Family Fun Cooking Indoors
GINGERBREAD HOUSES
SIMPLE
These little gingerbread houses are PERFECT for kids. The simple a-frame houses are made with graham crackers, so you don't even have to turn the oven on! Use canned frosting or make a batch of buttercream to use as spackle and you're halfway there. The rest is all the fun stuff! We chose a wide variety of candy: twizzlers, candy canes, Dots, peppermints, red hots… there's tons of colorful candy that's perfect for decorating houses. Choose whatever you like best, just make sure there's a good variety - that way, no house in the neighborhood looks the same! Wanna take the holiday cheer up a notch? Arrange the completed houses where you'd like to display them and dust them with powdered sugar for a freshly-fallen snow effect. Even the Grinch can't resist these cuties!
http://www.delish.com/cooking/videos/a56880/mini-gingerbread-houses-video/
TRADITIONAL
King Arthur Flour (located here in Norwich, VT ) has a nicely detailed printable 14 page .pdf “Building A Gingerbread House with Susan Reid” that gives the recipes, step by step directions and templates. Click on the link below to print a copy and have fun .
https://www.kingarthurflour.com/guides/cookie-decorating/docs/gingerbread.pdf
Family Fun Cooking Outdoors
SNOW ICE CREAM
Gather eight cups of fresh snow, pour in one can of Sweetened Condensed Milk and 1 tsp of vanilla, stir and serve.
http://www.sugarpiefarmhouse.com/winter-can-be-snow-fun
REAL SNOW CONES (Makes 4)
In a small saucepan, boil 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water, until the sugar has completely dissolved. Let cool to room temperature. Then add your favorite unsweetened juice, sports drink, instant coffee, or any colorful flavor you like. Once completely cool, drizzle it over scoops of fresh snow.
http://people.com/food/snow-day-recipes-ice-cream-maple-candy-cones/
MAPLE SNOW CANDY (Makes about 8)
1. While it’s still snowing, place a clean baking sheet or cookie sheet outside to collect the fresh flakes. When the sheet is full, pack down the snow and allow it to fill up again. Pack down one more time.
2. In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup of real maple syrup over medium heat until it boils (or a candy thermometer reads between 235F and 245F).
3. Take the pan off the heat and drizzle the syrup over the packed snow in long strips. Let the syrup strips cool and become firm for 3 to 5 seconds. Pull the candy strips out of the snow, and eat while still a little warm.
http://people.com/food/snow-day-recipes-ice-cream-maple-candy-cones/