Two Yule Revels

We made it to the Altavia Yule for just a bit to say hello to friends. They started feast early (gasp!) so we didn't stay long, though.

  

At Angel's Yule, we did go for the feast. I made a gingerbread galleon for our table centerpiece, which suffered little bites here and there as the evening went on. The recipe came from a site called "Gingerbread Lane" at http://www.gingerbreadlane.com/recipe.html. It's the second, rather untraditional but highly effective recipe on their page (quoted from the page):

1 cup vegetable shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup dark molasses or corn syrup (dark gives dark, chocolate colored dough; corn syrup gives light dough...or use half molasses and half corn syrup for a medium colored dough)
 
Melt these three items in a pot over low heat.
 
Remove from heat and stir in
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
 
Then stir in 4-4 1/2 cups of flour, 1 cup at a time. (You may have to enlist the help of an electric mixer on the last cup as the dough gets quite thick and hard to stir. Split the dough into manageable balls, wrapping excess in plastic wrap. Roll out, cut pieces, bake at 375 for 6-12 minutes.
 

Note: If you feel like the dough isn't working well, heat it in the microwave about 10 seconds to warm it, knead again and then roll it.

 

The event was lots of fun, Abi enjoyed listening to the entries for the Bardic competition and running around with Cora. Uncle Bear orchestrated the Return of the MacReeky Clan, leading us all in procession under the (very hideous) conglomerate plaid banner once sported by their Excellencies, Master John Griffin and Mistress Flavia. They were amazed (or was it aghast?) to see the old banner and laughed and laughed.