Here is a quick one: We made Snow Ice Cream. We have gotten about 20 some inches of snow in the past week, an unprecedented amount for our area, especially in such a short amount of time. I grew up in New England, and LOVE snow. My kids apparently enherited their dislike of being in the cold from their CA born dad. Which sucks when we have four snow days. So, I have to find things that they like to do indoors.
Apparently, snow ice cream is a mid-western thing? I had never heard of it before moving here, but there are a ton of ways to make it. Mine is quick and easy, and doesn't require anything special, good when there are two feet of snow on the ground and you can't exactly run to the store to get sweetened condensed milk, as called for by Paula Dean...
This is what you need:
1C Milk (I use whole milk, because we have it in the house)
1/2 C Sugar
1/2 Tbsp Vanilla
A lot of snow... (at least 5 C? I filled my largest mixing bowl)
Optional: a cute helper to stir
In a medium sized bowl, mix the milk, sugar and vanilla until the sugar dissolves.
Go outside and get a big bowl, bucket, what have you of CLEAN, NON-YELLOW snow.
Mix the snow into the liquid in large spoonfuls until it resembles ice cream. As it melts, you can always add some more snow.
Tips:
I made chocolate ice cream by mixing in a packet of hot chocolate mix to half of the ice cream.
This will not freeze well. Due to the water content of snow, you will get a block of ice. I guess it might make good popsicles?
Add sprinkles. Sprinkles make everything more festive!
