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FUN STUFF |
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Snowed in? Flakey things to do. |
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The first
snowfall of the season is
thrilling.
We rush outside to greet it, open-mouthed
to catch flakes on our tongues. We thrash in the
powder to make angels. We build massive forts
and create monsters out of snowbanks. Snow
transforms our gray world into something
splendid and mysterious, and for that we are
grateful, at least for a time. Of course, a
season of daily blizzards can bring on cabin
fever. What to do? Get back out there and
celebrate the snow all over again. To inspire
you, we've organized a snow appreciation day.
Have fun. Toss snow in the air, color it, carve
it into an ice dog. This is one day you'll
remember long after the first thaw.
GO SNOW HARVESTING |
| First warm up with a big
breakfast, and then, when your insides are
radiating heat, pull on a second pair of
socks, pull on your boots, and head
outside for a snow-harvesting expedition.
Your quest: Find the cleanest freshly
fallen snow. A prize of some sort is in
order for the fearless adventurer who
stakes out the richest snowfield. (Go for
the snow under the topmost layer because
it's bound to be cleanest.) Once you've
found pure powder, fill two |
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mixing bowls
with it and put the bowls in your freezer
(more on this later). Then, using empty
egg cartons as storage containers, make an
arsenal of miniature snowballs. Store
these in the freezer, too. These
diminutive blobs of cold will be perfect
for cooling you off next summer, when
(believe it or not) it's going to be
really hot again.
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MAKE SNOW ICE CREAM
When you're back inside and thawed out, take the
two bowls of snow from the freezer and wet one
of them thoroughly. Add food coloring to the wet
snow, stir and return it to the freezer for
sculpturing later.
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Then transform the "dry"
bowl into snow ice cream:
3 cups loose, clean snow
2 tbsp. milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract |
Mix all the
ingredients, sample the result and add
more sugar and vanilla extract to taste.
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CREATE AN ICE SCULPTURE
Take the wet snow out of the freezer and dump it
on a tray. The snow and water will have frozen
almost solid, but you should be able to chip off
pieces with a spoon. If it's too hard, wait five
minutes. Dig right in and create an ice
sculpture--perhaps a dog or a meatball still
life. Keep your masterpiece in the freezer until
dessert time, when you will serve--what
else?--baked Alaska.
MAKE BAKED ALASKA
4 cupcakes
1/2 pt. ice cream
4 egg whites
1/4 cup sugar
Fill hollowed-out cupcakes with ice cream.
Freeze for at least four hours.
Make meringue by whipping the egg whites until
stiff. Then, still whipping, add sugar until the
mixture has the consistency of marshmallow creme.
Spread the meringue on the cupcakes with a
knife, then quickly brown for 3 minutes under a
broiler. |
BUILD A CITY MADE OF
SNOW
A fresh layer of sticky snow offers kids even
more opportunities for building the playscapes
of their imaginations than a sandy stretch of
beach. Unlike sand sculptures, which are prone
to collapse--and subject to flash floods--packed
snow holds its shape and can last for weeks.
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To help your child build
his dream city, use a shovel to build a
mound of snow. Then, with mittened hands,
he can shape miniature skyscrapers,
bridges and parks. If the snow isn't damp
enough to pack well, use a spray bottle
filled with water to moisten it.
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Use the edge
of a metal spatula to smooth walls, slope
roofs and square up corners. It's also a
handy tool for plowing the city's roads
and walkways. Hollow out windows, doorways
and tunnels with a large serving spoon.
For a glitzy effect, your child can use
food coloring mixed with water to
spray-paint the completed city. He can
even populate his creation with a bunch of
mini snowmen and pets or line the streets
with tiny snow cars. Afterward, take a
picture to send to relatives. |
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more
fun stuff |
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