Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!

I am sitting at home, luxuriating in the warmth of the fire, tapping away at my laptop. The snow has now fallen and settled nicely, certainly well enough for a good wintery outdoors session tomorrow.

There are many people who look at snow as a one dimensional thing, they either love it or hate it. Personally I think snow is a situational thing. Sitting in a car, stuck in a snow drift, cars abandoned all around, then yes, I will agree, snow is bloody awful. However, sitting at 1400m, drinking Gluwein, discussing how to tackle the nasty black run with your god or goddess-like ski instructor and suddenly snow is quite important and a great deal of fun! Go on admit it, how many times have you sat in traffic or at the bus stop or train platform, desperate to get somewhere, slowed down by a yet another sodding snowflake, and at the same time wishing you were ski-ing, tobogganing or making a snowman with the children in the same stuff you are cursing! See, I told you, it is situational!

Last Saturday I watched with joy as the snow came down, covering up all trace of cars and people. Only the wee beasties were out. I started feeling positively Narnian! The following morning, my daughter and son were so excited, the porridge and orange juice were hastily polished off and we set about togging up for our polar expedition. Woolly boots, three pairs of socks, hats, gloves etc and we were ready! And it only took three quarters of an hour!!

We may only have one car, but we are three taboggan family! We have the steady old classic, wooden frame, elevated riding platform, not too fast, a good one to ease into the slopes with. Then we have last year's purchase, esentially a large tea tray. This goes like the clappers, your backside seperated from the ice by a mere hint of plastic and the only way to brake is to dig in the heels and send a shower of snow and ice chips into your face, making it impossible to see the poor unfortunate who your are going to inevitably hit at the bottom!

Then we have my favourite, even though I grew out of this one decades ago. I had her when I was a child and have never seen the like since. She turns heads with her seductive curves and proud features. She is bright yellow and shaped like a duck, her head rising like the prow of a viking longship. She is great fun and the children love belting down the hills on her.

We all had a great morning, sledging, snowballing, building snowmen and falling over. I can't wait for the next fall of snow, as long as I can choose when to be out and how long for!

Having not included a recipe in my last post, I will make up for it now. These are great for when you come back in after playtime, however as your fingures may be numb, get everything ready before you venture out.

Please take a leap of faith with this one! The chocolate and banana toastie! They are soooooo good!!

1.    Turn on the sandwich toaster. If you don't have one, heat up a frying pan.

2.    Take two slices of bread per person, entirely your choice of colour, but you will only be fooling yourself if you think brown will make this healthier!!

3.    Spread both slices with chocolate spread, the one with the nuts is best!

4.    Slice enough banana to fill your sandwiches with one layer.

5.    Put your sandwiches together. Lightly spread butter on the top, turn over in to the sandwich toaster or frying pan and butter the other side.

6.    Shut the lid and toast or fry until the alchemy is done!! A sandwich toaster is best for this as the pressure and heat on both sides is what creates the magic within. If using a pan, push down with a slice or other flat kitchen implement on top of the sandwich. You will still end up with a little slice of heaven!

7.    When done, take out the sandwich, cut into four, wait a couple of minutes as the inside will be like napalm, and enjoy. Now, as I have a tendancy to have ketchup with all my toasties, may I recomend the following as an alternative? Take some crème fraîche or greek yoghurt, either as is or mix in some orange zest or honey, pop in a dish and use to dip your sandwiches in.

As this will no doubt be eaten at tea time, I suggest a mug of something warm. I will not presume to teach you how to make hot chocolate, you open the jar, spoon in the powder and add hot milk! If, however, you want to try something a little more grown up and decadent, have a go at this.

1.    Measure out the milk in your chosen mugs, stopping an inch from the top, and pour into a pan.

2.    Bring the milk to the boil and turn the heat down.

3.    Chop a good quantity of solid chocolate and add to the milk. The quantity and type I leave to you as this is very personal, although I will just add that chocolate orange is wonderful!

4.    Stir or whisk until all the chocolate has melted. Taste for strength and add more chocolate if needed Once this is done, pour out the hot chocolate for any children. Add mini marshmallows and grate more chocolate on top.

5.    Now the grown up stuff begins! A little dash of something always adds a certain "je ne sais quois", but just what to add is the question? The choices and combinations are limitless! If you want to add a kick, Grand Marnier, brandy or whisky will all suffice. If, however you want a gentler kick, say a kick from a pair of Ugg boots as opposed to steel toe capped ones, try Baileys or a chocolate cream liqueur.

This will also work in a thermos, just in case you get dragged out again!!

Have a great weekend!

 "Advice is like snow - the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper in sinks into the mind." Samuel Taylor Coleridge.