January 4, 2017

3 (and a half) Delicious Snow Treats

We have had more and more snow here in Eastern Washington!

Barely visible vegetable garden terraces.
We have at least 2 feet in our back yard, deeper where it has drifted.

It makes the trees look shorter, when the snow goes so far up the trunk!

In front, due to shoveling or snowblowing to clear the driveway, my entire bottom 2 terraces are completely buried.

Garden? What garden?

Driveway view: the wall of snow.


You can see a few echinacea tops peeking out, and the tops of the shrubs, but that's about it.

Cherry tree buried up to its branches.

The kids have loved playing in it!
They've been out almost every day, even with temperatures this week in the single digits.
I...have mostly stayed inside where it's warm.
However, I have managed to make one valuable contribution to the snowy days fun:
snow ice cream.
You know it!
When Mom says its okay to eat snow, then you know good things are happening!

This stuff is gooood. Sometimes in the summer I think about it, wistfully.
So after your next snowstorm, do yourself a favor and mix up some of this!

* * * * *

Snow Ice Cream

1 C. Milk
1/3 C. Sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
4-5 C.  freshly fallen, clean snow

1.  Bring a bowl outside and scoop up 4-5 cups of fresh, clean snow. If you're not making the ice cream right away, but want to insure the cleanliness of your snow, either put it in the freezer, or put a covering on it and leave right outside your door until needed. 

2.  Mix together milk, vanilla, and sugar, stirring until sugar is dissolved.

3.  Slowly add the snow to your mixture, stirring constantly, until it is as thick as ice cream. Chill in the freezer for 30 minutes and then take it out and enjoy!

* * * * 
When you're ready to take it to the next level, try this variation:

Fancy Snow Ice Cream

1 C. cream
1/3 C. sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 T. instant vanilla pudding mix
crushed Oreos, to taste
6 + 4 C. clean snow

1.  Stir ingredients together, using the 6 C. clean snow, until it is a thick, milkshake-like mixture.
2.  Cover the bowl and set it out in the snow for 15 minutes.
3.  Mix in about 4 more cups of snow, until it is thick, and ready to eat.

From: http://almostunschoolers.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-and-improved-snow-ice-cream.html


I haven't tried these last two yet, but I have no doubts they will be just as well received.
Hey, the month is still young!


Maple Snow Candy

1 C. 100% pure maple syrup
¼ C. unsalted butter
a clean patch of snow

1.  Place syrup, butter, and a candy thermometer into a saucepan and place over medium heat, making sure that you stir constantly.
2.  Keep boiling and stirring until your thermometer reaches a temperature of 220 degrees Fahrenheit.
3.  Remove the pot from the heat and let it sit for a minute or two and then find a nice clean patch of snow and pour. You can wind the candy around popsicle sticks for easier eating.



Fresh Snow Slushies

Fruit juice
Freshly fallen snow
Small containers to hold the slushies and spoon

Scoop some clean white snow into a cup or small jar. Pour fruit juice over and enjoy!


* * * * *
C'mon, no holding out on me!
What other recipes do you have for snowy goodness?
(After all, if you can't beat it, EAT IT!)

2 comments:

  1. I love this! We have a lot of snow in Salt Lake right now, but I have to admit I'm always a little nervous to eat it since it usually cleans up the air when it falls down!

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    Replies
    1. Oh, that would worry me too! We don't have smog very often here, so I don't even think about that as a snow additive.

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