I hope everyone had a good holiday! Our family did, even though we simplified the holidays to match a more adult family and the economic times. Thinking twice when buying gifts and making the feasts! Good practice for this new year! Anyway baby Zora made it extra special, naturally she was as excited with the wrapping paper and box as the toy inside!
My favorite part of the season, besides enjoying my family, are the holiday lights and window decorations. This year I was lucky enough to visit New York City during December so I saw the Fifth Avenue spectacular and also, on January 2nd we walked along Haight Street in San Francisco. The creativity and imagination of the window designers and the variety of home decorations is always impressive. I love the themes people select and their ingenuity.
Otherwise, it is now January 19th. Our son, Jove, made it to New York on New Year's Day without any flight delays or problems. I do know hundreds of people spent many sleepless nights in crowded airports as the country was hit by storms and intense weather. Last week 49 states had snow. Here, at home, our intense weather came last November, and our jack-o-lanterns were shocked!
Just like with window decorations people love to get creative with the glistening white wonderful wet snow. Snow people, snow angels, snow ball fights, and igloos, to name a few. Last year the news reported a man who made a three-room man-cave igloo complete with a flat-screen t.v. for January football.
Speaking of football, the playoffs sure are exciting and sure swallow up the weekends. So if your kids are restless from being house bound as the adults yell and cheer at their t.v. or the snow drifts are too high and the wind too wicked to venture outside KITCHEN ART comes in handy. Here are two cooking activities to keep the kids occupied, and maybe even serve to your football fans!
MASHED SNOW PEOPLE:
Your children want to play outside but an icy blizzard is raging? Here is a great indoor idea that is similar to making snow people, but warmer and delicious!
INGREDIENTS: 6 potatoes, 1 tbsp. sour cream, 2 eggs, water, butter
TOOLS: large pot, potato masher, cookie tray, spoon, two forks, pastry brush, knife, stove*, cutting board, peeler, large bowl, slated spoon, small bowl, egg beater, measuring spoon.
INSTRUCTION: *Adult supervision required. 1. Wash, peel and slice potatoes into quarters. 2. Place in pan bring to boil then reduce heat and cook until soft. 3. Drain water, place potatoes in large pan and mash. Add sour cream and two egg yolks. Mix well. 4. Place a large scoop of mashed potatoes on a greased cookie tray. Let your eager child mold the potatoes into snow people or igloos using hands or utensils. NOTE: remember to wash everyone's hands. 5. Lightly beat two egg whites and brush on sculptures. 6. Place in pre-heated oven (350 degrees) and bake until slightly brown. Have a warm snack on this freezing day!
ADDITIONAL IDEAS: Use condiments to decorate before baking: raisins, shredded carrots, sliced zucchini. OR use instant mashed potatoes to simplify project. YUM!
ICE CREAM SNOW PEOPLE:
There are lots of fancy and fun desserts that can be made with ice cream. Molding ice cream into creations and covering them with condiments and shredded sweets will create a dessert to delight young and old alike.
INGREDIENTS: one quart vanilla ice cream, chocolate chips, red hots, shredded coconut, chocolate covered cherry, chocolate covered thin mints tin foil, toothpick
TOOLS: ice cream scoop, baking tray
INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Scoop out three different sized balls. 2. Put shredded coconut on tin foil (about 1/2 cup), roll ice cream balls in it to completely cover. Stack balls into snow figure. 4. Add chocolate chips and red hots for buttons and facial features. 5. Put toothpick through chocolate covered cherry and mint to create hat.
6. Return to freezer to firm. YUM!
ADDITIONAL IDEAS: Mold ice cream into other shapes and cover with colored sprinkles. OR serve at half-time! GO TEAM! Go San Francisco 49ers!
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