Just returned from the Grove Park Inn Competition

Hello,

I am new to this message board...Building gingerbread houses has been my favorite hobby for the last several years. I have entered and placed in the National Gingerbread competition in Asheville the last three years. I would love to share my pictures/ideas with others. I have only learned by trial and error. It's a lot of fun.

This years competition was extremely tough. The Grand Prize Winner didn't even place top ten this year and her entry was a perfect french village with children holding hands all around the perimeter. It looked like porcelain.

I wish they would divide up the professionals from the amateurs. We competed against people who had won the competition a couple of times and had judged it and those who have been in culinary school. The judging lasted 3 hours this year. The last three years, I have placed 9th with a Theme of Savannah Georgia, 4th with "If Santa Were President" and this year I have placed 7th with the "Mitford Village" based on Jan Karon's Book Series. I would love to meet other competitors.

By the way does anyone know a royal icing recipe made with vinegar that is supposed to hold it together better than water?

Thanks,

Crazy Baker