Author: Julie

Quiet Service

by // // No Comments

Image Credit: lds.org Media Library

I was at a Stake Relief Society function last weekend at which I got to enjoy a class on missionary work. Sometimes I don’t feel like I do enough of it. Sometimes I also feel like I don’t serve others enough. So when I came across this quote from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in “Created for Greater Things,” I found it reassuring and encouraging.

“All but a prophetic few must go about God’s work in very quiet, very unspectacular ways. And as you labor to know Him, and to know that He knows you; as you invest your time–and your convenience–in quiet, unassuming service, you will indeed find that ‘He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up’ [sic] (Matthew 4:6).”
So let’s keep on keepin’ on (by doing things like serving our families by cooking dinner, for example–in case you didn’t get my pic), and our loving Heavenly Father, Who knows our hearts, will help us out. 🙂

Cream Puffs, Eclairs and more

by // // 2 Comments


My Great Aunt Addie used to be famous for her cream puffs. This is her recipe. They are so fun to make with your family not to mention, yummy!

These are not just dots of puff! They can become many traditional or festive things. Don’t let the list of steps fool you, these are easy peasy. They are good with savory fillings as an appetizer or finger sandwich. I’ve listed ideas for different “shapes” below the recipe. This doubles well.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter ( not margarine)
1 cup water
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
4 eggs

1. In a medium saucepan melt butter.
2. Add water and bring to a boil.
3. Add flour and salt all at once. Stir vigorously, cooking and stirring until mixture forms a ball that doesn’t separate.
4. Remove from heat, cool slightly (about 5 minutes). Add eggs one at a time beating with a wooden spoon after each addition until smooth.
5. Drop batter by teaspoons or Tablespoons depending on the size you want (the batter will “puff” to around three times its size) onto ungreased baking sheet.
6. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 15-30 minutes (depending on size) until golden brown and puffy.
7. Remove from oven, let cool slightly on cooling rack.
8. Split open and remove any soft dough, fill with — Chicken Salad or other Savory spread, whipped cream, jam and cream, pie filling and cream, pudding, ice-cream or pudding custard .
9. For Eclairs: Frost filled puff with chocolate icing below:

Eclair Icing:
3 Tblsp butter
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips or 1.5 oz bitter sweet chocolate
3 Tblsp half and half
1/4 tsp vanilla
3-4 cups powdered sugar
5 + Tblsp milk

1. Melt butter, choc. and half and half together in microwaveable bowl or medium saucepan
2. Remove from heat and add vanilla and powdered sugar
3. Add milk a few tablespoons at a time until desired consistency is reached. Mix until smooth and creamy.

Pudding Custard:
1 small box Vanilla (or your choice) instant pudding
2 cups whipped cream

1. Prepare pudding according to package directions except use 1/3 cup less milk
2. Mix ingredients together and chill for 20 minutes

Enjoy!

Shape Ideas:
1. Drop batter in the shape of mini footballs, frost with choc icing. Use white icing to make lines on the footballs
2. Drop batter in the shape of mini hearts or one large heart with a hole in the center (it will puff better). Fill with Cherry Pie filling and cream. Drizzle with chocolate and white icing.
3. Drop batter in the shape of Easter Eggs, ice with choc. icing. Use white or other color icing to write names on the egg.
4. Drop batter in the shape of Shamrocks, Flowers, Hats, Flags, Pumpkins, Christmas Trees, etc. Experiment – Have fun!

Source: Aunt Addie, My mom and Me

Choose The Right

by // // No Comments
 
 

At Church I have the amazing opportunity to work with the children ages 18 months – 12 years old. This year when we were planning out everything and all the new materials were being delivered, I was thrilled to see that the new Theme for 2012 was “Choose the Right.”

Many people are familiar with this little ring and what it stands for. If you’ve never heard about it, well… today is your lucky day!

The Ring and symbol was brought about in the mid 1960’s. The Church wanted something to help the children of the church to have a good moral code. Enter, the CTR Ring. The shield is to remind us to “shield” us from temptation. The green background was given to remind us of the evergreen tree, a tree that remains constant as seasons change. “CTR” stands for Choose the Right. We are to do the right thing, in every place and in every situation. We have been given this wonderful gift of agency, and we are to use it wisely.

I love this goal! There is a song that goes along with this theme, the very end I just love…. “Choose the Right way, and be happy…. I must always Choose the Right!”

Tortellini Skewers

by // // 6 Comments

Need to serve something tasty but don’t have the time or energy to make something that’s gonna be really involved?  Want a fun main dish for dinner that you can prepare in a snap?  Have I got a dish for you.

Buttoni premade, refrigerated Tortellini…I got two packages:  Three Cheese and Spinach Feta (I think!).  They were BOGO at the store.  (Please ignore my nasty tile countertop.  I do my best to ignore it.  I’ve given up cleaning it because in a day it’s stained again, even after scraping, bleaching, grout-line-painting, and sealing.  My new counter top is on it’s way, thank goodness!)

Ingredients:
refrigerated Tortellini
olive oil
Pesto sauce
Spaghetti or Marinara sauce
wooden skewers

1.  Boil pasta as directed on package.  When done, pour into colander and rinse well with cold water.  Allow to cool and drain completely.
2.  Toss cooked tortellini in a bowl with a little olive oil.  Either store in a container in fridge, or go ahead and skewer the pasta to serve immediately.
3.  Serve with pasta sauces of your choice, but my preference is for pesto (which I also bought premade).  Drizzle sauce over the tortellini skewer once it’s on your plate.

Source:  photo idea found on Pinterest

The Power of Patience

by // // No Comments

Lately I feel as though I have come to understand the saying, “all at once or none at all.” Am I alone here, or do we feel as though trials and tests seem to appear all at the same time? Maybe it’s just that as soon as one difficulty shows, we look for anything else that add to burdens, no matter how small, so that we can feel just a little sorry for ourselves. Thankfully, I am usually quick to understand that there is always someone else with bigger problems, greater challenges and heavier burdens than myself.
We all encounter trying situations in our lives. These situations and experiences are personal and unique to each one of us. Isn’t it amazing that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ understand each and every experience that we face? Sometimes it’s almost hard for me to comprehend. I know that our prayers are heard and answered, specifically for us.
Recently I found a quote that gave me a lot of perspective, but mostly just put me in my place.

“Sometimes we want to have growth without challenges and to develop strength without any struggle. But growth cannot come by taking the easy way. We clearly understand that an athlete who resists rigorous training will never become a world-class athlete. We must be careful that we don’t resent the very things that help us put on the divine nature.”
Paul V. Johnon
April 2011 General Conference

One of the greatest blessings in my life, is an answer to a prayer at the right moment and with a solution that my Heavenly Father sees fit.

Black Bean Burgers with Avocado Salsa

by // // 1 Comment

Ingredients:
Burgers
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp jalepeno pepper, minced
1 (15 0z.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 pieces of toasted whole wheat bread, pulsed into breadcrumbs
1 1/4 cups cooked brown rice
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 chopped cilantro

Salsa
2 avacados, cut into 3/4 inch pieces
1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 tsp lime juice

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a nonstick pan. Add onion and saute until soft. Add garlic and jalepeno and saute for an additional 2 minutes.
2. Scrape mixutre into a food processor. Add black beans, brown rice, lime juice, salt and pepper. Pulse just until beans are chopped, but not pureed.
3. Scrape black bean mixture into a large bowl. Add half of the breadcrumbs and 1/4 cup chopped cilantro. Stir mixture until combined.
4. Divide mixture into equal portions and form patties. The original recipe says 8 patties, I ended up with 6. If the mixture is too moist to form patties, add more breadcrumbs.
5. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
6. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add 4 patties and cook for 4 minutes on each side, or until a good crust forms. Repeat with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and remaining patties.
7. For the salsa, gently stir the avacado, tomatoes and lime juice.
8. Serve salsa over 2 patties.

Source: Cookin’ Canuck

Mud Balls

by // // 11 Comments
Of all holiday treats, Mud Balls are hands down my favorite.  Ever since I was a kid, I just can’t resist them.  So I don’t make them very often, but I just have to have them at Christmas.  And this past Christmas was no exception.

I mean, how can you resist such yumminess?
My chocolate dipping tools:  two inexpensive forks with the middle tines bent backwards with pliers.  

I use both forks for dipping but I had to hold the camera with one hand!  I use both forks to roll the ball around gently in the chocolate to cover it completely, then I use the fork in my dominant hand to cradle the ball while gently tapping the bottom of the ball on the other fork.



The final product displayed on plastic Target dishware made into a tiered server using Lucite candlesticks and glass/bead glue.

Ingredients:
2 sticks butter, melted 
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup coconut
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1/2 cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
1 pound powdered sugar
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1/4 bar household wax*
8-10 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1.  In a large bowl, mix all ingredients except the wax and chocolate.  Shape into balls.  (I use a small cookie scoop for this to portion the balls, then I roll them in my hands to make them smooth).
2.  In a double boiler, melt the wax and chocolate chips completely.  Keep on very low or remove from heat altogether (but keep the double boiler sitting over the hot water).
3.  Dip balls one at a time, allowing excess chocolate to drop off before setting each ball on waxed paper to set.
Makes about 60. 
Source:  my Mom
Notes:
  • Please use butter.  Please, please, please!
  • The original recipe calls for 12 ounces of chocolate but that always leaves a LOT leftover.
  • *Don’t freak out about eating wax.  I have checked on this and it’s fine.  It’s completely edible.  I promise.  Plus the amount per ball is so tiny.  It will make the Mud Balls shiny and smooth and they will dry better with it than without.  (I use GULF brand…it comes in a small box and has 4 rectangular bricks in it…you can find it in the canning aisle usually.)
  • If you want the taste of Mud Balls without the work, make Mud Bars.  Instead of making the “dough” into balls, press the mixture into a 9×13-inch pan.  Then melt the chocolate chips (without the wax) and pour over the top, spreading evenly.  Allow to set before cutting into bars.

Enjoy!

Take Care of It Now

by // // No Comments

When I was a young child I did not like doing certain chores. I would often go to great efforts to make it appear that I had completed my task when it would have been much easier to do it right the first time. I would have to go back and “redo” things. My parents would say “if you take care of it now you don’t have to worry about it”. I have said something similar to my own children telling them they will also have more free time to do other things.

I believe that there are times in life where we put more effort in trying to explain why we can’t do something instead of just getting started on what we need to do. I have reflected on this much over the past year especially as it pertains to the gospel and life.

In his early teen years our oldest son decided to read the scriptures everyday for a year. When he had completed that goal it had become such a part of him that it was just part of his day. It is even more of a benefit to him now as he is serving a full time mission. At that time, I didn’t want him to be the only one reading every day instead of most days, so, I started out small – just a month, then two until I had read everyday for a year. It really makes difference in my day.

Asking myself what else do I need to take care of now I realized that ” Taking care of things now” fits in many situations. If we repent now, forgive now, read our scriptures each day – now, Keep the Sabbath Day Holy – now, show more kindness now, help someone now, follow the promptings of the spirit now, etc. we are blessed. We have more “freedom”. There is protection in obedience to the laws of the gospel. We gain more knowledge when we study the scriptures but most importantly we become more Christ like.

I generally don’t make New Years resolutions just adjustments along the way. However, my goal this year is to take care of more things now. To take care of what is essential first, to enjoy family and friends more and the rest will fall in line.

Happy New year to you and your family!