February 14th may be a holiday generally thought to apply to sweethearts. But what about celebating the love you have for a parent, aunt, grandparent, or friend?

 

Valentine's Day may be a perfect time to help your mentee tell someone special, "I care about you". You could help your mentee write a poem, sing a song, draw a Valentine card, make a meal, or help around the house.

 

For more fun ideas visit this website:

 

     On January 28, the Iowa Mentoring Partnership and certified mentoring programs participated in a "Mentoring on the Hill" event at the State Capitol. The event included table displays in the Rotunda as well as time spent with our elected officals.

     The Henry County Mentoring Program Coordinator, Cassie Alaniz, had meetings with both Senator Fraise and Representative Heaton. Senator Fraise and Representative Heaton were both well informed about the work the Iowa State Extension Office is conducting in our county. They are supportive of our mentoring program and hope to assist us in continued funding.

     Funding for the Henry County Mentoring Program is through the Iowa Department of Public Health's Prevention Through Mentoring grant as part of an overall Substance Abuse prevention strategy.

 Heart shaped Cookies

Instructions

1. To make the dough: Using an electric mixer at medium-high speed, cream the butter, gradually adding the sugar. Beat in the egg until evenly mixed, then blend in the vanilla extract and salt.
2. With a wooden spoon, stir the flour into the creamed ingredients, about one third at a time, until evenly blended. The dough may seem soft, but it will firm up when refrigerated.
3. Divide the dough in half. Flatten each portion into a disk and seal in plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.
4. To create the cookies: Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Cover a sturdy baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly coat the foil with cooking spray. Between 2 sheets of waxed paper lightly dusted with flour, roll the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Remove the top sheet.
5. Cut out the cookies with a large cookie cutter. Use a spatula to transfer the shapes to the baking sheet, leaving about an inch between cookies. Remove the centers of the cookies with a smaller cookie cutter. (Save the centers to bake later.)
6. Place a hard candy (we used Jolly Ranchers) in the center of each heart and bake until the cookies start to brown lightly around the edges and the candy is melted, about 8 to 10 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely. To prevent sticking, line your serving plate or tin with waxed paper and place additional waxed paper between layers. Makes 30. 

 

 2/12  Linda Spence

 2/14  Anne Dorrell

 

2 years:  Melissa McWhirter & Megan

             Sheryl Cook & Aein

             Toi Mears & Ashlee