The Green Urban Gingerbread House: Part 4 – Jobsite Recycling Program and Construction Specifications

I have gotten a few queries, so I feel I should give an update on the Green Urban Gingerbread House recycling program. While there was 100% recycling of jobsite waste during construction (yum), I was concerned that we might have trouble when it came time for demolition. But I was able to find just the right crew to tackle the job at a new year’s party. Seven children and a handful of adults took the house down in a matter of minutes, with comments like: “Have you tried the solar panels? They’re delicious!” and “Can I have a bite of the green roof?”

And for some construction specifications, I would also like to credit the recipes I used:

The gingerbread recipe was tasty and structurally strong, even for fairly thin walls. Rolling it thinner kept the gingerbread from swelling and changing shape during baking, although you can trim the gingerbread pretty easily while it is still warm.

The icing recipe used meringue powder instead of raw egg whites. I added cinnamon and cardamom to make it less bright white, which also gave it an interesting flavor. I also used green food color for the planted portions, as well as cocoa powder for a brown color. Less water makes a thicker, easier to use icing.