"Good Things" Tips

“…if there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy we seek after these things.”
13^th Article of Faith

The following is a list of "good things" shared during last month's Relief Society Meeting:

• Get sharpie pen out of fabric and off of you by using Rubbing Alcohol
• Encourage your kids to read (esp. in summer) by having them earn TV time by reading and then buy TV time
• Make a binder for everything regarding an upcoming trip
• Buy cheap underwear to throw away on a trip so you don’t have to pack it home (or if you just don’t have enough to make the whole trip). Or save old garments that you were going to dispose of anyway and bring them with you and dispose of as you travel.
• Use the Magic Eraser on pretty much everything, but NOT on the TV
• Kitchen Lysol Antibacterial Spray to get out stains on carpet, clothes etc.
• Go to search.blogger.com to search for blogs an all sorts of topics (Crafts, journaling etc.)
• To get rid of the drip, drip sound on a leaky faucet tie a ribbon or string around it and let it dangle down. The drip will drip down the yarn instead of making a loud dripping sound.
• Use cotton gloves to dust small and delicate items
• In the dark, find your keyhole in your front door by finding it with your left hand first, move it slightly to the side, and then put your key in with your right hand.
• Use Aquanet (or other cheap, lacquer based hairspray) to get out ballpoint pen from fabric
• Get Car Grease out of fabric by rubbing in Crisco until it’s light grey, then launder
• To save money shop monthly and you can freeze most things. Freeze milk, thaw and shake well. Freeze bread double wrapped for freshness.
• Use beeswax for stuck zippers and to keep long thread (while sewing) from tangling and knotting.
• Can cut a perfect Cantaloupe, but needs to be demonstrated. Ask her for demonstration or email Jill Walker about a video of it.
• Use Advanced Radiance by Cover Girl, Age Defying makeup. It’s the best
• “Lucy” for pants and shorts. They are stretchy and comfy. “Hillside” Pant # 224118
• Use the Essential Mormon Cookbook
• Put a bar of soap in a mesh bag to use while camping
• Put your SOS pad in a plastic bag and throw in the freezer to keep it from rusting
• Ripen a cantaloupe by putting it in a paper bag with an apple or banana
• Dishwasher Soap to get tomato stains out
• Boil dishwasher soap in bottom of pan with a little water to get burned stuff off the pan
• Zigzag over pearl cotton and then pull to gather.
• Put salt in a bag with artificial plants and shake to clean them
• Run hands under cold water to handle rice crispy treats without sticking
• Put mail in freezer for 2 hours to unseal and reseal mail without being caught.
• Recipe for low sugar choc cookie with peanut butter cups, see her for recipe
• Yummy pie filling – Frozen peaches and berries, 1 C Sugar, ¼ Cup flour.
• Read the book Little Women.
• Check out the book I am A Mother by Jane Clayson Johnson
• Window cleaning solution so no streaks: Mix a little dawn, water and Windex.
• Soup Shortcut – Make big batch and then freeze in individual portions
• Make roll dough, roll in balls, freeze on sheet, then put in bag in freezer to have home made “Rhodes Rolls” anytime
• Favorite Quote – “Such is Life!”
• Grease on shirt when cooking – put dish soap on it immediately to get out.
• Hand cleaning-use nail brush, keep one at every sink
• Give yourself permission to take a day off and/or do only one thing, and go from there
• Keep a list with events you did and there dates as a sort of journal for quick and easy reference
• Remember to play with kids and make daily tasks fun.
• Most people are low in Vitamin D3. Take it in big amounts every day to help from getting the flu
• Keep a book of thoughts, and write yours down!
• Make a “Grandma Bag” of special things (books, tea set etc.)
• Buttering popcorn – Butter, oil, salt on stove top
• A spoonful of sugar will take away a spicy aftertaste
• Take the pedals off of a bike instead of installing training wheels
• To store kid’s clothes that are outgrown, take a box, cut a hole in the side, and then stack so the holes are facing out. Makes for easy putting away, and getting things out too!
• Go to Safeway in the early morning, especially on Mondays, to take advantage of all of their Red Sticker mark downs.
• If you like to use the Safeway $10 off coupons, FYI they come in the paper on Tuesdays. You can also get it if you don’t get the newspaper from the Ala Carte that is delivered for free weekly. If you are not getting yours, contact the Mail Tribune or your paper delivery person.
• Live on food storage for one month to see what you really need. Did this and found especially needed yeast, spices, and bouillon
• Take a bucket of water, ½ bottle of Jet Dry, and use this to wash windows. Spray with a hose afterward and you’re done. No need to dry! (only works outside)
• At first of the year take a minute to jot a list of all events of note from the past year
• Keep a book/journal with your scriptures to write down thoughts, impressions, etc. while you are reading your scriptures.
• To warm up your sheets in the winter before you get it bed use the blow dryer!
• Use daily medicine boxes for earrings, necklaces etc. Especially good for traveling.
• To remove corn from cob without getting it everywhere take a bundt cake pan or angel food cake pan and put the cob in the middle (in the hole). Scrape the cob and all the kernels will be caught in the pan!
• If you don’t have muffin tins, use cleaned out tuna cans
• If you have sour smelling towels wash them with 1 cup vinegar in the rinse cycle, then wash again to make sure there’s no vinegar smell
• To remind yourself of something in the future use your cell phone organizer to set an alarm and note for yourself
• At Halloween sneak out candy from the kids at night and freeze it and use it in their stockings at Christmas
• Be a One Minute Manager. When you remember something that needs to be done, stop, go do it, and then return to what you were doing.
• Make an “Emergency Kit” to give to out of town visitors when they leave. Can include things like a map, snacks, water, dollar store toys etc.
• Go to tv.com and eztv.com to watch TV shows for free that you may have missed
• To have perfectly warmed tortillas put tortillas in plastic wrap and then heat for a few seconds in the microwave
• Drywall screen will get rid of ring in the toilet (can get it at hardware stores)
• To get rid of hiccups take a spoonful of white sugar and some lemon juice, put it in your mouth and “savor” for a moment, then swallow. Works on anyone, any age, any time!
• Use the produce bags your produce comes in to chop on and then all of garbage is on the bag to easily throw away. (If worried about germs, turn the bag inside out and use the inside)
• Break up leftovers from dinner into single servings on a plate so you can just remove from the fridge, warm, and eat. Food gets eaten up more this way.
• If you have chipped/cracked/damaged plates you want to get rid of, use them one last time and then just toss without washing.
• Buy ground beef in bulk, cook it all up, and then freeze in 1lb portions for easy use later
• Make crock pot dinners, using the Crock Pot Recipe Book to save you time and hassle. Use Recipe Book “Fix it and Forget it”
• Buy fruit in the summer, dry it and then eat later for a healthy snack (better than fruit snacks for kids!)
• Make cookie dough, roll it into a log, and freeze to cook later just like store bought dough.
• Buy a magnetic strip (at kitchen store or IKEA) and place on wall to store knives
• Ultra Era for stain remover. Put in small squeeze Bottle
• Mrs. Stewart’s Liquid Bluing makes whites whiter and gets out yellow sweat stains.
• Take a dry old rag washcloth and put a dab (whatever is stuck to the lid) of liquid fabric softener on it and then use it in the dryer as a dryer sheet. Your rag will eventually turn the color of the softener.
• Put clothespins by laundry hamper and then clip your socks together so you always have socks already together that match
• Can cut sugar and butter by 25-50% in almost all cookie recipes without affecting the taste or consistency
• go to amazon.com to check reviews before you buy an item, even if you aren’t buying it from that website
• Push kids down slight hill on their bike to teach them balance
• Get the Itzbeen Baby Care Timer for ALL moms with babies. Keeps track of diaper changes, feedings, sleeping, which side you last nursed on, also includes flashlight and clips on to your clothes. Find it at target.com or Google it and find it MANY other places.
• Cloth Diapers are awesome! Not the cloth diapers of yesteryear. Check outkellyscloset.com for all sorts of styles. Current favorites are: BumGenius and SmartiPants. Ask her for advice/info on cloth diapers and save yourself time and money every month
• Rub hands on stainless steel to get rid of onion/garlic smell
• Can make books at blurb.com. Can upload your blog into a book automatically using their software, and it’s free. Just pay to print the book.
• Woot.com for one deal of the day, usually on electronics. REALLY good deals. Also has a link to kids woot where you can get great cheap stuff for kids
• Clip a metal safety pin to your hem to ground static electricity
• Use clips on a clean shoestring and keep in your purse. Clip to any napkin wherever you go for an instant bib (similar idea to bib used at dentist office).
• Use paper clips (in cute shapes and colors) as book marks so don’t lose them
• Rub shaving cream on mirror, then clean off and mirror won’t fog up while in the shower
• Make a seed packet book for next year’s garden with left over seeds. See her for pattern.
• Shared great quote on attitude by Winston Churchill
• IF you can laugh with it, you can live with it. Emma Bombeck
• Rubber band socks together for laundering and keeping together
• Make a sewing kit in a large canning jar and make the lid into a pincushion
• Drink tonic water each night for a week to get rid of leg crams
• Salt water before you boil eggs
• Cider vinegar and Drop of dish soap in a dish to attract and kill fruit flies
• Use hair bows for wrapping baby gifts. Cute and functional!
• Use an apple peeler corer, they’re awesome!
• To make homemade brown sugar combine 1 Tablespoon molasses and 1 Cup white sugar. Mix and let sit in airtight container.
• Miracle Cleaning Solution: In a gallon jug, fill half full with water. Using a funnel, add 1/4 cup soda, 1/2 cup borax, and 1 cup ammonia. Shake well. Let it sit a while for the bubbles to go away. Fill it up with water. Hint: If you let the water run down the side of the jug, you won't get more bubbles developing. Write the recipe on the container too for the next time you need to make it. Be sure to label it as well. I use it in a squirt bottle and refill from the big jug. I have found this works best on carpets and upholstery. Saturate the spot, and then blot it up with a clean rag. It also works well on lifting grease from kitchen surfaces.
• Use a tomato/strawberry corer tool to make life easier
• Ivory Soap takes out many stains.
• Graze all day long to avoid sugar highs and lows so you don’t overeat
• Take 2 capsules of Vitamin E every day for naturally beautiful skin
• When you roast a chicken for dinner (or buy a Costco one for $4.99) don’t throw away the carcass/skin/juice. Throw it all in the crock pot with a quart or two of water and set it on low overnight or even through the next day. Once the chicken is all falling apart scoop out everything and pick any salvageable meat that’s left out for another meal like chicken pot pie. Strain the remaining chicken broth into quart jars and put them into the fridge for whenever you need chicken broth. When you get ready to use it cut the fat off the top for a mostly fat free broth. With one chicken you get two meals and a couple quarts of broth!
• For chicken enchiladas put your whole chicken breasts into the crock pot with a packet of enchilada sauce mix and whatever liquid the packet calls for. Leave it on low all day (or over night) and after about 8 hours you have enchilada flavored chicken that just pulls apart. Use that to make the rest of your enchilada dish or whatever. You could make up a big batch and make some enchiladas in the freezer for a quick dinner later on too.

APPLE CRISP

Peel, cut and slice enough apples to fill a 9x13 pan an inch from the top.

Mix together the following and add to the apples.

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

Pinch of salt

Topping:

1 cup flour

1 1/2 cup quick oats

1 cup brown sugar

1 cube butter (mix in like for pie)

1/2 tsp. salt

*1 egg

Sprinkle the topping over the apples and bake at 350 degrees until the apples are done, about 30-40 minutes.

*If you like your "crisp" more crumbly, don't add the egg. If you like it with more stick togetherness, add the egg.

Stovetop Popcorn

In a heavy-bottomed soup pot over medium to medium-high heat, combine:

3 T canola oil

3 T margarine

½ t salt

Let it melt and simmer until it stops sizzling (my guess is that the water in the margarine has to evaporate. I haven’t tried it with butter) and begins to turn a little brown, then add:

½ c popcorn kernels

Cover the pot and slide it back and forth on the burner constantly until kernels begin to pop, and continue sliding it until popping slows to 3-5 seconds between pops. Empty pot into a large bowl (your pot will be very hot & running water into it may warp it, so set it somewhere safe to cool). Your popcorn has buttered and salted itself! Enjoy!

Noodle Salad

Ingredients:

Tri Color Noodles

Italian Dressing

Sliced Olives

Chunked Summer Sausage

Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Parmesan Cheese

Anything else that sounds good

Directions:

Boil the noodles and drain. Add everything else and mix. Chill for a few hours, taste and add more dressing as needed as the noodles will suck it up!

Cornmeal Bread

Ingredients:

½ c. Butter

2/3 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 c. Buttermilk

½ tsp. baking soda

1 c. Yellow Cornmeal

1 c. All purpose Flour

½ tsp salt

Directions:

Melt butter in a 3 qt. container. Remove from heat and stir in sugar. Add eggs and beat until well blended. Combine buttermilk and soda and stir into butter mixture. Add cornmeal, flour and slat; mix just until blended. Pour batter into a greased 8 inch square baking pan. Bake at 375 degree oven for 35 minutes, or until bread begins to pull away from sides of pan. Cut into squares and serve warm. Makes 6-8 servings.

Sonic Cherry Limeade

“Extra tart cherry limeade. To reduce the tartness, stir in an additional bottle of lemon-lime soda”

Ingredients:

2 (12 fluid ounce) cans frozen limeade concentrate

1 (2 liter) bottle lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage

1 (10 Ounce) Jar Maraschino cherries, drained and juice reserved

1 lime

Directions:

Pour both cans of concentrated limeade into a large pitcher. Min in lemon-lime soda. Stir in reserved cherry juice. Squeeze juice from lime into mixture, then slice and set aside. Stir well and serve over ice. Garnish with cherries and lime slices.

Italian Shells

Ingredients:

1lb. Hamburger

2 Cups Shells (noodles)

1 15oz Can Tomato Sauce

½ Chopped Onion

1 Clove Minced Garlic

1 Sm Can Sliced Olives

Italian Seasonings to taste.

Directions:
Brown onion & hamburger while boiling shells. Drain fat from hamburger and water from noodles. Add all ingredients (except noodles) and simmer then add shells and mix together.

Breads at Your Fingertips!

Thanks for the link, Margaret!

Just in time for the holiday baking season! Just click on the name of the bread for the recipe to appear!

American Pancakes
Apple Bread
Apple Bread
Applesauce-Rasin Bread
Banana Bread
Banana Nut Bread
Banana Raisin Nut Bread
Bishop's Bread
Blueberry Nut Bread
Broccoli Corn Bread
Brown Bread
Caramel Pecan Rolls
Carrot Tea Bread
Chelsie's Famous Monkey Bread
Chocolate Bombs
Chocolate Chip Muffins
Christmas Morning Cranberry Muffins
Christmas Shortbread
Christmas Shortbread
Cinnamon Buns
Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamon Strips
Cinnamon Sugar Toast
Cornbread Sausage Dressing with Apples and Pecans
Cranberry Banana Loaf
Cranberry Biscuits
Cranberry Bread
Cranberry Muffins
Crescent Caramel Swirl
Date & Nut Bread
Date Nut Loaf
Double Chocolate Chip Muffins
Doubly Good Yeast Rolls
Easy Breakfast Treat
Easy Cinnamon Rolls
Eggnog Bread
Gingerbread Delight
Glazed Poppyseed Bread
Grandma Joe's Brown Bread
Grandma's Cranberry Bread
Grand's Brown Bread
Haley's Special Strawberry Bread
Hawaiian Holiday Bread
Holiday Cranberry Bread
Holiday Stollen Bread
Irish Soda Bread
Irish Soda Bread
Italian Sausage Bread
Lemon Bread
Maple Walnut Sticky Buns
MeeMa's Strawberry Bread
Monkey Bread
Peanut Butter Mini Chip Loaves
Pecan Sticky Rolls
Pineapple-Zucchini Bread
Pistachio Bread
Pizza Bread
Popovers
Poppy See Bread
Povatica (Walnut Bread)
Pumpkin Bread
Red Lobster Biscuits
Skyline Apple Muffins
Southern Style Biscuits
Spinach Loaf
Stephen Lichti's Bruschetta
Strawberry Walnut Bread
The Best Pumpkin Bread
Zucchini Bread
Zucchini Bread

Cleaning Solution - Kelly Neilsen

In a gallon jug, fill half full with water. Using a funnel, add 1/4 cup soda, 1/2 cup borax, and 1 cup ammonia. Shake well. Let it sit a while for the bubbles to go away. Fill it up with water.

Hint: If you let the water run down the side of the jug, you won't get more bubbles developing.

Write the recipe on the container too for the next time you need to make it. Be sure to label it as well.

I use it in a squirt bottle and refill from the big jug. I have found this works best on carpets and upholstery. Saturate the spot, then blot it up with a clean rag. It also works well on lifting grease from kitchen surfaces.

Cheese Tortellini Salad with Roasted Vegetables - Lisa Dunn

(Ashley Smith's recipe)

Roasted Vegetables

2 medium zucchinis – diced

2 medium red peppers – julienned

2 medium yellow peppers – julienned

1 bunch asparagus – cut into 1 inch pieces

1 medium onion – cut into thin crescents

1-2 Tbls olive oil

(or other vegetables that may be in season)

Toss the vegetables with oil and stir fry (or roast in a 425 degree oven) until tender, about 15-20 minutes. Allow all vegetables to cool.

Optional:

1 – 2 cups cooked Chicken breast – chopped

Tortellini

2 lbs. cheese tortellini

In a large sauce pan over medium heat, cook tortellini in boiling, salted water according to package directions and drain.

Salad

1 cup frozen peas

1 cup marinated artichoke hearts

Salt and pepper to taste

Dress with a creamy herbed dressing or Italian Vinaigrette. I like Newman’s Own Light Balsamic Vinaigrette and a little Carini’s Creamy Italian.

Can be served chilled or at room temperature.

Window Cleaner - Colette H.

In a bucket of warm water add a squirt of dishwashing soap and a half a small bottle of Jet Dry. All you have to do is scrub your windows with it and then spray off with a hose.

Pear (or Apple) Puff Cake - Pear Farm

1/4 c butter
2 pears or apples, peeled & sliced
6 eggs
1 1/2 c milk
1 c flour
3 T sugar
1 t vanilla
1/2 t salt
1/2 t cinnamon
3 T brown sugar

Melt butter in pan. Put fruit over melted butter. Mix all but brown sugar in blender. When butter is sizzling, pour batter over. Sprinkle brown sugar over and bake @ 450° for 20 minutes.

Basic Quiche - Michele Hoak

1 pie crust (recipe below)

4 eggs
1 c heavy cream or 1/2 & 1/2
1 c cheese
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1/8 t pepper sauce (Tabasco)

Add ins:
1 c diced ham
1/4 c sliced green onion
1/4 c diced onion
6 oz crab
1 t dill weed
spinach
broccoli
mushrooms
bell pepper
ETC.

Pie Crust:
1 c flour
1/2 c shortening
1/4 c water
pinch of salt or sugar

Cut shortening into flour until pea-sized balls. Add water and mix well with fork. Roll out on heavily floured board.

Bake at 350° until done (approx. 45 minutes)

Pear Pie - Sunni West

Crust:
3 c all-purpose flour
1 t salt
2 T sugar
1/2 c vegetable shortening
8 T unsalted butter, chilled and cut into 1/4" cubes
1 egg
1/3 c milk


Filling:
6 c peeled and sliced pears
3/4 c sugar
1/2 c flour
2 t almond extract
additional butter
milk

Preheat oven to 400°.

For the crust, mix together the flour, salt and sugar. Cut in the butter and shortening until it resembles course crumbs (food processor works great!). Mix milk with egg. Lightly incorporate the milk and egg mixture with the flour until the dough holds its shape. Form the dough into a disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Freeze for 1 hour. Roll into 2 circular portions of the dough.

For the filling, toss the pears with the flour and sugar. Add extract and mix thoroughly. Pour the filling in a 9" pie dish that has been lined with 1 portion of the dough and lightly washed with egg. Top the filling with generous dots of butter. Top with the second portion of dough and crimp edges. Wash the dough with egg (or milk) and sprinkle with sugar. Bake 20 minutes. Drop temperature to 325° and continue baking 35-40 minutes.

Nauvoo Gingerbread Cookies (Scovil Bakery) - Sunni West

This is the recipe of the old fashioned gingerbread cookies given as part of the tour for the Scovil Bakery in Old Nauvoo. These cookies freeze well and are softer and more flavorful after freezing.

1 c sugar
1 c sorghum or molasses
3/4 c oil or lard
1/2 c hot water
2 eggs
1 t baking soda
2 t cinnamon
1/2 t salt
2 t ginger
6-7 c white flour
2 eggs

1. Combine sugar, sorghum and oil. Rinse sorghum from cup with hot water.
2. Add 2 eggs.
3. Mix together the following: soda, cinnamon, ginger, salt and flour.
4. Combine the two mixtures.
5. Refrigerate dough overnight.
6. Roll out and cut with cookie cutter.
7. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes.

Serves 5
40 min / 30 min prep

Bronco Mendenhall's Blue Ribbon Almond Roca Cookies

Bronco Mendenhall's Blue Ribbon Almond Roca Cookies

(Kay Bragg via Jacque Schmidt)

serves 3 dozen

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup butter, room temp

2 eggs, room temp

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 pkg toffee bits

1 cup coarsely ground almonds

4 ounces milk chocolate

1/2 Tbsp vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 300 degrees

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, blend sugars together on medium speed. Add butter and mix to form grainy paste. Add eggs and vanilla and mix at medium speed until light and fluffy. At low speed, slowly add the flour mixture and then the toffee bits. Mix until just blended; do not over-mix.

Place ground nuts in a small bowl. Using hands, roll balls of dough into 1 - 1 1/2-inch balls, then roll in the ground nuts. Place on cookie sheets several inches apart. Bake approximately 22 minutes and then transfer cookies to a cooling rack.

Melt the chocolate with the vegetable oil in a double boiler or in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Drizzle melted chocolate over cooler cookies. Place cookies on a cookie sheet and place in freezer or refrigerator until chocolate is firmly set.

Basic Crepes - Sunni West

Basic Crepes

3 eggs

1 1/2 c. flour

2 Tbsp. butter melted

1/8 tsp. salt

1 1/2 c. skim milk

In mixing bowl, combine eggs and salt, add flour alternately with milk, beating until smooth after each addition. Add butter and beat. Heat a round skillet over medium heat. Pour a bit of the batter in the middle of the skillet. Quickly lift skillet and turn to coat evenly in a very thin layer. Cook over heat until bottom is lightly brown, turn to other side for a few seconds. Crepes can be stored between wax paper in the fridge for up to three days.

Dirt Dessert - Lisa Dunn

1 pkg regular Oreos

- Blend Oreos in a blender 10 at a time. (If too many at once tend to goop up)

8 oz cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

4 Tablespoons butter

2 – 4 oz instant French Vanilla pudding

3½ cup milk

8 oz Cool Whip

Combine cream cheese, sugar and butter, whip very well. In a separate bowl combine pudding mix with milk. Mix until thick. Fold cream cheese mixture and pudding mixture together. Fold in Cool Whip.

In large bowl layer approx. 1 inch cookie crumb then one 1 inch cream cheese layer. Continue layering until all mixture is used. Top dessert with remaining cookie crumbs.

(Got this recipe from Kris Woodley, who got it from Kelly Zimmer.)

Super Easy Pear Butter - Sandy Sommerfeld

Hey Gals, several Sisters heard me talking about this easy recipe and asked for it.
Here it is to pass on to anyone and everyone. Have a nice day. *>} Sandy

Super Easy Pear Butter

40 to 50 pears (the riper the better)

1-1/2 cups sugar (I cut it to 2/3 cup)

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 teaspoons ground cloves


1. core pears (no need to peel) and puree in blender with sugar and spices

2. fill crock pot with puree

3. cook on high for about 12 hours until reduce to about half

4. cans or freezes well

Chocolate Zucchini Cake (Original ) - Jill Walker

1/2 c butter
1 3/4 c sugar
1/2 c oil
2 eggs
2 t vanilla
1/2 c milk + 3 T vinegar
1 t soda
2 1/4 c flour
1/2 t cinnamon
4 T cocoa
1/2 t salt
2 c grated zucchini
1/3 pkg mini chocolate chips
1/3 c sugar

Blend butter, sugar and oil. Add eggs, vanilla, milk mixed with vinegar and soda. Add flour, cinnamon, cocoa, salt and grated zucchini. Pour into well greased and floured 9x13. Sprinkle first with chocolate chips, then with 1/3 c sugar. Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes.

Chocolate Zucchini Cake (Healthier Version ) - Jill Walker

1/2 c canola oil
1/2 c puree (vegetable or fruit such as applesauce)
1 1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
2 c grated zucchini
1 1/2 c whole wheat flour
1 c white flour
1 t vanilla
1/2 c sour milk
4 T cocoa
1/4 t cinnamon
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
1 t baking powder

Combine all ingredients and pour into greased 9x13. Sprinkle with brown sugar, chocolate chips and chopped walnuts. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes.

Source: www.superhealthykids.com

Seminary Strawberry Pie

This is Michele Hassell's recipe - the one that gets served to Seminary Seniors!

Pie Filling:

1 can sweetened condensed milk, chilled

1/4 t almond extract

1 t vanilla

1/3 c lemon juice

1 c cool whip OR 1/2 cup cream, whipped

Beat everything except the cool whip until it's thick like pudding. Fold in the cool whip. Spread into a cooled pie shell.

Strawberry Topping:

1 pint strawberries, sliced, reserving 1 perfect berry

1/2 tub glaze

Mix 1 pint sliced strawberried with 1/2 tub of glaze. Drop over filling and add one perfect strawberry in the middle. Refrigerate until served.

Another Topping Option:
While you're making the filling, simmer on stove:

1 c fresh raspberries (or any fresh fruit)
1 T lemon juice
2/3 c water

Mix and add to fruit mixture, boil 1 minute:
1 envelope unflavored Knox gelatin
1 c sugar
3 T Cornstarch
1/3 c water

Add 3 cups additional fruit. Cool. Spread over filling. Chill.

Brownie Cookies - Julie Vistaunet

The recipe is from the back of the Baker's Unsweetened Chocolate box:

Soft & Chewy Chocolate Drops Recipe Rating: Prep Time: 20 min Total Time: 1 hr 20 min Makes: 5 doz. or 30 servings, two cookies each Nutrition Information Kraft Kitchens Tips Ratings and comments

Cookies 4 squares BAKER'S Unsweetened Chocolate 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter 2 cups sugar 3 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla 2-1/2 cups flour Glaze 1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping (Do not thaw.) 6 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate

COOKIES: Preheat oven to 350°F. Microwave unsweetened chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add sugar; mix well. Blend in eggs and vanilla. Add flour; mix well. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until dough is easy to handle. SHAPE dough into 1-inch balls; place, 2 inches apart, on lightly greased baking sheets. BAKE 8 min. or just until set. (Do not overbake.) Let stand on baking sheet 1 min.; transfer to wire racks. Cool completely. GLAZE**: Place frozen whipped topping and semi-sweet chocolate in microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is shiny and smooth, stirring after 1 min. Let stand 15 min. to thicken. Spread over cookies. Let stand until glaze is set. **I improvised on the glaze, and whatever I did can never be reproduced again

Lemon Cupcakes - Paula Broberg

Cake:
1 box lemon cake mix

1 package lemon Jell-O dissolved in in 1 cup hot water

Add Jello-O mixture to cake mix

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup vegetable oil

Glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar

Juice of 2 lemons

When cupcakes come out of oven, while still hot, punch tops with fork 4-5 times on each cupcake. Pour glaze over top until glaze melts and goes down into holes. Approx. 1 Tablespoon of glaze on each cupcake.

Reserve remaining glaze mixture for frosting.

Frosting:
(This is not exactly what we had at the dinner, Paula made that herself and couldn't write it down. However, I know it tastes delicious with just the glaze)

remaining glaze mixture

2 Tablespoons lemon curd

1/2 pkg (4 oz) cream cheese

Whip. Frost cupcakes.

High Tea Punch - Paula Broberg

Full container (6 tubs) of Crystal Light lemonade

Two 46oz. cans pineapple juice

Two 12oz. frozen orange juice concentrate

Mix lemonade and orange juice according to pkg. directions.

Stir all juices together.

Float raspberries on top or serve with a small scoop of sherbet.

Pickled Asparagus - Colette Hokanson

8 pts asparagus spears
6 C water
6 C white vinegar (5%)
6 T salt
Garlic, 1 clove per jar

Yield 8 pts

Procedure: wash asparagus well in cool water.
Cut into jar length spears
Combined water, vinegar, salt
Heat to boiling
Pack asparagus into pint or quart jars (tip ends down for easier removal)
Put 1 clove garlic in each jar
Cover with boiling brine, leaving ½ in. headspace
Adjust jar lids and use conventional boiling water canner processing
10 minutes for pints. 15 minutes for quarts

**Do not eat for 6 months to allow food to pickle.

Chicken Picnic Salad - Kristi Bennion

3 cups chicken, cooked and diced
6 ounces rotelli pasta, cooked as per package directions
6 cups spinach
1 cup salted cashews
1 red pepper, diced
1/2 bunch green onions
1/2 cup Salad oil
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup rice vinegar
2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Cook chicken and dice. Cook pasta. Mix chicken, pasta, spinach, cashews, pepper, and green onion. To prepare dressing, mix salad oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, and pepper. Toss with dressing when ready to serve.

Easy Italian Herb Focaccia - Margaret Dyal

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Rise Time: 45 minutes
Bake Time: 30-35 minutes
Serves: 8-10

3 1/4 c all-purpose flour
1 envelope dry yeast
1 T sugar
1 t salt
1/4 extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 2/3 c very warm water (120°-130° F)
2 T shredded Parmesan cheese
1 T Italian herb seasoning

Mix flour, undissolved yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and water, stirring until well mixed. Spread dough into greased 13 x 9-inch pan. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.

Poke multiple holes into the dough using the handle of a wooden spoon. Drizzle 2 Tablespoons of olive oil over dough; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and Italian herb seasoning. Cover.
Let rise an additional 15 minutes while oven preheats to 375 degrees.

Bake 30-35 minutes until lightly browned. Cool slightly and cut into slices; serve warm. If desired, serve with additional olive oil for dipping.

Cake Doughnut Bread Pudding - Jill Walker

This recipe came from my mother-in-law with rave reviews:

1 stick butter, softened

1 cup sugar

5 large eggs, lightly beaten

2 cups Heavy Cream

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 TBLS Vanilla Extract

16 Cake Doughnuts (I buy them at the Hostess Thrift Store, I used large & small, small will take more)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Combine butter and sugar briefly, just until it forms into a ball in a food processor or cream with a mixer. Add eggs, heavy cream, Cinnamon, and Vanilla, blend together.

Lightly butter a 9x13 inch baking dish. Break up the doughnuts into 1 inch pieces and layer in the pan. Pour the egg mixture over the doughnuts. Soak for 10 minutes. You will need to push doughnut pieces down during this time to ensure even coverage by egg mixture.

Cover with foil and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes to brown the top. The bread pudding is done when the custard is set but still soft. Re-cover to keep warm.

Oriental Chicken Slaw

This fabulous salad was also served at 2009 Stake Womens Conference.

Prep time: 20 minutes
Chill: 2-24 hours

1/2 c salad oil
1/2 c rice vinegar
1/4 c sugar
1/4 t crushed red pepper
2 3-oz packages chicken-flavor ramen noodles
4 c finely chopped cooked chicken
4 c packaged shredded cabbage with carrot (coleslaw mix)
3/4 c sliced almonds, toasted
1/2 c sliced green onions

For dressing, in a small bowl whisk together oil, vinegar, sugar, red pepper, and contents of seasoning packets from ramen noodles. Set dressing aside.

In a large saucepan, cook ramen noodles in boiling water for 2-3 minutes or until tender; drain. Transfer noodles to a large bowl. Pour 1/4 c of the dressing over the cooked noodles; toss to coat. Add chicken, cabbage, almonds, and green onions to noodle mixture; mix well. Pour the remaining dressing over the salad; toss to combine. Cover and chill for 2-24 hours.

Serves 8. Nutrition facts per serving:

470 calories; 30 g total fat; 445 mg sodium; 24 g carbo; 2 g fiber; 26 g protein

Ginger-Chicken Pasta Salad

This delicious salad was served at the 2009 Stake Womens Conference.

Prep time: 35 minutes
Chill: 4 - 24 hours

8 oz dried rotini or small bow ties
1 1/2 c snow peas, tips and strings removed
3 T salad oil
3 T rice vinegar
2 T sugar
2 T soy sauce
1 1/2 t grated fresh ginger
1/2 t crushed red pepper
2 c bite-size strips cooked chicken
1 1/2 c yellow and/0r red sweet pepper strips
3/4 c thinly sliced radishes
1/2 c bias-sliced green onions
3 T snipped fresh cilantro or parsley
1/2 c chopped peanuts

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Rinse with cold water; drain again.

Meanwhile, cook snow peas in boiling water for 30 seconds. Drain; rinse with cold water. Cover and chill until serving time.

For dressing, in a screw-top jar combine oil, vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, ginger, and crushed red pepper. Cover and shake well.

In a very large bowl combine cooked pasta, chicken, sweet pepper strips, radishes, green onions, and cilantro. Add dressing; toss gently to coat. Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours.

Just before serving, add pea pods to salad; toss to mix and coat with dressing. Sprinkle salad with peanuts.

Serves 6. Nutrition facts per serving:

484 calories, 20 g total fat, 50 mg cholesterol, 492 mg sodium, 48 g carbs, 5 g fiber; 28 g protein

Easter Story Cookies - Jill Walker

This is a fun Easter tradition at our house....

To be made the evening before Easter

• 1 cup whole pecans
• 1 tsp vinegar
• 3 egg whites
• pinch salt
• 1 cup sugar
• zipper baggie
• wooden spoon
• tape
• Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important, don't wait till you're half done with the recipe!)

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar.

Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.

Pioneer Bread - Colette Hokanson

Pioneer Bread

Make starter. This can be stored on the counter (will become a sourdough starter more quickly or in the fridge). I put mine in an old 24 ounce yogurt container and poked a hole in the lid. Mix with a wooden or plastic spoon (no metal at all with this recipe);

1 cup warm water

1 cup white flour

1 T yeast

Every time you use ¼ cup of this replenish it with ¼ cup flour and ¼ cup water and stir it up.

You can use this starter after about three hours. This is the EASIEST bread I have ever made and it is DELICIOUS!!!!! (Similar to Costco's multigrain Pugliese bread)

In a glass or plastic bowl (medium to large size) add:

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 cups white flour

½ cup oatmeal

1 ½ cup WARM water

¼ cup starter

1 ½ tsp salt.

Optional - ¼ cup millet, sunflower seeds, chopped olives and garlic, use your imagination

Stir with wooden or plastic spoon until all mixed. Put plastic wrap over it and let sit overnight (8 - 18 hours). Punch it down and form into a ball. Let raise for 2 more hours or until double. (You might want to put it on oiled aluminum foil to make it easier to transfer) Preheat oven to 460 degrees. Transfer it to a lightly oiled cast iron dutch oven ( I have done it in my cast iron skillet with another pot's lid or cookie sheet and it works, just makes more of a flat bread). Put the lid on it and put it into preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove lid and bake 5 more minutes. Remove and let cool for 15 minutes before diving in. Makes an artisan like bread with a hard crust and chewy moist interior.