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Community Corner

Gingerbread Traditions: Fun for Young and Old

Big or small, plain or fancy, gingerbread houses capture the imagination of all ages. Here's one that weighs 800 pounds! It's not too late to order gingerbread items from a Wildwood cake boutique.

“Gingerbread houses are what Christmas is all about for me,” said Stephen Schubert, executive pastry chef at River City Casino, who was raised in Hamburg, Germany. “My family always made gingerbread houses together when I was little. It was such fun and a big attraction for us when we were kids. Christmas without gingerbread wouldn’t be Christmas at all.”

Schubert continues his family’s tradition of making gingerbread houses with his kids at home and at work, where he recently constructed, with his team of bakers, a gingerbread house that weighs in around 800 pounds, of which 500 pounds is gingerbread.

“When you make a gingerbread house, no matter how big or small, the dough has to be drier to hold up under the icing and decorations,” said Schubert explaining his gingerbread houses are always just a house. “ I like to make traditional gingerbread houses. I don’t do castles or other stuff – it has to be a house with bricks, cookies and stained glass windows of sugar.”

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Smaller table top houses are a feature among the holiday decorations at the Chatillon-Demenil Mansion and the Eugene Field House, two of St Louis’ fabled historic houses opened for public tours.

“Gingerbread houses always draw such attention,” said Eugene Field House volunteer Shirley Zork, who had the idea to have a drawing for the gingerbread house on display in the Eugene Field House parlor. “It’s a way to help raise some extra money for the restoration of the house.”

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Whether big or small making gingerbread houses should be fun.

“Making gingerbread houses is something families can do together. They don’t have to be perfect, so don’t put too many restrictions on it," said Schubert. "Remember you want it to be fun for the kids. Then, once Christmas comes, you have a big party and everyone gets a piece to eat — just like Hansel and Gretel.”

Sue Thrasher, owner of in , said her bakery just held two classes for teaching how to make gingerbread houses. 

Thrasher said the boutique offers custom-ordered gingerbread houses ranging from $15 to $100, depending on the size desired. "We also can host private parties for decorating gingerbread houses for six or more people," she said.

Additionally, Thrasher said she and her staff are selling gingerbread ornaments made especially hard and durable to place on Christmas trees.

Gingerbread kits also were available this weekend at the in .

Editor's Note: Please return to Eureka-Wildwood Patch this week for gingerbread recipes, including one from Stephen Schubert, the German-born chef showcased in this article. 

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