Making maple syrup on snow. (Provided photo)

I am getting whiplash from all the various weather. I’m not sure which one of you to blame for these last few snowstorms. Did someone put away the shovels without a neighborhood consensus? Which one of you wore their pajamas inside out and backward? Is someone unknowingly practicing snow day superstitions? Did someone mistakenly put ice cubes in the toilet or put white crayons on a windowsill? Please check. We don’t need any more snow days. Even the ski mountains are showcasing their spring conditions.

The only snow day ritual I’m willing to accept at this point is eating ice cream. Consuming a dish of the frosty treat makes me dream of summer. As the saying goes, “If you can’t beat it, eat it.” Well, perhaps “the” saying is actually “If you can’t beat them, join them,” but let’s not get picky. I feel like the only way to get rid of this snow is to eat it. Let’s begin, shall we?

The two ways my children managed to clean our yard without shoveling: making snow cream and “sugar on snow.” Both are easy, sweet treats.

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Maple Sugar on Snow

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Ingredients

– Collect a tray of fresh snow

– Maple syrup

– Popsicle sticks or spoons (some utensil to twirl the maple candy onto it)

Directions

Pour 1 cup of maple syrup into a pan. Put it on the stove and bring it to a full boil.

Be careful that it doesn’t burn or boil over. Once it has boiled for 3-5 minutes, it starts to thicken. Take the pan off the stove and drizzle the hot liquid over the snow in lines. As the liquid cools, the maple will harden. Using the popsicle stick or spoon, swirl the candy onto the utensil and eat!

Note: Artificial maple products may be used, but it isn’t recommended as boiling may not produce consistent candy results.

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Snow Cream

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Ingredients

– Collect 8-10 cups of fresh snow in a large bowl

– 1/2 cup of milk or cream

– 1/4 cup sugar (add more to taste)*

– Dash of vanilla

Directions

Mix the milk, sugar and vanilla until the sugar dissolves. Slowly add the snow to the mixture until all the liquid is incorporated. The snow cream will be similar to soft-serve.

Eat immediately. This dessert does not refreeze well.

*You can substitute the milk and sugar with 1/2 cup of sweetened condensed milk

I’m not sure if it needs to be mentioned, but please only use clean, fresh snow. Please do not collect snow from roadways, pathways and any other obviously dirty locations. The snow is supposed to melt in a few days, so eat your fresh snow while you can. Enjoy!