Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Winter Snowballs

It's official, winter is here.



As if last week's snow and the constant cold, windy weather conditions didn't make that clear enough.  But, now it's officially official because the calendar says so.  Now it's officially okay to have sub-freezing temperatures at night, black ice on the streets in our subdivision, barren trees and dry, dry, dry skin.  Ah, the magic of winter.   Gee, how many times can I use the word 'official' in one blog post?

Actually,  I don't mind winter, just so long as I'm indoors.

In the spirit of welcoming Old Man Winter and the frigid, moisture sucking air he brings, I made snowballs.

No, not this kind


 (source)


and definitely not this kind


(source


With no offense intended to the Hostess company (I do love Twinkies),  those Snoballs make me want to gag.

Nope, I didn't make balls of real snow; I didn't make marshmallowy, cakey, pink coconutty, gag worthy balls of Sno, either. 

I made coconut macaroons. 

I know they're not called snowballs, but I think think the name suits them.  Especially if you like your snowballs with toasted tops and chocolate bottoms.




Coconut is a controversial ingredient.  Not controversial in a social sense, like abortion, gay marriage and amnesty, but controversial in the sense that people either love it or hate it.   I'm not sure there is any gray area where coconut is concerned. 

Yea or nay; never maybe.




I happen to like coconut; so do Craig and Caroline.





A family who eats coconut together, stays together.

 


Confession:  I ate all of Caroline's Almond Joy candy bars from her Halloween stash.




I prefer Mounds, because I like dark chocolate (it has antioxidants, after all), but I definitely showed Almond Joy some love this year.





I'm all about equal opportunity.





Sweet and chewy with a contrasting crunchy chocolate base.  A hint of almond and a nutty, toasty peak.




Whether you love or hate coconut, you have to admit that these macaroons are quite photogenic.



Hello winter! 

My macaroons and I welcome you.  But please note that while I am greeting you with all the cheerfulness and good spirit I can possibly muster, I'd like for you to promise that you will not bring any snow on the following dates:  December 23rd-24th and January 7th or 11th.   I have plans on those days, plans which could be greatly altered if snow were to fall. 

Caroline, my budding meteorologist and Weather Channel enthusiast, informs me that there is potential for a white Christmas.  This might surprise you, given my general distaste for snow, but I'm actually okay with this prospect.  I've never had a white Christmas.  Well, I may have when I was a little thing and living in Maine, but from ages 3-26 I lived in either California, Florida, Hawaii or Arizona where a white Christmas would have been a miracle.  After a short stint in Maryland, where no snow fell on Christmas followed by three years in Georgia and two snow-less holidays here, it's finally a possibility. 

Thoughts on coconut?  Yes, please? or Oh, heck no?

7 comments:

Yo mama said...

Coconut = pure bliss. I <3 it with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. I yove it.
My grandmother made the BEST macaroons evah.

Did you get your envelope of prizes?

Alison said...

Yes, we got our envelope of prizes. Thanks!
I put everything under the tree, except for the Good N Plentys. Craig says thanks! I saw ewww. ;)

Black licorice is one of those love it or hate it flavors, too. It's coconut's cousin; coconut's evil cousin. :)

Marcey said...

ok, I'm going to screw up your coconut theory. Because I hate coconut in almost everything EXCEPT coconut shrimp and pina coladas! Maybe it's because one is fried and the other has alcohol!

danny macaroons said...

very nice looking macaroons!

Alison said...

Marcey-- yes, alcohol and deep frying can alter my theory.

I'm not a shrimp fan, but I'm pretty sure I'd like the outside coating of coconut shrimp.

Sissy said...

I am coconut but Charlie is definitely ANTI-coconut.

I also like black licorice, pumpkin pie, and mashed potatoes, which he also does not like!

Alison said...

Sissy--he doesn't like mashed potatoes?! How can anyone not like mashed potatoes? Wait, Caroline doesn't like them, either. I think it's a texture thing.

I'm anti black licorice, but Craig is a fan. We all LOVE pumpkin pie.

I got some Dunkin Donuts coffee today with a shot of coconut flavoring. Yum. Although, you don't drink coffee, so never mind...

:)