What To Do On A Snow Day

My kids had a snow day off from school on Friday and we took full advantage of it. After everyone was informed of the no school knowledge (my husband went out to shovel the driveway without informing my son, so as soon as I got downstairs I was met with begging to turn the TV on to check the school closings), we settled down into relaxing and not changing out of our pajamas for a few hours. By mid-morning, the girls and I were looking for something fun to do, so we made chocolate chip cookies. I used to use the recipe on the back of the chocolate chip bag until I found this recipe, and now this is the only way I make cookies. The cookies turn out thick and delicious and full of chocolate chips. Anyways, if you are looking for a good chocolate chip cookie recipe, look no further.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 box (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup oatmeal
1 tsp. baking soda
2 cups chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Cream butter and sugars. Add pudding mix, eggs, and vanilla. Mix. Add flour, oatmeal and baking soda to creamed mixture. Mix well. Fold in chocolate chips.
3. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.

Yield:4-5 dozen

As the girls and I were making cookies, Ian went outside to play with two of the neighbor boys in the snow. They stayed out until their socks were wet and then asked to come inside to our house. After removing all their snow gear, they ran upstairs to Ian's room to play. After about ten minutes the girls just could not resist checking on the boys. I learned that Emma already has a great grasp on what 7 and 8 year old boys like. She knew she couldn't go up empty handed to see the boys, or she would probably be met with a loud "Get out" from her brother. So she stood outside Ian's door with her little sister for support. Then she knocked loudly and asked, "Who wants to see a dog poop?" Sure enough, the door opened and the neighbor boys looked out long enough to see Emma demonstrate how Tanner the Barbie dog poops when you lift up it's tail.

Finally, after the neighbors went home I whipped up a batch of snow ice cream. This has fast become a winter tradition when I discovered a recipe for it about three years ago. Now as soon as snowflakes start falling each winter I am met with the question, "When can we make snow ice cream?"


It was definitely a memorable snow day, the kind I like best.

P.S. I apologize for including a picture of a pooping toy dog with my recipe for chocolate chip cookies.