Snow Day Activities and Grandma’s Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe
Don’t start wishing away the freezing weather and falling snow just yet! The cold temps and piles of ice and snow may be starting to wear on you, but we have some fun ideas for kid-friendly activities that’ll help your family beat boredom on a cold day. Plus, we’re sharing a classic family recipe that’s perfect for a day spent stuck inside.
For Emery, South Dakota farmers Josh and Kara Kayser keeping their four young kids entertained is the key to an enjoyable winter day at home. One of their family’s favorite things to do is create fun “snow art” with food coloring.
“The kids will brave the cold temperatures outside and scoop up a big bowl of snow,” said Josh/Kara. “They love using different food colorings to make their own unique artwork in the snow. It’s an easy and fun activity they only get to do in the snowy months.”
Another activity the Kaysers love is playing board games, like Monopoly® or Farkle®, to pass the hours and enjoy some family time.
For Josh, a fifth-generation farmer, it’s also fun when his kids ask to watch farm videos on YouTube or play with their farm toys.
“It’s exciting to see them take an interest in what we do on a daily basis. Introducing them to our world is a privilege, and it’d be great to see our family farming tradition continue on to the sixth generation when our kids grow up,” said Josh.
When the kids are worn out from playing all day, a favorite for the whole family is making some of Kara’s grandma’s classic peanut butter cookies.
“Since we grow soybeans on our farm, this recipe gives us a chance to make the connection with our kids about how the crops we grow here make it to the table,” said Kara. “I talk to the older kids about how dairy cows need food that’s rich in protein to grow strong and healthy, so the protein-packed soybeans we grow are an important part of their diet. This helps them produce the milk we use to make these delicious cookies.”
“Getting the kids into the kitchen is a great way to connect to where our food comes from and make lasting memories. My kids love pushing the fork into the tops of the cookies to make the signature crisscross designs, just like I did as a kid making these cookies with my grandmother.”
Make your own special memories and try out the recipe with your family on your next snow day.
If you have some of your own family snow day traditions, let us know in the comments!
Grandma’s Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F.
- Combine the peanut butter, shortening, brown sugar, milk and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat at medium speed until well blended.
- Add one egg and beat until just blended.
- Combine flour, baking soda and salt, and then add to the mixture at low speed. Mix until just blended.
- Use a tablespoon to drop scoops of the mixture 2 inches apart onto a greased baking sheet.
- Bake for 7 to 8 minutes, or until just beginning to brown. Cool on baking sheet.
- Use a fork and press into the cookies to create the signature crisscross design.
