February is traditionally the coldest and most snowy month in Pennsylvania. Since there isn’t much going on and not many places to go, a lot of people are going stir-crazy! Here is a list of things that you might be able to do in the warmth of your home.

Food & Drinks

Comfort food or a hot drink are both great ways to warm up.

Make Chili

Chili is a great dinner on those extra cold days. Here’s a great recipe to use.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion – diced
• 4 cloves garlic – minced
• 1 pound 90% lean ground beef
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 tablespoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon cilantro
• 1 jalapeno – seeded and finely diced
• 1 (15 oz.) can petite diced tomatoes
• 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 (16 oz.) can red kidney beans – drained and rinsed
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 green bell pepper – seeded and diced
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

 

Instructions

1. Add olive oil to a large pot and place it on medium-high heat until the oil has warmed up. Add the diced onion and let cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the minced garlic and let cook for 2 minutes, again stirring occasionally.
2. Add the ground beef and help it break apart with the spoon. Cook until the beef is browned.
3. Add the diced jalapeno and seasonings (salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, and cilantro). Stir until combined.
4. Add the diced tomatoes with the juices and let simmer for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, red kidney beans, beef broth, green bell pepper, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Stir until combined and reduce the heat to medium-low.
5. Let the chili simmer for 20 or more minutes and stir occasionally. The longer it simmers the better.
6. Serve!

 

Make Homemade Broccoli, Cheese, & Potato Soup

Nothing is better than a warm, filling bowl of soup when snow is coming down.

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter
• 1 medium yellow onion – chopped
• 2 cloves garlic – minced
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon cilantro
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 3 cups whole milk
• 3 large white potatoes cubed, about 4 cups
• 6 cups broccoli florets – chopped into small pieces
• 1 pack of bacon – cooked (optional)
• 3 cups shredded medium cheddar cheese
• 1 cup of shredded American cheese (or 2 slices)

 

Instructions

1. In a large pot, melt the butter on low heat. Add the onion and garlic and allow to simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Add the flour and seasonings (salt, ground pepper, garlic powder, cilantro, and paprika). Wisk or stir together until smooth.
3. Mix in the chicken broth and milk until combined.
4. Add the potatoes and set the heat to high until it comes to a boil. Once it is boiling, cover and cook on medium-low until potatoes are soft which should take about 10 minutes.
5. Add the broccoli and let simmer for about 5 minutes.
6. Add the cheddar cheese, American cheese, and bacon (if wanted) and stir well.
7. Allow cheese to melt and serve.

 

Bake Some Chocolate Chip Cookies

Fresh, warm chocolate chip cookies can’t be beaten!

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 ½ cup salted butter – softened
• 1 cup white (granulated) sugar
• 1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and line a baking pan with parchment paper for later.
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, blend together with butter and sugars until combined.
4. Beat in eggs and vanilla until the mixture is fluffy.
5. Mix in the dry ingredients until they are combined well.
6. Add chocolate chips and mix.
7. Use a tablespoon to create balls of cookie dough and place on the baking pan.
8. Bake for about 8-10 minutes.
9. Let them sit for 2 minutes before placing them onto a cooling rack and enjoy!

Make Specialty Cinnamon Spice Coffee

Coffee is a great way to warm up, but specialty coffee is much better.

Ingredients

• 2 big scoops, decaf or regular coffee grounds
• ½ cup milk
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ tablespoon light brown sugar
• 1 pinch of ground nutmeg

Instructions

1. Make the coffee as usual (coffee maker, Keurig, etc.)
2. While the coffee is being made, mix the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and milk in a microwave-safe bowl.
3. Heat the milk mixture up in the microwave for 30 seconds. Once it is done in the microwave froth it for 30 seconds.
4. Pour the coffee into a mug, add the frothed mixture, and top with cinnamon.

Crafts

If you don’t like the cold, these crafts can be a great way to stay entertained and warm.

Start a Scrapbook

Starting a scrapbook can be a great way to relive memories and make them last forever. You will need an album, patterned paper and/or card stock, acid-free adhesive (tape runner and/or liquid), minimal embellishments and/or stickers, paper trimmer and/or sharp scissors, photos, and page protectors/album. Here are some ideas to get you started!

Photo Family Tree

For this craft, you will need a shadow box, a large piece of paper that will fit into the shadow box, watercolor or acrylic paint, mini clothespins, hot glue, and family photos. Start by lightly drawing a tree shape on the paper and paint it in. Glue the clothespins onto parts of the tree. When the glue is dry, clip the photos onto the tree and put into the shadow box.

Card Coasters

Turn your holiday greeting cards into coasters that you can use all year long. You will need greeting cards, mod podge, small tiles, and a sheet or sheets of adhesive cork. First, cut the cards into the shape of the tile and mod podge them onto the coaster. Allow them to dry. Then cut the cork to the size of the tile and apply the cork to the back of the tile.

No-Sew Fleece Blanket

To make a no-sew fleece blanket is easy to make and doesn’t require a lot. All that is needed are scissors and two large pieces of fabric (whatever size you want, but both the same size). A print/designed fleece fabric and a solid colored fabric are the best. Line up the two pieces of fabric on top of each other and make sure they are the same size. Keep them on top of each other. On each of the four corners, cut a 5-inch square. On each side of the blanket, cut fringe a little wider than the width of your finger and about 5 inches in from the edge. Leaving the fabric on the flat surface, start tying the fringes from any corner, go around until it is all tied up, and you have a blanket!

This year traditions have been broken, technology has become even more relevant, and staying at home has been the new normal. For this New Year’s Eve, many traditions are going to be broken. Whether your New Year’s Traditions are going to Time Square in New York, seeing live music, going to your favorite bar or restaurant, or celebrating at a family member’s or friend’s house. This is the year for new traditions!

New Year’s Traditions

Friends and Family Virtual Celebration

Since it isn’t safe to get together this year, invite your family and/or friends to virtually celebrate the New Year! There are so many options for virtual celebrations. Google Hangouts is a free smartphone app or a Google Chrome extension. Zoom is normally used in business settings, but can also be used for personal video calls. There is a free option to use Zoom, but there is a 40-minute time limit. Skype, HouseParty, and Facebook Watch Party are all great options for video calls. Is there a movie that you and your best friend just have to watch together? There are so many other options that we haven’t mentioned here, but these are some useful links to socially distance yourself while still celebrating with your friends and family.

Have an Appetizer Cook-Off

An appetizer cook-off can be a fun way to celebrate with the people you live with. Everyone can make an appetizer and vote on which appetizer is the best.

Watch Movies All Night Long

Ring in the new year with a night of movies or binge-watching shows. If you want to include friends or family outside of your home, you can use Teleparty. It can connect to Netflix, Disney, Hulu, and HBO. While using Teleparty, it will synchronize video playback on your device and your friends while adding a group chat, so you can talk about the movie or show.

Make a Scrapbook or Memory Jar

What a year to remember! While you’re staying safe and healthy at home this New Year’s Eve, you can make a scrapbook or memory jar of things that happened this year. Don’t forget to throw some toilet paper and a mask into that scrapbook or memory jar!

Make a Vision Board

What are your goals for this year? A vision board is a great way to stay focused on your goals throughout the year. Print out pictures and words that relate to your goals for 2021 and glue them onto a board. Hang the board up somewhere that you will see it daily to remind you of your goals.

Play Games

Play board games or card games with your family until the ball drops. Another option is to virtually play games with friends and family through different apps or on PlayingCards.io. This site has checkers, chess, crazy eights, backgammon, 500, cribbage, escoba, euchre, go fish, hearts, joking hazard, match up, and trail by trolley.

Livestream a Concert

There are tons of virtual concerts that are being hosted on New Year’s Eve. Here are just a few virtual New Year’s Eve concerts!

Justin Bieber

Bud Light Seltzer Sessions Presents New Year’s Eve 2021 featuring Post Malone, Steve Aoki, Jack Harlow and more

Alabama will team up with Camping World®

Pink Martini’s “Good Riddance 2020”

Snoop Dogg’s Virtual New Year’s Eve Special featuring Snoop Dogg, Jennifer Nettles, Rosario Dawson and more with DJ Cassidy and others provide the music

Mamma’s Choice featuring Melissa Etheridge

KISS 2020 Goodbye featuring Kiss

Outdoor Neighborhood Socially Distanced celebration

Call your neighbors and plan a time to go outside. You can all go on your front porches or decks to celebrate from a distance. Fireworks can be involved to make the celebration even better!

New Year’s Scavenger Hunt

This can be a very fun activity for the kids! Set up clues around the house that lead to a small prize. The clues can be related to the events of 2020.

New Year’s Traditions for Luck

This New Year, we need all the luck we can get! Here are some things to do or wear that supposedly bring you luck for the new year.

New Year’s Lucky Colors

Wearing certain colors on New Year’s is supposed to bring good luck. For example, Green might be the one we all wear which will bring good health in the new year. If you wear yellow,  it should help with your financial troubles. Orange is for wisdom and purple is for professional success. Red is for love and blue is for peace. In Brazil, it is said that wearing all white will also bring you peace and good luck in the new year.

Jump Into 2020

Jumping into the new year is a lucky tradition in Denmark. When midnight comes around, it is considered good luck to jump off of a chair.

Smash the Peppermint Pig

Upstate New York has a New Year’s tradition where everyone gets a turn hitting a peppermint pig until they get a small piece to eat. Eating a piece of the peppermint pig is supposed to give you good fortune for the upcoming year.

Buy a New Lucky Charm

Buying a new lucky charm is supposed to bring good fortune for the new year. In Germany and Austria, some lucky symbols are pigs, mushrooms, clovers, and chimney sweeps.

Open the Doors and Windows

Just before midnight open the doors and windows. The superstition is that the old year will move out and the new year will be welcomed into your home.

Make Some Noise

Lighting fireworks and using noisemakers at midnight is a fun tradition. It actually came from a superstition that making noise at midnight should scare evil spirits and omens away.

Cookies are always a great present or dish to bring to any holiday party. They’re great even just for the family. Here are 11 fantastic cookie recipes! You could even pair the cookies with some great holiday drinks.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep: 25 mins

Bake: 8 mins at 375° per batch

Yield: ~60 cookies

Ingredients

½ cup shortening

½ cup butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

½ teaspoon baking soda

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1, package (12 ounce) semisweet chocolate pieces

1 ½ cups chopped walnuts, pecans, or hazelnuts (optional)

Directions

Step 1

In a big blending, bowl beat the shortening and butter with an electric blender on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add packed brown sugar, granulated sugar, and baking soda. Beat until fully mixed together, scraping the sides of the bowl every so often. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, mix in any leftover flour. Mix in chocolate pieces and, if desired, nuts.

Step 2

Drop mixture by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

Step 3

Bake in a 375° F oven for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.

Coconut Macaroons

Prep: 10 min.

Bake: 20 min. at 325° per batch

Yield: ~12 cookies

Ingredients

1-⅓ cups sweetened shredded coconut

⅓ cup sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

⅛ teaspoon salt

2 large egg whites, room temperature

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Step 1

In a small bowl, combine the coconut, sugar, flour, and salt. Add egg whites and vanilla; mix well.

Step 2

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 325° for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

Molasses Cookies

Prep: 30 min.

Bake: 15 min. at 350° per batch

Yields: ~24 cookies

Ingredients

1 ½ cups butter, softened

2 cups sugar

2 large eggs, room temperature

½ cup molasses

4 ½ cups all-purpose flour

4 teaspoons ground ginger

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ cup chopped pecans

¾ cup coarse sugar

Directions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and molasses. Combine the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Fold in pecans.

Step 2

Shape into 2-in. balls and roll in coarse sugar. Place 2-1/2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 13-15 minutes or until tops are cracked. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Sugar Cookies

Prep: 30 mins

Bake: 12 mins at 300° per batch

Yield: ~48 cookies

Ingredients

½ cup butter, softened

½ cup shortening

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

⅛ teaspoon salt

3 egg yolks

½ teaspoon vanilla

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

Directions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Beat mixture until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour.

Step 2

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place balls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Step 3

Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 14 minutes or until edges are set; do not let edges brown. Cool cookies for 1 minute on a cookie sheet. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool.

Snickerdoodles

Prep: 30 mins

Bake: 10 mins at 375° per batch

Yield: ~48 cookies

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened

1 ½ cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

¼ teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups all-purpose flour

¼ cup sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add 1-1/2 cups sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour. Cover and chill dough about 1 hour or until easy to handle.

Step 2

Preheat oven to 375°F. In a small bowl combine 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon. Shape dough into 1-1/4-inch balls. Roll balls in cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat. Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Step 3

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until bottoms are light brown. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; cool.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Prep: 30 mins

Bake: 8 mins at 350° per batch

Yield: ~72 Cookies

Ingredients

 1 cup butter, softened

1 ½ cups packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

3 cups regular or quick-cooking rolled oats

1 cup raisins

Directions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. Stir in oats and raisins.

Step 2

Drop dough by rounded teaspoons or tablespoons 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Or drop dough using a cookie scoop or 1/4-cup measure 3 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Step 3

Bake in the preheated oven for about 8 minutes for spoon-size portions (bake about 12 minutes for cookie-scoop or 1/4-cup portions) or until edges are light brown and centers appear set. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; cool completely.

Peanut Butter Cookies

Prep: 15 mins

Bake: 7-9 mins at 375° per batch

Yield: ~54 cookies

Ingredients

1 cup peanut butter

½ cup butter, softened

½ cup shortening

½ cup granulated sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

Granulated sugar

Directions

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl beat peanut butter, butter, and shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, and baking powder. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. If necessary, cover and chill dough for about 1 hour or until easy to handle.

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Roll balls in additional granulated sugar to coat. Place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Using the tines of a fork, flatten balls by making crisscross marks on top. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until the bottoms are light brown. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.

Ginger Cookies

Prep: 40 mins

Bake: 12-14 mins at 350° per batch

Yield: ~25 cookies

Ingredients

4 ½ cups all-purpose flour

4 teaspoons of ground ginger

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

¼ teaspoon salt

1 ½ cups shortening

2 cups granulated sugar

2 eggs

½ cup molasses

¾ cup coarse sugar or granulated sugar

Directions

Step 1

In a medium mixing bowl stir together flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt; set aside.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl beat shortening with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds to soften. Gradually add the 2 cups of granulated sugar. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs and molasses. Beat in as much of the flour mixture as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour mixture.

Step 3

Shape dough into 2-inch balls using 1/4 cup dough. Roll balls in the 3/4 cup of coarse or granulated sugar. Place about 2-1/2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Step 4

Bake in a 350-degree F oven for 12 to 14 minutes or until cookies are light brown and puffed. (Do not overbake or cookies will not be chewy.) Cool on a cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Store in a tightly covered container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Makes twenty-five (25) 4-inch cookies.

Chocolate Crinkles

Prep: 1 hr

Bake: 8-10 mins per batch at 350°

Yield: ~36 large cookies

Ingredients

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped

1 ¾ cups granulated sugar

½ cup shortening

¼ cup butter

3 eggs, lightly beaten

2 teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour

¼ cup granulated sugar

⅔ cup powdered sugar

Directions

Step 1

In a 1-qt. saucepan cook and stir chocolate, shortening, and butter over low heat until melted. Cool.

Step 2

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease cookie sheets. In a large bowl, combine eggs, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally.

Step 3

Stir in melted chocolate mixture and vanilla. Then gradually stir in flour and cocoa powder.

Step 4

Shape dough into 1 1/2-inch balls. Roll balls in 1/4 cup granulated sugar, then in powdered sugar to coat.

Step 5

Place balls 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or just until edges are firm and cracks appear slightly moist. Cool on cookie sheets 2 minutes. Remove; cool on wire racks. (Cookies will deflate slightly upon cooling.) Makes about 36 cookies.