a peek inside the fishbowl

When I was about 8 years old I wanted nothing more than my own Snoopy Sno-Cone machine. The very idea of being able to make my own frozen treats was nothing less than TOTALLY AMAZING. (ETA: I just realized that Chapters carries the Snoopy Sno-Cone machine!)

Sadly, I never got one of my own sno’ cone makers, so these frozen treats were very rare around our place.

Great news!
Now that I’m old enough to operate a blender I can crush ice and make my own!

I made these at my in-laws place the other day. I’m still figuring out how to make get the ice nice and slushy without being too chunky or watery. Next time I make these I think I’m going to let the ice chips sit for awhile before I whiz them up in the blender. Maybe it’s a temperature thing?

First, make the syrup.

• Pour two cups of sugar and 3/4 cups of water into a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in onepackage of unsweetened flavoured drink mix. (We chose cherry.)
• Let cool.

Your syrup will be very syrupy! Transfer to squeeze bottles (if you have them) and keep it in the fridge.

Now for the ice (I’m still tinkering with this part)

1. Pour 1-2 cups of ice chips into a blender. Add about 1 1/2 cups of cold water.
2. Blend the ice until it is completely crushed. Most of it will be smooth. If there is too much liquid, add more ice, and keep blending.
3. Remove larger chunks if any remain. Scoop out the crushed ice with a slotted spoon and transfer to small glasses or bowls.
4. Top with snow cone syrup and serve right away.

Enjoy! And let me know how yours turn out!

I am typing this in the comfort of my bed, where I have just collapsed in a big heap after a long day of writing, rain, writing, and more rain.

I spent much of the morning fighting traffic to get to a pirate ship … but more about that later. I have a SavvyMom piece coming out about it and don’t want to scoop myself. :)

It’s time to relax. I am about to hunker down with some juicy historical fiction, but I was just wondering, what are you reading right now?

Care to flip to where you left off and share a line?

Mine:

“Bonaparte’s handwriting is as impassioned as his words, which are ardent and tender.” (from Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe by Sandra Gulland.) :)

Perfect summer reading! Now your turn.

— Posted from my iPhone

There is nothing, absolutely nothing in this world, that is cuter than a baby bunny.

Not kittens.
Not puppies.
Not baby seals.

No. Sorry. Nothing.Is.Cuter.

This one has been munching on the clover on our front lawn.

He let me take a couple of photos before he scurried away into the shadow of the hostas, ears twitching and white tail held high.