Osler's Razor

Today I am making the long drive back to Minnesota from Michigan. It's good thinking time, I find, and I have a lot to think about. Last night I formulated some ideas on what I want to accomplish in 2011, and I look forward to mulling that over. I think it will be an eventful year.

It was wonderful to be back in Michigan. My mother makes a gingerbread house every year, and this year it was so nice it shouldn't be called just a gingerbread house-- that thing is a gingerbread home. I wanted to move in and live in it!

You may not be ambitious enough to make a whole house, but making some gingerbread isn't too hard. Here is a simple recipe from Better Homes and Gardens:

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup shortening
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup mild-flavored molasses
1/2 cup water
Lemon Sauce
1 can Silly String or similar "fun string" can
Thin lemon peel strips (optional)

directions

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 9x1-1/2-inch round cake pan; set aside. In a medium bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking powder, and baking soda; set aside.
In a large bowl, beat shortening with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg and molasses; beat for 1 minute. Alternately add the flour mixture and the water to beaten mixture, beating on low speed after each addition until combined. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Serve warm. Spoon Lemon Sauce over individual servings. If desired, garnish with lemon peel strips. Makes 9 servings.
Lemon Sauce: In a small saucepan, stir together 2/3 cup sugar and 4 teaspoons cornstarch. Stir in 1/4 cup water, 2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel, and 1/4 cup lemon juice. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture is slighty thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 minute more. Gradually stir hot mixture into 2 beaten egg yolks. Return egg yolk mixture to saucepan. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Gradully stir in 6 tablespoons butter, cut up, stirring until melted. Stir in 1/4 cup half-and-half, light cream, or milk. Serve warm.

To Bake Ahead: Prepare and bake gingerbread as directed. Completely cool in pan on rack. Cover and store at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, place gingerbread in an airtight container; cover. Freeze for up to 3 months. Prepare the Lemon Sauce as directed. Cool for 15 minutes. Spoon into an airtight container; cover. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. In a small saucepan, heat and stir over low heat just until warm.