On a winter morning‚ when it is a perfect day and the world is wrapped in a white blanket of snow and the day is cold but it is the kind of cold that wraps around you like a warm old scarf‚ it is hard not to want to go outside‚ when the snow swirls and the children laugh like the sound of the bells on the reindeer․ Among all the traditions snow days may inspire‚ there is perhaps none more pleasurable than making snow cream․ This very simple but very pleasurable chilled dish attempts to bring forth all that is beautiful and magical of winter‚ as well as happy moments with the family and simple pleasure‚ in the easiest way possible․
Easy to Make
Making snow cream requires neither cooking expertise nor hard-to-find items‚ and most of the ingredients tend to be readily available․ The primary ingredient is snow․ The snow should be white‚ powdery‚ and freshly fallen without footprints or other signs of human or animal passage․ No commercial snow is necessary․ Then a dump of sugar until it feels like it can hold its own‚ a shot of vanilla for warmth‚ and some milk or cream until that fluffy snow melts into something that takes just a bit of the chill out of your day․ They come together in the warmth of a big bowl and create the dish equivalent of a hug on a cold day‚ or a spoonful of laughter with dear friends․
For most of us‚ snow days are some of our fondest memories of childhood: the schoolwork‚ the day-to-day activities of our lives melted away․ When the news of a snow day tore through the household like wild wildfire‚ it was elation and excitement for all․ The snow would pile high against the windows and we would talk with a great deal of excitement about the snow and the snowmen and the snowball fights․ How we would all don our heaviest coats and our brightest colored scarves and run out to enjoy the occasion․ In all this gaiety‚ I never missed the time for making snow cream․ I would not have traded it for anything․ No celebration was ever better than that‚ with laughter and fun and a thrill of adventure that only the snow can bring back to life․
Family Tradition
When we would get snow in the winter‚ making snow cream would be a family tradition․ At some point during the snowy morning‚ my family and I would be out playing in the snow and before you knew it we would be together in the kitchen creating a delicious sugary treat․ It would be everybody's business․ My little brother would scoop up the snow․ My mom would measure out and then pour in the sugar and milk‚ and my dad would take the first spoonful to see if it was sweet enough‚ and then we would eat․ Each spoonful of creamy snow we shared‚ each story we told‚ each laugh‚ each moment we warmed in front of the fire‚ while the snow descended outside‚ our magic was there and we were waiting to be unleashed․
Over the years‚ our snow cream story seemed to change․ The mixture of flavors and ingredients that went into each batch changed․ Some days we swirled in chocolate by pouring the cocoa powder in giving it a deep chocolate flavor․ Other days we would swirl in berries giving it a refreshing flavor․ Some nights‚ we were vanilla bean purists with a side of sprinkles or chocolate chip crunch․ Each flavor of snow cream was a beloved recipe‚ a step in our family's evolution‚ a record of seasons past; we were writing our history‚ watching as we wrote more stories as the seasons changed to winter again․
But even from the moment we were spooning large bowls of our delicious snow cream‚ I was restless for the outside world․ There was a lot to do with snow‚ after all․ Snowball fights turned into battles․ The snowmen grew to giant proportions and were adorned with buttons and scarves made from the odd bits and pieces of clothing․ These hills were used for sledding․ All day long the kids would be out running up and down the little hills‚ laughing and having a ball and thinking how beautiful everything looked with the snow blanket․ In the evening we would gather around the fire pit at the house‚ all of us with hot chocolate‚ telling stories about what we did․ With those memories to draw upon‚ each spoonful of the snow cream became a worldly delight․
Making snow cream is more than just a recipe for a delicious snack․ It is an experience of joy‚ creativity‚ spending time with family and friends‚ and connecting with the beauty that surrounds us in the world․ The sound of snowflakes falling against the window reminds us that there are always the little moments‚ the connections‚ and the memories that await us during such warm winter seasons․ Our snow cream becomes a part of the laughter‚ the family tales‚ and the childhood storybooks that we will cherish long after the last flake of snow has disappeared beneath the winter sun․ So the next time the world is bursting with white and winter has told its story‚ get your family out into that snow and make not just snow cream but memories․
