Corn and Cheese Chowder

This YUMMY soup was made by Natalie Vaclaw and her husband for the Valentine's dinner. It was so good and filling! Here is the recipe so you can make it!

It originally comes from this blog.

Ingredients:

• 4 Tablespoons 1/2 Stick Butter
• 1 whole Onion, Chopped
• 3 slices Bacon, Cut Into Pieces
• 3 whole Bell Peppers, Finely Diced (red, Yellow, Orange)
• 5 ears Corn, Kernels Sliced Off
• ¼ cups All-purpose Flour
• 3 cups Chicken Stock Or Broth
• 2 cups Half-and-half
• 1 cup (heaping) Grated Monterey Jack
• 1 cup (heaping) Pepper Jack
• ⅓ cups Sliced Green Onions
• Bread Bowls

Directions:

In a large pot, melt butter over medium-high heat. Cook onions for a couple of minutes. Add bacon and cook for another minute or so, then add diced bell peppers and cook for a couple of minutes. Finally, add corn and cook for a minute.

Sprinkle flour evenly over the top and stir to combine. Pour in broth and stir well. Allow this to thicken for 3 or 4 minutes, then reduce heat to low. Stir in half-and-half, then cover and allow to simmer/thicken for 15 minutes or so.

Stir in cheeses and green onions. When cheese is melted and the soup is hot, check seasonings. Add salt and pepper as needed.

Ladle into hollowed out boules and serve immediately.

Belated Valentine's Dinner

The Elder's Quorum is hosting our ward's Valentines Dinner this year! Come for dinner and a GOOD time!

When: February 22

Time: 6 PM

Where: Multi Purpose building (not where we have church--it's walking distance. Follow the 10 buildings down the hill past the 11 buildings and you'll run into it)

What: Dinner and Entertainment!

Can't wait to see you there!

5 Minute Spiritual Boost

This weekend my husband and I started a new TV series.  The plot appealed to both of us and we were excited about being able to watch it together.  However, it didn't take very long for us to have to turn our heads, raise our eyebrows and essentially conclude that almost every theme in the show was contrary to the 13th Article of Faith-"If there is anything virtuous, lovely, of good report or praiseworthy we seek after these things."  Honestly, none of it was worth seeking after.  Even still it was hard to turn off because the show appealed to our carnal minds.  Once we turned it off we felt better but even more than that we saw small blessings that made life in our home better.  Things we know came from the decision to turn off the show.

The next morning for my scripture study I clicked open my scripture app and there was a conference talk open.  As I read I was grateful because it felt like Heavenly Father was sitting me down and talking to me about what had happened the night before.  This is the talk that I read, I know that decisions determine destiny.  Even though we initially made a poor decision by watching this particular show we were richly blessed for choosing to turn it off.  The Lord doesn't hold grudges, as soon as we do what we need to invite the Spirit, the Spirit will come.  Enjoy these highlights from the talk:

Decisions for Eternity

October 2013

"A pivotal spiritual attribute is that of self-mastery—the strength to place reason over appetite. Self-mastery builds a strong conscience. And your conscience determines your moral responses in difficult, tempting, and trying situations. Fasting helps your spirit to develop dominance over your physical appetites. Fasting also increases your access to heaven’s help, as it intensifies your prayers. Why the need for self-mastery? God implanted strong appetites within us for nourishment and love, vital for the human family to be perpetuated. When we master our appetites within the bounds of God’s laws, we can enjoy longer life, greater love, and consummate joy.

It is not surprising, then, that most temptations to stray from God’s plan of happiness come through the misuse of those essential, God-given appetites. Controlling our appetites is not always easy. Not one of us manages them perfectly. Mistakes happen. Errors are made. Sins are committed. What can we do then? We can learn from them. And we can truly repent.

We can change our behavior. Our very desires can change. How? There is only one way. True change—permanent change—can come only through the healing, cleansing, and enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He loves you—each of you! He allows you to access His power as you keep His commandments, eagerly, earnestly, and exactly. It is that simple and certain. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of change!

A strong human spirit with control over appetites of the flesh is master over emotions and passions and not a slave to them. That kind of freedom is as vital to the spirit as oxygen is to the body! Freedom from self-slavery is true liberation!^"

Easy Peasy Sausage Potato Pepper Bake

MmMmMmmmMM. That's all I have to say for this yummy dinner!  The recipe was shared by Brittany Christenson.  ****If you have made a really yummy dinner and want to share it on the blog, let me know! It's fun to try new things that are Relief Society Sister approved!***

Servings: 4
Ingredients:
4 sweet and/or hot Italian turkey sausage links (cut crosswise into thirds)(you'll use all but one link of a 1.22 oz. package) 1 pound small red potatoes, washed and each cut in half 1 large (about 1 pound) sweet onion, cut into 12 wedges 2 red bell peppers, cut lengthwise into 8 pieces (total of 16 pieces) 1/2 cup pepperoncini peppers (drained)(optional) 1 tablespoon(s) olive oil 1.5 teaspoons italian seasoning 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper Directions: Preheat oven to 450° F. In 15 1/2" by 10 1/2" jelly-roll pan (or just a 9x13), combine sausages, potatoes, onion, peppers , olive oil, italian seasoning, salt and pepper and pepperoncini if using; toss to coat. Roast sausage mixture 30 to 35 minutes or until potatoes are fork-tender and sausages are lightly browned, stirring oncehalfway through roasting. For each serving tonight, plate 3 pieces sausage 3 wedges onion, 1/4 of the potatoes and 4 wedges peppers.

Serve with a yummy salad or steamed veggie making this a slam dunk dinner!


****If you have made a really yummy dinner and want to share it on the blog, let me know! It's fun to try new things that are Relief Society Sister approved!***

Valentine's Day Date Ideas

Oh la la!  Love Day is upon us!  Luckily we all have Valentines :)  In a perfect world our husbands would have an extravagant surprise planned out and we wouldn't have to do anything.  Buuut our husbands are mostly students and they are busy and probably don't even know Valentines Day is this month.  So it might be a good idea to have a few Valentine's Day date ideas up your sleeve, am I right?  Here are a few fun *special* date ideas!  Please share more if you have any other ideas!


Comedy Sportz {$8 per person}:  ComedySportz is a hilarious audience interactive-comedy competition between two teams of comedians, who perform a series of scenes and songs, all based on suggestions from you, the audience!

**I have personally gone and was extremely impressed with the clean topics and amazing skill of the comedians.  This was VERY fun for both husband and wife.  Highly recommended!  Tickets can be purchased over the phone, which is a good idea for Valentine's Day weekend because this place will definitely FILL up

36 W Center St, Provo, UT 84601
(801) 377-9700


Provo Beach Resort {You choose how much you spend}: These are the different activities they have: laser tag, bowling, miniature croquet, ropes course, flow rider, and a golf simulator. It is new, fun, and creative.

**This place has a Southern California feel!  It's new and very family friendly.  This place is PACKED with really fun things--you could spend all night here!  It's located in the Riverwoods shopping center so when you're done you can stroll the fun shops.  When my husband and I went we spent $6 and HAD A BLAST in the arcade.


Nickel City {$2.25 admission}:  This is very fun if you just want arcade games.  The games would be cheaper than Provo Beach Resort but they only have the arcade games.  Located off State Street.


Utah's Hogle Zoo {$9 Per person}:  The zoo is in Salt Lake but they are having a Valentines event with the animals on the 14th!  **This would be a great activity to do with just your spouse OR with kids! On Valentine's Day there is a craft for kids!
The event is from 10am-1pm.


Color Me Mine {$35-40 total}: This date is a little more expensive but would be GREAT if you are wanting something special, indoors, where you can talk and enjoy your spouses company.  How it works is you pick a pottery form, paint it, fire it and KEEP it!

5033 N Edgewood Dr, Provo, UT 84604
(801) 434-4848

FHE: Patriarchal Blessings

This idea comes from the book Family Home Evening for Newlyweds by Deborah Pace Rowley

Topic: Being the Perfect Spouse

Objective: Through the reading of one anothers Patriarchal Blessings discover how you can be the perfect spouse.

Activity: 

Read your patriarchal blessings to each other.  Then discuss the statement: Never ask the question, did I marry the right one?  Once you have been sealed you have married the perfect one--not because that person is perfect but because  you yourself are determined to be the perfect companion.  Your spouse will be as perfect as you are or as perfect as you allow him/her to be and encourage him/her to be.

Finally answer this question: How can we help each other achieve the promises in our patriarchal blessings?