In 2003 I saw a special on the Food Network called the "National Gingerbread House Competition." I was fascinated by these beautiful completely edible little houses and the talented people who created them. I actually taped the show when it was replayed that week and watched it over and over again. I decided that I was going to enter. I went online and looked at everything I could find about gingerbread houses. I bought books and went to the library in search of more books. I studied architecture, royal icing, and dough making. It took me 3 years to finally decide that I was ready.

You see, I had never actually made a gingerbread house before. Not even as a child. Not even one made of graham crackers. But this competition had an extra hook for me. It's held annually at the most incredible resort called the Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa in Asheville North Carolina. I had been there once with my dear friend Anna Stone for a wedding brunch and pledged I'd be back some day to spend more time there. Well now, here was my excuse and opportunity to visit the Grove Park again. The prizes were really good too. Top prize was $1500 cash (which is now $3000) and about $2500 in great prizes.

In 2006 the competition was held on November 12th. I started my gingerbread house on August 15th. Little did I know that I was going to spend over 650 hours creating it. Fortunately, I finished it several days before loading it into my PT Cruiser for the 10 hour drive to Asheville with my sister Laura.

Upon arrival there were lots of "ohs" and "ahs" as we wheeled my house into the resort, which seemed to be an encouraging sign. But then I noticed that they pretty much did that for all the entries. The next morning we delivered my house, now titled "A Woodland Winter," to the ballroom. There were rows and rows of hundreds of beautiful structures and I suddenly got a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. All I could think was – what could I had been thinking? To believe that I could just, out of the blue, make a gingerbread house, and actually have any kind of chance of competing against all these people, many of whom were past winners and seasoned veterans. As you can see from these photos, my house was brown, like gingerbread. Not a lot of cheerful Christmas colors, unless you looked closely. As we surveyed the ballroom we could see an ocean of colorful creations and in the middle was a little brown spot. My little brown spot. My entry.

All of my confidence was gone now and I just wanted to leave. My sister will tell you that I kept saying "let's just pick up my house and run". But we didn't. We sat in the crowd and watched the judging – all day. It was pure torture and a huge mistake. By the time they were ready to announce the top ten I was a total wreck. But, low and behold, out of that ballroom full of gingerbread houses I had made the top ten.

As our next mistake, we sat and watched as they judged the top ten to decide the winners. The judges were all well known professionals, some of whom are seen regularly on the Food Network and such. We scrutinized every look and every move the judges made. Finally, the time came to announce the winners. First they announced the 4th runner up, then the 3rd, and the 2nd and so on. I was inconsolable. They kept calling other peoples names, not mine. I wasn't even going to place. I just wanted to run out of the room. But my sister made me sit down, be a good sport and clap for those people who were walking away with colorful prize ribbons and big smiles. Finally the winner was named. "Ashley Howard of Winter Springs, Florida." I was shocked beyond belief. All I could say was "No way, no way. You have got to be kidding!"

After I regained my composure I made my way to the stage where I said something into the microphone which I now somewhat regret. The first words out of my mouth were "I've never even made a gingerbread house before." I made this announcement to all those people who had entered many times over the years and “paid their dues." I don't think I made many friends that day. But, never the less, most people seemed to think my gingerbread house was worthy of the Grand Prize and I was on cloud nine. Every year the Grand Prize winning house is driven to New York City and featured on Good Morning America the day before Christmas. Not me, just my house.

Now, one might think that would be enough for me, but I was hooked. I just couldn't wait to build another one and enter again. So I did. I'm not going to give you the whole nine yards about my second trip to the National Gingerbread House Competition, except to say that my first win was not just a fluke. After another 650 hours of labor I was the only person in the 15 year history of the competition to win 2 years in a row.

Again, you would think that I would be satisfied. But no, I guess I got a little greedy and just had to go for a third win. Well, I didn't win in 2008. I got 3rd place. (Hmmmm, perhaps because I only spent about 450 hours on it.)

In 2009 I decided to enter the Grande National Wedding Cake Competition in October instead of entering the National Gingerbread House Competition. They are held too close together to do both. And much to my surprise I did pretty well for a first timer. I walked away with a silver. The theme this year was "Of Sea & Shore" and you can see my entry on the Cake Gallery page, entitled "Waves of Love".

In 2010 I plan to enter the National Gingerbread House Competition again. Even though it's almost a year away, not a day goes by that I don't think about what I will build this time. Check back to see what I create, which of course will be posted after November 15th, 2010.

– Ashley

Woman's Day – 12/15/09

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