What really matters... Number Five

Staying healthy will really help everything.  Eating right, keeping off the extra weight and exercising will make a huge difference in your life and your family's life.  Exercise should be fun... so pick something you enjoy doing and then go do it. 

What's your favorite way to exercise?

What really matters... Number Four

Quality time vs. Quantity time.  This debate has been going on for a long time.  I think that quality and quanity time with the family are equally important.  Quality time moments cannot be scripted or forced.  Sometimes the most well planned event is a total flop and sometimes a silly spontanous moment of fun just happens.

Planning quality time is important as it signals that you care enough to plan a cool outing or event.  Quality time often makes some special memories.

Quantity time is when you usually have those important conservations with the kids.  Quantity time lets things flow in their own good time... maybe late at night or in the car but it is important to be there. 

What's your favorite way to spend time with your family?

What really matters... Number Three

The family dinner is a precious moment that we take for granted.  This is the time that we can gather after a busy day and share  prayers,  thoughts, encouragement , and  a laugh.  It is so easy to dismiss this as unimportant.  Busy evenings, sports schedules and all manner of good things can push the family dinner to the side.  I am going to work on making this a priority in our family life.

What's your family's favorite meal?

Villa Louis picnic class

Sugar Cookies

This old family favorite evokes memories of my grandma, Clara, baking cookies on frosty-cold winter mornings up north.

1 C butter
2 C sugar
1 C sour cream
1 tsp baking soda
3 eggs
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp salt
5-1/4 C flour (about)

Cream the butter and sugar.  Add sour cream with soda dissolved in it.  Add well-beaten eggs.  Add baking powder and vanilla extract.  Add flour.  Mix well.  Roll out on waxed paper.  Cut out cookies with a round cutter.  Sprinkle with sugar.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Alternate:  If you plan to frost the sugar cookies, omit sprinkling sugar on the cookies before baking.

Homemade Ice Cream

For each person you will need:
1 quart size zip-lock bag
2 gallon size zip-lock bags
Ice (lots)
Rock salt
...and the recipe below:

Mix together:
2 quarts of whole milk
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of cream
2 teaspoons of vanilla
1 can Eagle Brand (the optional secret ingredient)

Pour 2 cups of the above mixture into a quart size freezer zip-lock bag. Seal tightly and squeeze out as much air as possible. Place this bag into gallon size zip-lock bag. Seal tightly and squeeze out as much air as possible. Place these two bags into another gallon size zip-lock bag. Fill this outer bag three quarters of the way with crushed ice. Sprinkle lots of rock salt over the ice and seal the ice bag tightly squeezing out as much air as possible. Wear mittens and shake the bag till your ice cream gets solid. Eat immediately! Enjoy!