Gingerbread House

This is my mom's recipe.
If making cookies with this recipe, try baking at 375 for 6 to 8 minutes.
Rebecca Child

1 egg 1/3 c. brown sugar 1/2 c. oil 2/3 c molasses 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. ginger 3 tsp baking powder 1 tsp cinnamon 1/8 tsp. cloves 2-3/4 cup flour Directions: Mix thoroughly and chill several hours or longer. Roll or press dough on an oiled piece of foil, place on cookie sheet (10'' X 16'' or larger'' and bake at 300 degrees for 20-30 minutes. Place pattern on hot bread and cut immediately. Lift out carefully and cool on cake rack. The gingerbread should be very hard when cool. Wait until next day to assemble. You may try making a pattern from a cereal box cardboard or regular paper. You will have 4 rectangles (2 sides, 2 roofs), and 2 pieces that are five-sided (for the front and back). The five sided piece looks like a square with a triangle on top, for the two roof pieces to rest on. Be sure to cut out a door out of the front! Recipe for Royal Icing 3 egg whites (room temperature) 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar 1 lb confectioner's sugar Beat thoroughly in mixing bowl until the icing stands in peaks. Then, keep the bowl covered at all times with a damp cloth, as this icing dries quickly and becomes very hard. Make 1/2 recipe of frosting to construct house. Construct a day before putting decorations on (or construct in am and decorate in pm). Make other half of recipe to put on decorations. May decorate with cinnamon dots, Necco wafers, M&M's, marshmallows, gumdrops, candy canes, miniature chocolate bars, or other candy your family enjoys.