Here in Seattle, we are under the spell of snow. That is my back yard from yesterday, and it is now over 2″. *sigh* I love you, snow…
Snow is fairly rare here in the greater Puget Sound Area (that’s Seattle and surrounding areas north, south, and east, for those not In The Know), and it creates a love-hate relationship with the fluffy white stuff. You see, our snow is wet, heavy, slick, and icy, and it lands on one of the hillier cities in the US–the city becomes a giant winter slip n’ slide! We also have a melt/freeze cycle, such that the snow melts a bit, then freezes into sheets of ice, onto which more snow falls, making a slurry of slushy, icy, dangerous conditions. Add that to a populace who never learns how to drive confidently in those conditions since it happens so infrequently, and it gets downright scary out there!
So snow day is a very real phenomenon around these parts. When it snows, we get to stay home. Well “get” also is a misnomer, since for some that means lost wages. But if you can afford an extra day off, or can get a little work done from home, then snow days really are a treat! You get to hang out in a snow globe and watch the landscape become a glistening blanket of white.
Since these conditions means class is canceled, I thought I would share a special drink recipe to enjoy at home tonight. For a non-ginger version, you can just use a dash of sugar or simple syrup in the traditional hot toddy recipe. But the ginger just seems so decadent! (I also recommend Yazi, which is a ginger-infused vodka which we always keep around the house. The bottle is gorgeous, and the vodka delectable. Makes a great spike for many drink recipes to make it extra special.)
I hope everyone is warm and safe tonight. Happy snow day!
Ginger Simple Syrup
2 cups fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
2 cups sugar
6 cups water
Put chopped ginger, sugar and water in a saucepan and stir. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and cook for about an hour and a half until it is reduced by more than half. Strain the syrup well and allow to cool a little, then transfer to a jar or other closeable container. Refrigerate.
Bonus Candied Ginger:
Take strained ginger and spread out on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle with 2-3 teaspoons of sugar, toss a little bit to coat, then leave out to cool and dry.
Ginger Hot Toddy
2 tsp ginger syrup
A shot of whiskey, scotch, or rum
½ cinnamon stick
2 cloves
1 lemon slice
Put 2-3 teaspoons cooled ginger syrup, alcohol of choice, cinnamon and cloves in a mug or heatproof glass. Top with hot water (boil and then let cool a minute or two). Set aside to infuse for a minute, then add lemon slice. Sit back and watch the winter wonderland unfold!
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