What does it mean: "To Love"?

To Love someone means that you support that person through their trials, both temporal and physical. To Love someone means that you see that person as God does.  He Loves them, so you do too.  If He sees glory and goodness in that person, it is your job to find that goodness because of HIM. Love is not what is romanticized about in movies and literature- in some cases it is, but not in most.  To Love a person is to continually pray for that person, to be ever constant in caring for their well being.  Love is often times, most difficult. To Love a person is to have Charity for their spirit.  Charity is a word that is often misinterpreted.  To have Charity is to be consumed by the Pure Love of CHRIST. 

As Paul states in 1 Corinthians 13: 13 KJV " And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three: but the greastest of these is charity."  The greatest of the three keys to living a profitable life, is to constantly be filled with the Pure Love of CHRIST.  It is by that Love that we are able to return again to our Father. It is by that Love that we are washed in the Blood. 

John 3:16 KJV "For God so loved the world, He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." 

It is through this Love, that He Lives.

May the Lord bless you throughout your day.

Do you take time to THINK?

Our words affect one another.  Take the time to be kind in word and deed. 

You never know what could make a difference in a person's life.

For good or ill, we will impact others with our words. 

Be swifter to help lift someone up than to tear them down.

~Proverbs 15~

Who can you speak gentler to today?

Lemon-Berry Cupcakes

Lemon Cupcakes:

3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk

1 Tbsp. lemon zest
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 325° degrees.
2. Line cupcake pan with baking cups

3. In a large bowl cream 
butter and sugar, with an electric mixer, until pale and fluffy-about 4-5 minutes.

4. Add eggs, one at a time until mixture becomes creamy,

5. In a separate bowl whisk to combine flour, baking soda and salt.

6. Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk to butter mixture, in 3-4 batches. Mix each addition just until ingredients incorporate—do not over mix.

7. Add lemon zest and lemon juice. Mix batter for an additional minute. Batter should be light and fluffy.

8. Divide the batter among the cupcake liners and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cake tester/toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Place pan on wire rack and cool completely before removing from pan.

Once cooled, frost cupcakes.

Buttercream Frosting:

1/2 cup shortening

1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 cups confectioner’s sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

     

 1.Cream butter and shortening with electric mixer. Add vanilla.

 2. Gradually add sugar,
1 cup at a time. Blend well.

Blackberry Buttercream Frosting:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup shortening
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 cups confectioner’s sugar
1/4 cup blackberry puree (or as much as needed to add minimal flavor)

1. Cream butter and shortening with electric mixer. Add vanilla.
2. Gradually add sugar, 1 cup at a time. Blend well.
3. Add Blackberry puree and beat until light and fluffy.
 (if frosting is dry, add 1 TB milk)

These cupcakes were served as dessert at a Church function. We brought about three dozen, and within the about 45min, there were six left.

Have a blessed day!

Easter and Other Thoughts

Today as we remembered our Savior, we thought about the glorious morning when the tomb was found empty.  "He has burst His three days prison" (LDS Hymns, 199).  He has asked us to "Come unto Him" everyday.  What a blessed day to remember His call.
May your weeks ahead be blessed and may you carry the Spirit of His Life with you throughout your daily activities.  Do not let the lies of the World distract you from remembering Him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Although this video is from the musical "Wicked", the song is a wonderful example of the impact that we have on everyone we meet.  Listen to the music, and take note of its message.  Because people know you, they will change, just as you will change because you know them.  Will you choose to change them "for the better"?  Isn't that the message of Easter?  That Christ performed the Atonement so that we could all be "changed for the better"- that we could "be changed for good"?  Let the Spirit fill your heart, and remember that your example can and will impact those around you.

The Lost Art of Letter Writing

When was the last time that you wrote someone a letter?
Maybe it was yesterday, maybe it was last month, maybe you've never done it.

You may ask, "Why would I write a letter? Isn't that what email is for?  Isn't that why I have a cell phone?".

So what is the difference between a letter and email or text?
There is a big difference.
An email is not tangible.  Although they are extremely useful and help to make life efficient, you cannot touch an email.  Unless it isn't printed out, it can be easily deleted.  A text is the same way.  Texts are wonderful when you need to get a hold of someone quickly. 
However,  there is something special about reading a hand written letter.
If you've ever recieved a letter in the mail, you know the feeling. 
You know that someone took time out of their busy day to sit down, and hand write their personal thoughts, just for you. The lost art of letter writing is something that must be revived. 
The sense of intimacy that comes only through hand written letters, is lost by the bells and whistles of the digital world.

What can be learned through a letter that can not be communicated bia technology, you ask?
Much.
     Each person has a unique style of handwriting.  Digital charcaters are all exactly alike.  When in the same font, there is no difference in the appearance of the characters regardless of who sent you the message.  A lot can be observed about a person by their handwriting.  For example, if the note was scribbled quickly, they tend to be more difficult to read, and are not as uniform as characters that were written when time is not pressing.  The style of handwriting (cursive, print, etc.) can describe a person's personality.  Girls tend to write differently than boys.  Their characters are typically easier to read when printed, and are generally more rounded.  Men tend to write hastily and their characters have a more "block-like" appearance. 
     Another thing to note is that there can never be stains on an email.  Whether they be tear stains, tea, juice or coffee stains, you will only find them on a letter that is either printed out or handwritten.  The condition of the paper used, as well as the type of paper used, tells much about the person's intent, and activity level during the time of the writing. 

     In short, emails and texts are wonderful developments that have impacted the efficacy of communication.  But we must revive the lost art of letter writing. A hand written letter is tangible. They can be read repeatedly without eye strain caused by staring at a screen.  Handwritten letters provide a great opportunity for deeper friendships.

Remember what it feels like to recieve a card or letter in the mail.  Make someone's day by letting them feel that excitement. If you don't have time to handwrite one, type it up and print it off. Let someone know that you care and write them a letter. 


Maybe we can change the world...one letter at a time.

It's That Time Again!

This weekend is the 182nd Annual LDS General Conference.  That means that for Latter-Day Saints around the World, Church meetings are broadcast over the radio, internet, and television. 

For those of you with primary aged children, it is often difficult to keep them entertained and still hear all of the wonderful revelation.  It was because of this issue that the Conference Packets were created. If made into a family homework assignment, due by the end of the four sessions, even the most rambuncious children will pay attention. Even if they are not used for that purpose, it is still fun to print one for yourself and fill in a word search or two.

Below are links to various activity packets.  Some are filled with more coloring activities, and some are geared more older listeners. Feel free to find the one that fits your family's needs.

http://www.sugardoodle.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8529
The sugar doodle sight also has other activities if you scroll down the page.

http://www.jennyphillips.com/gc/

Our family prefers the packets created by the singer and author, Jenny Phillips, but the sugar doodle packets are equally wonderful.

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/children?lang=eng
Above is a direct link to the official Conference activities page.

How exciting to hear the Good Word spoken by the mouths of the prophets!

Enjoy your weekends Ladies, and may the Lord bless you!

Cottage Pie? Don't you mean Shepherds' Pie?

A Brief History

So before we get into the food tutorial, let's have a history lesson.

What Americans refer today as "Shepherds' Pie" is actually called "Cottage Pie".  

Both dishes have meat, mashed potatoes, and vegetables. So what's the big deal?

Cottage Pie originated in Britain/ Ireland around 1791.  During this time, the people were experiencing financial hardships.  Then came the discovery of the tuber. Yes, they realized the many different uses of the potato.  A poor family could eat potatoes mashed, boiled, scalloped, baked, etc. As an added bonus, they were relatively inexpensive to grow or buy at the market.  Potatoes changed the diet of every low income family during this time.  So mothers and wives started to get creative, and they invented this wonderful thing called Cottage Pie.  They could take the meat and other vegetables they prepared during the week and have a new meal with what was leftover.

So why isn't it just called Shepherds' Pie?

Shepherds' Pie was not actually created until 1877.  Shepherds pie has mutton or lamb not beef.

Put simply:

Cottage Pie = Poor Man's Pie (poor people lived in cottages)= beef

Shepherds' Pie= Sheep Pie (shepherds herd sheep)= lamb or mutton

That's about the only difference...

Okay. So we are done with the history lesson. Let's get Cookin'!

Ingredients for Cottage Pie: 

1. 2 pints(1 quart or 32oz) of ground beef browned with onion
2. 1 quart (32oz) of cooked/ skinned tomatoes
3. 3c. instant potato pearls + enough Hot water to reconstitute potatoes
4. 4c. mix of corn and halved green beans
5. about 1/2 c. dried Carrots
6. about 1/2 c. dried Celery
7. 1/2c. dried onion
8. salt and pepper for preferred flavor
9. parsley
10. brown rice flour 

Oh...and if you are curious, yes this is all food storage...

(shhh it's a secret)

Okay so now what?

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 192 degrees Celsius.

In a skillet, add tomatoes and cut to bite-sized pieces.

Add celery, carrots, parsley, salt and pepper to smell.

 

Let tomatoes cook down slightly then add meat and onion to taste.

Let cook down further. Salt and pepper to taste

If the meat and tomatoes are too runny for your taste, put about a half cup of fluid in a bowl and thicken slightly with flour. Add the impromptu gravy back into the skillet and mix with the rest of the dish. We used about two table spoons of brown rice flour to keep the recipe gluten free. Because wheat flour has gluten and brown rice flour doesn't, you will use less wheat flour than rice flour when thickening your meal.

Next, grease a casserole dish and add the meat and tomatoes from the skillet to the pan.  There should be plenty to get a good layer on the bottom.  On top of the meat, layer the corn and beans. 

Cover the entire dish with the mashed potatoes.  Spread it out evenly across the top (it's similar to frosting a cake).

Bake at 350 F for 30min. or until the crust barely browned.

If you want fluffy potatoes, guard the top with tin foil...either entirely covered, or as you would with a traditional pie.

If you notice the upper right hand corner or the picture, the juice from the meat and tomatoes boiled a slightly to the top. When the potatoes are barely golden and it is boiling, that means it's done.

It's easy, it's cheap, and it tastes good.

We hope that you enjoy your Cottage Pie!