Gingerbread Houses

薑餅屋A popular, classic holiday treat
做薑餅屋來慶祝聖誕節吧Making gingerbread houses is one way to celebrate the holidays by Pamela Osment

You can cook with it. You can make candy from it. You can put it into drinks or take it as medicine. Ginger has many uses, but none as beautiful as when it is used in a gingerbread house.

Past and present
Ginger – the key ingredient in gingerbread and the houses themselves – has a long history. It is believed that ginger was used as early as 2,000 B.C. in China. Gingerbread houses were first written about during the 15th century. But it was the 19th-century fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel” that started a trend. As European immigrants made their way around the world, so did gingerbread houses!

One example occurred in the town of Belleville, Ill., in the 1850s. As large numbers of German immigrants moved there, many brought along their gingerbread-house recipes. Today, during the holidays, Belleville hosts a "Gingerbread Walk" through its downtown area. Along the path, shop owners display beautifully made gingerbread houses and other gingerbread creations. The event allows visitors and locals alike to enjoy Belleville's tastiest tradition.

Grammar
As European immigrants made their way around the world, so did gingerbread houses!
to make one's way =to go in a certain direction with some effort.
With all these shoppers in the store, it's hard for Martha to make her way to the cashier's counter.
It was hard for Paula to make her way down the airplane aisle while holding her baby and pulling a carry-on suitcase.

Vocabulary
ginger (n)-My mom puts a little ginger in her cookies to make them taste good.
ingredient (n)-烹调的原料Cheese is a key ingredient for many Mexican dishes.
*The ingredients of this cake include flour, eggs, sugar and milk.
*Mutual understanding is a key ingredient for a good marriage.要素,不可或缺的东西 immigrant (n)-移入的移民 im－有进来的意思 ,Emigrant-移出去的移民
Many Italian immigrants settled in the northeastern part of the U.S.
*Many Italian immigrants live in Little Italy in Manhattan, New York.
*The illegal immigrants will be deported today.
creation(n)-当可数名词是"创作的作品，不可数名词是指"创造，创作"
"Paul's chocolate creations were unique and delicious too!
*Picasso's art creations were copied and studied by many people.摸仿和研究
*The creation of this symphony took over 5 years.这交响乐曲的创作
construct (v)-to build, 建造，构成，
They have constructed a newer, wider bridge across the river.
*The engineers spent years constructing this building.
*Brenda is still constructing her speech.构思演讲稿
*The construction of this bridge is almost an impossible mission.建盖这桥
ton (n)- 顿，重量单位，众多的意思You'll need a ton of bricks to build a wall that long.
creative (adj)-创造力 The teacher said my story was the most creative and interesting.
kit (n)-组，成套的，成套的工具或配件
The birthday party kit has everything you'll need for the party games and prizes.
*Dad bought a tool kit but never once used it.
*I put a first-aid kit in the trunk of my car.
*All the art kits are on sale for the beginning of the new semester.美术用品组
edible-need to be eaten可食用的The chef used some edible flowers to decorate the dessert.
*The homeless men and women looked through the garbage trying to find something edible.

Chat Room
ginger-薑，也可是女孩名．
ginger ale-is a kind of soda with ginger flavour．ale-light bear (England)
gingerbread cookies, or gingerbread man (the cookie shape is like man) both are can be soft or hard taste.
gingerbread snap is always hard taste.
gingerly (adverb) - take great care, nothing to do with ginger.小心翼翼，极为谨慎-
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Smell-闻起来The cake smells有味道的（负面的it means that cake is really bad
smell bad=smelly, bad smell。
smelly socks/smelly trash-臭袜子/臭垃圾
Stinky tofu臭豆腐 has really bad smell.
fragrant (something with pleasing smell) is opposite of smelly
fragrant spices/fragrant candles
scented-有香味的rose-scented lotion玫瑰香味的乳液。
scent-香气，香味，气味
unscented-没有气味（香味）的