December 22, 1999

Candy house a sweet success story

By Garret Leiva
Herald editor
       Some people prepare for the Christmas holiday by stringing colored lights, others send greeting cards or hang tinsel on an evergreen tree. Patsy Burkhart constructed a 15th century French chalet - out of cardboard and candy.
      While candy houses are a traditional Christmas handicraft, this scaled down 'renaissance pleasure palace' is a cut above most gingerbread abodes.
      Towering atop a glass topped coffee table, the candy chalet includes icing-covered turrets, Necco wafer shingles and a rock candy walkway. Other confectioneries in the construction: M&M sconces, icing rosettes and peppermint stick pilasters for the front door.
      Grandiose in size and sweetness, Burkhart said the idea for her two-story candy house came from simpler roots.
      "My grandmother used to make small candy houses and it was such a big deal for us kids," noted the Peninsula Township resident. "When we were kids we'd sneak the candies off the back of the house. My grandmother never said a word."
      Inspiration for the old world candy chalet also came directly from the source.
      During a recent overseas vacation, Burkhart found the "Azay-le-Rideae" chalet while touring the lower valley of France. It was built in 1592 by royal financer Gilles Verthelot, who was run out of France shortly after its construction in light of a financial scandal. For centuries the chalet was past down through a series of private owners until 1905 when it was purchased by the state.
      Giving the house additional European flair, Burkart used 'marshmallow mushrooms' from Ireland and French sugared nuts on the courtyard walkway.
      Constructed over a two day period, it took 6 1/2 pounds of powdered sugar and a dozen eggs to create the house's mortar - Royal icing. That is when things really got messy.
      "You do get icing everywhere; on the floor and in your hair. It's messy, but its such a child-like thing to do," said Burkhart, who last year constructed a candy house replica of her neighbor's home.
      Despite wayward icing, Burkhart finds the reaction to her candy house creation worth any sticky cleanup effort.
      "When people come over to the house - it doesn't matter what their age- their eyes light up like little kids."