Snow Day Survival

With the impending bomb cyclone hitting the Denver area today, you might be wondering how you’re going to make it through a day stuck inside?! Here is how we are staying busy at home with kids during today’s snow day!

Baking- Whipping up a special treat is a must for a day stuck indoors. These chocolate chip cookies by Pinch of Yum are a favorite!

These snickerdoodles are a close second! Soft, yet chewy- these make the perfect snickerdoodles.

This snow ice cream is the perfect project for the kids to work on while you are baking up some cookies.

SNOW ICE CREAM

This 5-minute recipe for homemade snow ice cream is a sweet way to celebrate a snow day!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup milk (any kind)
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, store-bought or homemade
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 8 cups clean snow or shaved ice (more or less depending on the density of the snow)
  • optional (but strongly suggested) topping: sprinkles!!!

DIRECTIONS:

  1. In a large bowl, whisk milk, sugar, vanilla and salt together until combined. Go scoop up some fresh (clean!) snow, and immediately stir it into the milk mixture until you reach your desired consistency.  (The ice cream should be fluffy, not runny.  But it melts quickly, so dive in quickly.)
  2. Top with sprinkles or other ice cream toppings if desired, and enjoy!

*Consume fresh snow at your own risk.

Movie Marathon- Nothing beats snuggling up on the couch to a good movie. Put some cozy pj’s on, flip on the fire and turn on Netflix. Our top picks for today are- Disney’s Christopher Robin, The Incredibles 2, Hairspray and Beauty and The Beast.

Game Time- Spend some time as a family with a little friendly competition. Uno, Go Fish and Monopoly are fun classics for older kids. Zingo, Candyland and Guess Who are perfect for the little ones.

Outdoor Fun- If the worst of it is over and you are able to venture outside, bundle up and go build a snowman, make snow angels or go sledding! For something different, consider going on a snow day scavenger hunt!

Free printable found at Funlovingfamilies.com

Craft Time– Make some coffee filter snow flakes to kill some time on this long day inside. And bonus- they will fill your home with beauty and color once you hang them up! Find out how to make these and more craft projects here.

☆ We hope you can take something useful from this list today and no matter what you do, HAVE FUN!


Affordable housing for aged-out foster care children could be coming to Denver

Adams County is proposing an affordable housing complex that could house up to 400, with 12 units set aside specifically for children that have aged out of the foster care system. The thought is to have a safe, stable place to land for the kids that have grown up in this community and call Denver home. The old Child & Family Services center will be renovated, along with new construction to make 116 one, two and three bedroom affordable units. Final approval and groundbreaking could take place later in 2019 with the first tenants possibly moving in 2021.

To read more about this visit CBS Denver 4.

Helpful tips for helping to keep kids in your community safe & happy


Denver Restaurant Week

Today marks the first day of Denver Restaurant Week! For the next 10 days Denver’s top restaurants will offer multi-course dinners at three different price points- $25, $35, and $45.

“15 years ago, we created Denver Restaurant Week to combat the misperception that Denver’s fine dining scene left a lot to be desired,” said Richard Scharf, president and CEO of Visit Denver. “Now, our dining scene really speaks for itself and Denver Restaurant Week has become a celebration of our award-winning, nationally recognized culinary community.”

You can view all the participating restaurants and the menus at DenverRestaurantWeek.com.

☆ Reservations are recommended. Officials recommend to be flexible and try earlier or later bookings or reserve a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

A few of my favorite menu’s include:

D BAR

Menu Price: $35. Seasonally inspired upscale comfort food and award winning desserts.

Appetizer

Bread N Butter 
house made focaccia • butternut squash butter

Crispy Brussels Sprouts
honey sriracha glaze • spiced peanuts • fresh mint

Crue Fries
parm fries • “mac” sauce • cheddar-jack cheese • bacon • ranch • chives

Crispy Chicken Wings
truffled black garlic glaze • habanero cheese curds • goat cheese vin

Simple Salad
mixed greens • grape tomatoes • red onion • pine nuts • shaved pecorino • lemon vin

Mushroom Veloute
wild mushroom soup • evoo • micro greens

Entree

Bacon Mac n Cheese & Fried Chicken
4 cheese “mac” sauce • bacon • cheez-it/panko crumble • buttermilk fried chicken

D Bar Burger
gold canyon ground chuck • bacon • cheddar-pepper jack cheese • a-1 aioli • crispy onions • lettuce & tomato • parm fries

Grilled Salmon Salad
spinach • chickpeas • red onion • grape tomato • cucumber • grilled carrots • feta • basil harissa dressing

Creme Fraiche Risotto
roasted butternut squash • grana padano • arugula • pepita & apple vin

Pork Secreto
pan roasted kurobuta pork • fennel puree • blue cheese gougere

Grilled Gold Canyon Sirloin Cap
herb roasted fingerlings • baby carrots • chimichurri • bernaise

Pre Dessert

“Tropical Vacation”
coconut • almond • pineapple • passion fruit

Dessert

Cake n Shake
3 layer chocolate cake • madagascar chocolate frosting • chocolate, vanilla or raspberry shake

Creme Brûlée
classic vanilla bean custard • orange almond biscotti • fresh berries

Ch Ch Ch Churros
cinnamon sugar churros • caramel sauce • vanilla ice cream

Milk & Cookies
chocolate chunk • snickerdoodle • peanut butter • oatmeal raisin • ice cold glass of milk

Molten Cake Thingy That Everyone Has… Except Our’s Is Gluten Free
64% criollo chocolate lava cake • macerated raspberries • chocolate sauce • dentelle • pistachio ice cream

American Dream
funfetti cake • mini sundae • frosted egg beater

“My Name Is Earl”
earl grey mousse • earl grey shortbread • blood orange curd • earl grey micro sponge • blood orange segments • blood orange sherbet

“Gian-Du-Ya Like Passion Fruit”
ginaduja ganache • passion fruit curd • passion clusters • bruleed bananas • banana passion sorbet

Float
choice of mexican coke or root beer • vanilla ice cream • chantilly


IL POSTO

Menu Price: $35. Il Posto offers a truly cosmopolitan experience in a vibrant, hip space. Glance into the open air kitchen as Milanese chef/owner Andrea Frizzi prepares dishes inspired from Northern Italy and the resident sommelier ensures the perfect compliment for your meal. The ever-changing menu features local organic produce and meats with seafood flown in daily.

Assaggini

Choice Of:

Insalata
watercress, jerez vinaigrette, winter citrus, walnut, piave

Calamari
anchovies, ciabatta, parsley, garlic, capers, san marzano, shishito peppers, broccolini

Tartare*
beef tartare, pickled mustard seed, caper, egg yolk emulsion, crostini

Zuppa
butternut squash, spiced pepita, goat cheese, crispy leek, maple gastrique

Primi

Choice Of:

Pappardelle
berkshire pork, marjoram ragu, oyster mushrooms, grana

Spaghetti
lemon, parsley, olive, white anchovy

Orecchiette
maitake, brussels sprouts, garlic, parma butter

Secondi

Choice Of:

Risotto
degustation of squash, sottocenere al tartufo, tarragon

Maiale
pork cheeks, white polenta, cipollini onion, delicata squash, rapini

Capesante
sea scallop, yam puree, heirloom carrot, charred leek, crispy kale

wine pairing +$25

Girl’s night, date night or family night… this is the perfect opportunity to go try someplace new!