Monday, December 3, 2007

Brain Freeze


"Snow! No!" This was my initial response to witnessing my first snowfall in four years. It is astonishing how quickly my blood thinned as a result of living the warm and toasty life in Southern California. My body is currently experiencing a goose-bump-inducing shock. Frankly, I do not enjoy being cold as a witch’s you-know-what: I begin shivering uncontrollably, which, of course, makes me hungry.

In honor of New York State’s first snowfall, I began a mental list of snow treats. Now, this list is consummately hypothetical. If the atmosphere was wholly sanitary and the breathable air as pure and sweet as that which is dispensed from a Las Vegas oxygen bar, I would be eating a pile of clean, virgin snow this moment!

Unfortunately, the atmosphere is, simply put, putrid. Therefore, you may end up consuming an acid rain snow cone, topped with sugary CO2 emissions. These snow-based desserts are purely hypothetical and as you pretend to eat them, enjoy your imaginary brain freeze!

The first snow dessert is the universal snow cone, otherwise known around the world as snowballs, piragua, raspados, ais kacang, bingsu, or juski. For the popular American treat, gather a bucket full of snow and scoop the shaved ice into little paper cups. Pour on your syrup flavor of choice and enjoy. For a more international treat, feel free to add fruit cocktail, red beans, agar agar, evaporated milk, sweet taro or chestnuts. You can buy snow cone syrup at many retailers, such as Nature’s Flavors, Rio Syrup Company or at Hawaiian Shaved Ice. Otherwise, you can make your own with sugar, water and your favorite powdered drink mix.

Sugar on Snow is a favorite treat of Vermonsters. Pour heated maple syrup (use candy thermometer to reach 233-234 degrees) onto packed snow, which yields a taffy-like candy. It is usually served with unadorned doughnuts, coffee and sour pickles. The pickles serve to cut the sweetness of the candy. Perfect for late night cravings!

You can also create ice cream made from fresh fallen snow. This blustery treat is made from snow, sugar and milk. Mix together a cup of cream, a half cup of sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla. Stir in the snow and eat before it becomes ice cream soup!

As the snow continues to fall and the season becomes colder, keep one thing in mind. In the words of the late, great Zappa, “watch out where the Huskies go, don't you eat that yellow snow”.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed your writing for this piece.... casual and enjoyable....keep it up!

Amy said...

s not your cushy CA lifestyle - it's really freakin freezing this week!

Also, though I was just across the river in NH, so maybe we do things "weirdly" the Putnam Bros Sugar House never once suggested eating sour pickles with our sugar on snow! blasphemy!