(Want) To Do List: Trim the Tree with Family

Don't let packed holiday schedules get you down. Spend time with the ones you truly want to reward at the Museum, where we've got the cure for holiday exhaustion.

Before Wal-Mart brought us shiny baubles at discount prices, families were brightening their homes and perking up their trees with popcorn on a string and chains of colored paper. So get the family together and head down to the Museum to enjoy a night of spirited decorating as of old at Tree-Trimming Thursday! We'll have some holiday music and a dose of good cheer waiting for you, not to mention homemade gingerbread, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Special thanks to all who came out to our first extended hours workshop of the season last night and built "gingerbread" houses. We had a fantastic turnout and a great time with paint, glue, ribbon, cotton, and delicious wassail.
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Love our gingerbread spice cake? Make your own with this recipe.

Moist, Tender Spice Cake: Gingerbread Variation

INGREDIENTS

• 2 1/2 cups bleached all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 cup milk
• 3 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened until easily spreadable
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 cup molasses

DIRECTIONS

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and lightly flour a metal or disposable foil 9-by-13-inch pan. Whisk dry ingredients and spices in a large bowl. Mix milk, eggs, molasses and vanilla extract in a 2-cup measuring cup.
2. Beat softened butter into dry ingredients, first on low, then medium, until mixture forms pebble-sized pieces. Add about 1/3 of the milk mixture and beat on low until smooth. Add remaining milk mixture in two stages; beat on medium speed until batter is just smooth. Add the sugar; beat until just incorporated, about 30 seconds. Pour batter into cake pan.
3. Bake until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the cake's center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Set pan on a wire rack; let cool for 5 minutes. Run a knife around the pan perimeter and turn cake onto rack. Let cool.

Happy Tree Trimming!