Let it Snow...let it snow...let it snow...

Can you tell that I'm excited about the big snowstorm that's coming? I really love snow. I've been very disappointed over the past few years to not even get ONE snow. That's all I really want for a winter to be perfect...just ONE snow. And to be getting our 2nd snow this year...well, let's just say I'm excited. Now I don't want the snow to last forever, mind you. Just for a day or two so I can sleep in late one morning, build a fire, enjoy playing with Ariel in the snow, and, of course, knit. I don't really think that's too much to ask, do you?

Those of you on our email list know that I’ve always wondered what one would make with the milk, eggs & bread that we all go to the grocery store to buy when we hear the "S" word. So I’ve come up with some ideas for you to try during this coming snowstorm:

1. French toast - http://southernfood.about.com/od/frenchtoastrecipes/r/bl30118b.htm (I like to sprinkle a little cinnamon on my French toast.)
2. Bread pudding http://www.momswhothink.com/easy-recipes/bread-pudding-recipe.html
3. Scrambled eggs, toast, & milk
4. Egg Salad sandwich & milk

So the challenge went out in my last email as to what you would make with these 3 ingredients: milk, eggs & bread. The one who would "WOW" me with their recipe would win a prize. I've really enjoyed reading all of your emails about your family recipes. You all sent me a lot of ideas. Here are a few...

• Fried egg sandwich with milk
• French toast strata with cider syrup (although you'd have plan ahead for this one in order to have a few extra ingredients)
• Breakfast cassarole
• Breakfast strata - adding veggies, cheese & meat (also additional ingredients)

Several people mentioned snow cream...although it doesn't have our 3 ingredients, it's a great idea. Amanda shared with me how she makes it:

You take a very large bowl out to gather snow, because a lot of snow makes a little snow cream. I use a large plastic spoon (like what can be used for sauces and soups), but metal would work fine. Find some clean, undisturbed snow on top of a car or something. Before filling the bowl, gently scrape off a little of the top layer of snow to remove any coal dust or other particles. Once you have a heaping bowl full of snow, go inside and put a decent amount of the snow into a fairly good sized bowl (allows room for mixing). Then add some sugar, evaporated milk, and a little bit of vanilla extract. Mix together and taste. If it's good, then there's nothing left to do but enjoy a bowl full. Otherwise, add a little of whatever is needed to make it right (will most likely be some more snow from bowl #1). Put any leftovers in the freezer (if there are any leftovers). Caution: eating too much snow cream at a time can cause a sore throat, so enjoy in moderation! :)

My momma never would let us make snow cream as kids. She was always too concerned about radiation in the air to let us eat snow. I did some research online to see about the safety of eating snow. I found a website that said you should let it snow 2 hours before using the snow for snow cream to wash out all the pollutants in the air. But they also said not to be too concerned because we breathe that same air every day. That actually makes sense. Plus I doubt any of us will be putting away snow cream in such large amounts that it will hurt us. So go make some and enjoy it!

I did receive two recipes that were new to me...and really sounded yummy. Our first winner is Beth Jinkerson. She said to make "Eggs in a Nest". Here's a website that shows how to make it.

And then our second winner is Debbie Slack for her recipe called "Eggs Goldenrod" (i.e. Creamed eggs on toast). Here's her recipe for 1-2 people. You can multiply it as needed.

1 hard boiled egg
1-2 slices toast
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
salt & pepper to taste

Make a basic white sauce: melt the butter, stir in the flour until bubbly and smooth, add the milk and cook until thickened. (I stir my sauce with a pancake turner instead of a spoon - it sweeps the bottom of the pot better.) Remove the yolk from the hard boiled egg and set aside. Chop the egg white and add to the white sauce. Add salt & pepper if desired. Tear the toast into bite-size pieces on a plate, ladle the sauce over it, and crumbled the saved egg yolk on top. Serve piping hot.

So Beth and Debbie come by the shop and pick up your skein of Kollage Creamy yarn...it's made of 80% milk! Very appropriate, don't you think. Really, this 80%milk/20% cotton yarn would make a lovely spring scarf. So even if you didn't win, you should check out this yarn.

If you're not on our email newsletter list, just send me an email and let me know you want to be added. We occasionally send out extra emails with additional information...and sometimes a contest.

Enjoy the snow!!