Vanilla Snow Recipes

Steps:

• Microwave vanilla bean and 2 teaspoons water in a small microwave-safe bowl until softened, about 30 seconds.
• Bring sugar and remaining water to a boil in a saucepan. Split vanilla bean lengthwise on a work surface; scrape out seeds with the back of a knife. Add seeds and pod to saucepan; boil until syrup is thickened slightly, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.

Steps:

• When it starts to snow, place a large, clean bowl outside to collect the flakes. When full, stir in sugar and vanilla to taste, then stir in just enough milk for the desired consistency. Serve at once.

Steps:

• In a small saucepan bring the water, sugar and vanilla bean to a boil. Once it's boiled, pour into a shallow 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish and let cool to room temperature. Place in the freezer and freeze solid, at least 6 hours or overnight. To serve, scrape the frozen vanilla ice with a spoon to shave it. Place shaved ice in bowls that have been in the freezer. In a small saucepan, bring the maple syrup to the softball stage, 240 degrees F. Immediately take off the heat and drizzle over the vanilla ice. It will slightly harden and become chewy. You can also roll up the syrup on a lollipop stick.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the milk, half-and-half, and 6 tablespoons sugar. Cut the vanilla bean in half the long way, and scrape out the tiny black seeds inside. Add the bean and the scrapings to the milk mixture. Stir with a spoon until the sugar is dissolved.
• Put the egg whites into a clean metal bowl, and beat them with a whisk or beater until they are thick and white and will hold the shape of soft peaks when you lift up the whisk. Add 1 tablespoon sugar to the whites and beat until the form stiff peaks.
• Remove the vanilla bean from the milk mixture. (If you let it dry, it can be used again for something else.) Add the egg whites to the milk mixture, and use a spatula to gently fold the two together. You can use a whisk to gently break up any large bits of whites. Freeze the mixture in an ice-cream freezer according to the directions.

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, stir together the sugar and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring, until the sugar is fully dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and mix in the drink mix. Allow the mixture to cool completely.
• Prepare cones or bowls of shaved ice and pour about 1/4 cup of the syrup on top of each.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Cream the butter with 1/2 cup of the confectioners' sugar and the vanilla. Mix in the flour, pecans, and salt. Roll about 1 tablespoon or so of dough into balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until bottoms are golden, about 15 minutes. Do not allow these cookies to get too brown: it's better to undercook them than to overcook them. While cookies are still hot, roll them in confectioners' sugar. Once they have cooled, roll them in confectioners' sugar once more.