Make your own gingerLotus

Time to break out those gumdrops and some icing glue because 'tis the season for gingerbread houses! This year, however, why not put a green twist on this great holiday tradition? At Michelle Kaufmann Designs, my architecture firm specializing in green prefab building we're committed to making thoughtful, sustainable design accessible to all. One house we are very proud of and of which you may have heard is the mkLotusTM We've created a recipe for creating your very own gingerbread mkLotusTM, or, as we like to call it, gingerLotus! Aside from being a fun and delicious holiday activity, we think this project is an excellent way to start acquainting children with the ideas of sustainability and green living. It's never too early to begin teaching your kids to be concerned for our environment and training them how to respect and protect it through everyday actions. This time of year is such a fun and exciting one for children; what better way to engage them in greening then by integrating it into your family's holiday traditions. I hope you'll find the results yummy in every way!

Step 1 Ingredients

INGREDIENTS (use organic, fair trade ingredients wherever possible):

Cookie Dough:
- 1.5 cups organic whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon sugar-free, organic pure vanilla extract
- 2.5 cups firmly packed organic brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons baking soda
- 1 Tablespoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 1/3 cups light Barbados Plantation Fair-trade molasses
- 9 cups all-purpose flour
Icing Cement:
- 2 large egg whites from cage free, organically fed chickens
- 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 2 teaspoons water
- 3 cups sifted organic powdered sugar
Decoration:
- 8 "solar panels" or squares of organic, fair trade chocolate
- 1 to 2 oz of organic, fair trade chocolate fudge
- Blue sprinkles
- Green sprinkles or Christmas sprinkles (green & red)
- Organic shredded coconut

Comments

[ghicken]

Is there some type of gingerbread dough that Isn't made for taste just looks, because I never eat it when I'm done and I don't want to waste sugar, flour,vanilla etc. on something I won't eat.

[greenlagirl]

Are you serious about the 1.5 hrs? It seems like a v. long time for something just 1/4 in thick --

[Michelle Kaufmann]

Thanks - see edits we just made. Happy baking!

[inquisitive]

Great Green concept! and delicious too!

[Bubb__s]

Notice how the design blurs the relationship between being full and hungry!!!

[bedbugg2]

oh man, that looks so tasty, did you enjoy it?

[Brennn10]

Haha, this is great!

[curlyg]

v. cool. thanks for the inspiration on this one. great for kids to get a sense of energy and water issues; so sets up for a tasty and timely conversation! (yeah, it's going to be fun to eat too!!)

[GorillazMiko]

this looks amazingly delicious... now im hungry...

[Sergeant Crayon]

Cool, I really support the point you make, and like the idea of all fair trade and organic ingredients, I've actually been thinking of moving HERE
(Walking distance from my house)