What do you do on a snow day? Play in the snow of course but then what do you do to prevent cabin fever? How about watching an old movie, using your extra Christmas candy canes to make a cocktail and ice cream (most people have a burgeoning supply of candy canes after Christmas), and playing the game scavenger hunt.
Eat:
Ashley’s Candy Cane Ice Cream
6 large eggs (separated)
6-8 crushed candy canes
1 ½ C egg nog
1 ½ C heavy cream
¾ sugar
1 t vanilla
Crush candy canes using a mallet (little boys are excellent helpers). Separate the eggs in a bowl, add egg nog, 1 cup of cream, and sugar to a saucepan. Add remaining ½ C cream to the bowl with the egg yolks (save the egg whites for breakfast). Whisk the yolks and cream. Temper the egg yolks (add about ¼ C of the hot egg nog mixture to the egg mixture so they don’t scramble). Then add it all to the milk mixture. Stir on medium low heat until the back of a wooden spoon is coated. Strain custard into a separate bowl and add vanilla. Cool in the freezer or over ice, and then churn. Towards the end of the churning, add crushed candy canes.
Play:
My sister and brother gave us two different Scavenger Hunt board games for Christmas and my children love them! It is the perfect game for a snow day because children search for objects in the house. It keeps kids moving and the good news is that a messy house is a precursor.
Watch:
Buck Privates
Buck Privates is a 1941 musical with the Andrews Sisters that will make you smile and feel nostalgic. Bud Abbott and Lou Costello have enlisted in the army in order to escape being hauled off to jail for peddling ties on the street, and soon find themselves in boot camp. To their surprise, the company’s drill instructor is none other than the cop who was about to put them in jail! Bud and Lou turn the military upside down…laughing all the way! There are hilarious bits and dreamy musical numbers by the Andrews Sisters (including Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy).
Drink:
Chocolate Candy Cane Cocktail
1 chocolate candy cane, crushed, for garnish (I used Hershey’s chocolate candy canes)
2 ounces chocolate vodka
2 ounces of Bailey’s chocolate mint crème
Small scoop of candy cane ice cream (see above)
Dash of chocolate syrup
Place crushed candy canes on a small plate or saucer. Wet the outside rim of a chilled martini glass with water. Holding the glass by the stem, rotate the rim to coat with candy.
In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, Baileys, ice cream, and syrup; shake until well combined. Strain into prepared glass; serve immediately.
Chocolate and peppermint are two of the most natural accompaniments made by God. ~Derek Cooley (my husband and my bartender)
Buy:
Glamorous Bottle Stoppers
Kate Spade New York Barware, JulesPoint Wine Bottle Stopper
These colorful jewels will make cocktails feel glamorous and girly and go perfectly while listening to the Andrews Sisters sing in Buck Privates.
Be prepared for your snow day. Keep your bar well stocked, eggs in the fridge and games and movies ready to play. I love snow days…probably because I live in Texas and we don’t see them that often. Stay inside where it’s warm because baby it’s cold outside. You can find more ideas on snow days here.
