| 1 | Makes 2-3 medium-sized houses. |
| 2 | Pour melted crisco into mixing bowl. |
| 3 | Cool slightly; add sugar and karo, blending well. |
| 4 | Add eggs, mixing all until smooth and creamy. |
| 5 | Put salt, baking soda and spices into mixture and begin to add flour, just a little at a time. |
| 6 | Don"t hurry this step! continue adding as much flour as the dough will absorb. |
| 7 | Bake house pieces at 375 °F for 5-8 minutes. |
| 8 | Hints: make permenant pattern pieces of mylar or other plastic sheet. |
| 9 | To roll out: use heavy duty foil (splash a few drops of water under it so it will stay stationary), roll the dough out, cut into desired shapes that are 1" apart. |
| 10 | Remove the excess dough. |
| 11 | Place the foil holding the pieces to bake on a cardboard, place in oven and remove the cardboard before shutting oven door. |
| 12 | If pieces bake together, cut apart immedietely after removing from oven. |
| 13 | Windows: must be cut before baking. |
| 14 | Can add crushed hard candy for "glass" to assemble" use royal icing: 1 ?c warm water, 12 tbsps meringue powder, 4 pounds powdered sugar. |
| 15 | Beat the water and mer.powder til frothy. |
| 16 | Add as much p. |
| 17 | Sugar as necassary. |
| 18 | Do not make icing stiff or house will not hold together as long. |
| 19 | Using #5 tip, squeeze out icing on both sides of back of house. |
| 20 | Stand it up and add sides. |
| 21 | Prop with cans of soup, ect., if it doesn"t stay firmly together. |
| 22 | Place icing on ends of standing sides and add house front. |
| 23 | Let dry for 10-15 minutes, then add roof and chimney. |
| 24 | Decorate with desired candies using royal icing to place decorations on. |
| 25 | Let dry and store covered away from dust. |
