Got Snow? Throw a Sledding Party!

January 8th, 2010 · Comments Off

Yesterday and today we got a load of new snow here around Chicago. While the kids were bummed that they didn’t call a Snow Day, they were excited about the idea of throwing a sledding party this weekend. If you’ve got snow in your neck of the woods, and according to the Weather Channel most of you do, why not throw one yourself?

It’s not too late, so call your friends, family and neighbors and get something planned for this weekend. Here are some ideas to plan the party and have some outdoorsy, family fun.

1. Pick a Hill. If you aren’t sure where to go sledding in your area, check http://www.sledriding.com/ for a list of sledding locations by zip code. Invite everyone to meet at your house or at the hill.

2. Sleds. Encourage your guests to bring their own sleds but you will probably need a few extras on hand in case someone forgets or someone has a dud for a sled. (Nothing is more sad than a slow sled.) Ask your neighbors if you can borrow a few of theirs or watch the sales flyers to see if any local stores have put them on sale. (Tip: We like to use non-stick cooking spray on the bottom of our sleds for extra high speed. We’re crazy that way.)

3. Warm-up Essentials. You may want to bring extra clothing items in case someone forgets their mittens, or if you have to replace water-soaked socks. Kids lip balm and a first aid kit would also be handy.

4. Apres-Sled Snacking. After sledding, you will want to invite your guests back to the house for some warm-up treats. Some ideas for a simple and easy snack menu include:

Chocolate Fondue – Need a recipe?

Cheese Fondue

Hot Pretzels and mustard or cheese dip (You can buy them in the freezer section of the grocery store.)

Carrot noses with snowman dip (baby carrots with ranch dressing)

Cheese and crackers with the cheese cut into shapes using snowflake or sled cookie cutters

Hot Chocolate Buffet – Create a hot chocolate buffet with different mixings such as peppermint chips, whipped cream, marshmallows, cinnamon, butterscotch, caramel, and chocolate sprinkles. For the adults, we like to add Butterscotch, Hot Shots, Crème de Banana and Peppermint Schnapps to our hot chocolate.

5. Spice up the Fun. When the kids get tired of just going up and down the hill, try starting a “Dog Sled Race.” If you have some fun loving adults in the crowd, set up teams and have two adult “dogs” pull a sled full of kids. Race to see which “dog” is the fastest.

If you have a sledding party this weekend, come back and tell us about it. Send us your photos at sue@chocolatecakemoments.com and we’ll publish them in a future post.