As we get older, our childhood memories tend to fade. One memory that still stands out is making snow ice cream at my friend’s house.  I had no idea you could make ice cream from snow!

After all the sledding and snowman building, its fun to make snow ice cream with your kids and adult beverages for the parents!  One thought that is often on parents minds is:

Is it safe to eat snow ice cream?

Of course, we all know to avoid the yellow snow. Frank Zappa always comes to mind, “Watch out where the huskies go, and don’t you eat that yellow snow.”   My children never get the reference, especially since we have akitas.

In an article from 2008, we cautioned that snow can contain toxic particles, especially if you life near a city.

According to Helen Suh Macintosh, an environmental professor at Harvard, falling snow attracts toxins quite easily. In a report on Treehugger, Macintosh suggests that if you’re living anywhere near a city you can assume your snow is doing its fair share of collecting:

Snow is formed by water vapor that moves in clouds in cold air. As the water vapor moves in the cold air, it can stick to a tiny piece of dust and then have other water molecules attach to it, forming a crystal. Once formed, the crystal can continue to grow and can stay in the air for hours before it falls to the ground. It is during this time that the snow crystal can collect or “scavenge” pollutants that are present in the air.((http://eyr.lil.mybluehost.me/2008/11/22/is-it-safe-to-eat-snow/))

Photo credit: Geoffrey Etwein via Foter.com / CC BY

We don’t hear much about acid rain anymore, as climate change is more pressing of an issue.  In regards to snow, I have often wondered is there such a thing as acid snow? I found this information on the Quebec English Schools Network:

Snow acts as a reservoir for acids in wintertime by absorbing and storing atmospheric pollutants. Falling snow collects pollutants in the atmosphere and snow also accumulates pollutants on the ground from the dry deposition of gases, aerosols, and atmospheric particles. Normally, snow protects vegetation from the harmful effects of dry deposition for several months. The solubility of sulphur dioxide in snow is highest just before the snow melts because the amount of water in the snow is at its highest. 

“Black snow” is coloured by carbon rich particles and it has higher concentrations of acids than the other snow. The pH of black snow can be nearly as low as vinegar – about pH 3.0! Black snowfalls have been observed on Cairngorm Mountain in the Scottish Highlands where pollutants from Eastern Europe accumulate. When black snow forms just above the base of the snow drift, it can deliver especially high solute concentrations to the soil below. 

A deep blanket of snow contains many layers from different snow falls with different levels of pollutants. Concentrated bands of impurities are formed as the snow melts and refreezes. Since wind and other forces redistribute and mix the layers in a snow drift, measuring the total amount of chemical in the snow drift is difficult. Undisturbed polar snow is an accurate record of the past atmospheric conditions. Sampling of snow cores in the Greenland ice sheet have revealed an increase in the amount of acids deposited, especially in the last forty years. ((http://dwb4.unl.edu/Chem/CHEM869V/CHEM869VLinks/www.qesn.meq.gouv.qc.ca/cc/acidrain/info6.htm))

Definitely avoid the black snow!  But how much snow does one really eat?  It can’t be worse than the water in Flint!
Photo credit: Clover_1 via Foter.com / CC BY-NC

Fresh Snow Ice Cream Recipes and more!

Snow Ice Cream

It’s super easy to make snow ice cream!  Simply stir together:

• 1 gallon snow
• 1 cup organic sugar
• 1 Tablespoon vanilla
• 2 cups organic milk or milk substitute

Via:  All Recipes((http://allrecipes.com/recipe/24944/snow-ice-cream-ii/))

Maple Snow Cone

Simply scoop some snow into a cup or paper cone if you have it and drizzle with organic maple syrup.  Add bourbon or brandy for the grown-ups!

Via:  Food Network ((http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/photos/winter-desserts-in-under-an-hour.html))

Peppermint Snow Ice Cream Made with Condensed Milk

Stir together:

• 8 cups of snow
• 1 can of organic sweetened condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon organic peppermint extract

This recipe could easly be made with vanilla, lemon, or almond extract instead of the peppermint.

Via:  Treehugger ((http://www.treehugger.com/easy-vegetarian-recipes/7-recipes-snow.html))

Snow Mimosas!

Fill a flute or wine glass with snow, then add prosecco and orange juice.

Via:  Food Network ((http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/photos/winter-desserts-in-under-an-hour.html))

Hot Cocoa Snow Slushie

Melt 3 ounces of organic chocolate in a double boiler.  Then add:

• 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

Remove from heat and add

• 1/2 cups milk or milk alternative

Let cool to room temperatue then add

• 3 cups snow
• 1 cup organic milk or milk subsitute
• Whipped cream

Via:  Treehugger ((http://www.treehugger.com/easy-vegetarian-recipes/7-recipes-snow.html))

Now if it would only snow at my house! I  can’t wait to try the last snow recipe!

Enjoy the snow!

Photo credit: babasteve via Foter.com / CC BY-NC