Snow Events in the South: Unique Traditions and Practical Tips
By: Roger Sigmon – Wise News Network
Cherryville, NC (WNN)- Snow events in the South create traditions that baffle people from other parts of the country. Some actions and reactions are difficult to believe If they are not experienced or witnessed firsthand. The most notorious of these is the great milk and bread phenomenon. If you did not grow up in a Southern state, you might not have any idea of the knee-jerk reaction to the local weatherman uttering the “s” word, snow.
The Great Snowstorm Rush
Once the idea that there might be even the slightest chance of snow has entered the mind, people flock to any store that sells bread and milk. Within mere minutes, finding any bread product or milk can be more difficult than snapping a clear photo of Bigfoot. People lose their minds in their search for bread or milk. Most are not satisfied with a gallon and a loaf. They load shopping carts with these precious gems of barley, wheat, and dairy. Some will stockpile as if they might be stranded in their homes for months. In reality, snowfalls for the majority of the South are small and usually melt within a day or two.
Why Bread and Milk?
Are they planning to eat milk sandwiches for the next two weeks? After I graduated high school, I worked at the local Harris Teeter supermarket, and we would often wonder what these people were thinking. What could anyone need with so much bread and milk if they did happen to become stranded at home for a week?
The truth is people normally buy other items, yet bread and milk sell out the quickest. It is not unusual to see someone staring blankly at the empty shelves wishing they had made it to the store sooner. Back to the question of why rush out for these things. Humans react to situations more often than plan for unusual events. This creates the mad world of the bread run.
Practical Reasons for the Madness
It might come as a surprise there are some legitimate reasons for the insanity. Bread and milk, along with a few other staples of food, such as peanut butter and sandwich meat, can easily feed a family while waiting for the roads to clear. As long as the power stays on, you can use milk for many meals such as cereal, as a drink, or as an ingredient for a meal.
It is a good idea to have a bag of ice in the freezer and a clean cooler available. If the power goes out for a few hours, you can place the milk and sandwich meat in the cooler using the bag of ice to keep the items fresh. Bread works for making sandwiches, toast, and a variety of other ways, while peanut butter serves as a basic survival food that people can eat on crackers, as a sandwich, or straight from the jar with a spoon. It provides a high number of calories per serving, has a long shelf life, requires no refrigeration, and packs proteins and healthy fats.
One of the Best Southern Snow Traditions
One of the best Southern snow traditions is a tasty treat that has been handed down from generation to generation. The sweet white nectar is known simply as snow cream. This is also sometimes called snow ice cream.
There is an urban legend to avoid making this delicious treat with the season’s first snowfall. The theory goes that the first snow is a cleansing agent that removes germs and other contaminants from the air. Most Southerners choose to ignore advice due to the infrequent significant snowfalls each season. If you have once partaken of this amazing treat, you will understand why each snow is fair game. Timing is everything when it comes to this special dessert.
The key ingredient is clean, fresh snow. This is the base ingredient, and it must be fresh; if you allow it to sit, it will melt and refreeze, forming ice that destroys the taste and texture. You must also take caution to retrieve fresh snow from a clean area, not touching the ground or the hood of your car.
Snow Cream Recipe
So, how does one make snow cream? It can only be made when there is a fresh snowfall. I stress fresh because if ice forms it removes the flakes and air that are needed to blend the ingredients. The recipe is easy and can be tweaked to each person’s taste preference.
4 cups of snow (more if making for several people)
1 cup of milk (any type will work, even condensed milk if you prefer very sweet)
¼ cup of sugar
1 tsp. of vanilla extract
Instructions: Mix the non-snow ingredients first, then add snow until you reach the desired consistency. Eat and enjoy.
My father made some of the best snow cream I have ever eaten. Years of experience had taught him exactly how much to add the perfect amount of ingredients without measuring; it was just instinct. Many of my fondest memories of snowfalls as a child are eating snow cream. Decent accumulation of snow is rare in the South, making this treat even more special.
One Word of Caution
One word of caution is that if you absolutely do not need to drive during snow and ice events, stay home. The highway patrol recommends you stay off the roads for a reason. If you do have to drive to get to work or in an emergency, please allow plenty of room between you and the other vehicles in case an unexpected slide or stop occurs.
It is a good idea to have a flashlight, blanket, bottled water, snacks, and a fully charged cell phone in your car if you must travel. These will come in handy if you find yourself stranded. Also, kids love to sled during snowstorms and don’t always think about cars using what has suddenly become their playground. Keep your eyes open and be aware of your surroundings.
Snow provides fun for kids and kids at heart, so please watch out for them. Enjoy your time off work or from school, stay safe, and stay warm.
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