RECIPES
Here are the two important recipes.
These are the recipes we used for our gingerbread creations, but feel free to use your own.

The Gingerbread

2 Cups Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon Ginger
1/3 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Shortening
1/2 Cup Molasses
3 Tablespoons Hot Water

1. Combine ingredients in a large bowl

2. Blend well. Add paste food coloring if you wish

3. Chill overnight

4. Roll onto Teflon (no stick) baking sheets, 1/4 inch thich

5. Chill on pans for easy handling

6. Cut out shapes and remove excess dough

7. Bake 8-10 minutes in 400 degree oven

Note: The ingredients in this recipe were multiplied 10 times, in order to make enough to build ONE of the houses shown here (not counting the "Haunted House").

The Royal Icing

IMPORTANT
This recipe calls for raw egg whites.
For safetly reasons (food born illness such as Salmonella), I would recommend finding an egg white alternative, such as pasteurized liquid egg whites which can be found in most grocery stores.

3 Egg Whites (or safe egg equivalent)
1/2 Teaspoon Cream of Tartar
1 Pound 10X Sugar

Cream of Tartar makes it stiff

More sugar makes it thick

add water to thin mixture

Color ONLY with paste food colors