What else can you do in January than gingerbread? Christmas is over, it is cold outside...So turn on the oven and roll, cut and decorate the never ending gingerbread dough to pass the time!

I have these two recipes, and I made them several times before. They are soft, and easy to make, but time-consuming for sure. When I made them I literally did not notice the sunset. The whole day passed by, without me noticing it. If you are dreaming about getting into the "flow" and meditate, make gingerbread. It is a very efficient way to teach your kids how to focus on something for hours.

I made two different types of gingerbread. One I learnt from my mom, the other one from a german friend.

Lebkuchen from Nürnberg

The nuts and the candied fruits can vary region to region in Germany. It is easy and surprisingly quick to make. I tried from hazelnut flour and from hazelnuts, which I chopped and grinded. You will not guess it, but the "homemade" version was better. I tried homemade orangepeels and also from the shop. The difference was indescribable. Make candied orange peels, it is not a big deal and you can prepare it in advance. You can use them for lots of other things (or just eat them;)). I really recommend to start EVERYTHING from strach. It may take more time, but taste worth everything!

Recipe

5 free range eggs

500 g local, organic hazelnut

400 g fairtrade cane sugar

50-50 g candied orange and lemon peel (from organic citrus fruits)

a portion of gingerbread spice (see the amounts below)

0,5 tbsp fairtrade cinammon

0,1 tsp baking soda (do not add more!)

0,5 tsp organic lemon peel

30 wafers (back oblaten)

100 g fairtrade dark chocolate for dipping

decoration chopped almonds

Grind the hazelnut. Chop the candied orange and lemon peels fine. Combine all ingredients to a dough. Spread the dough evenly on the wafers and bake them on 150 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Melt the chocolate and dip the cooled down lebkuchen into it. You can decorate with chopped almonds.

The other gingerbread...

It is a whole different story. It takes much more time to make, also because the dough needs to rest hours (or overnight). And also because of the decoration, but it is really up to you. You can leave them "naked", as we say, or have fun for 2 days with being creative and decorate, and make a REAL gingerbread house. I had a day of therapeutic brain massage, mindful baking, meditation. For those hours I was in the moment, and was not thinking about the day after, or worrying about the day before...Isn't it what everyone is wishing for? I just focused on one thing for those hours and I made everything from scratch with my own hands. There was nothing difficult about it, I didn't have to force myself to focus, nor struggle with stop thinking, nor worrying about things, that I am not doing in that moment. In those hours I was more relaxed and rested than with any other kinds of meditations.

Recipe

500 g local, organic flour

200 g local, organic sugar

125 g organic butter

125 g local, organic honey

3 free range eggs

1 tsp baking soda

1 portion gingerbread spice (see recipe below)

0,5 tsp fairtrade cinammon

0,25 tsp fairtrade cloves

0,5 tsp lemon zest (organic)

0,5 tsp orange zest (organic)

0,5 tbsp lemon juice (organic)

pinch of salt

Heat the butter and the honey in a pot, when the butter has melted cool down. Mix the eggs with the sugar, all the spices, baking soda and salt. Add the orange, lemon zest and the lemon juice. Mix it with the butter and honey. Add the flour to the batter in smaller portions. Mix it well. Dust a cling film with flour, pour the dough over, wrap it and place it in the fridge for a couple of hours. It can be there up to 2 days. Stretch and knead the dough after chilling. Roll out to a thickness of 3 mm on a dusted surface, and use cookie cutters or a knife 😉 Bake them on baking paper on 180 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Completely cool them down before decoration.

You can teach your kids about concentration, keeping the focus, organising and patience with these sweet cakes. Moreover you use your creativity with using colors, motifs. You are using your nose, eyes, fingers, and hopefully your tastebuds in the end.

So get those ingredients, and do something good to yourself! Spend a day with nothing else, but a piping bag and you.

Spice mixture

It is way to expensive to buy the gingerbread spice mixture, so do it yourself. I suggest to work with whole spices. They keep the oils in themselves, until you break the shells. Get your mortar or a coffee grinder. If you are ever missing a present for a birthday or Christmas you can easily give gingerbread spice in a decorative jar. Make this to your friends either already grinded or the measured amount of whole spices with instructions how to make it.

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp anisseed

1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp allspice

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp pepper

 

The "glue" and writing icing

DO NOT BUY IT. It costs nothing to make it, plus you realize you have been buying something, which you are cabale of making in no time. And this recognition gives confidence in the long run...

200 g icing sugar

1 egg white

2-3 drops of lemon juice

1 tbsp starch

pinch of salt

food color gel/paste

Mix everything well and pour it into a piping bag. Cut a VERY small hole on the end of it, and start to decorate!!!

 

These gingerbreads are soft, and can be eaten for days (weeks? I have never tried, they are always eaten before...). Store them in airtight containers. Work with patience, don't rush anything, because doughs are sensitive, so pay your full attention and everything will work out just perfectly. Guaranteed success, proudness and mindfulness. Let's start!