Bob (this one) wrote:
>
> Don't be. It's only a batch of gingerbread, not world peace. If you
> don't like it, the birds will. They don't sense "hot" in foods and will
> be particularly hungry this time of year.
>
> Gingerbread goes back to medieval cookery where spicing was generally
> more emphatic than it is today. Through the passing eras, gingerbread
> has had many things added and subtracted, pepper is one of the perennial
> ingredients. The pepper adds a tiny bite, but the ginger adds more. The
> pepper adds a subtle perfume, a good food smell.
>
> Note the name, gingerBREAD - the original recipe. It has come to be two
> distinctly different things nowadays. It's a hard, crisp cookie and a
> caky, almost bready, sweetened and spiced quickbread. Either benefits
> from a bit of pepper.
>
> Pastorio

Thanks to all who replied! I will keep it in.
-L.