Gingerbread

[k9krap]

I ordered a loaf of iced gingerbread from 2 guys that sell cake.  I was a bit worried about the “iced” part, as my experience is that the icing always sticks to the packaging.  Somehow, this doesn’t! I don’t know how they did it but the cream cheese frosting stays with each slice of the gingerbread.  And it is absolutely delicious.  

My grandmother used to make gingerbread and cover it with a warm lemon sauce at serving.  I had the recipe but lost it in my last move.  This gingerbread brings back many good memories.  

[Dave's Not Here Man]

Love gingerbread with or without the icing/glaze.

My great aunt would bake for us when we visited Minnesota on our vacations. She made these absolutely incredible cookies she called "Crybabies", which were a soft gingerbread kind of cakey cookie. Usually made them for our trip back home and I don't think they made it to the state line before they were devoured. Just the smell of gingerbread anything takes me back 50 years thinking about her and the tupperware we had to mail back to her after we returned home.

[k9krap]

I truly don’t care if it is iced, either. I love it any way it is made - cookies, cake, etc.

I ordered another one today, as I’ve almost finished the first one. And I only had one slice/day.  I’ve got a birthday soon!

[k9krap]

Damnit, I missed my chance for one more loaf. They sent an email a couple days ago saying the last day for gingerbread was December 31. Unfortunately, I waited too long and it is sold out. 😢

[minx]

My sister makes homemade gingerbread for my other sisters and me.

I was staying near my mom and wasn't going to see her until Christmas eve, so she sent a piece with sister #1.
I forgot it at mom's when we went back to the airbnb.
Next day I ask sister #2 where it is. In her stomach of course!

Then she said not to tell sister #3 anything, but it was dry as hell - she didn't know what she did differently, but wasn't good. Sister #1 said she'd avoid it then.
Well, she made it because I had asked her to, so I couldn't very well refuse to take it home. Entire 8x8 pan with one piece missing.

Sister #2 was full of shit! It was moist and delicious! And it is now gone. I am sad.

[k9krap]

I still have 2 slices left from my second order. I only allow myself one/day. It’s really too rich for more than that with the cream cheese frosting.

[minx]

Well, I allowed one piece a day. We shall no talk about the size of said piece, but it was only one piece!

[k9krap]

Luckily, these loaves arrive presliced. 8 slices/delicious loaf.

[Dave's Not Here Man]

The Mrs makes killer banana bread and some other types from time to time. Funny I can't stand pumpkin but her pumpkin break with the glaze is so good. Not sure she's ever done gingerbread other than the cookies. I need to get something going on in our kitchen eventually that will allow her to pull under the countertop/s as it's really difficult for her to work the mixer and whatnot. The bottom doors of the cabinets are fubar from her chair too.

[k9krap]

I loved the orange bread I made in my bread machine. Everyone that was given it loved it, too.

I also made a mean zucchini bead, using mom’s recipe.  

[minx]

Y'all are making me hungry!

John - my friend Kelly got a rising shelf for one of her cabinets for her mixer. You open the cabinet door and a shelf will rise up with the mixer on it when you push something.

Not sure exactly how it works - I can ask the next time I see her, but she may not answer right away - too much shit going on in her life right now with her family.

[Dave's Not Here Man]

I've actually seen them. We have a gigantic kitchen that is pitifully outdated so after we get her bathroom done, kitchen is next and it'll have a couple places with roll under counter space. Not just for the mixer but also the Keurig and space to do her baking etc.

[minx]

Read an article 4-5 years ago in the FLS about a guy who was designing and building 'All-Access' homes.

They were set up so fully able bodied people wouldn't feel inconvenienced, but disabled people would feel comfortable and have needed accommodations.
It was a rambler, and looking through the pictures, as an able-bodied person it was had to spot most of the 'changes' other than the countertops being multi level in the kitchen, and the grab bars in the shower (which didn't look like a standard steel bar - they were very elegant and blended into the décor nicely).

Unfortunately, the house was around $500K. He was hoping to get builders to pick up the design in the hopes that costs would come down as more were made. Haven't heard anything more about it, which is sad. These are the houses everyone needs even if they don't realize it.

[Dave's Not Here Man]

According to my son, the current residential building codes include some ADA standards which this house does not meet. I think he said the current code is from 2008. This was built in the late 90s. For example; We have only 1 36 inch wide door in the whole structure, the front door, which is not accessible friendly to the porch and entry sidewalk because of steps. Updated building code requires them for all exterior doors, the master bedroom, and the master bathroom. In this house both of those are 32" which are wide enough for her to get through but she wacks the frames with the chair and they're already tore up. The second bathroom has a 24 inch door FFS!!

So what would go a long way is to make the residential building codes with more of these ADA standards. I don't see how wider doorways, wider hallways, 36" minimum clearances of floor spaces (like to turn around in kitchens and bathrooms) would add much to the cost of building. Of course the architects, developers, builders, suppliers, all will want to capitalize on that if possible which will add costs to the buyer. Another thing that would be super is if the localities or even the states would have a requirement for single family homes like they do for apartments that x of xx number of units must meet of exceed ada standards for accessiblility.

On a side note, I went by the Holleybrooke playground yesterday and noted their big beautiful playground was "raised" with timbers and mulch. So much for disabled kids and their families being able to enjoy a day at the playground, let alone their pool.

[Dave's Not Here Man]

We've got limited resources obviously but hopefully by the time we move on, this house will be set up (to the extent possible) so it can be marketed as accessible-ready to future owners. We'll be proud of that if it comes to be.