A Martha Manly Man. That's the title I thought about for this online presence. I am a big fan of Martha Stewart Living. I've noticed, however, that the magazine is not supposed to appeal to a male audience. In addition to the craft ideas and recipes, the magazine typically includes tips for beauty care. Just once, I'd like to see an article intended for the gents. I'd feel less awkward about my fondness for Martha Stewart Living if they would. One of my favorite recipes from Martha Stewart Living comes from the December 2004 edition. Most Christmas gingerbread houses are inedible decorations. The walls used to be gingerbread cookies, but now they are hard and strong enough to hold the weight of modern kitchen appliances. In the December 2004 edition of Martha Stewart Living, however, there is a recipe for a gingerbread cake house. Not only is the house entirely edible, but it is a pleasure to eat. One thing that I appreciate about Martha Stewart Living is that the recipes really are from scratch. They are also often traditional recipes. That means they are recipes explaining the right--rather than modern--way to cook a dish. I made the gingerbread cake house recipe as described in the magazine. I could not, however, bring myself to make the frosting that went with this recipe. The cake recipe is spectacular, but the frosting recipe is too complicated for buttercream. Instead, I made the buttercream recipe found at Sweet Savory Life. The recipe on Sweet Savory Life for buttercream frosting is both easy and uses simple readily found ingredients. It also did a fine job of holding up the gingerbread cake. My kids, who love decorating gingerbread houses, were particularly excited about decorating a gingerbread house they could eat. In the end, only my daughter helped to decorate the house. An argument between my daughter and my son leading up to the decorating meant that my son was having some alone time in his room when my daughter decorated. So it goes. When I make the cake again next Christmas, I think I'll make a chocolate and a vanilla buttercream frosting. I'll use the chocolate frosting for the walls and roof, and I'll use the vanilla frosting to make shingles for the roof and doors and windows for the walls. That way, it will be more of a centerpiece, and it will be even more delicious. Like I said, I'm always thinking in manly ways.