FamilyLife - Jan/Feb 2021

Valentine's Day Cookies

Colorful home in Melbourne

Year of the Ox

FamilyLife Sweet Valentines

Jan/Feb 2021

Editor's Letter

I'm so happy to say "Hi"!

I always say that summer is my favourite season in Canada, but to be truthful, for those of us who prefer the hot temperatures, spring is really our first love.

Every year I cherish that day in April when I feel the warm kiss of the sun and excitedly anticipate what’s just around the corner: throwing open the windows, smelling the fresh, clean air, ditching my jacket (even if it’s only 10 degrees out) and getting out my opentoed shoes.

When I was Milla’s age, my first job was pumping gas at my best friend’s dad’s gas station in southern Ontario. I spent the rest of my teen years teaching swimming and lifeguarding at the beach in the same small town my husband, Jay, and I returned to when our twin boys, Wyatt and Theo, were born in 2005.

(Our fourth child, Beckett, was born in 2006.)

Which brings me to you, our FamilyLife audience. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you for your loyalty and dedication. I hope under my watch you’ll still find stories in every issue that will inspire and move you — and I promise that my team and I will continue to do everything in our power to make your everyday as extraordinary as we possibly can.

Karine Ewart Editor In-Chief

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Jan/Feb Contents

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ADVICE

ORGANIZE

FEATURES

9 Year of the Ox

23 6 Organizing Pros Share the Simple Everyday Tasks that Help Them Stay Tidy

43 Best Valentine’s Day Movies: For Kids and Parents

15 New Year Fresh Start 19 Getting Happy by Giving Back

27 A Colorful World

FOOD

48 IN EVERY ISSUE 3 Editor's Letter 56 Last Look

48 Heart of Asian Dishes 52 Be My Valentine

ON THE COVER Photography by Parker Feierbach

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FamilyLife EDITOR IN-CHIEF Karine Ewart EXECUTIVE EDITOR Suzanne Moutis CREATIVE DIRECTOR Karen Paddon EDITORIAL OPERATIONS & ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER Olga Goncalves Costa TEST KITCHEN FOOD DIRECTOR Soo Kim SENIOR FOOD ASSOCIATE Stina Diös CONTRIBUTING FOOD SPECIALISTS Donna Borooah, Cara Tegler ART DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Lena Diaz ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Sarah Big Canoe CONTRIBUTING ART DIRECTOR Leanne Gilbert PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Genevieve Pizzale EDITORIAL SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR Megan Howard FEATURES EDITOR Mary Levitski COPY EDITORS Debbie Madsen Villamere, Stephanie Zolis EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Marianne Davidson, Sarah Dziedzic HOME & GARDEN HOME & STYLE DIRECTOR Ann Marie Favot DESIGN EDITOR Morgan Lindsay NATIONAL ACCOUNTS MANAGERS, TORONTO David Lawrence, John McDowell, Nicole Rosen, Roberta Thomson NATIONAL ACCOUNTS MANAGER, MONTREAL Ingrid Barfod NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER, VANCOUVER Renee Wong BRAND OPERATIONS MANAGER Terry Smith

VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE SALES & DIRECTOR, CLIENT SOLUTIONS Brandon Kirk DIRECTOR, MEDIA SALES Mike Lambe ST. JOSEPH COMMUNICATIONS CHAIRMAN & CEO Tony Gagliano VICE CHAIRMAN John Gagliano PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER Ken Hunt VICE PRESDIENT, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY Sean McCluskey EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Sarah Trimble DIRECTOR, LIFESTYLE CONTENT Sasha Emmons DIRECTOR, CONTENT OPERATIONS James Reid DIRECTOR, CIRCULATION Allan Yue MANAGER, CIRCULATION Lisa Rivers DIRECTOR, BRANDED CONTENT, AUDIENCE & EVENTS Nadine Silverthorne PROJECT MANAGER, BRANDED CONTENT Milena Boskovic EXECUTIVE EDITOR, BRANDED CONTENT Meaghan Yuen DESIGNER, BRANDED CONTENT Leo Tapel Family Life is published by St. Joseph Communications, 15 Benton Road, Toronto, M6M 3G2. Contents Copyright 2021 by St. Joseph Communications. may not be reprinted without written permission. Article proposals and manuscripts must be accompanied by self-addressed envelopes and sufficient postage; otherwise they will not be returned or acknowledged.

While the publishers will take all reasonable care, they will not be responsible for the loss of any manuscript, drawing or photograph. ISSN 0128-1839. Single copy price $5.99 + tax. Full subscription prices: Canada, 1 year (6 issues), $15 + tax. In the U.S., 1 year $45 + tax; Other countries $75 + tax, Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index. Printed in Canada. Family Life, it's affiliate and assignees may use, reproduce, publish, distribute, store and archive such as unsolicited submissions in whole or in part in any form or medium whatsoever, without compensate of any sort.

St. Joseph Communications can be reached at 15 Benton Road, Toronto, M6M 3G2

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Advice

Year of the Ox Oxen are the hard workers in the background, intelligent and reliable, but never demanding praise.

By FEFE HO & CHLOE CHIAO

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Advice The Ox is the second of all zodiac animals. According to one myth, the Jade Emperor said the order would be decided by the order in which they arrived to his party. The Ox was about to be the first to arrive, but Rat tricked Ox into giving him a ride. Then, just as they arrived, Rat jumped down and landed ahead of Ox. Thus, Ox became the second animal.

地⽀

Least compatible with Ox: Goat, Horse, Dog The Earthly Branches of Goat and Ox clash strongly.

They can tolerate each other’s differences, but there will always be tension.

The Ox is also associated with the Earthly Branch ( / dì zhī) Chǒu ( ) and the hours 1–3 in the morning. In the terms of yin and yang ( / yīn yáng), the Ox is Yang.

Horses have a free and wild spirit, and may not have a serious attitude toward life. This is the opposite of an Ox’s personality. With Dogs, it’s hard to find common ground.

In Chinese culture, the Ox is a valued animal. Because of its role in agriculture, positive characteristics, such as being hardworking and honest, are attributed to it.

Careers Fit for Oxen

丑

阴阳

天⼲

Paired with the Celestial Stems ( / Tiān gān), there is a 60-year calendrical cycle. Although chǒu is associated with earth, the years also cycle through the five elements of nature ( / wǔ xíng).

五⾏

Personality and Characteristics Oxen are honest and earnest. They are low key and never look for praise or to be the center of attention.

This often hides their talent, but they’ll gain recognition through their hard work.

They believe that everyone should do what’s asked for them and stay within their bounds. Though they are kind, it’s difficult for them to understand persuasion using pathos. Rarely losing your temper, they think logically and make great leaders.

Compatibility Most compatible with Ox: Rat, Snake, Rooster Rat’s fixed Earthly Branch is water, while Ox is earth.

They have complementing personalities and hold the same goals in life.

Snake and Rooster fit Ox nicely as well. Not only will Snakes give warmth and romance, they offer help and support in work too. Honest and loyal, they can also be attracted to the Rooster’s soft and loving heart.

Oxen often group family and work together. They look for long-term and steady work. Because of this, they are studious in school and perform well in every subject. This helps build a strong support for any future career path.

Because of their low-key personality, a stable job is the best for Oxen. Their strong sense of responsibility also makes them the perfect candidate for professional and stressful jobs. These include doctors, lawyers, businessmen and teachers. With their technical skills and effort, they can receive society’s recognition and reach their own standards.

No matter what career they choose, it must something they are really interested in. Though they may be okay with any job that fits their skills, they should take the time to find something they love. Only in a stable environment that matches their passions, are they able to find their true calling.

Health and Lifestyle Like the wild oxen that run freely in the fields, people of the Ox year are healthy and fit. Hospital visits are rare, but this sometimes leads to overconfidence. Neglect during youth will result in problems in the later years.

As workaholics, Oxen will sometimes go days with minimal food and rest, then binge on both. Irregular diets will lead to indigestion and problems with the digestive system. Irregular exercise is what causes you to fall ill with “random” ailments.

Once they reach the middle ages, there is high risk of heart disease. Strokes are another risk. In addition, they commonly suffer from joint pain. Most of these issues stem from irregular exercise. For a healthy life, they need to remember to take breaks from work, stretch and relax.

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Advice

Career

Relationship

Though 2021 may bring you bad luck, it will also bring you stable career prospects. Because Ox energy is suppressed in Ben Ming Nian, you will find it harder to achieve breakthroughs in your career this year.

Oxen may find it difficult to further improve the relationship with your partner this year. Hiccups in your relationship may affect your mental state, and certain events may seem out of your control.

You may find it challenging to get the results you expected, even though you are level-headed and hardworking. Moreover, the Ox will need to proceed with an abundance of caution in workplace relationships this year. You will need to compromise in order to avoid hostile interactions with your colleagues.2021 will be a great year for the Ox to hone your skills and spruce up your talents. Remember when luck is not on your side, hard work will make a great substitute.

Your partner might stray or harbor selfish ambitions during this time. Be patient. These hardships will pass in time. Though your road may be rocky, love and kindness will always bring you back together.

In 2021, the heavenly stem Xin will suppress your wealth to some extent. Ben Ming Nian will cause volatility in the Ox’s fortunes, and Oxen should therefore establish a stronger budget management system to prepare for rainy days. Avoid luxury purchases during this period, and stay thrifty to prevent financial turmoil.

Education The Ox may find it more challenging to make progress in their studies this year. The Ox has an inherently strong work ethic, which helps bring a sense of steadiness to your learning journey. However, even with the promised stability, you need to do the groundwork for future actions.

You may find yourself choosing between different paths in your education this year, such as transferring to a different school, deciding on a major, or choosing a new advisor. Keep a level head while weighing these decisions. If you are prudent in your decision making this year, your efforts will pay off in time.

Unfortunately, the single Ox will not have much luck in love this year. Between their traditionally passive personalities and this year’s bad luck, this year will be a disappointing one for romance.

Consider taking this year to focus on learning more about yourself. Figure out what you want in love and what you can bring to a relationship. Love will come eventually, but this year may not be the right time.

Health Be careful with your health this year. In Ben Ming Nian, the Ox’s fortunes will become precarious. You will be more prone to catching minor infections this year, so make it a point to schedule routine checkups.

Tai Sui will throw many curve balls at you this year, and these may cause you stress and anxiety. Ailments can lead to more serious problems if left untreated, so rest whenever you find the time to do so. Try to exercise more often, and stay away from risky activities whenever possible.

Lifestyle Chinese astrology predicts that this year will start on a relative low note for the Ox. Ben Ming Nian’s conflict with Tai Sui will bring significant instability to your fortunes, and you can easily encounter something unexpected if you act rashly.

This should not prevent you from working on personal development and living your best life, however. If you ever get into trouble, do your best to adapt to the situation. With some hard work and determination, you’ll find your way out again.

Stay calm, and be patient with yourself—the wheel of fortune will turn in your favor soon enough.

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Advice

t New Year’s t if we could se ea gr be it t n’ ld Wou imagine if, k to them? Just ic st ly al tu ac d resolutions an lutions! Although l rocking our reso al e er w e w , ly

by Ju e reality is, by some of you, th r fo ue tr be ht lutions or this mig tched their reso di ve ha le op pe to February, most fact, according petered out. In s ha n io at w iv ot Ne their m ilure rate for ld Report, the fa hat can U.S. News & Wor rcent. So just w pe 80 t ou ab is ns Year's resolutio solutions? Read ccess for your re su re su en to you do on!

By JULIE COLLE

TT

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Advice

Start small.

Don’t skip the rewards!

Excitement about your resolutions is great, but rein in your gung-ho attitude ever so slightly and consider setting only one or two goals instead of a laundry list.

Having too many will make staying focused and motivated hard and losing track easy. Susan of Overland Park says, “The only resolution I’ve ever kept all year is making my bed. We’ve made our bed every day, except five days of not feeling well, so that’s a record for me for sure. I decided I needed to feel successful with one thing in my life in 2020!”

I don’t know about you, but I love to be rewarded for a job well done. Who doesn’t? So when it comes to setting a resolution for yourself, remember to build in a reward too! Go out and buy a new pair of leggings when you’ve run your 30 miles, or treat yourself to a special drink once you’ve hit your water goal for the week.

Be specific.

“Being more specific has helped me,” says Amy of Leawood. “I can say ‘work out more,’ but what does that look like? So instead of reading more, working out more, being on my phone less, etc., I phrase it as ‘read one book a month, run 30 miles each month, put my phone away by 9:00 each night, don’t open apps or email until after school drop-off.’ This feels more manageable and also puts a name to it.”

Set measurable goals.

More specific goals are important for you to maintain success but also make it easier to measure progress. If your resolution is to “get healthy,” how are you going to know when you have achieved that? Ask yourself what “get healthy” means for you. Do you want to drink more water? Eat more vegetables? Exercise more? As mentioned above, making your resolutions specific will break them down into measurable tasks to accomplish. Perhaps “get healthy” will turn into going for a walk over your lunch break three or four times a week. Maybe you will decide to drink 64 ounces of water every day or, as Rebecca shares, “Drink one glass of water before coffee every morning.” Well ... maybe we don’t need to go that far....

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*GRACE! You will have setbacks and moments you feel like giving up on your resolution, especially if this is a new experience for you. Give yourself grace for those moments! You may not be feeling well one day and be unable to get your walk or miles in. Perhaps you had dinner late with a friend and missed getting to bed by your goal time. Whatever the slip up is, realize this happens. Accept it, move on and then get yourself back in the game—don’t give up!

I hope as you have read this you have been encouraged to make your resolutions! Maybe 2021 will be the year to try making goals together as a family or involving your children in the process if they are old enough. What a great way to boost each other up and have specific things to encourage each other over. I think after 2020 we all could use a bit of that now, couldn’t we?

Advice

Getting Happy by Giving Back

By MARGARET SARVER

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Advice

The Art of Happiness Merriam-Webster defines happiness as: a : a state of well-being and contentment : joy b : a pleasurable or satisfying experience.

Happiness is something we strive for in our everyday lives and want for our families. How do we get and keep it? Where can it be found? Read on to find out about happiness and how families in Kansas City keep that happy feeling day in and day out.

Feeling down and need a pick-me-up? Volunteering not only helps you feel good, but people who volunteer have lower rates of heart disease and live longer than those who don't volunteer, according to a recent report in the Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource newsletter.

Volunteering can boost mental health, too. It's a great way to stay connected socially—and those social connections can help buffer stress and get a person through hard times. Volunteering also can help provide a sense of purpose. To realize the health benefits of volunteering, you’ll need a commitment of 40 to 100 hours a year, studies have shown. That equates to a couple of hours a week. To get started: Determine your interests. Think about what's enjoyable and what makes you happy. Or focus on an issue you care deeply about. Consider skills you've developed over the years and can share or skills you'd like to learn.

Find organizations and opportunities. Do online research, check community bulletin boards or visit the local library. Many worthwhile opportunities: hospitals, schools, libraries, food banks, religious organizations, parks, environmental programs, youth groups, humane societies, historic sites and arts organizations. You might even consider reaching beyond the metro area.

Decide how much time you can offer.

Opportunities range from getting involved in shortterm events such as fundraising walks or bicycle rides to longer-term, ongoing activities such as tutoring.

Make your move. Phone or visit the organization you're interested in to determine whether the mutual fit is a good one. If it's not, keep looking.

Many organizations would welcome the skills and wisdom you can share.

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Commit Random Acts of Kindness If at this stage of life you don’t have time to commit to a weekly volunteer project, then think about committing a random act of kindness! One good deed each day can help up the happiness factor in your daily life. And it’s easy to include the kids. Challenge family members to do a random act each day and then discuss your results over dinner. Not only will you make someone else happy, you’ll make yourself happier as well.

Need some inspiration?

Here are some ideas to get you started: You will have setbacks and moments you feel like giving up on your resolution, especially if this is a new experience for you. Give yourself grace for those moments! You may not be feeling well one day and be unable to get your walk or miles in. Perhaps you had dinner late with a friend and missed getting to bed by your goal time. Whatever the slip up is, realize this happens. Accept it, move on and then get yourself back in the game—don’t give up!

Buy a flower and leave it on a friend’s doorstep.

While running errands, give a stranger a compliment.

Hold the door open for someone.

Write a letter to a friend letting her know how special she is to you.

Bake cookies and bring to the local police or fire station.

Send a text wishing someone a good day.

Bring in a neighbor’s trash cans.

Complete a household chore without being asked.

Organize 6 Organizing Pros Share the Simple Everyday Tasks that Help Them Stay Tidy

By ADRIENNE BREAUX

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Organize

Reset your space daily.

“I can’t stress this enough, you don’t have to do an intense cleaning everyday, but a little tidying goes a long way. Fold the blankets on the sofa, fluff the cushions and pillows, vacuum, load the dishes in the dishwasher, put away the kids’ toys, put away dishes, etc. before you go to bed so you wake up to a clean home in the morning. Another task is going through the mail daily. Throw out the junk mail before it lands on the table and file away important mail in a file folder or in a dedicated mail station. Put a trash can at the front door if you have to so you can throw the junk mail out before it even makes it into the home,” says Shamika of Maximizing Tiny. She shared her super organized home in a house tour earlier this month, a 750-squarefoot rental apartment full of brilliant hidden storage.

Do a quick tidy up with a bin.

“Have an empty bin for cleanup and use this bin to pick up items that do not belong in the space. For example, start with the dining table, if there are pens, notepads, or mail that’s on there, put it in the bin. Once you’re done scanning the dining, move the items in the bin to their respective spaces such as your office or your bag. This can be done in less than 10 minutes!” says Katrina of Badass Homelife. She shared how she conquers clutter with minimalism, sustainability, and DIYs in the home she lives in with her husband and their two dogs.

Make your bed every single day.

“It completely transforms the room and it’s a great way to start your day. When you go to bed at the end of the day, you’ll be able to do so in a neatly made bed.

Also choose three tasks that you’d like to accomplish each day and focus on getting those things done. If your to-do list is too long, it can be overwhelming and you might get demotivated,” says Vaishali Sahni of Tiny and Tidy. Apartment Therapy toured her tidy Toronto condo packed with organizing ideas last year.

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Train yourself to tidy everyday.

“I tidy everyday and I think this is an important step daily to take towards being organized because then things don’t pile up to the point of feeling overwhelmed with everything that needs to get done. I wasn’t always like this but I realized by training myself to do this, I have helped myself keep organized on the daily,” says Rashmi of Rush Me Home.

Pick up after yourself at the end of each day.

“At Organize With Faith we like to say, ‘keep what you can care for.’ If you have more stuff than you have energy to deal with, it’s time to declutter,” says Faith Roberson.

Create a grab-n-go section “Tidy up for at least 10 minutes every day. Put on some good music, put things away, and dance as you pick up an item and put it back. Make it fun and it won’t feel like a chore! Then your kids will absolutely want to help.

Create a grab-n-go section in your entryway for things that need to leave the house such as returns or dry cleaning. Put things in your grab-n-go as part of tidying up every day.

Do a load of laundry every day so it doesn’t pile up and delegate folding to your kids. No one wants to fold a mountain of laundry (not even this organizer!) and kids think folding is arts and crafts. And have a to-do basket and put everything there that needs to be done so that when you have time, you know exactly where the thing is that you need to take care of. Make this part of your daily tidying up routine,” says Pia of Sweet Digs.

A Colorful World This Artist’s Australian Home Is Filled With Pattern, Plants, and the Cutest Colorful Pots She Paints Herself

By NATALIE JEFFCOTT

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Organize

Name: Julia, husband Nick, 8-year-old son Freddy, 5year-old daughter Poppy, and our Golden Retriever, Ziggy Location: Melbourne, Australia Years lived in: 4 years After a busy career in television, Julia took time off of work when her first baby, Freddy, was born back in 2012. It was during this hiatus that she started an Etsy store, and a creative career switch was made. Now painting under the brand name Summer Svenson, Julia’s colorful creations range canvas, to baubles, to plant pots featuring energetic abstract patterns and an array of adorable motifs, like tigers, fish, cats, dogs, faces, and much, much more.

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Split over two levels on a steep block, the house located in the north western outskirts of Melbourne she shares with her family—husband Nick and kids Freddy and Poppy (and pup Ziggy)—is a beautiful canvas of her vibrant creations as well as the works from other artists she admires.

It’s a colorful mish mash, print on print, pots and plants, fun and friendly. I’m not so good with perfect styling, but if I love it I buy it, and hope for the best! If things clash, I like that too!

I’ve heard myself joke “this is why we can’t have nice things” many times, so I try not to buy anything I can’t wash, or will worry too much about. It’s important for us, especially with (very messy) children, to not live in a home that feels precious.

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Fashion has always been my favorite for color and print ideas; the brighter, the better. Also flowers, vintage posters, children’s books, scrolling Instagram, folk art, and all things Mexico.

We have a “good room,” known in our house as “The Talking Room.” We moved into this house just before Christmas one year, and we had such an exciting time talking about Santa in the lead up. Our fond memories of “talking in the room,” meant it quickly became known as “The Talking Room.” (Ironically, because of the solitary nature of what I do, I now spend most of my time in here not talking!) This is where I paint at our dining table, beside a bay window that’s bathed in light, basically every painter’s dream. The light in here turns golden around 5 p.m., and it’s perfection.

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Everything about the original windows! They’re not exactly crystal clear; the glass is starting to fog and the reflective film has slowly been lifting. The frames are also brown aluminum. Plus spiders live in the roller shutters and love spinning webs across the outside glass. They are on a future list to update for sure.

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For my 40th birthday, I had a commission done by my favorite Australian painter, Megan Grant. It is our newest addition, and I love it! It’s even more special to me as it’s one of the few things in the house I haven’t painted myself.

If you love it, use it. Don’t keep those special pieces just for occasions; the most joy (and best bang for buck) is when you can enjoy your favorite things around you, on a daily basis.

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“Where there is love, there is life.”

– Mahatma Ghandi

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Best Valentine’s Day Movies: For Kids and Parents Here are our favorite movies to watch this Valentine’s Day, as a family, or on your own for date night. Some are romantic classics, other silly tales of love. Grab the popcorn and start watching.

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“Lady and the Tramp” (G) Lady the glitzy cocker spaniel meets Tramp, the mutt.

This movie is perfect for kids who are dog lovers, especially when they see the two dogs enjoy a plate of spaghetti together.

“The Parent Trap” (PG) Identical twins Annie and Hallie were separated at birth, and each raised by one of their parents. The two have an unexpected summer when they finally meet.

“Enchanted” (PG) A princess who is about to get married is sent away from her kingdom to a faraway land, New York City, and meets a lawyer who comes to her aid.

“Gnomeo and Juliet” (G) Your kids will love this version of Romeo and Juliet acted out by garden gnomes.

“Shrek” (PG) In a different type of fairytale, a big, green ogre rescues a princess and ends up finding out about the spell cast upon her. Your kids will love this silly tale complete with the hilarious donkey.

Other picks: “Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown” “Winnie the Pooh- A Valentine for You” “Beauty and the Beast” “Cinderella” “The Little Mermaid” “Aladdin” “Anastasia” “Tarzan” “The Princess Diaries” “A Cinderella Story” “The Princess Bride” “Frozen” “Tangled”

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Food

Discovering Asia Your family will want to eat our Asian-inspired feast for all eight days and nights.

Photography By ERIK BERNSTEIN

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HEART OF

Nabeyaki Udon 48

January/February 2021 - Family Life

ASIAN DISHES Fattoush

Your family will want to eat our Asian-inspired feast for all eight days and nights.

Photography By ERIK BERNSTEIN

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Yukgaejang: Spicy Korean Beef Soup 50

January/February 2021 - Family Life

Food

Nabeyaki Udon

Fattoush

PREP TIME:15 MINS TOTAL TIME:35 MINS

PREP TIME:10 MINS TOTAL TIME:30 MINS

1 piece kombu, about 5x5 inches 3 c. bonito flakes 1 tbsp. soy sauce 1 tbsp. mirin 1 tsp. kosher salt 6 oz. boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 4 oz. kabocha, butternut, or kuri squash, seeded and sliced 1/2-inch thick 1 c. shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced 3 scallions, thinly sliced, whites and greens separated 2 oz. kamaboko, sliced 1/4-inch thick 1 c. snow peas, thinly slice on a diagonal 1 c. spinach 2 eggs, lightly beaten 12 oz. udon noodle, cooked and drained Shichimi togarashi, optional

2 hearts romaine lettuce 2 small seedless cucumbers, such as Persian 12 cherry or campari tomatoes 1/4 c. freshly chopped mint leaves 1/2 c. freshly chopped parsley 1/4 c. thinly sliced red onion 1/4 c. thinly sliced green onions, white and light green parts only 6 medium radishes 1 thin pita bread 1/2 c. fresh lemon juice 2 tbsp. red wine vinegar 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar 1 tbsp. kosher salt 1 1/2 c. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for pita

1. Make dashi: In a 3.5 to 4-quart donabe or Dutch oven, add 9 cups of cold water and kombu. Simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes.

As soon as the water comes to a boil, turn off the heat. Add bonito flakes and let stand for 2 minutes without stirring. Remove the kombu and bonito flakes using a mesh sieve. The kombu and bonito flakes can be reused to make a lighter, but still delicious dashi by simmering in 4 cups of water.

Otherwise, discard.

2. Bring dashi to a simmer over medium heat and add soy sauce, mirin, and salt. Add chicken, squash, mushrooms, and scallion whites. Cook for 6 minutes. Add kamaboko, snow peas, spinach, scallion greens, and eggs. Cook for 2 minutes, gently stirring occasionally. Add udon noodles.

Serve with a sprinkle of shichimi togarashi, if you’d like.

1. Make salad: Preheat oven to 350°.

Meanwhile, chop romaine, cucumbers, tomatoes, and radishes into 1/2" pieces. (It's important to cut these veggies to roughly the same size.) Place in a large serving bowl.

2. Make croutons: Open pita along the seam and stack onto one another. Roll pita and thinly slice, as if you were trying to get a nice chiffonade. Place on a large baking sheet and lightly coat in a little oil and kosher salt. Toast in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes or until golden.

3. Make dressing: In a medium bowl whisk together lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, kosher salt, and oil until combined.

(No need to emulsify!)

4. Add dressing to romaine mixture and toss to combine, then top with toasted pita.

Yukgaejang PREP TIME:30 MINS TOTAL TIME:3 HOURS 30 MINS 1 lb. beef brisket 1 peeled medium onion, half kept whole and half thinly sliced 6 dried or fresh shiitake mushrooms

3 tbsp. gochugaru 3 tbsp. sesame oil 2 tbsp. soy sauce 2 tbsp. minced garlic, from about 10 cloves 1 tbsp. kosher salt 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1 c. dried gosari, soaked in hot water for 30 minutes and cut into 2-inch pieces 1 leek, quartered lengthwise and cut into 2-inch strips 6 oz. mung bean sprouts 1 c. dangmyeon, soaked in hot water for 30 minutes, optional Cooked rice, for serving 1. In a large pot, add beef brisket and enough cool water to fully cover it.

Let it sit for 30 minutes. Drain, rinse, and return beef brisket into the pot. Add 14 cups of water, halved onion, and shiitake mushrooms. Set over high heat until it comes up to a hard boil.

Lower heat to simmer for 1 hour and 30 minutes without a lid on.

Occasionally skim off fat and scum that comes up to the top with a ladle or large spoon.

2. In a small bowl, combine gochugaru, sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, salt, and black pepper.

3. Remove pot off heat. Scoop out beef brisket, onion, and shiitake mushrooms into a medium bowl and allow to cool. Discard the onion. Thinly slice beef brisket into bite-sized pieces, about 1/4-inch thick and 1 1/2-inches long. Thinly slice shiitake mushrooms. Return the beef brisket and shiitake mushrooms into the pot.

4. Add sliced onions, gochugaru mixture, gosari, leeks, and mung bean sprouts into the pot. Stir to combine. Set over medium-high heat and boil for about 30 minutes. Optional: Add soaked dangmyeon for the last 10 minutes of cooking.

5. Adjust seasoning with additional salt, if needed. Serve with cooked rice.

Family Life ‐ January/February 2021

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BE MY VALENTINE Heart Cookies

Cookies are the way to everyones heart. This Valentine's Day, skip the store bought box of chocolates and bake up a fresh tray of chocolate chip cookies, Snickerdoodles, Nutella-stuffed confections, or any of these other 20+ delicious cookie recipes. And if you want something a little more indulgent, try one of our Valentine's dessert recipes.

Photography By PARKER FEIERBACH

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January/February 2021 - Family Life

Classic Linzer Cookies

Family Life ‐ January/February 2021

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Advice

Heart Cookies

Classic Linzer Cookies

PREP TIME:30 MINS TOTAL TIME:1 HOUR 40 MINS

PREP TIME:1 HOUR TOTAL TIME:1 HOUR 15 MINS

FOR THE COOKIES 3 c. all-purpose flour, plus more for surface 1 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 1 c. (2 sticks) butter, softened 1 c. granulated sugar 1 large egg 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1 tbsp. milk FOR THE BUTTERCREAM 1 (8-oz.) block cream cheese, softened 1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, softened 4 c. powdered sugar 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1/4 tsp. kosher salt Pink and red food coloring Sprinkles

1 1/2 c. almond flour 1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp. ground cloves 1/4 tsp. kosher salt 1 large egg 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1/2 c. (1 stick) butter 1/2 c. granulated sugar 1/2 c. raspberry jam 2 tbsp. powdered sugar, for garnish

1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In another large bowl using a hand mixer, beat butter and sugar until fluffy and pale in color.

Add egg, milk, and vanilla and beat until combined, then add flour mixture gradually until totally combined.

2. Shape into a disk and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 1 hour.

3. When ready to roll, preheat oven to 350º and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Lightly flour a clean work surface and roll out dough until 1/8” thick. Using a heart shaped cookie cutter, cut out cookies and transfer to prepared baking sheets.

4. Bake until edges are lightly golden, 8 to 10 minutes.

5. Make frosting: In a large bow using a hand mixer, beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt and beat until combined.

6. Divide frosting into 3 bowls. Add pink food coloring to one bowl and red food coloring to another. Stir each bowl and add more food coloring until desired color is reached. Frost cookies using an offset spatula with each color of frosting, then top with sprinkles.

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January/February 2021 - Family Life

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together almond flour, all-purpose flour, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together egg and vanilla.

2. In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes.

Add egg mixture and beat until combined. Add dry ingredients and beat until just incorporated.

3. Divide dough in half, form each half into a disk, and place each between 2 large sheets of parchment paper. Using a rolling pin, roll each piece of dough to 1/8" in thickness. Place dough sheets on a baking sheet or cutting board and transfer to refrigerator to chill for 2 hours. (Or place in the freezer for 30 minutes.)

4. Preheat oven to 375° and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Peel away one layer of parchment paper from your dough and use a 2" round cookie cutter to cut out cookies.

Use a smaller round cookie cutter to cut windows in half the cookies, if desired.

5. Place cookies on baking sheet about 1" apart.

Bake 7 to 9 minutes, or until cookies are lightly golden. Let cool.

6. In a microwave safe bowl, stir 1 teaspoon water into jam. Microwave on low for 30 seconds, then spread about 1/2 tsp of jam in the center of a cookie, then top with second cookie. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.

Last Look

Did You Know?

This Is Where Those Conversation Heart Sayings Come From

By EMILY CAPPIELLO The brothers Oliver and Daniel Chase launched the New England Confectionary Company (NECCO) in 1860, and their first candy was the famous wafers. After Daniel figured out a way to include a message with the candies, that became NECCO’s signature. The brothers began taking orders in 1866 for weddings and other special occasions, and then took the idea to the public in 1902 with the launch of Sweethearts conversation hearts.

Photography by ALENA HAURYLIK/SHUTTERSTOCK

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