First Annual Winter Festival

My Lords Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have the esteemed privilege of announcing Amberleigh’s first Winter Festival which shall take place on 7th December. Lord Joseph and Lady Caroline have generously opened their home to allow our exhibition to be held there for which we are very grateful. Lady Elizabeth, Lady Caroline, Mrs. Wallis and Miss Harris have worked diligently to make this entertainment come to fruition and we hope it shall be a day long remembered by all.

The main attraction of the festival shall be a Gingerbread Competition. With the widespread fascination for this craft giving flight to the imaginations of many during this time of the year, we believe we have talented bakers in our midst to rival those of other towns and villages and we would like to challenge you to fashion a dwelling or cookie/biscuit which will delight all those who shall come to admire your efforts.

There shall be two categories in the competition, the first, to create a dwelling of some sort, and the second to create an ornately decorated cookie/biscuit. You may enter one or both categories and the winner of each shall receive a small trophy for their efforts. Let us embrace all the wonderful things of the season and also of each set of beliefs and let our hearts direct us in fashioning little works of art to display to delight all. Our judges for the day shall be our own Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Launcelot Penn, Mr. Clutterback and Mr. Bryan Wallis.

A grand scheme of decoration shall greet us on the day, work which has already commenced at Comely Manor to transform it into a winter wonderland. Lady Caroline has commissioned her cook and chef to prepare a tantalizing array of food and punch for our refreshment on the day. While we await the judges decisions, Lady Elizabeth shall host a Scavenger Hunt to keep us occupied. More details on the game shall be given at a later date.

We ask that you bake your gingerbread and not use store bought cookies/biscuits for construction as some might do. Mrs. Pym has supplied her favourite receipt for gingerbread, but you may use your own recipe also. Do keep in mind the texture of the dough will vary between making a cookie/biscuit as opposed to a dwelling or structure. For the structural projects, a more substantial dough will help keep your dwelling secure. HERE is a link that gives very good general directions on making a gingerbread house and the differences in dough texture, using royal icing to adhere your dwelling. If you prefer to use what is referred to as “sugar glue” Please follow THIS VIDEO for instruction

Mrs. Pym’s receipt for Gingerbread:

To make Gingerbread

Take a pound and a half of London Treacle, 2 eggs beaten, half a pound of brown sugar, one ounce of ginger beaten and sifted, of cloves, mace and nutmeg, all together, half an ounce, beaten very fine. Coriander seeds and caraway seeds, of each, half an ounce, 2 pounds of butter melted; mix all these together with as much flour as will knead it into a pretty stiff paste, then roll it out and cut it into what form you please. Bake in a quick oven on tin plates: a little time will bake it. Of some of this paste you may likewise make drops.

Once you have made your Gingerbread cookies/biscuits or house, send photos via email to your partner with a note from your character as well as copies to Anna at: [email protected] All photos of entries must be received by Anna no later than 30th November to be included in a blog post and a straw poll so we may vote for our favourites. The winners shall be announced on December 7th, the day of our Winter Festival. This shall be a Type Three Swap due to the level of work involved even though our results shall be emailed.

I bid you all good luck on the day, and remain your obedient servant, Sir Charles Marlowe

The details of the swap: Create either a gingerbread dwelling or an ornately decorated cookie/biscuit, or both if you are so inclined. Be as fanciful as you like. When you have completed your bake, take photos and send via email to your partner along with a word from your character. You must also email your photos to Anna to be entered in the competition.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us so we may clarify. Best of luck to all.