Prairie Fare: Take the Arctic Cold Quiz

“These blocks would be great for snow forts,” I thought to myself.

When I was a little kid, I would have been wearing knee-high boots lined with bread bags as we built snow forts. All of the moms used the bread bag trick to help prevent our tender feet from getting wet and cold from leaking boots.

Back then, my mittens were attached with strings to keep them inside my coat. I was not exactly a fashionista back in the day. Actually, I was not looking very fashionable on this particular day, either.

I probably need to attach strings to my mittens because I keep misplacing them.

I was trying to distract myself from a difficult job as I took a trip down memory lane. I had cleared the driveway the previous evening.

A brisk wind had blown thick drifts onto our driveway during the night, and sub-zero temperatures had frozen the drifts into an impenetrable wall of snow. I was using an ice chipper to cut large blocks of snow and ice from my driveway. I cut large chunks then I carried them to the side of the driveway. A snow shovel would not pierce the snow, and a snowblower did nothing but cement the snow drift in place. My eyelashes had become miniature icicles so I went inside.

As the recent temperatures dipped to be minus 20 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, we were experiencing the extreme cold of January weather, which newscasters  called an “arctic plunge.” 

Let’s try an “Arctic Cold Quiz” to see if you have been paying attention to all the news alerts about dangerous cold weather. We have plenty of winter left, after all.

1. How far apart should a space heater be placed from fabric that could ignite, such as bedding, drapes or furniture?
2. In electricity outages, what is the danger posed by using camp stoves, grills or generators in a garage?
3. How much clean water per person should be on hand in a winter survival kit?
4. What types of foods should you keep in a winter survival kit for use at home?
5. Why should you allow water to drip in sinks during extreme cold?
6. What groups of people are particularly at risk of health issues when sleeping in cold rooms?
7. Name two types of beverages that should be avoided because they may cause your body to lose heat more rapidly.
8. What existing health conditions are particularly worrisome when you remove snow in the extreme cold?
9. What term refers to an abnormally low body temperature?
10. What term refers to an injury to the body that causes loss of feeling and color and commonly affects the ears, nose, cheeks, fingers and toes?

These are the answers, based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines:

1. Keep space heaters at least 3 feet (36 inches) away from materials that could catch on fire.
2. Generators, grills and similar items can emit carbon monoxide gas, which can be deadly. These items should be used in well ventilated areas.
3. Allow 5 gallons of water per person in a winter survival kit if water pipes freeze.
4. Keep nonperishable food on hand that does not require cooking, such as bread, crackers, cereal and dried fruit and dried meat such as jerky.
5. A slow drip of water can help prevent pipes from freezing.
6. Infants and older adults are particularly vulnerable to low temperatures.
7. Caffeinated and alcohol-containing beverages should be avoided in extreme weather conditions. Warm beverages such as herbal tea or cocoa will do a better job of warming you.
8. High blood pressure and heart disease could lead to sudden heart attacks during snow shoveling.
9. Hypothermia means your body is losing heat faster than it is being produced. It is more common in extreme cold but it can happen when a person gets chilled from rain, perspiration or falling in water, even when temperatures are above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Look for shivering, exhaustion, drowsiness and red cold skin. Move the person to a warm area, remove wet clothing and cover with blankets. Get medical help.
10. Frostbite can be very serious. Move the person to a warm area. Feet or hands can be submerged in warm, not hot, water. Avoid having the person walk on frostbitten feet. Seek medical help.

After my snowy experience was over, I was ready for some comfort food. We have been living on various types of soups, hot dishes and stews all month, so I decided a warming dessert was in order. This recipe is very similar to one I enjoyed as a child.

I had plenty of bread and eggs on hand. I added some chocolate chips, even though raisins or dried cranberries would have been healthier and tasty with some added cinnamon in the milk mixture. After cutting those ice blocks, I figured I deserved the extra calories.

Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding  

2 cups low-fat or fat-free milk
4 tablespoons butter
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
7 slices soft bread (wheat or white), cut in cubes or torn into small pieces
1/3 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a sauce pan, heat milk and butter until the butter has melted.  In a separate large bowl, mix eggs, sugar and a pinch of salt. Add the bread cubes and mix to coat. Pour milk and melted butter mixture over the bread cubes and stir gently to combine. Pour into a casserole sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle chocolate chips over the top. Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes, until a knife comes out clean. Serve warm.

Makes eight servings. Each serving has 230 calories, 9 grams (g) fat, 7 g protein, 31 g carbohydrate and 230 milligrams sodium.

(Julie Garden-Robinson, Ph.D., R.D., L.R.D., is a North Dakota State University Extension food and nutrition specialist and professor in the Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences.)

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Jan. 23, 2025

Source: Julie Garden-Robinson, 701-231-7187, julie.garden-robinson@ndsu.edu

Editor: Dominic Erickson, 701-231-5546, dominic.erickson@ndsu.edu