Snow isn't the only Puffy Fluffy White Thing to Celebrate this Season

Snow isn't the only Puffy Fluffy White Thing
to Celebrate this Season

by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas--but not for the same reason other people dream. I know snow looks pretty and is fun to ski and sled on --but I like other soft fluffy puffy things that aren't freezing (note: this was written the night before I left for Beaver Creek Colorado, where the weather reports proudly boasted of fresh snow. I am worried about freezing and drinking hot cocoa in anticipation)

Here are a few of my favorite fluffy, puffy things:

PLUSH PUFFS GOURMET MARSHMALLOWS

These addictive little gourmet marshmallows are what inspired me to write this story (I write best when I am well-fed) My favorite flavor is the Sydney's Cinnamon All-Natural Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows. They spice up your cocoa, coffee, and taste buds all at once. And like all Plush Puffs, they're equally yummy right out of the package.

And something this light and airy couldn't possibly stick to your hips. It must just melt away like the snow.

www.plushpuffs.com

WARM AND CUDDLY AND FLUFFY

A nice white fluffy t-shirt with a special Mele Kalikimaka cat from Crazy Shirts . The Antler Cat T-shirt is one of many original Kliban Cat designs. printed on soft, 100% cotton white Crew Neck T-shirts and sold exclusively at Crazy Shirts. the Antler Cat is a holiday classic. Price: $23

It's available on line, but the best place to pick it up is in Hawaii at Ala Moana, International Market Place and Pearlridge Crazy Shirts stores . Lots of soft white sand, no snow.

Antler Cat T-shirt:

www.crazyshirts.com.

TRIPLE TREAT WHITE FLUFFY

Zermatt Resort and Spa in Midway, Utah is celebrating the holiday season with a twelve-day Swissmas Celebration. Located near Salt Lake City, in one of the best ski areas in Utah, Zermatt will have plenty of fluffy, white stuff this holiday season! Every evening during its Swissmas Celebration, December 21 through January 1st, Zermatt Resort and

Spa guests will be treated to a festive Marshmallow Roast, outside on the heated patio next to the antique European Carousel, overlooking snow-covered hills and mountains. And, guests who visit the Zermatt Spa luxuriate in fluffy white micro-chenille robes and throws from Barefoot Dreams.

866-937-6288

www.zermatt.dolce.com.

FLUFFY VANILLA GELATO THAT MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH.

Normally I am a chocolate girl. But on a recent trip to Beaver Creek Lodge, I wandered into a new chocolate shop called Rimini. The shop window was decorated with spun sugar creations. Inside, the chocolates were displayed so beautifully they looked like jewels. It had the sleek polish that you expect in Beaver Creek and the offerings reflect the discriminating palates of the patrons.

Everyone was talking about the gelatos, so I decided to try some. Actually, in the spirit of research, I tried all of them. And the vanilla, made with the best vanilla extract in the world,--Nielson-Massey, was a new sensation in my mouth. Created fresh every morning by a pastry chef, the gelatos are each garnished with the fruits and nuts or flavors they are created from.

www.riminigelato.com

970-476-1712

REST YOUR WEARY HEAD ON SOMETHING AS LIGHT AS A CLOUD

Cloud Pillows by W HOTELS. The standard in all W Hotels, hypoallergenic white goose-down blend provides firm support within a super-soft 230-thread-count leak proof cambric cover. 50% white goose down, 50% white goose feather. Euro-square pillow is a blend of 95% feather, 5% white goose down.
STANDARD $58 KING $82 EURO $38

TOP IT OFF WITH A MOUNTAIN OF WHIPPED CREAM

While it may not snow in Hawaii, except perhaps on the top of Mauna Kea on the Big Island which is visible from sunbathed oceanfront resorts at its base, there certainly are exciting "white" creations to be found, especially if you dine at Ruth's Chris Steak House. As guests statewide have learned at the newest location, in the beautiful Waikiki Beach Walk project on Lewers Street. One of its most popular items being the Fresh Seasonal Berries with Sweet Cream Sauce.

Guests enjoy a mound of fresh raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and strawberries depending on the time of year, topped with a delicious white cream with just the right amount of sweetness to make it the ideal ending to a "prime" meal.

THIS WHITE CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE HAS NO CALORIES

At Lakeway Resort and Spa and they have a white chocolate soufflé body wrap. The white chocolate soufflé product is heated for an hour prior to the service to ensure warmth. The guest receives a body brush before the product is applied. Once applied, the guest is wrapped in plastic, towels and a thermal blanket (layered in that order). While the client is wrapped they will receive a scalp massage. After 20 minutes, the guest is unwrapped and takes a shower. After the shower, body butter is applied to the legs, arms, decollate and back.

http://www.lakeway.dolce.com/

MAKE YOUR OWN WHITE CHRISTMAS TREAT

I tasted this wonderful dish while visiting Beaver Creek Lodge and it will be a favorite flavor memory. This dessert is delicious even if you are not eating it on top of a snow covered mountain
Aaron Bennett, the brilliant chef at Beaver Creek Lodge makes a Citrus panna cotta that melts in your mouth. If you can't get to Beaver Creek Lodge make this at home.

Chef Aaron prepares his Citrus panna cotta, to be served with basil scented grapefruit soup, hazelnut tuille, and candied Valencia orange in Rocks restaurant.

www.beavercreeklodge.net

CITRUS PANNA COTTA
YIELD: 12 3 ¼ oz RAMEKINS

540 GRAMS HEAVY CREAM
800 GRAMS BUTTERMILK
6 SHEETS GELATIN (1.5 TB granulated)
200 GRAMS SUGAR
ZEST OF HALF OF EACH: BLOOD ORANGE, ORGANGE, LEMON, LIME
½ VANILLA BEAN

METHOD:
SOAK GELATIN LEAVES IN ICE WATER. SCALD CREAM, SUGAR, VANILLA BEAN AND ZEST. STRAIN THROUGH CHINOISE. SQUEEZE WATER FROM BLOOMED GELATIN LEAVES, ADD BLOOMED GELATIN LEAVES TO HEAVY CREAM. DISSOLVE. ADD HEAVY CREAM MIXTURE TO BUTTERMILK. POUR INTO PLASTIC PITCHER. SPRAY 12- 3 ¼ oz BLACK PLASTIC RAMEKINS WITH VEGELINE. PLACE INTO 200 PAN. POUR MIXTURE INTO RAMEKINS, PLACE INTO REFRIGERATOR AND LET SET FOR 4 HOURS MINIMUM!
TO UNMOLD, POUR URN WATER INTO A SHORT 6 PAN, PLACE RAMEKIN INTO WATER FOR 10 SECONDS, WORK A SMALL SPATULA AROUND EDGES OF PANNA COTTA, TURN OUT INTO SERVICE BOWL.

Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer whose favorite flavor is usually chocolate. But she certainly enjoyed tasting these things for her readers. Read her stories on www.travellady.com , www.carladynews.com , www.chocolateatlas.com , www.cocktailatlas.com , www.coffeeatlas.com www.teaAtlas.com