second look.
But when I saw they were 70% of last sale price and I could pick them up for $5,
I grabbed six.

I still couldn't believe the outrageous regular price and wondered who would get sucked into buying them just because of the Ace of Cakes' endorsement.

When I opened the box, with two packages of fondant
and a larger bag or premade icing ready to be clipped;

I have to admit I was a bit impressed.

Then when I saw that two cardboard trays were included
I was even a little more impressed.

When I finally pulled out the gingerbread pieces and saw that the bottom pieces
had tabs like you find on paper dolls and the trays were cut out to accomodate them,

I started to get a little Gingerbread Giddy.

I have decided that after experiencing the joy of using a high end Gingerbread House,
I may not ever be able to go back.

Even... if... I... have... to... pay... the... regular... price.

I, myself, am even shocked I wrote that.  

But it's the truth.

The Ace of Cakes get two thumbs up from the Bungalow!

Before you gasp and cover your mouth daintily with the back of your hand...

I have a question for you.

When was the last time anyone ever broke off pieces of the gingerbread house to eat?

Or do your kids and family simply, over time, pick off all the candy?

If you answered, "Why yes, all the time!" to the first question, 

avert your eyes and do not follow the above step.

If however you are like us and only eat the candy, this will change your Gingerbread decorating life!

I had six to assemble, and even with the glue gun it took a little over an hour.

I can't even begin to imagine having tried to do it with icing.

Plus they end up being so sturdy, just the way I like them.

Aren't they cute?

We were ready and waiting with a little Gingerbread village.

The girls arrived and the Village was Pillaged!

See the Ace of Cakes' cellophane bags of icing?

They worked like a charm.

We also made some extra icing so that creative genius was not...

hindered in a.n.y. way whatsoever : )

Note my amazing repair job?

Let's just say Nostalgia is a wonderful thing.

As the writer of this blog,

I've chosen to refrain from documenting some of the more stressful moments of the day.

But I would like to take a moment to say "Thank You" to Middlest 

for pulling out the vacuum and talking her mother down from that crazed Gingerbread ledge.

 

 

They spent one and a half hours working on their houses.
And they all looked fantastic!

As the last Gingerbread house walked out the door with it's owner,

I sat down on the couch with The Agronomist, and asked myself (out loud rhetorically)

if it was all worth it?

The Agronomist is a smart man, and knew not to answer.

I continued (out loud rhetorically) discussing how the girls had a great time together, 

but I wondered if they would have had just as much fun, or more,

had they simply come to hang out?

The Agronomist is a smart man, and knew not to comment.

After nineteen years, he has learned that rhetorical questions are likely never answered correctly.

This morning however,

my question was answered.

Youngest walked into the kitchen,

and started looking at all the details on her house.

She told me what she was happy with,

and showed me some of the special features.

She came back to it three times to show me how she had cut out hearts from the sugared fruit roll,

and showed me what candies or designs were her favourite,

She was truly happy with her creation.

With the Ace of Cakes' help, I already know we will be continuing with our tradition.

But I won't rush it.

I need some time to recover.

I can't help but wondering though... what a St.Patrick's Day house might look like?

xoxo,