IT'S A GINGERBREAD HOUSE

Prefaced (or padded) by the mini-story of three children who receive one as a Christmas gift, here are step-by-step directions for making a gingerbread house. Essentially, you make the dough and let it rest; roll it out; cut it into front and side walls and roof pieces according to the pattern provided; bake and cool the pieces and stick them together with frosting (recipe included); then decorate the whole with gumdrops, nuts, sesame squares, or whatever. For do-it-yourself gift givers, who might want to double the recipe so they can have one too.