Felt Tree Activity

We wanted to make sure and remind you all about the "CHRISTMAS FELT TREE ACTIVITY" that will be held tomorrow (Thursday). We will be providing the felt squares and green material. If you have scissors or a hot glue gun, please feel free to bring them.
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Multipurpose Building ( If plans change that we have to move it to the church, then we will notify you)

Getting to Know Sarah M

My Name is: Sarah M

My favorite dinner is: depending on my mood but I love a good chicken pot pie or cream of broccoli soup if it is made just right.

My favorite dessert is: The Great Wall of Chocolate from PF Changs

My favorite flower is: Calla Lilies

My favorite hobby is: I love playing pretty much any sport and being active. For example, going rock climbing!

My favorite restaurant is: Cheesecake Factory

A game I like to play is: Werewolf J

The music I listen to most is: Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato have a special place in my heart but I do love 80’s music.

My favorite thing to buy is: ingredients for a tasty dessert. I love baking!

A book I highly recommend is: Hunger Games. All 3.

A movie I watch over and over is: 8 min workouts if you ever need a work out buddy call me!

A smell that makes me pause is: The smell of the swimming pools by the door on the west side of the RB that lets just a little warm chlorinated air out constantly. Nothin better!

The city I would most like to visit is: Dingle! It’s in Ireland.

My favorite thing to do on a date is: I like active dates so ice skating, rock climbing, football you name it. I also love going to the Young Ambassador shows or plays at the Hale or at BYU.

The best vacation I ever had was: Either when I spend 2 ½ weeks touring Europe or when Brian and I went to Florida, the Bahamas and then Vegas. Both were amazing!

If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? Hermione Granger of course!

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Fly? I would love to fly a plane…

What chore do you absolutely hate doing? Sweeping! Vacuums that work on hard floors= best invention ever.

When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time? Sleep, eat or cook.

What do you think is your very best feature or characteristic? I think I can be funny sometimes..

What is the "thing" you are most grateful for? Brian of course!

What is your dream vacation? Oooh. There is this cruise that tours around the world for 180 days or something like that, I think that would be so fantastic.

What's the coolest thing you've ever done? Currently in my mind, making it through a slot canyon alive.

How did you meet your husband? How did he propose?

We met in MCOM 320, a business communications class. We were assigned to the same group. It took him a month to finally ask me out!

He proposed on November 16, 2010. He had my roommate’s boyfriend text me and ask me to bring my roommate to Rock Canyon Park. I get out of the car and my roommate leaves me. I walked over to his roommate who was standing there with his girlfriend and he handed me a blanket and a cup of hot chocolate and then told me I knew where to go. So I walked up to this bench we went to on our first date. He had his guitar and was wearing the exact same outfit from our first date. Totally recreated it! Then he walked me over to a street light and pointed at a little black box on the ground, asking me what that was. He got down on one knee and asked me to be his best friend forever. Then we went to Sonic!

The best thing about being married is: the snuggles… and always having someone to talk to and take your side in anything!

What do you and your husband like to do together? Watch movies and TV shows, read, hiking, rock climbing, outdoor exploration, and LASER TAG!

What would be your perfect day? Disneyland/world and Harry Potter world. Pretty much the key to my heart.

Heart of a Princess--Photos of the Tree

Here are some photos of our Tree!

Thank you to everyone who participated and gave support for creating this beautiful tree along with its accompanying items. The bookcase ended up fantastic, the ornaments wonderful, and overall--a complete success! I know Celeste and her family really appreciated the love and support that was shown for them.


If you are going up to the Festival, our Tree is on Aisle K.

Celeste came to see the tree all set up the night before it was taken up to Sandy. Needless to say, she loved it!

The Tree at the Festival: Ailse K

The Beautiful bulb ornaments! They looks so sparkly on the tree.

Our Princess Hearts--they add lots of gorgeous bling!

The castles and crowns turned out great and really added some Princess Zing to the Tree

Our Tree topper. You can also see the beautiful garland!

The Dress Up Chest turned out so wonderful!

The beautiful Custom made Jewelry box. It will be a big hit!

Festival of the Trees Information

If anyone is interested in going up to the Festival of the Trees (and I highly recommend that you do!) here is the information:

Wednesday November 30- Saturday, December 3
10am-10pm
South Town Expo Center
Sandy, Utah

Tickets:
$5 Adults
$3 Children ages 2-11
Children under 2 are Free

For more information, here is their website:
http://festivaloftreesutah.org/


Thank you to everyone for all your help in this labor of love for Celeste! She LOVED the tree! (pictures will be posted this week of the tree and of Celeste with the tree.)

Holiday Treats Part 2

 

Gingerbread Cookies

3/4 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp clove
1 tsp ginger

Mix shortening, sugar, egg and molasses together well. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Slowly mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Roll dough into balls. Roll the balls in white sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.

Holly Wreath
Mary H

Ingredients:
1 pkg (10 ½ oz) mini marshmallows
½ cup butter or margarine
1 tsp green food coloring
1 tsp vanilla
6 cups cornflakes
Red cinnamon candies

Directions:
Melt marshmallows and butter over low heat; remove from heat.Quickly stir in food coloring and vanilla. Add cornflakes; gently mix until just coated. Grease hands, and shape mixture into large wreath on greased waxed paper. Decorate wreath with cinnamon candies for holly berries. Refrigerate until firm.

Monkey Bread
Mary H

Ingredients:
4 can Refrigerator biscuits country or buttermilk
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon Cinnamon

Sauce
¾ cup Butter or margarine (1 ½ sticks)
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar

Directions:
Cake: combine the sugars and cinnamon in a plastic bad. Break the biscuits into quarters and add 10 or 12 pieces at a time to the bad and shake to coat. Place in a greased tube or bundt pan.

Sauce: Melt the butter and sugars in a small saucepan. Cook until thick (really bubbly). Pour over the biscuits and bake at 350° for 30 minutes.

Note: If using bread pans (9x5x3), use two pans and split the recipe into two and put half in each pan.

Holiday Treats

We had a great turn out to our Holiday Food Tradition Swap. Here are the recipes of the foods that people brought. (I’m sorry if I didn’t give you credit for the recipe – I wasn’t exactly sure what everyone brought)

Saltine Toffee
Elisa H

I love this recipe because its so easy and has no unusual ingredients! 

Ingredients:

• 1 sleeve of saltine crackers
• 1 stick (4 oz) butter
• 1/2 cup sugar OR 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 cups chocolate chips

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Arrange the crackers in a single layer on the baking sheet so that there are no empty spaces in between them. Crush any remaining crackers into small crumbs and set aside for now.

3. Place the butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir while the butter melts, and bring the mixture to a rolling boil. Once boiling, carefully pour the sugar-butter mixture over the crackers on the baking sheet in an even layer, trying to cover most of the crackers. If you miss some spots, don’t worry as the toffee will spread in the oven.

4. Bake the toffee crackers at 350 degrees for five minutes, until the toffee is bubbling all over. Carefully remove the pan from the oven and allow to cool for one minute.

5. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top of the hot toffee, and allow them to sit for one minute to soften and melt. Once softened, use an offset spatula or knife to spread the melted chocolate over the entire surface of the toffee in an even layer. While the chocolate is still sticky, sprinkle the top with the reserved crushed crackers.

6. Refrigerate the pan to set the toffee and chocolate for about 30 minutes. Once set, break into s

mall uneven pieces by hand, and enjoy! Store uneaten saltine toffee in an airtight container for up to a week.

Eggless Eggnog
Colette A

7 cups milk,divided
1 cup half and half
1 4 oz pkg vanilla instant pudding mix
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbs rum flavoring(vanilla probably works too)
1 tsp nutmeg

Dissolve pudding mix with 2 cups milk. Whisk until blended. Add sugar. Mix well. Add remaining ingredients.

We do the first part in a bowl and then pour it all into an empty gallon milk jug and shake it up more, and then it’s perfect for keeping it in the fridge and for easy pouring.

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies
Jen B

1 box Cherry chip cake mix
1 large egg
1/2 cup oil
2 Tbs water
1/2 pkg chocolate chips

In a medium bowl, mix all the ingredients just until moist. Drop by teaspoon on a cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Cookies will look soft, but harden quickly.

Sweet Potato Muffins
Kristin S

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/3 c buttermilk
1/3 c whole milk
1 sweet potato puree (medium sized)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 stick unsalted butter
3/4 c brown sugar

In a medium bowl, combine all-purpose flour, baking podwer, salt baking soda and ground nutmeg. Set aside. In a large pouring vessel combine whole milk, buttermilk, sweet potato puree and vanilla extract. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream unsalted butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer, until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternately mix in dry and wet ingredients into the butter, starting and ending with the dry; mix only until each addition is incorporated, DO NOT OVERMIX. Sprinkle muffins with raw sugar.

Coat a muffin pan with nonstick spray and fill muffin cups 1/2 full Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffin comes out clean.

Getting to Know Faby J

My name is: Faby J

My favorite dinner is: Chicken Alfredo (from Macaroni Grill)

My favorite dessert is: Applebee's Triple Chocolate Meltdown SO GOOD!

My favorite flower is: Yellow Gerber Daisy

My favorite hobby is: Dance - any kind of dancing but specially salsa dancing

My favorite restaurant is: Bombay House - the lamb masala is delicious!

A game I like to play is: Skipbo, Blokus, or uno

The music I listen to most is: Latin music

My favorite thing to buy is: CLOTHES!!!!!!

A book I highly recommend is: mmm, sorry I’m not a big fan of reading so I honestly don’t have a favorite book to recommend

A movie I watch over and over is: Just like Heaven and Enchanted I’m such a girl!

A smell that makes me pause is: Very Irresistible by Givenchy

The city I would most like to visit is: Paris

My favorite thing to do on a date is: to eat haha! I’m a big fan of good food if you want to see me happy just bring me food haha and i will be your best friend LOL

The best vacation I ever had was: in Mexico

If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? Belle

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? all the languages in the world so i could communicate with different kinds of cultures and people

What chore do you absolutely hate doing? cleaning the bathroom :(

When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time? I love watching mexican soap-operas 

What do you think is your very best feature or characteristic? haha mmm maybe my eyes ????

What is the "thing" you are most grateful for? My family, I know every body says the same thing but I honestly have the best family in the whole world I love them so much!

What is your dream vacation? anywhere I really don’t have a place in particular , I think the perfect vacation will be anywhere were I can take all my family and just have fun exploring the place, eating tons, playing and having fun maybe at the beach!

What's the coolest thing you've ever done? When I was in Argentina we went to this zoo were you are able to get inside the cages of lions and tigers, not only that you can pet them and they also let you feed them, poured out some milk in my hand and they came and licked it from my hand it was SOOO scary, you are also allow to take them on walks so I did, they put a little leash around their necks and you can go walk your lion LOL its so cool!

How did you meet your husband? How did he propose? Well we met in a class at BYU, he asked for help with his paper for his Spanish class (Yeah right! was the perfect excuse haha) we started to hang out, we found out that my dad was his mission president, I didn’t like that, so I told him I just wanted to be friends with him and that I only wanted to hang out with him not to date him. He said it was ok by the next day after our talk he kissed me and ... you probably know the rest!

He proposed by taking me to San Francisco CA, he made reservations in a very cool restaurant on a cliff and after we had a great dinner he proposed in front of the ocean with a beautiful sunset.

The best thing about being married is: Waking up right next to the best man on earth! Getting to know my hubby, caring for each other and just being able to overcome things together.

What do you and your husband like to do together? watch movies, play, going on walks, go shopping to the mall, picnics and bbqs

What was the best advice you got/would give on marriage? Communication is the key of a good marriage!

What story does your family always tell about you? They just love to tell how mean I was with guys and how I always made them suffer, I must clarify that I did repent! LOL after this guys broke my heart haha so I was a very nice girl after that!

Getting to Know Lindsay H

My name is: Lindsay H

My favorite dinner is: Roast with mashed potatoes and homemade rolls

My favorite dessert is: Cheesecake

My favorite flower is: Daisy

My favorite hobby is: Crafting

My favorite restaurant is: Cheesecake Factory

A game I like to play is: Charades

The music I listen to most is: Pandora Mixes: country or instrumental

My favorite thing to buy is: Clothes or craft supplies

A book I highly recommend is: Les Miserables

A movie I watch over and over is: Any musical

A smell that makes me pause is: Johnson and Johnson Baby Shampoo (a recent favorite)

My favorite thing to do on a date is: Chat over a bowl of ice cream

The best vacation I ever had was: A humanitarian trip to Kenya

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Be a great photographer

What chore do you absolutely hate doing? Washing silverware

What do you think is your very best feature or characteristic? I love people

What's the coolest thing you've ever done? Gone on an African Safari

How did you meet your husband? We were set up on a blind date

How did he propose? He took me horseback riding up a mountain, set up a candlelit dinner, had homemade fortune cookies for dessert...the ring was in a cookie!

The best thing about being married is: Knowing that I'm making memories with the same person for the rest of eternity.

What do you and your husband like to do together? Run, chat, play with Peter

What was the best advice you got/would give on marriage? I was recently told that it's important to secure your own oxygen mask before helping others put theirs on. In other words, keep your marriage healthy and strong first. You have to secure that before you can help your children. A strong marriage comes before a strong family. Without a strong marriage, everything in your family might fail.

Getting to Know Erin R

My name is: Erin R

My favorite dinner is: Manecotti

My favorite dessert is: Chocolate Lava Cake

My favorite flower is: Orchid or a Rose

My favorite hobby is: Dancing and Cooking

My favorite restaurant is:  The Indian Palace (here in Provo)

A game I like to play is: Curses

The music I listen to most is: Pretty much anything

My favorite thing to buy is: SHOES - high heels to be more exact :)

A book I highly recommend is: The Secret Journal of Brett Colton

A movie I watch over and over is: Ever After

A smell that makes me pause is: fresh rain (I know that sounds weird but I love the smell that comes after a nice rainfall)

The city I would most like to visit is:  Cairo, Egypt

My favorite thing to do on a date is: Really, it is simply just to spend quality time with my husband, it doesn't matter what we do.

The best vacation I ever had was: I traveled to Alaska with my family multiple times and absolutely love the scenery there!

If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? Belle on Beauty and the Beast

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? I'd love to learn how to sew.

What chore do you absolutely hate doing? Folding Laundry

When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time? Watch the Food Network Channel

What do you think is your very best feature or characteristic? My love for children.  I am a teacher and I absolutely love being able to be around children everyday. 

What is the "thing" you are most grateful for? The gospel.

What is your dream vacation?  I would love to travel to South America and visit the rain forests there. 

What's the coolest thing you've ever done? Um...probably got my Associate's degree when I graduated from high school.

How did you meet your husband? How did he propose? I was living up north at Utah State and he was down here at BYU.  His cousin was my roommate and we met through her.  It is a splendid story, but too long for this :).  He proposed to me up in Washington in this Bohemian town called Leavenworth.  We got engaged on December 30, 2009 in the gazebo smack dab in the middle of the town.

The best thing about being married is: that I'm married to my best friend.  I get to wake up every morning happy because he is right there to greet me.

What do you and your husband like to do together?  We act like we are five years old, we love going to Arcades and Toy Stores for dates, we also LOVE hole-in-the-wall restaurants.  We go to different small restaurants to see what they are like.

What would be your perfect day? A beautiful sunny day with no cares, spending time with my family and friends. 

What was the best advice you got/would give on marriage? Don't let the small things get in the way.  They don't matter in the long scheme of things.

What story does your family always tell about you? They always tell the story about how I almost rode over a snake with my bike.  Instead, I stopped right before I hit it and screamed as loudly as I could.  My mom and I were biking by a golf course and my mom joked about how I made the golfers miss their swings because of the scream.  The rattler coiled up and was ready to strike when I finally just went around it and did not get bitten. 

Getting to Know Mandy B

My name is: Mandy B

My favorite dinner is: Mexican anything....

My favorite dessert is: DEFINITELY ice cream--creamy thick shakes or just a huge bowl of ice cream!

My favorite flower is: .......daisies??.... I don't know--bright and happy ones in general.....

My favorite hobby is: spending time with family+friends, music, attempted crafty things, cooking

My favorite restaurant is: Chilis!

A game I like to play is: Card games & Mario Kart

The music I listen to most is: Country, techno/Michael Jackson if I'm working out or feel like rocking out :), and EFY cd's {Yes, I'm cheesy like that}

My favorite thing to buy is: CLOTHES.... although I don't buy them very often. But theoretically, it is. ;)

A book I highly recommend is: 25 Ways to Win with People: How to Make Others Feel Like a Million Bucks--I have a thing for Self Help books! It's really good...I have lots to work on from this book.....a quick read, very good!

A movie I watch over and over is: Pearl Harbor....??

A smell that makes me pause is: Mexican food!

The city I would most like to visit is: Hmmm...I guess taking Braden to my hometown in The Woodlands {Texas}....he has never gone there with me since my family moved up here after I graduated...and I just think it would be fun to show him where I grew up.

My favorite thing to do on a date is: Going out to dinner or going on a picnic in the canyon with my favorite 2 people

The best vacation I ever had was: My honeymoon to Riviera Maya, Mexico--A.MAZ.ING.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? To do theater...I love to sing and used to dance....but, I have NO idea how to act and think that would be SO fulfilling and fun.

What chore do you absolutely hate doing? Probably dishes......... although I can't say I LOVE any chores ;)

When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time? Hmm.... NAP?! {but somehow have the house getting cleaned while I was sleeping so I don't wake up regretting the nap}

What do you think is your very best feature or characteristic? I hate this question....HARD! I guess I would say that I see other's strengths easily/see the good in people...if that makes sense.

What is the "thing" you are most grateful for? My family! I don't know what I would do without Braden and Brightyn. Really. I feel like since being married I have grown in ways I NEVER could have without Braden's example and learning from his strengths....and Brightyn can always make me smile.

What is your dream vacation? This is so far off I don't really even entertain the thought, but one day I would love to take family trips to Africa, Mexico, etc....for service things..... like I said....FAR OFF. :) {but I think they would make the BEST memories and would be very eye opening}

What's the coolest thing you've ever done? Going to Ghana where I taught English and math in ASL at a deaf middle school.

How did you meet your husband? How did he propose? I first saw him in his briefs with his shirt off and knew he was the one! :) JK-I DID see him in his briefs with his shirt off--LONG story--the window was opened and he didn't know it and he was going in to get a midnight drink our freshman year in his apt. {ours apt. was right across from his} All 5 of my roommates and I saw him and all started giggling and ran up the stairs embarrassed.....anyway, he eventually introduced himself and we became best friends and have been ever since. He tried to break up with me a few times....but thankfully, it didn't last. ;) He left on a mission. We wrote. Got back. Proposed on a hike in Zion National Park that was a look out over the whole park. I said yes, and here we are!

The best thing about being married is: Getting to spend time with Braden whenever I want!

What do you and your husband like to do together? Eat, watch movies, play games {especially card games}, Mario Kart {it's the only one I'll play with him....I'm pretty good, too}, go on walks/hikes, just hang out....

What would be your perfect day? Sleep in til 10 {just for fun}, wake up to a hot breakfast, hang out with Braden and Brightyn all day--maybe a trip to a park/picnic for lunch, and then go on a date with just Braden and I once Brightyn is asleep......

What was the best advice you got/would give on marriage? Learn your spouse's love language....it is SUPER helpful... I look back at our first year of marriage and realize that that would have helped out a LOT! Also, put God first and your spouse second.

What story does your family always tell about you? Probably how I blame my older brother for the bump in my nose. When I was about 8 , my older brother Bud {11 at the time} told me he had a surprise for me... {Keep in mind: I would do ANYTHING for my older siblings-I'm the baby and would deliver snacks to their doors so I could hang out with their friends, etc..} So, of course I excitedly asked, "what?!" He told me to close my eyes and run as fast as I could and he'd show me. So he put his hands over my eyes and I run as fast as I could.....He ran with me...and he ran me straight into the wall! The clock fell down and my nose started bleeding. Gotta love older brothers!

Holiday Recipe Swap

This Thursday at 7 in the Relief Society Room we will be having a Holiday Recipe/Tradition Swap. We did this last year and it was so much fun! We had caramels, divinity, cheese dips, and a bunch of other yummy foods that people love to have during the holidays. If you could make your favorite holiday food and bring the recipe we would all love to try it! The whole family is invited.
To get you even more excited, I’ll share what I’m planning on bringing – Monkey bread and a Holly Wreath. My family always had Monkey bread on Christmas morning and we would make these Holly Wreaths (like rice krispy treats but better) and deliver them secretly in the night to our friends and people in the ward every year. One year I decided to wear a scruchie made out of a bunch of bells on our delivery night. Everything went fine until it was my turn to drop off a wreath, ring the door bell and run. As soon as I started running, the bells started jingling like crazy. (Not so good for our covert operation.) My partner in crime had to hold my ponytail as we ran so that the bells wouldn’t ring and we wouldn’t be caught.

I look forward to trying all your holiday tradition foods and hearing about your traditions! See you on Thursday!
Mary H

December Activity

 

We will be having a Relief Society activity on December 1st at 7. We are going to make these super cute felt Christmas trees. The tree will be great for children, future children or a present for another family. We need an accurate count of who wants one so that we can get the right amount of materials. Please email the RS email or comment on this post if you are able to come and make one.

Getting to Know Angelina W

 

My name is: Angelina W

My favorite dinner is: Chicken fettuccini alfredo, Caesar Salad, and a hot roll

My favorite dessert is: Lemon cake

My favorite flower is: Bleeding Heart

My favorite hobby is: Photography

My Favorite game to play is: five crowns and hand & foot

My favorite restaurant is: The Cheesecake Factory

The music I listen to most is: I listen to about everything, it just depends on my mood

My favorite thing to buy is: Decorations :)

A book I highly recommend is: I love reading so that's a hard one...one of my all time favorites is The Hobbit

A movie I watch over and over is: The Quiet Man. I love old movies

The city I would most like to visit is:  Dunedin, New Zealand

My favorite thing to do on a date is: I love going out to eat with my husband and being able to have some time to just talk

The best vacation I ever had was: When my husband came back from Iraq for his two week leave and we went to Disney World for my birthday.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? someone from Harry Potter I've always wanted to be able to do magic

What chore do you absolutely hate doing? Folding laundry, I can wash it but I hate folding it

When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time? Working on my photos and scrap booking them

What do you think is your very best feature or characteristic? I'm a very forgiving person

What is the "thing" you are most grateful for? My family

What is your dream vacation? A romantic cottage in Ireland

How did you meet your husband? How did he propose? I have known my husband since I was 7 and he proposed at night at the DC Temple. It was closed for construction inside so we were the only ones there, which made it just that much more romantic.

The best thing about being married is: being with the one person I can't live without, my best friend.

What do you and your husband like to do together? We like to go fishing, watch movies, go out to eat, cook desserts together and spend time with family and friends.

What would be your perfect day? A day with my hubby doing whatever we want

What was the best advice you got/would give on marriage? If you really love someone you learn to love everything about them even the things you can't stand

What story does your family always tell about you? How I caught a duck with my fishing pole on a fishing trip.

Getting to Know Sally D

My name is:  Sally D
My favorite dinner is:  Pork loin and mashed potatoes with butternut squash and a yummy fresh salad
My favorite dessert is: Key lime cheesecake or cookie cake :D
My favorite flower is: Hydrangea
My favorite hobby is: Creating! I love to sew and craft... all the above. Oh and I am a ballroom dancer as well.
My favorite restaurant is:  I love Zupas.
A game I like to play is:  Dominos! Mexican train or chicken foot. 
The music I listen to most is:  Showtunes, country, and other genres I'm not sure what they are called. haha.
My favorite thing to buy is:  new clothes! I just feel fresh and clean and perky.
A book I highly recommend is:  The Gallagher Girl series, anything by Gerald Lund, or Janette Rallison books.
A movie I watch over and over is: Baby Mama...
A smell that makes me pause is:  yummy food. FALL! clean laundry
The city I would most like to visit is:  London... or anywhere in Brazil. oh and China. (ok so those weren't cities necessarily...)
My favorite thing to do on a date is:  Talk and play games.
The best vacation I ever had was:  On a cruise to the Caribbean
If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?  Hermione Granger. Definitely. except I would choose Harry over Ron.
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?  I would love to be able to draw or paint. I can't do that worth beans right now...
What chore do you absolutely hate doing?  mopping the floors!
When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time? Pinterest. or sewing. or reading. haha
What do you think is your very best feature or characteristic?  my eyes or smile?
What is the "thing" you are most grateful for?  definitely the gospel.  I would not be me without it.
What's the coolest thing you've ever done?  I got to take my grandparents to conference once.  My Grandpa is an emeritus General Authority so we went in the tunnel with all of the apostles and met lots of neat people. I also ate lunch with Sister Hinkley once. :D
How did you meet your husband? I was on a date with his roommate when we first met. 
How did he propose?  He was selling for the summer in Chicago, but his parents flew me out to California to go on a vacation with them.   I had no idea he was coming too.  His flight got in about an hour after mine.  So his family tried to stall.  It was really late at night but they went to some fast food restaurants and then his mom pretended that she left her purse at the airport! (She was very convincing by the way...) When we got back, his dad went in to "get her purse" and then called and said that she needed to come in so they could identify her.  Well his WHOLE family got out of the car, and I didn't want to seem rude, so I got out too.  We went to the lost and found and all the lights were out with candles on the counter.  The Southwest lady said, "Are you Sally?" and I was like... "Ya...?"  She said, "someone left this for you" and it was a Jared's Bag.  Then he came out and proposed! We hadn't seen each other in months so it was really awesome.   (Sorry that was a super long story)
The best thing about being married is:  Having a best friend to think the best of you all the time.
What do you and your husband like to do together?  Play with Bennett
What story does your family always tell about you? Can't think right now... haha

More Soup Please

Here are the recipes from October 27th Soup Group Meeting:

Butternut Squash Soup
Aimee C

1 butternut squash
1 onion
3 cloves garlic
3TBS. butter
3TBS. Whole wheat flour
2C Milk
pinch of nutmeg
1/2 C extra Sharp cheddar cheese (or whatever kind you like)

Peel and cut butternut squash into cubes.  Roast in 375 degree oven for 35-40 minutes. (ROAST: put on sheet pan. Drizzle with Olive oil, salt, pepper, pinch of nutmeg) After roasting,  mash with potato masher.  Saute onion and garlic. Melt butter in  different pan, add in flour, mix. Add milk and pinch of nutmeg.  Add salt and pepper to taste( I like a lot of pepper) After sauce thickens a  bit-add mashed up butternut squash.  Let simmer for a few minutes.  Put in blender or use emulsion blender to mix.  Enjoy!

Southwest Chicken Soup
Emily S

Preheat oven to 400.
3-4 Sweet Potatoes, peeled and cubed
3-4 yams, peeled and cubed
5 Tbsp red wine vinegar
3 Tbsp dried oregano
2 Tbsp chili powder
2 Tbsp cayenne pepper (I usually do 2 tsp. because people don't like spicy at my house)
2 cans (small) Salsa Casera, Ranchero or Picante sauce
1 can tomato sauce
4 cartons chicken broth

Bring these ingredients to a boil while you prepare the rest of the ingredients
4 chicken breasts, season with lemon juice and a lot of Johnny's Seasoning salt (3-4 Tbsp). Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes on a baking stone. If don't have a stone, you can saute in a pan before the next step. Cut into bite-sized pieces.

1 large onion, peeled and chopped fine
2 red bell peppers, diced
Saute in 2 Tbsp olive oil on high heat until they are flecked with a little bit of black.

Add chicken, sauteed onions and bell peppers to soup.

1 large bunch of cilantro, chopped fin
1 Large can of Mexican hominy

Add to soup and simmer for 30-45 minutes.

Serve with cheese on the bottom, then soup, sour cream, squeezed lime, and tortilla chips.

 

Bread Recipe
Marla

INGREDIENTS:
2 1/2 cups of lukewarm water
5 tbsp oil
3 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp salt
2 tbsp yeast
6 cups flour

DIRECTIONS:

Dissolve sugar, salt, oil and water in a big bowl. Once it's completely dissolved add the yeast and stir. Add 3 cups of flour and keep stirring until is completely incorporated. Stir in the remaining flour and beat for about 5 minutes. Cover the dough and leave it rise in a warm place. After 10-15 minutes take a knife and insert it into the dough 3 or 4 times. Cover the dough once again and let it rise other 10-15 minutes and insert the knife 3 to 4 times. Cover the dough one more time and let it rise 10-15 minutes more. Take half of the dough and make a loaf with it and put it on greased cookie sheet, make small cuts on top to make it look pretty :D make the same with the other half and cover them and let them rise for 15 minutes more. Meanwhile preheat the oven to 375F. Finally bake for about 22 minutes or until golden brown.

You may need more flour, the dough is supposed to be smooth and not sticky.

Enjoy!

Getting to Know Constance R

My name is: Constance R
My favorite dinner is: Beef Stroganoff
My favorite dessert is:  Ice Cream
My favorite flower is:  Daisy
My favorite hobby is:  Softball
My favorite restaurant is:  Cafe Rio
A game I like to play is:  Monopoly, Uno, Dominion
The music I listen to most is: Oldies and Country
My favorite thing to buy is: clothes and shoes
A book I highly recommend is: Secret Journal of Brett Colton
A movie I watch over and over is: Pride and Prejudice and Emma (the long version for both of them)
A smell that makes me pause is: fresh baked bread and the rain
The city I would most like to visit is: Honolulu, Hawaii and London, England
My favorite thing to do on a date is: Anything, as long as I am away from my kids (sounds rude but maybe when you have kids you'll understand)
If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? Elizabeth Bennet
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Crotchet and to sew better
What chore do you absolutely hate doing? taking out the garbage.  Also laundry, until I get my own machines
When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time? read, nap, or tv
What is your dream vacation? Visiting Church History sites
The best thing about being married is: Never being alone
What do you and your husband like to do together? go out to dinner, talk, and play games
What would be your perfect day? Sleeping in, going out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner ( that way there are NO dishes) no whining from either of the kids, going to a park to play, and David is home.
What was the best advice you got/would give on marriage?  A good marriage is hard work. Work hard!