Youth prepare for gingerbread house decorating contest

Gumdrops, peppermints and icing — that’s what tasty houses are made of! The third annual Community Youth Development Gingerbread Festival promises to sweeten up the area next week, when more than 125 gingerbread houses will be on display from Dec. 9 to Dec. 11, in the Macy’s wing of the Westfield Sarasota Square Mall.

The sugar-coated winter wonderland will feature houses sponsored by area businesses and organizations, alongside confectionery cottages created by area school children and youth groups.

An “Iron Chef”-style gingerbread houses decorating contest will take place Friday, Dec. 10 — last year’s winner, Lyndsy McDonald, of Pastries by Design, will take on a new challenger. And student chefs will hold their own competition Saturday, Dec. 11.

Visit gingerbread2011.com after Dec. 8 to see all of the creative homes entered in this year’s competition and to vote for your favorite. The CYD Gingerbread Festival benefits Community Youth Development of Sarasota County.

On Tuesday, Girls Inc. and Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota County members began planning and creating their mouthwatering masterpieces.

SWEETS TALK
Members of Girls Inc. and the Boys & Girls Club are getting into the holiday season by participating in the Community Youth Development (CYD) Gingerbread House Competition.











Krista Paulson, 11
What is your favorite sweet to decorate with?
Icing because they hold the cadies together.

What is your favorite sweet to eat?
M&M’s.

What is the best part about making a gingerbread house?
Decorating it!

If you lived in a gingerbread house, what else would it be made up of?
Chocolate-chip cookies and probably some chocolate on it.












Kiley Cramer, 11
What is your favorite sweet to decorate with?
Coconut. I love coconut.

What is your favorite sweet to eat?
Coconut.

What is the best part about making a gingerbread house?
Sometimes after you make it and it has been out for a while, you get to eat the edible parts. It’s really good.

If you lived in a gingerbread house, what else would it be made up of?
Lollipop trees and a lemonade sea.












Amauris Tamayo, 12
What is your favorite sweet to decorate with?
Sour Patch Kids.

What is your favorite sweet to eat?
Jolly Ranchers.

What is the best part about making a gingerbread house?
The teamwork.

If you lived in a gingerbread house, what else would it be made up of?
Caramel all over it!