Taken from the Good Housekeeping Cook Book (Reprint 1996). I think the UK version of gingerbread is a little more crisp than the US version - but we just love this recipe!
Gingerbread Note: Double this recipe if you want enough for a gingerbread house.12oz plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tsp ground ginger
4oz butter
6oz light brown sugar
4tsp golden syrup
1 egg, beaten
Sift flour, bicarbonate of soda and ginger into a bowl. Rub the butter into the flour until the mixture looks like find breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar. Beat the syrup into the egg and stir mixture into the bowl. Roll out onto a floured surface to about 1/4inch thick. Cut out cookie cutter or house shapes. (I like to then chill the shapes in the fridge for at least 30mins before baking - it helps keep the cookies from spreading into unrecognizable shapes!) Bake in oven at 375F for 12-15 mins, until golden. Cool on a wire rack and decorate.
We made this gingerbread house this year.
Little hands could not stay off it for long!
And the winner of the
Santa Sack Giveaway was
Nancy! Congratulations Nancy and thank you to everyone who joined in.
... using this book.
... design is from this book.
... into one of these (I can not see me having any time for such a project - but I really really want to do this.)
Its not to late to add those cute finishing touches to the presents all wrapped up under the tree. I like to keep all bows and cards from any occasion and recycle them. This year I have recycled the ribbons and cards from holidays gone by. 
It really takes no time at all to make your own gift cards and it is great to recycle. Use normal scissors or pinking shears, a hole punch and a bit of ribbon. Some of them are so cute they could pass as brand new gift tags!
Little hands could not stay off it for long!
I made a couple of adjustments. I used bobbly wobbly eyes and folded the ears ...
... while hooking the candy cane through the ear loop at the back - which made them perk up a little. The mice are in browns and greys, with little red rudolph noses and colored ear inserts which match the color of their tails.
They are just as cute as I dreamed they would be.
I was very touched when I was asked to finish it. 
Grandma's eyesight wasn't so strong - so there were a couple of mistakes that I tried to cover up with some little flowers. 
I hope I did it justice.
