My girl, Paige, and I judged a benefit holiday gingerbread competition yesterday at the Boston Christmas Festival at the Seaport World Trade Center. And I don’t know who was more wide-eyed when perusing the yuletide confections.

My 4-year-old partner, decked for the task with her name badge and clipboard, loved all the free cookies and candy the 16 bakers offered to lure the judges. But she did ask the right questions: “How did they make that, Auntie?” and “How do they make it sparkle?”

Auntie was in awe of the artistry. Because when it comes to decorating, I’m a minimalist. That’s just a way of saying, I’m not good at it. So I can appreciate the little “stones” someone made for their old stone church gingerbread house, the cute Hansel and Gretel another baker made from fondant or the use of blue Jell-O for the “sea.”

Every year I take part in a holiday gingerbread house decorating event for the Home for Little Wanderers (this year it’s Dec. 11). Although I enjoy wielding a pastry bag, my team always wins a certificate for “most enthusiastic” or “best use of gum drops” or some other also-ran prize.

Look, I know it’s all about the kids and what they create, but I must admit I get a little anxious when our Sno-Cap-shingled roof isn’t perfectly aligned or the girls have gone a little crazy with the edible glitter. But I let it go. I  also keep my mouth full of gum drops or licorice so I can’t talk…

Here are another couple of creative confections that placed at the competition. They will be sold off to corporations to benefit Housing for Families.

 

 

 

 

Tags: #bostonchristmasfestival, #BostonStrong, #Davios, #gingerbetty, #gingerbreadhouse, #HomeforLittleWanderers, #HousingFamilies, #SweetThingsBakery, #WangTheatrePartyFavors, #WickedGoodies