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Every week, FOOD52's Senior Editor Kristen Miglore is unearthing recipes that are nothing short of genius.
Today: Make more pies. Start with this one.
In 2005 -- long before pies were considered the new cupcakes, or the new anything -- Anne Dimock wrote a book in hopes of bringing them back.It started as a series of essays in a local Minnesota paper, but it turned out she had much more to say, and that people were listening.
Her story became a eulogy for America's pie-making culture, punctuated with vignettes of disappointing pilgrimages to roadside diners and bakeries. It's also a memoir about growing up in a family who understood each other best through the making of hundreds of pies, and a hopeful handbook for the next generation. You should read it.
"I believe that making pies is a worthy pursuit. It needs to be practiced," Dimock told me over the phone. "There's still no substitute for a homemade pie."Read the book and Dimock's measures of pie-making valor will inspire you (she grew up in the thick of a pie-making community in New Jersey, where bakers were sized up by how many they could muster in the swampy August heat).
But so will her humility. She sweats just like we do -- even after an approximate 643 pies made in her lifetime, according to trading card stats she lists in the book.
Pie-making is filled with moments of fear among the ones of meditation and pride, no matter if it's your first or your 644th. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it.
Having babies is scary, driving a car is scary, quitting your terrible job is scary. But when you get brave, you're the better for it. And here, in maybe the most gratifying outcome of all, you end up with hot homemade pie when you're done. (See our favorite stress-reducing way to roll-out dough here.)
Your pie won't be bad. It just won't. Even if it's a bit misshapen or slumped, the filling too runny or too stiff, the crust too tough or too meek -- if you yourself made it, there's virtually no chance it won't be good. And there is no surer way to get people to look at you differently than to bake them a pie.
After spending her childhood in New Jersey helping her mother make apple pies, Dimock lived in the upper Midwest most of her adult life and found her own calling was to rhubarb. But when she moved to Kauai in 2008, she had to adapt to the climate, the imported flour, and an island landscape devoid of rhubarb. She set about perfecting her mango lilikoi (passion fruit) pie.
She believes she's done it, yet she still considers the Straight-Up Rhubarb Pie (which you may recognize from Amanda's recent Friday night dinner party) to be her greatest contribution to pie-making, and for good reason.
In it, there are no strawberries to claim the glory. Rhubarb, that tart vegetable that insists it's a fruit, proves itself deserving of its own platform.
In the wrong hands, the stalks could taste punishingly sour (which is why it's so often stuck with strawberries when they both arrive in the spring). But when Dimock inherited 30 rhubarb plants in her move to Minnesota, she knew she had to figure out how to tame them, and that it needn't involve buying strawberries or adding a cup of sugar to every pie like her mother had.
Dimock's simple filling formula calls for 1/4 cup of sugar and a tablespoon of flour for every cup of sliced rhubarb -- just enough to soften the rhubarb, and give it the proper ooze -- plus cinnamon, an unlikely accent that brings out the rhubarb's fire.
You can, and should, use this filling in any pie crust you like -- but Dimock's recipe for that is a good one too. The dough is so friendly that there's no extra resting time required, and no blind baking.
For any other pastry, she's willing to use a variety of fats -- from cream cheese to beef suet -- but for fruit-filled pies, it must be shortening (though she switched from Crisco to non-hydrogenated brands in recent years). "Maybe it was just a blip in time that's more my American experience -- the way it should taste for me should be vegetable shortening," she explained. "If I make a quiche I'll use butter, because that's what it's supposed to taste like."
You may have your own convictions of what pie is supposed to taste like, but if not, this is an awfully good place to start.
Anne Dimock's Straight-Up Rhubarb Pie
Adapted from Humble Pie: Musings on What Lies Beneath the Crust (Andrews McMeel, 2005)
Makes one 9-inch pie
For the crust:
2 cups all-purpose flour1/2 teaspoon salt2 teaspoons sugar2/3 cup vegetable shortening (Dimock uses non-hydrogenated brands, but feel free to use other fats if you prefer)6 tablespoons ice water
For the filling:
5 cups sliced rhubarb1 1/4 cups sugar5 tablespoons flour1/4 teaspoon cinnamon1 1/2 tablespoons butter (optional)
See a slideshow and the full recipe (and save and print it) here.
Got a genius recipe to share -- from a classic cookbook, an online source, or anywhere, really? Please send it my way (and tell me what's so smart about it) at [email protected].
Photos by James Ransom
The Genius Desserts cookbook is here! With more than 100 of the most beloved and talked-about desserts of our time (and the hidden gems soon to join their ranks) this book will make you a local legend, and a smarter baker to boot.
See what other Food52 readers are saying.


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Former "Grey's Anatomy" star T.R. Knight has prescribed a return to Broadway for himself.
It was announced Thursday that Knight, who played Dr. George O'Malley on ABC's medical drama, will star opposite Patrick Stewart in David Mamet's "A Life in the Theatre." Rehearsals are set to begin in August.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Celebrity Gays & Their Supportive Gal Pals
Knight will play the role of John, a relative newcomer to acting who's counseled by a veteran performer. Stewart, starring as the older actor, last appeared on Broadway in 2008 in "Macbeth" and received a Tony Award nomination.
"A Life in the Theatre" premiered in 1977 in Chicago and opened off-Broadway that year. Previews for the new production with Knight and Stewart are scheduled to begin in September.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: From Blonde To 'Grey' - Katherine Heigl
Copyright 2010 by Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Gay & Lesbian Hollywood
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PLAY IT NOW: Eric Dane Talks Babies & 'Grey's ' Rumors
PLAY IT NOW: Access Extended: Katherine Heigl On Vegas Wardrobe Malfunction: 'You Just Go With It'
More from Access: [ T.R. KnightABCBroadway ]

subset: commoncrawl


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There doesn't seem to be any decent shell CheatSheet out there, so I have undertaken to write one.
This is my first attempt; once I actually printed it out, I realised that the the font was actually rather large, so I had room to include much more than I had originally sketched out.
Cheatsheet You may notice that there are a lot of blanks; Shell Cheatsheet has the same content, with some ideas for new content. Please tell me what you want to see in there – There is still lots of room, it's only about 60% full.
What would you fill the other 40% with?
Does this seem to be a useful cribsheet? What would you like to see in it?
Also, what format would you prefer? PDF? PNG? GIF? DOC?!


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Dec. 21, 2010-A Good Sail Today
wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Judy steers with the big sails up
You go,
you go out,
out to sea,
out to the blue sea,
out to the ocean.
You go out for
the sailing,
the fix,
the sailing fix,
the fix you need.
Out there on
the flat horizon,
the blue flat horizon,
where the wind blows,
where the sailing is good,
real good.
You put up the sails,
the big sails,
the really big sails.
and sheet them in,
sheet them in hard,
really hard.
You go up on the wind,
get right on the wind,
get really right onto the wind,
and then you're sailing. Really sailing.
We sailed to Port Louis from Black River on Tuesday after a week anchored in that beautiful inlet on the SW side of Mauritius.
It was good to get out in the breeze and sheet the sails in hard. The power which comes on when the wind is up and the sails are in and we head up into the wind…that's what gives me the sailing fix I'm talking about. It's a great feeling and I need it once in a while.
The wind strength and angle surprised us though. The previous day a Beneteau 49 headed out and we watched as they found a light easterly outside the reef and took a good angle on starboard tack right up the coast.
We set sail today and when we got out the pass we found a northerly wind blowing instead of an easterly which meant a beat but we hoisted the big genoa and enjoyed the good sailing conditions for a while as we started upwind laying long tacks in the ocean towards Port Louis.
The wind was building and the genoa soon proved to be too much and we dropped it and while it was down we decided to put in a reef in the main. Sometimes you know what is going to feel right and what isn't. Something told us that the small jib and a reef was going to be a better combination and it was.
We also set the baby stay due to the increasing chop.
wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Sailing Past Mauritius
Then for the next four hours, with everything ship shape and set for the conditions, we had a great sail in twenty knots of wind at 6.6kts boat speed and 40 degrees to the wind with sun, strong breeze, lots of spray flying and not too much pounding; it was true blue water sailing at its best. But it was tiring and after 18 miles and we were glad to crack off at the entrance to Port Louis and reach into the harbor.
By 16:00 we were tied up to the quay in La Caudan and ready for a cool drink and a shower.
But we'll be ready for another sailing fix in a week or so.
Click here for more sailing shots.
Click here for photos of the fishing contest at Black River
Click here to see the log book pages of our sailing trips in December 2010
Fred and Judy, SV Wings, Mauritius
Labels: Fred and Judy, Mauritius, sailing


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Got ideas for what you like to see on the third game? Put it in!
Here's what I would generally like to see:
1. More real world practical puzzles. I'd really like more common sense applied in adventure games in general.
2. More engaging dialog system. Take a hint from Bioware games, will ya? It would be nice to be able to control the subplots and even some part of the mainplot of the game with branching dialog. Make it a little more engaging. Another example is Hotel Dusk.
3. Better soundtrack. Syberia had always a very tiny soundtrack list. It needs to have its own grand epic songs.
4. More life in the game world. Syberia had always had a stoic feel to it partially because the entire game world seemed life less. People do not have their own activities other than being props on the set.
5. Better writing. Syberia I had a real good hook. Syberia II, not quite. Here's to hoping for a better story overall.
6. Might be worth contemplating having a sort of hint system. Completely optional, but there is some value in having this.
Let's start pouring the ideas in!


text: Designer and illustrator Nick Agin worked on a personal project, exploring the iconic Star Wars film characters. The outcome is a great series of illustrations, inspired by the style that old American presidents were drawn in. Included in the line-up are of course Vader, Yoda, 3-CPO and the Stormtrooper next to a few others.


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Bali 3 bedroom Canggu villa for yearly rent rice fields infinity pool
Good priced 200m2 plots only few left
Legian 1 or 2 bedroom managed apartments fully equipped
New 3 bedroom affordable priced villa in Berawa
In recent years the island of Bali in Indonesia has become a haven for foreign real estate investors and home buyers. Here at Bali Land Property, our goal is to provide you with only the highest quality services at affordable prices. Whether you are interested in sales or leases, homes or land, leasehold or freehold, you can be assured that we have something to fit your needs. We even have commercial opportunities available.
Currently, Every year, thousands of people come to the popular island to soak up the rich Balinese culture, experience some adventure, enjoy the picture perfect beaches or maybe just enjoy the tropical environment while they sip a drink on the beach.
Probably the only thing better than visiting the island, would be living there. Maybe you just want to rent a villa for a few months or possibly move to it permanently, either way investigating the realty market here could be beneficial.
If you are searching for the ultimate and island luxury lifestyle, the home market can easily accommodate you. The breathtaking estates in the Bukit cliffs or the beach front retreats will allow you to have your own private paradise on the grand island of Bali. Alternatively, you could purchase your own plot of land and custom design your own unique estate. The choice is yours. Either way you should contact us and see how we can help you turn your dream into a reality.
Recently there have been some proposed changes to the ownership rules for foreigners. Currently, foreigners can own real properties for a 25 year term. At the time of term expiration, they are eligible to renew their rights with the National Land Agency (BPN) for an additional 25 year term. When that term expires, foreign owners are allowed to extend it for another 20 years. Making for a total ownership term of 70 years.
Under the new regulation, foreigners will now be able to renew their rights for the additional 25 and 20 year terms at the same time. Meaning that essentially they will be able to have a 45 year renewal, instead of having to come back again in 25 years. Read more..
Searching for that perfect residence by yourself, can quickly become tiresome, frustrating and time-consuming. As you go from place to place, trying to find something suitable, you may miss out on some of the best deals in the market.
Let the professional agents at Bali Land Property assist you in realizing your dream of ownership. If you have never purchased a property before, it is advisable to utilize the skills and expertise of a competent agent. Especially if you are a foreign buyer. Our specialists can offer you the advice and guidance you need to ensure that you get the best value for your money and, more importantly, help you to avoid costly mistakes that could sour the entire experience for you.
Our fees are paid by the seller as part of our commission on the purchase price.
If you are just beginning your search or if maybe you have run into a dead end, we suggest that you take a little time to go over the wealth of information on this website. Take a look at the available listings, and when you are ready, contact one of our specialists. One thing to keep in mind, is that not all of our listings have made it to our website, so if you don't see that one special place, contact us, because we might just have it in our listings.
For those of you who are already living the dream and are now looking to sell their land or villa, you can list your residential or commercial real estate for sale or for rent with us. Listing with us is free of charge, only when we are successful in finding a suitable buyer or renter will we charge our commission. Listing with us will also widen the pool of potential buyers. This helps to ensure that you will more quickly find a suitable buyer or help to start making some extra income from your holiday short or long term rental.
Take some time to tell us a little bit about your land or home and we will be sure to respond to your request as soon as possible. If we find that we are a good match, then we will draw up a listing contract if necessary, that way everyone is protected.


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About Us
Located in downtown Lindsborg, Kansas, a town that is a "must-visit" for anyone interested in Midwest art, the Courtyard Gallery complements the masters of Lindsborg's artistic past with works of current Lindsborg artists as well as those from a wider region whom they influenced.
When you come to Lindsborg, take the brick street entrance to the gallery, peer through the gallery windows above the quaint old Swedish courtyard with its huge mural, lush plantings, and the patrons in the "open air" cafe beneath the large skylight. Come in and enjoy the space our architect created for us, many, beautiful art objects, and our Kansas Hospitality!
The Courtyard Gallery is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday, Sunday 11am-3pm , Persons interested in purchasing artwork through The Courtyard are reminded that Kansas sales tax is currently set at 9.5%. For further information regarding The Courtyard, please select from the list on the left by clicking on your choice of palettes, or refer to the following contact information:
125 N. Main St.
Lindsborg, Kansas 67456 USA
Telephone: 1-785-227-3007
E-Mail: email@example.com


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So people have been saying there's been a fair amount of sleeping going on in the space. I'm always uncomfortable stating that Noisebridge collectively thinks something, unless there's been real consensus about it, but "not living in the space" is one of those things that really has been established, even if everyone feels a little uncomfortable about strictly defining what "living" means.
About the only way anyone has worked out of consistently dissuading people who have a very good reason for staying overnight at Noisebridge -- which is that they don't have anywhere else to go -- is to turn up at an early hour, and wake them up. I'll call this technique sweigarting, for unknown historical reasons. It's a really painful, uncomfortable thing to do, and is fraught with social awkwardnesses and unanswered questions.
The best way I can handle doing it is to write about what those awkwardnesses are in more detail.
Cliff, Noisebridge's resident painter, was asleep in the DJ booth next to Steve, the old guy who spends a lot of time browsing the Net on our electronics desk. Scott, a young messy guy was asleep on the couch. Chris, his friend, was next to him, with a Thinkpad, copying down logic tables.
I woke Cliff and Steve up first. I didn't recognise Cliff, but I ended up trying to take photos of both of them, which everyone objected to, even me. I felt sad and annoyed that they were sleeping in their sleeping bags, surrounded by maintenance stuff, in the space. The annoyance wasn't really directed at them, but there was just this agony of knowing that they knew they shouldn't be sleeping here, because they instantly started making protestations that they were just asleep for a few hours, and that they knew what they were doing was wrong. I was obviously in the position of authority, even if I was apologetic. Steve also instantly declaimed "what about the couple on the couch", and I asked him to come help me with them. He didn't, obviously.
Chris asked me if I owned Noisebridge, not accusingly, which also made me feel sad. I think watching her copy down logic tables was the saddest thing though. When I came in on Steve, he was determinedly reading an electronic components manual, and used this as an argument that he was doing something. Chris told me that Scott had taught her a lot, and that she couldn't really ... something... without him.
They all need somewhere to stay, but this isn't it.


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NEW YORK (AP) — The Democrat challenging U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel has conceded almost two weeks after a closely contested primary race in New York City.
State Sen. Adriano Espaillat (ah-dree-AH'-noh ehs-peye-YAHT') made the announcement Monday. He also says his lawyers will abandon a court challenge.
Over the weekend, Rangel had apparently clinched a primary victory by a margin of 990 votes.
After a ballot count that ended Saturday, a New York City Board of Elections spokeswoman says the 82-year-old congressman received 18,940 votes. Espaillat won 17,950 votes in the June 26 primary.
Espaillat had claimed in court that his supporters had been improperly turned away from polls.
Rangel faced one of his toughest fights in more than four decades following his censure for ethics violations. He's congratulating Espaillat for "running an ambitious campaign."


text:
VPL Spring 2013 | Runway
VPL Spring 2013
VPL Spring 2013
For Spring 2013, designer Victoria Bartlett stuck to the sporty aesthetic that always sets her apart from the rest. Baggy silhouettes, colorblocking, sheer fabrics, and VPL's signature bras made strong cameos on the catwalk. Models wore colorblocked sandals and harness-like headbands as eccentric accessories. The hooded anoraks, sheer jumpsuits, parachute-inspired maxi skirts, cropped sweaters, and drawstring dresses were all designed for the off-kilter fashion girl that has a major sporty side. The color palette was mostly neutrals with pops of bright yellow, orange, and mint. Solids ruled the VPL runway, but bursts of abstract stripes were a surprising addition.


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Diamond Pendant
14k yellow gold radiant universe Chatham lab grown diamond sun pendant. This pendant has a carat weight of 0.60ctw.*Prices are subject to change based on fluctuations in metal prices and currencies
Chatham is recognized as the leader of created gemstones. The company's unbeatable Lifetime Warranty and Certificate of Authenticity assure reliability and long-term value. Whether it's the latest fashion trends in our finished jewelry or the brilliance of our loose stones, Chatham enthusiasts around the world agree: Chatham is Smart. Beautiful. Real.


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It's always more fun to DIY. Every week, we'll spare you a trip to the grocery store and show you how to make small batches of great foods at home.
Today: Carey Nershi from Reclaiming Provincial shares a recipe for no-knead sandwich bread that takes minimal prep time and makes enough to keep extra dough on hand. Your lunch just got an upgrade.
Learning how to make bread from scratch is an empowering thing. For me, the ability to transform a seemingly unimpressive list of ingredients into a real, honest-to-goodness loaf of something feels like a revelatory act. Especially since dough holds so many possibilities. The options are endless, and I am a big fan of endless options.
I have learned that some of the best loaves are the simple, all-purpose ones. I resisted the no-knead revolution for a long time because, well, I liked kneading. But my curiosity eventually got the better of me, and I gave it a try. I was an instant convert. Not only is it easier, but the taste is fantastic.
As my days grew busier and busier, this recipe's minimal hands-on time became ideal. Mixing all my ingredients up in one bowl, letting them hang out and get friendly for an afternoon, then sticking the bowl in the fridge until I'm ready to bake something? Yeah, I'm into that. Saving time by making a double batch? Now we're talking. If you're in the habit of making lots of sandwiches (say, for hungry little ones heading off to school!), having a mound of dough at the ready in your fridge can be a lifesaver.
More: Once you make your first loaf, pack up a PB&J with homemade Concord Grape Jelly.
This recipe is a bit of a meeting-in-the-middle between the Artisan Bread in 5 and Jim Lahey techniques. The flavor of Lahey's recipe is amazing, but a 12- to 18-hour proofing followed by a 2-hour rise might seem like a daunting amount of waiting time for some. The original Artisan Bread in 5 recipe calls for a fair amount of yeast, which gives the finished loaf a very distinct yeasty flavor. This recipe cuts the yeast in half and compensates by extending the proofing and rise times slightly, allowing more natural flavors to develop without adding a good deal of time to the process. Once the proofing is complete, stick the dough in the fridge for up to two weeks and use it as you need it. (Bonus: the flavor improves over time from the cold fermentation.)
No-knead doughs are usually shaped into round, rustic loaves, but they can easily be turned into fantastic sandwich bread. A teensy bit of kneading and shaping yields a tighter crumb that slices wonderfully, but still begs to be eaten with just a little butter and sea salt -- it's that good.
No-Knead Sandwich Bread
Makes 2 loaves
3 1/4 cups bread flour (433 grams)3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (433 grams)2 teaspoons instant yeast (4 grams)1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt (14 grams)3 cups of water
Combine flours, yeast, and salt in a large bowl. Add water and stir together with a wooden spoon to form a shaggy dough.
Cover with plastic wrap or a tea towel and let proof at room temperature for around 5 hours. At this point the dough can be used immediately, or covered with plastic wrap and kept in the fridge for up to two weeks.
On baking day, remove half of the dough from the bowl and return the remainder to the fridge. Turn the dough out on a floured surface and lightly knead 3 to 4 times.
Shape dough into a rectangle, approximately 8 by 12 inches.
Fold a third of the dough into the center, followed by the other third.
Place dough seam side-down in a buttered loaf pan.
Cover and let rise for around 1 hour, or until the dough has doubled in size.
Preheat your oven to 450° F. Dust the top of the dough with a little flour and score with a serrated knife.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top of the loaf has just begun to brown. Let cool for at least an hour before slicing.
See the full recipe (and save and print it) here.
Photos by Carey Nershi.
See what other Food52 readers are saying.


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As it turns out, maybe you can live happily ever after in a house made out of gingerbread. Or at least, so it seemed last week for a group of families brought together by a local architect for an unusual and festive holiday homecoming celebration.
As it turns out, maybe you can live happily ever after in a house made out of gingerbread.
Or at least, so it seemed last week for a group of families brought together by a local architect for an unusual and festive holiday homecoming celebration.
The families have all recently moved into homes designed by SpaceCraft Architecture of Lexington. Last week, they were invited to the company's Raymond Street office to offer their own candy-inspired design touches to elaborately rendered, scaled replicas of their individual homes, built not of wood and cement, but of gingerbread and icing.
Sally Degan, of Winchester, the firm's principal who conceived of the annual event, has for years at holiday time constructed scaled models of homes — and sometimes entire historic villages — out of gingerbread. Her time-intensive, detailed renditions — realistic down to every window, arch and miniature swing set — have been compared to the elaborate masterpieces of the great, miniature shipbuilders.
"I just enjoy creating homes — out of anything, really," said Degan. "And I love to delight people. Plus, I know the renovation process can be arduous and stressful for families. This event is a way of celebrating the families whose homes we design, and of welcoming them home."
On the eve of the decorating party, SpaceCraft staff busily prepared to welcome their 20 or so guests to their respective miniature homes.
DeGan, a Winchester resident, her 9-year-old son Parker, and co-workers Dustin Nolin and Michael Rosa, had transformed their office into an edible, life-like neighborhood rivaling Willy Wonka's factory.
Conference tables, desks, and drafting tables were dotted with homes in styles ranging from 18th century farmhouses to Victorians to Contemporaries. Colorful, melted Lifesaver mini windows glowed from battery-powered lights tucked within. As the architectural crew topped off tubs of M&Ms, gumdrops, licorice swirls, and rock candy, the homes' real, life-size inhabitants began to arrive.
As each new group entered and recognized their abode, they showed a wide-eyed wonderment to match Hansel and Gretel's.
"Whoa, this is cool," exclaimed an awestruck 11-year-old Kelly O'Neill of Lexington, as she came across her Castle Road home with parents Chorlotte and Kevin, who own Neillios Gourmet Farm. "I've seen gingerbread houses before, but this is amazing! It's so cool to see a mini version of your home — and made out of gingerbread, too."
Her younger brother, Kevin, 4, echoed, "cool!" and "that's my room!" pointing to the appropriate, sugary window on a corner of the house.
Then, the busy carpenters, masons and landscapers got to work, embellishing their homes with chocolate graham cracker shingles, licorice gutters, Necco wafer chimneys, rock candy walkways and luscious lawns of green sugar crystals.
Jonathan Kravetz of Wayland reflected on the scene while wife Janny, and children Jacob, 20, Rebecca, 16 and Hannah, 13 intently insulated their home's roof with rows of colored marshmallow shingles.
"When I walked in I saw this incredibly elaborate gingerbread house so beyond anything I expected," she said. "I didn't even recognize it as my home. It's astounding to me, the loving attention to detail that was put into each house, down to the arches and windows. It's an incredible gift that Sally and her crew would spend what must have been tens of hours of time and care on these — the same approach they brought to helping us design our house in the first place."
For DeGan, building homes out of gingerbread is a natural evolution of a lifelong passion for creating homes out of any materials that were handy. Her company's Web site shows a child's colorful, crayoned drawing of a home, one of collection DeGan did when she was 4 that her mother kept.
She recalls creating villages out of pine needles and twigs as a child, building tree houses as a teenager, wallpapering and painting her way through high school, and then working for a builder after college. Although she started out on the bottom rung, the one who got to the job-site early to shovel snow off the framing and start up the diesel equipment, she recalls being captivated by the building process, and "loving the smell of the earth and the saw cutting wood."
When she finally landed in architecture school, she described it as "heaven."
She traces her passion for designing inviting homes for people to her own experience growing up in a home with two Down's Syndrome brothers, whose need for special care — sometimes in residential homes — created strains that at times fractioned the family.
"There were times, with all that was going on, that I didn't like being at home — so I dreamed of making a home where I wanted to be," she said. "Through design, we can transform the way people live or the way a family interacts. Making a house work for someone can really change their whole well-being."
If the beaming faces at last week's festivities are any indication, making someone work on their own house — especially with decorating bags and gumdrops — can change their whole well-being as well.Tips for building your own gingerbread house
Over the years, Sally DeGan has perfected a process for reconstructing an actual home as a scaled model out of gingerbread.
It starts with having a traditional, one-quarter scale drawing (or sketch) of the house, ideally with elevation views of each side.
Next, cut out the paper walls and roofs from the drawing, which will be used as templates. After rolling out the dough, lay on the templates, and cut out the walls, including the windows, and the roof. To make the edible windows, smash Lifesavers candies (a great job for younger bakers).
Bake the dough walls halfway through, and then place the broken candy bits in the windows for the remainder of the baking time.
Finally, lay the floor plan of the house on a base, such as a piece of cardboard or wood, and build the walls up around the plan. Each home takes about eight hours to construct. For advice or construction-worthy dough and icing recipes, contact Sally at www.SpaceCraftArch.com or 781-674-2100.