Candy Free Gingerbread House

Candy Free Gingerbread House
Candy Free Gingerbread House
When we heard about a local gingerbread house competition, my kids got excited, planning on buying lots and lots of their favourite candies to decorate the house.  I knew I had a tough negotiation ahead of me when we brought the kit home.  I wanted it to be a family project, stretch all of our imaginations, inspire creativity, be lots of fun, but, do something different – make it with NO candy.
Is it an oxymoron to make a gingerbread house with NO candy?  Is it scroogish? Would it be boring with out all the bright colours and shiny sugary surfaces?  They came around when we started to talk about alternatives we could use to make it interesting, creative, and fun: popcorn, nuts, dried fruit, seeds, fruit leathers etc.  Finally everyone agreed and we set to work!
Pinterest was a big help with lots of creative ideas.  Everyone in our family helped and yes it was lots of fun, complete with nibbling and munching on the various material to build and decorate our house.  I am proud of what we came up with AND we won 1st prize in the competition. Even the kids agreed it was lots of fun.  Are you making a gingerbread house this year?