When the holiday season arrives in Vermont, snow caps the green mountains and powdered sugar falls like snowflakes in Gesine Prado's kitchen. To celebrate the season, Gesine hosts a gingerbread house-making party for her friends, and the menu is equally festive. She bakes Pistachio Cinnamon Stars and Gingerbread Cookies in cheerful shapes, and she sets out Sugared Spicy Almonds for snacking. Gesine's centerpiece is a Chocolate Yule Log with a Gingerbread Ax Topper that knocks her guests off their feet.