I heart NECCO

[gsabc]

Moving beyond the seasonal uses for their products, although I will admit to buying and eating the wafers year round.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/090203/business ... .html?.v=1

[secondchance]

It seems that a certain bb may have a particular interest in the "Twilight" line.


"Next month, Necco plans to unveil a new line of Sweethearts connected to "Twilight" -- the young-adult vampire-romance book series. They'll be released at the same time as the DVD of the movie and feature such sayings as "Bite Me," "Bedazzle" and "Live 4 Ever."

[silvercamaro]

I love Necco wafers. They make the best shingles for gingerbread houses and other edible architectural fantasies.

If any wafers are left over after the construction, they also fit nicely on my tongue.

[SportsFan68]

I love Necco wafers. They make the best shingles for gingerbread houses and other edible architectural fantasies.

If any wafers are left over after the construction, they also fit nicely on my tongue.

WOW!

That's all edible, I assume.

Wow!

[silvercamaro]

That's all edible, I assume.

Every speck is edible, down to the unseen support walls inside. If anybody tried to eat it, however, I might become violent.

[SportsFan68]

That's all edible, I assume.

Every speck is edible, down to the unseen support walls inside. If anybody tried to eat it, however, I might become violent.

I say again, WOW!

How long did it take to construct this gorgeous confection?

[ghostjmf]

Also, until they closed that facility, their factory near Central Square, Cambridge MA made that place the sweetest-smelling (sweetness, with just a wiff of chocolate in it) place in the world. Which, considering some of the usual denizens of Central Square, was no mean feat.

(I've driven by some bakeries at dawn which in a different smell class also produced some of the best surprise smells in the world. Surprise, because the smell of baking bread in the morning is not something you expect when driving down a dingy city street, but its so welcome.)

[ghostjmf]

New England Confectionery Company. Just FYI.

[silvercamaro]

That's all edible, I assume.

Every speck is edible, down to the unseen support walls inside. If anybody tried to eat it, however, I might become violent.

I say again, WOW!

How long did it take to construct this gorgeous confection?

From start to finish, it took about about three weeks -- but that's misleading. Most of the baking was done in one afternoon. Assembling it had to be done in stages, because the royal icing holding the walls together had to dry completely before the next parts could be added. Windows, the stream on the left (which leads to a rear lake, on which gingerbread swans are a-swimming), trees, and shingling were separate mini-projects completed during evenings and weekends. Putting the shingles on the roof one by one took two or three evenings.

When everything was done, the tallest tower reached over 30-in. high; it weighed more than I cared to lift without help, and the total cost was about $50-$60.

[SportsFan68]

Any chance of a photo of the swimming swans? (ingratiating smile)


(toothy, ingratiating smile)

[silvercamaro]

Any chance of a photo of the swimming swans? (ingratiating smile)


(toothy, ingratiating smile)

Not quickly. I would have to search through photos to see what might be stashed away. I made this castle several years ago. Since then, I have restrained my gingerbread ambitions to more modest architectural outcomes. At that, I did serve as a long-distance advisor to my older son who more recently tried to build Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water in gingerbread and hardened sugar syrup, using a lollipop recipe. Alas, his house fell apart when he tried to move it.

[sunflower]

That is beautiful!!! The only bigger one I've ever seen was at the Marco Island Marriott...they were building it when I was there this past December, in the lobby. It was taller than me!! And every afternoon they'd bring out a fresh batch of cookies and a giant vat of frosting, which made the halls smell so good. I probably would have snuck a piece, if I didn't see kids licking their hands and then doing the same. My fear of germs kept me away but it was so impressive. I wished I took a picture. That is awesome that it only cost $50 or $60, I might have to try one!!!

[SportsFan68]

Any chance of a photo of the swimming swans? (ingratiating smile)


(toothy, ingratiating smile)

Not quickly. I would have to search through photos to see what might be stashed away. I made this castle several years ago. Since then, I have restrained my gingerbread ambitions to more modest architectural outcomes. At that, I did serve as a long-distance advisor to my older son who more recently tried to build Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water in gingerbread and hardened sugar syrup, using a lollipop recipe. Alas, his house fell apart when he tried to move it.

OOPS!!

Cancel the request and the ingratiating smiles. Well, you can keep those if you like.

I got the impression that it was new for Christmas 2008 so that led me to jump to the conclusion that it was a recent photo.

Cancel swans!

[peacock2121]

That's all edible, I assume.

Every speck is edible, down to the unseen support walls inside. If anybody tried to eat it, however, I might become violent.

YOU made that!

Holy Crappola Batman!

I am impressed and all those other words that go along with being in awe at talent.

[christie1111]

Very nice SC! Very professional looking!

You should have entered it into a contest!

So what did happen to it?

[silvercamaro]

So what did happen to it?

No matter what I do, in approximately six weeks, the structure is invaded by gingerbread terrorists armed with humidity. Total collapse is imminent.

[gsabc]

So what did happen to it?

No matter what I do, in approximately six weeks, the structure is invaded by gingerbread terrorists armed with humidity. Total collapse is imminent.

Hmmm. You must have a different gingerbread recipe than GW, or else a lot more humidity. Our problem is just the opposite - the house becomes rock hard after a couple of weeks. One year, we let it hang around longer than usual and had to take a hammer to it in order to break it apart. It still made good dunking fodder for the AM coffee, though.

[ToLiveIsToFly]

Also, until they closed that facility, their factory near Central Square, Cambridge MA made that place the sweetest-smelling (sweetness, with just a wiff of chocolate in it) place in the world. Which, considering some of the usual denizens of Central Square, was no mean feat.

(I've driven by some bakeries at dawn which in a different smell class also produced some of the best surprise smells in the world. Surprise, because the smell of baking bread in the morning is not something you expect when driving down a dingy city street, but its so welcome.)

Having lived in Central Square, I have to differ with you. Central Square smelled great, but not nearly as good as the brownie smell we used to get in downtown Chicago. Damn EPA.

When we were kids we used to play "communion" with NECCO wafers.

[gsabc]

Also, until they closed that facility, their factory near Central Square, Cambridge MA made that place the sweetest-smelling (sweetness, with just a wiff of chocolate in it) place in the world. Which, considering some of the usual denizens of Central Square, was no mean feat.

(I've driven by some bakeries at dawn which in a different smell class also produced some of the best surprise smells in the world. Surprise, because the smell of baking bread in the morning is not something you expect when driving down a dingy city street, but its so welcome.)

Having lived in Central Square, I have to differ with you. Central Square smelled great, but not nearly as good as the brownie smell we used to get in downtown Chicago. Damn EPA.

I'll do you better. I grew up across town from the Baker's Chocolate factory. When the wind was right, the smell of chocolate permeated the entire area. It made concentrating on school work a mite difficult. I was devastated when they moved to the South.

[gotribego26]

Great Castle Shiny car!

NECCO Chocolate Wafers are da bomb!!!

[Hotseat Or Bust!]

What a beautiful castle, Judy! I'm so impressed!

[secondchance]

Love the castle.

especially clever trim made from malted milkballs! which just happens to be my all-time favorite.

now i must go buy some ginger cookies from Trader Joes and a box of whoppers. no castle. will just eat them all immediately.