{"id":1792,"date":"2008-12-27T09:21:36","date_gmt":"2008-12-27T00:21:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/?p=1792"},"modified":"2011-12-09T17:05:46","modified_gmt":"2011-12-09T08:05:46","slug":"christmas-non-gingerbread-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/archives\/2008\/12\/27\/christmas-non-gingerbread-house\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Non-Gingerbread House"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1724.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1724-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"That&#039;s right, beeatch: I made this.\" title=\"That&#039;s right, beeatch: I made this.\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1808\" \/><\/a> This year, I purchased and brought back a couple <a href=\"http:\/\/www.muji.net\/store\/cmdty\/detail\/4548718023516\">Muji \u300c \u30af\u30ea\u30b9\u30de\u30b9\u3078\u30af\u30bb\u30f3\u30cf\u30a6\u30b9\u300d<\/a> (no idea what &#8220;\u3078\u30af\u30bb\u30f3&#8221; might be, but I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s delicious<a href=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/archives\/2008\/12\/27\/christmas-non-gingerbread-house\/#comment-516017\">*<\/a>) for everybody to enjoy&#8230; As it turns out, my dear little brothers out there in Canada had a hard time reading cooking instructions (sure: they&#8217;re written in Japanese. so what). Here is therefore the detailed recount of my own attempt at building a biscuit house, for their sake and yours. <\/p>\n<p>Should you attempt to follow, it will help if you have the same awesome Muji kit handy, but an inventive and resourceful person could do without (none of the ingredients are that hard to find, and the schematics can probably be figured out from scratch with limited engineering skills). Also, this is not a completely faithful translation of the original instructions: I have added a couple personal touches as well as skipped the more obvious advices (be careful with the knife, do not stick your tongue in the oven etc.).<\/p>\n<p>Anyway, off we go:<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>Ingredients<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1700.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1700-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Ingredients\" title=\"Ingredients\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1795\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1700-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1700-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1700.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h4>In the kit:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>cocoa powder\uff08\u30b3\u30b3\u30a2\u30d1\u30a6\u30c0\uff09: 10g<\/li>\n<li>cookie mix (\u30af\u30c3\u30ad\u30fc\u30df\u30c3\u30af\u30b9\uff09: 400g<\/li>\n<li>powdered sugar\uff08\u7c89\u7cd6\uff09: 100g<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Additionally you&#8217;ll need:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>butter (or margarine): 80g<\/li>\n<li>2 eggs: 1 full, 1 with white and yolk separated.<\/li>\n<li>sugar: 150g<\/li>\n<li>milk: 60ml<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Instructions:<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Melt the <b>butter<\/b> (by staring intensely at it, using telekinetic powers. failing that: your microwave on 500W). <\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1701.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1701-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Butter and Sugar\" title=\"Butter and Sugar\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1796\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1701-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1701.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<li> Set aside a large spoonful of it and mix it with the <b>cocoa powder<\/b>.<\/li>\n<li> Mix the rest of the butter with the <b>sugar<\/b> and whisk until it reaches a noticeably whiter shade.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1703.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1703-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Knead into a dough\" title=\"Knead into a dough\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1703-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1703.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<li> Pour in the <b>cookie mix<\/b>, <b>milk<\/b> and <b>full egg<\/b> and mix the lot. Knead into a dough.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1704.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1704-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Split dough and mix with cocoa\" title=\"Split dough and mix with cocoa\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1798\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1704-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1704.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/> <\/a><\/p>\n<li> Set aside 1\/4 of the dough you just made in 4) and mix it with the cocoa paste you made in 2). You now have two balls of dough: one big plain, one small chocolate-flavoured.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1706.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1706-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Spread the dough\" title=\"Spread the dough\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1799\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1706-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1706.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a> <\/p>\n<li> Spread the dough into a 4mm (not three, not five: <em>four<\/em> mm) layer. Use rolling pin and flour as you see fit. <\/li>\n<li> Let the dough rest for about 20 mins while pre-heating the oven at 170\u00b0 C<\/li>\n<li> Using the conveniently provided schematics (or making up your own), cut out all shapes required by your engineering project and dispose on the oven shelf.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1708.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1708-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Spread egg yolk and cook\" title=\"Spread egg yolk and cook\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1801\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1708-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1708.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<li> Spread a thin layer of <b>egg yolk<\/b> on each part with a cooking brush. Now is also a good time to carve some patterns (bricks for the walls etc.)<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1707.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1707-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Cook to a nice biscuit-like consistency\" title=\"Cook to a nice biscuit-like consistency\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1707-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1707.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<li> Put in the oven: remove after about 13mins, when it reaches a nice biscuit-like consistency.<\/li>\n<li> Beat the <b>egg white<\/b> (use a few drops of lemon juice) and mix it to the <b>powdered sugar<\/b>: there&#8217;s your icing! That thing will glue absolutely <em>anything<\/em> together.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1719.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1719-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Gluing the pieces together\" title=\"Gluing the pieces together\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1805\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1719-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1719.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<li> Using the helpfully provided pastry bag and the icing you made in 11), glue all the pieces of your house together.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1723.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1723-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Finished gingerbread house\" title=\"Finished gingerbread house\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1807\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1723-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1723.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a> <\/p>\n<li> Some more icing for a snowy roof, a little pine tree here, some bushes there&#8230;. You&#8217;re done.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1721.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1721-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Finished *Cookie* House\" title=\"Finished *Cookie* House\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-1806\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1721-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/cimg1721.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<li> If you are lucky, yours might look half as cool as ours.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This year, I purchased and brought back a couple Muji \u300c \u30af\u30ea\u30b9\u30de\u30b9\u3078\u30af\u30bb\u30f3\u30cf\u30a6\u30b9\u300d (no idea what &#8220;\u3078\u30af\u30bb\u30f3&#8221; might be, but I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s delicious*) for everybody to enjoy&#8230; As it turns out, my dear little brothers out there in Canada had a hard time reading cooking instructions (sure: they&#8217;re written in Japanese. so what). Here is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"activitypub_content_warning":"","activitypub_content_visibility":"","activitypub_max_image_attachments":4,"activitypub_interaction_policy_quote":"anyone","activitypub_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[61,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cooking","category-25"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1792","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1792"}],"version-history":[{"count":44,"href":"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1792\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1827,"href":"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1792\/revisions\/1827"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1792"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1792"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unknowngenius.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1792"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}