Sheila Cowling, a parishioner of St. Francis de Sales in Purcellville, vividly remembers the smells of the Christkindl market of West Berlin: the air filled with the scent of spiced cider, mulled wine and gingerbread cookies. Inspired by the fragrant treats, Cowling began baking her own.

In the 30 years since her time in Berlin, she's created a variety of gingerbread structures — a carousel, a haunted house, even a gingerbread veterinary clinic with candy animals peeking out of the windows. As she's learned from experience, "You can make anything out of gingerbread."

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