INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

Make the cookie dough:  Stir or whisk together 4 1/2 cups of the
flour, the baking powder and salt; set aside. Cream the butter and
sugar until light; add the eggs, milk, and vanilla and beat well.
Gradually add the dry ingredients and blend to form a smooth ball of
dough. If the dough is sticky, add just enough of the remaining flour
to eliminate the stickiness. The dough should not be dry. Divide the
dough in half, wrap each ball in plastic and refrigerate for several
hours, or until firm enough to roll. Meanwhile, cut cardboard
templates for the base and the three parts of the cookie house.  The
dimensions are as follows:  THE BASE: is a circle 6" across (cut 1)
THE SIDE: is a rectangle 2 3/8" x 3 1/2" (cut 2) THE FRONT/BACK: is
funny shaped. It's 3" wide and 4 1/4" tall (total height). From the
bottom to the beginning of the "roof" section is 2 3/8". At 2 3/8"  cut
up to form the "roof" top like an upside down "V" (cut 2).  Finally cut
the ROOF: it's a rectangle 2 3/4" x 4 1/4". Preheat oven  to 350
degrees. On a flour-dusted cookie sheet or the back of one  jelly roll
pan, roll out one ball of dough to 1/8"-1/4" thick. For  each house cut
one base, two sides, two front/back pieces, and two  roof pieces. Lay
out the cardboard patterns on the dough, leaving 1  1/2" between them.
The layout will depend on the size of your cookie  sheet and how many
houses you are making. Use a sharp knife to cut  around each template,
removing excess dough as you cut. Wipe the  knife frequently. Repeat
the rolling and cutting process to make the  remaining pieces. If you
want some small trees in front of your  house, make them using a cookie
cutter. Bake both sheets of cookies  at the same time, for 10-15
minutes reemoving pieces when they are  done (preferable to overbake
than underbake since we need firm  cookies). The cookies may brown, but
this is O.K. Transfer  immediately to a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorate the pieces  before assembling the houses. You can do this many
ways. Mostly use  your imagination. Frost or pipe/apply candies to the
"wet" icing. To  "sugar-coat" areas, brush on egg-wash (being careful
not to touch any  piping or decorations); then sprinkle immediately
with colored sugar.  Tap gently to shake off excess sugar. Set aside to
dry for half an  hour. Next to assemble houses. Use the #7 icing tip .
Pipe a thick  line of icing along edges to be put together and "glue"
the houses  together and on the base. Make sure to do one area at a
time and hold  until icing sets. Let all set for a few minutes. When
icing is firm,  do any finishing touches. MAKES THREE COOKIE HOUSES
WITH BASES The  Christmas Kitchen by Lorraine Bodger  From Gemini's
MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini

A Message from our Provider:

“Love is the doorway through which the human soul passes from selfishness to service. #Jack Hyles”