Upcoming Sunday lesson -- December 19

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 24: The Sabbath Day

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- December 12

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 23: The Sacrament

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- November 28

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

"Because of Your Faith", by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (September 2010)

We encourage you to read the lesson beforehand and bring your November 2010 Ensign and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Weekly Savings

This week there are some great sales out there in preparation for Thanksgiving dinner. I hope you are looking at your ads!

Smiths
Celery bunch .50 each
10 lbs Potatoes $1.39
Green Onions .50
Ritz Crackers or Wheat Thins $1.66 (with mf coupon only .66)
Kroger Whipped Topping .50
Kroger Dip .88
Kroger 1/2 gallon Lite Egg Nog $1.99 ***see recipe below
Private Selection Hen Turkey $6.00 (w/a $25 purchase)
Private Selection Tom Turkey $8.00 (w/a $25 purchase)

Maceys
Olives .88
Eggs .88
2 lb Sugar (brown/powdered) .99
Marshmallows .99
Whipping Cream .59 (w/ ad coupon)
Cranberries $2.00
Yams .58 per lb.
Broccoli .68
Western Family Medium Cheddar Cheese 2 lbs. $3.99
Langers Sparkling Apple Cider $1.66 (w/ mf coupon only .66!! )

Having a hard time deciding which store to shop at? It's ok to hit two different stores. :) Just make a list, go with a mission, get in and out- then you're done and you've saved!!

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

This week I thought I'd share with you a bread recipe that is so delicious and easy to make--and ingredients can come right from your storage. You don't need any fancy kitchen tools, but the bread dough is much lighter if you use something like a KitchenAide with the dough hook. I use a Bosche to knead with a dough hook. If you have a breadmaker, just use the dough mixing cycle. If you have no other choice you can mix by hand (I do this all the time and the bread still turns out great!)--so don't stress! This bread is perfect for regular toast or French Toast. See the breakfast recipe below. :)

Basic Bread Dough:

add ingredients in the order indicated

2 cups of warm water. If the water is too hot, it will kill the yeast.

1 tablespoon of yeast (quick activating)

1/4 cup of white sugar (this feeds the yeast)

1/4 cup of cooking oil - vegetable or canola is just fine

2 1/2 cups of wheat flour

2 cups of all purpose or bread flour

1 Tablespoon of gluten (this helps the dough strength and extends the shelf life of the bread)

1 tsp of salt (always add this last otherwise it can kill the yeast too quickly.)

In a large bowl (or KitchenAide or Bosche) pour in the warm water. Add yeast, sugar, and oil. Combine ingredients with a large mixing scrapper or stir on a low setting in your mixing tool until it's dissolved. Slowly add wheat flour, scrapping the sides of the bowl and then adding the white flour, gluten and salt. Keep stirring and mixing until dough is soft and elastic. If doing this by hand, roll out onto floured surface to knead dough until it's soft, but firm. If you are using a KitchenAide or Bosche turn on low and knead for 10 minutes.

Once your dough is made, turn out on a floured surface and separate into 2 balls. Roll each out in an oblong shape about 1 inch thick. Grease your bread pans well.

Turn on your oven to 170 degrees.

Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons of brown sugar over the rolled out dough. Then generously sprinkle ground cinnamon on your dough and then roll up to place into your bread pans.

Turn OFF your oven once it has reached 170 degrees and place bread pan into oven to rise for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Once the dough has doubled then turn ON your oven to 350 degrees and set the timer for 30 minutes. Once you take the bread loaves out of the oven, brush butter on the top with a pastry brush. Let it cool before you remove from pan. Store the bread in a bread bag to keep it soft. Recipe makes 2 loaves

Cinnamon Swirl French Toast

sliced homemade Cinnamon Swirl Bread

1 cup of lite egg nog

1 egg

1 tablespoon of canned pumpkin (optional)

a dash of ground cinnamon (optional)

Wisk together dipping batter, moisten bread on both sides and then cook on pancake grill or skillet. Serve with a little butter and syrup. Enjoy!

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- November 21

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 22: The Gifts of the Spirit

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Weekly Savings

Smith's this week is having another incredible sale on many items. Take a look at your ad, pay attention to the items that are listed for the Mega 10 sale, and MAKE A LIST.

Carnation Evaporated Milk .69 (with mf coupon .44)
Kroger canned pears or peaches .49
Nestle Hot Cocoa .49
Swanson Broth .49 (with mf coupon .34)
American Beauty Pasta .49 (w/ mf coupon FREE) *** look below for recipe
Del Monte Tomatoes .49 ***Look below for recipe
Campbell's Cream of Mushroom or Chicken Soup .49 (w/mf coupon .29)
Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce .75
Colgate Toothpaste $1.00 (w/ mf coupon FREE)
Stove Top Stuffing .75
Kroger Shredded or Block Cheese 2 lbs. 4.99 (w/coupon 3.99)
Dannon 32. oz Yogurt $1.99 (w/ coupon .99)

You can find a full list of all the participating items at your favorite store by the front door (mine is Smith's Marketplace). Also, many items listed on sale this week are ingredients mentioned in last week's recipe.

Maceys has some great prices too especially on fresh produce.
Broccoli .58 lb
Fresh Pineapple .58
Leaf Lettuce .99
Cucumbers .59
Mini Carrots 1 lb. $1.50
Bell Peppers .79
Guittard Baking Chips $1.66
Sweetened Condensed Milk .99
Eggs .68
Powdered or Brown Sugar 2 lbs. .88
Spices or Extracts .88
Shortening $2.99
TJ Farms Frozen Strawberries .99

Target posted new in-store coupons on their site. Did you know you can use in-store and m.f. coupons together to "stack" savings? Look for the link at the bottom of their home page.

Are you interested in learning more about how to save on groceries? Not sure where to begin? Give me a call and I will be glad to get you started.

Pasta with Tomatoes and Artichokes

This week is the perfect week to stock up on pasta and canned tomatoes, and who doesn't like pasta? I would like to share with you an easy and delicious recipe that you can quickly create in your kitchen right from your storage and pantry. You can interchange any ingredients to your family's liking. Pasta is so easy and can go with many different ingredient options. This is one of my hubby's favorites and it gives out a fabulous and savory flavor!

Ingredients
1 pkg (16 oz each) dry spaghetti, uncooked
2 cans (14.5 oz each) Diced Tomatoes (with basil and olive oil preferred), drained
1 small can chopped olive (optional)

1 small can of artichoke hearts or canned sliced mushrooms (or you can saute fresh sliced mushrooms in a teaspoon of olive oil just enough to make them tender before adding to the tomatoes.)

Garlic salt

Parmesan cheese

Directions
Cook pasta according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, in a seperate sauce pan combine tomatoes, olives, mushrooms or artichokes, add just a little garlic salt and stir over a low heat. Drain and rinse noodles. Then pour sauce over noodles and toss carefully. Serve with grated or shredded parmesan cheese sprinkled over top.

Other ingredient options; meatballs or sliced pepperoni or grilled chicken. Instead of artichokes or olives, try fresh basil or steamed spinach. Sooo many options-- tell me your favorites! :)

Weekly Savings

Hi Sisters! I have a few stores that I wanted to mention this week that has some great prices. Remember as you are building your storage up or just trying to stretch your dollars, first check the ads, always make a list, and take inventory of your goods! Ask yourself what's on sale this week that I can add to my storage? Gather your coupons up too! This will help cut costs. You can get coupons from your Sunday paper(s) or print them online. A trick for added savings on your grocery budget is to buy an additional paper. Here's how to do it for next to nothing. Visit the Grocery Guru's site to find his link to buy an E-Edition for .03 per day with Sunday Delivery. Look under Subscription deals. Instead of having one Sunday paper, you'll get TWO and that means DOUBLE coupons and that means DOUBLE SAVINGS! Over the year, you'll save a tremendous amount of moo-la. I've already saved over $1,200 on coupons and sales just at Smith's store alone--and the year isn't over yet!

World Market - WARNING! Put blinders on when you go into this store, it will suck you in! Go in there with a mission. Meaning get in, get out--and fast--before you do some damage!
Olive Oil is on sale. 2 Liters for only $7.99. It's such a great buy, and it sells out quickly. I recommend to take advantage of this sale and add this item to your storage.
ShopKo
Arm & Hammer Liquid Laundry Detergent 68.75 oz. $3.50 --add a coupon go here.
Maceys
Red Seedless Grapes .99 per lb.
Yellow Onion .39 per lb.
Avacados .50 each
Green Peppers .50 each
Don Julio Chips .98 each
Don Julio 8 in. Tortillas .99 each
Fresh Ground Chuck $1.78 per lb. (this would be a great week to add Tacos to your menu!)
Pork Sirloin Chops $1.78 per lb.
Jolly Time Popcorn 3 pk. .99 each ---add .50 coupon and pay only .49!
Shasta 2 LT. .49 each
Western Family 20 oz. pureed pumpkin $1.49

Italian Pasta & Bean Soup

The temperatures are dropping and it's the perfect time to start simmering a tasty pot of soup on the stove! I found this delicious recipe from my recent Woman's Day magazine. Several ingredients I used right from my pantry and food storage.

By Woman's Day Kitchen

Simple and satisfying, this colorful soup contains a hearty mix of bow-tie pasta, cannellini beans, onion and diced tomatoes that’s perked up with garlic, parsley and grated Parmesan.

Recipe Ingredients

1 Tbsp plus 2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil*
1 medium onion, chopped
2 Tbsp minced fresh garlic ( or jarred*)
6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth (or use water combined with chicken boullion*)
1 1⁄2 cups farfallini (small bowtie pasta), tubettini or other small pasta*
2 cans (about 15 oz each) cannellini* beans, rinsed and drained (these are white italian kidney beans or navy beans)
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes* in juice
1⁄2 cup chopped parsley* (fresh or dried)
1⁄4 cup grated Parmesan

*items recommended to have in your food storage

Recipe Preparation
1.) Heat 1 Tbsp of the oil in a 3-qt saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté 5 minutes or until light golden. Add garlic and cook, stirring for 1 minute.
2.) Add broth and bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook 5 minutes.
3.) Stir in beans and tomatoes; cook 4 minutes or until pasta is tender. Remove from heat.
4.) Stir in parsley, cheese and remaining 2 tsp oil.

Serve with breadsticks and a side garden salad! YUM!

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- October 24

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

"Mothers Teaching Children in the Home", Elder L. Tom Perry

We encourage you to read the lesson beforehand and bring your May 2010 Ensign and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Weekly Savings

For some years as a younger mom and wife, I felt very overwhelmed with the thought of creating a food storage. I wanted to obey the counsel of the First Presidency and I knew first handedly that life could throw some curve balls. Not long after we moved to Utah, I recall a very strong prompting by the Spirit, directing to me to create a food storage that would not only help our family to weather what ever storm that should come, but provide a nurturing stability and comfort for our family. I wondered how I was to do this task. I visited the Provident Living website for tips and I also prayed for guidance. The answer was made plain to me as I read it from the Family Home Storage Pamphlet.

It simply said:

"THREE-MONTH SUPPLY
Build a small supply of food that is part of your
normal, daily diet. One way to do this is to purchase a
few extra items each week to build a one-week supply
of food. Then you can gradually increase your supply
until it is sufficient for three months. These items
should be rotated regularly to avoid spoilage."

If you recall the story of Nephi in the wilderness, when Nephi's family came upon the land of Bountiful by the sea, they were so grateful to be there. It was not long after their arrival that the Lord commanded Nephi to build a ship. Nephi wondered, "Lord, whither shall I go to find ore to molten, that I might make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me?" (1 Nephi 17:9) The Lord then showed Nephi where to find ore.

I knew I needed to have the same faith as Nephi. I prayed how was I to build a storage with an already tight grocery budget and how was I to buy extras when it was crucial to stay within our means? The Lord knew very well of my concerns. I soon thereafter began to search the grocery ads for items that were on sale and that I could buy in multiples. I also started finding and adding coupons for those items to purchase, and it really helped cut our costs. Just as Nephi was shown where to find ore to build his ship, the Lord also guided me how to find "ore" to build my storage.

Some of you may be well on your way with your food storage and need no advice or direction from me. On the other hand, there may be a few of you out there that need a little help. Let me know how I can help- that's what I am here for. Each week that I post here, I will share with you deals I find and keep you informed.

The first step is to look at the ads, create a list, and take inventory of your storage. Buy items that you think or you see yourself actually using. Also ask yourself, if you or spouse were to loose your job, would you mind using a brand that is different that what you usually use? Just something to keep in mind. :)

Smith's
Downy/Tide/Bounce $4.99 each when you buy any combination of 4--don't forget to add coupons. Go to Smith's site to load onto your Rewards card or use coupons from Sunday paper.
Hershey's Chocolate Chips $1.79
Smith's Evaporated Milk .69
Eggs .79 per dozen
Kroger Salsa $1.00
Bumble Bee Tuna $1.00***see recipe below
Maceys
Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa .79
Sour Cream 16 oz. .69 w/ad coupon
Jello Pudding .89 w/ coupon .64
Cross Rib Pot Roast $1.98 per lb.

For printable coupons visit: coupons.com, smartsource.com, redplum.com

Tuna Cakes

Have you included cans of tuna in your food storage? I'll be the first to say I'm not extremely crazy about tuna fish sandwiches or tuna casserole, but I DO have my cans of tuna in my storage! Not too long ago, I found a recipe for tuna that I thought to be different. This recipe has been tried and tested, and I declare it's a winner!

Ingredients:
2 cans (6 oz. each) light tuna in water, drained and flaked.

1 pkg. Stove Top Stuffing mix for Chicken

1/2 cup of shredded mild cheddar cheese

1/2 cup of shredded carrots

1/3 cup of light or fat free mayonaise

2 Tbsp. Sweet Pickle relish

3/4 cup water

Directions:
1.) Mix tuna, stuffing mix, cheese, carrots, dressing, relish and water in a bowl.

2.) Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 10 minutes.

3.) Heat a large non-stick skillet and spray with cooking spray on medium heat. Scoop tuna mixture, using about a 1/3 cup for each cake and pat it into a patty.

4.) Cook 3 minutes on each side and until they are golden on each side. Turn the cakes carefully.

Serve cakes with a side of vegetables, rice or salad. ENJOY!

**No tuna for you?? Try canned chicken instead!

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- October 17

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 20: Baptism

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Weekly Savings

I realize many of you have your preferred stores that you like to shop at. So this week I will mention a few items that are fantastic sale prices at various stores. Take advantage of the sales to buy items at low prices and add them to your storage, pantry, or freezer.

Reams
Old Orchard Frozen Juices .88 each - add a coupon save $1.00 off 4.
Ground Beef $1.49 lb
Pork Loin Roast $1.49lb ** see recipe below :)
Crest Toothpaste $1.00 each - add coupon and pay only .25!
Celery .69, Cucumbers .50, Iceberg Lettuce .88, Roma Tomatoes .88

Harmons
Cheese Nip Crackers $1.00 each (This is a really good price, great to stock up on especially if you have little ones!!)
Barilla Pasta $1.25 - with coupon only .25
Eggs $1.50 18 count

Smith's
Kraft Philly Cream Cheese (buy 10 mix & match items) .99 --add coupon. and it's FREE! You can print 2 coupons to get 10 free cream cheese items.
Schick Disposable Razors $2.88 --add BOGO coupon
Banquet Chicken Nuggets $3.49
Kroger Cheese $4.99 2 lbs. -- add coupon for $1.00 off
Kroger Bath Tissue $3.99 12 large rolls.
Apples .88 lb

Maceys
Broccoli or Cauliflower .69 lb.
Betty Crocker Cake mixes .69 each --add coupon .75 off with purchase of BC icing.
Kellogg's Cereals $1.88 --add coupon and it's only $1.33 per box.

Balsamic Rosemary Pork Loin Roast

This recipe for Pork Loin Roast is DELICIOUS!

Ingredients:
1 tsp salt

2-3 tsp dried Rosemary

1 Tbsp Ketchup

1/2 cup of balsamic vinegar

2 cloves of garlic, minced

2 tbsp. olive oil

2 lb. boneless pork loin roast

Directions:
In a plastic zip-lock bag mix marinade. Place pork in bag, press out air, seal the bag, and marinade the pork for 3 hours or overnight. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and place the pork in a baking dish, season with additional salt and fresh ground pepper, and pour marinade over pork. Add 1/2 cup of water, and place in preheated oven. Roast uncovered for about 1 hour, basting occasionally with the marinade. Remove from oven and let it rest 10 minutes before serving.

Talks from General Conference are available

The text, audio and video are available for the October 2010 General Conference sessions.

Weekly Savings

Hi sisters! Here is a quick tip on savings this week...
Macey's is in their 2nd week of their case lot sale. They have several of items at great prices. Some items recommended to add to your food storage is 25 lbs of all-purpose flour ($6.88) and 25 lbs of sugar ($11.88)...check your ads in the mail which comes every Tuesday or go to their online site to review their ad http://www.maceys.com/

Smith's is blowing me away with their sale this week! Check out their ad and start making a list. Pick items from their Mix & Match sale. Select any combination of 10 (or 20 or 30!) items from the list to get the lowest savings. Applying a manufacter's coupon to helps save you even more! Here is an example of the added up savings:
Kraft Dressings (w/rewards card**) $1.49 each (after manufacter's coupon) $.94 each
Rice Krispie Treats $1.48** (after coupon) $.98
Stouffer's Lasagna Family size $4.98** (after coupon) $3.98
Ritz Crackers $1.99** (after coupon) $1.49
Nestle Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough $1.99** (after coupon) $1.25
New York Texas Toast $1.99** (after coupon) $1.49
Oscar Meyer Lunch Meat $2.49** (after coupon) $1.49
Kraft BBQ Sauce $.49** no coupon for this one that I know of, but it's still a great deal.
Philly Cream Cheese $.99** ( after coupon 5 for $5 off) FREE!! go to http://www.kraftcheese.com/ to get coupon. :)

There are so many items that qualify for the Mix & Match discount, just check your Smith's Ad or go to their online site to make a list. http://www.smithsfoodanddrug.com/

To find printable coupons online visit: http://www.nestlefamily.com/ , http://www.coupons.com/, http://www.smartsource.com/ , http://www.redplum.com/. Many of these sites will allow you to print the same coupon more than once!

Feel free to contact me (Julie Tyler) if you would like to learn more and start saving on groceries, I would love to help!

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- October 10

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 19: Repentance

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Weekly Savings

Hi, it's Julie Tyler here. I'm the Provident Living Specialist. I'll be sharing with you each week where some of the best grocery deals are. My job is to help guide you to start your food storage (if you haven't already), stretching your dollars, and giving you tips and skills in being prepared for whatever life may bring your way.
This week's best grocery deals can be found at Macey's and Smith's.
Macey's is having their 1st week of the Case Lot Sale. Some items suggested to add to your food storage is a 40 lb. bucket of wheat for $12.98 and Clover Honey ( 80 oz.) $9.99 . You can review their entire Ad and make a online grocery list at http://www.maceys.com/
At Smith's (7061 S. Redwood Rd.), look for their 10 for $10 sale. Take advantage of their awesome deals. For example, Campbell's Chicken Noodle or Tomato are 2 for $1.00 and with a manufacture's coupon it's only .30 per can! Duncan Hines cake mix are $1.00 each and with a coupon, it's only .25 each! Pepperidge Farm's Fish crackers are only $1.00, but with a coupon the final price is .25 each! Uncle Ben's Rice is $1.00 and with a coupon, the final price again is .25!
Go to their site http://www.smithsfoodanddrug.com/ to review their ad and make an online list!

Don't forget to come to Julie Chamber's house Oct. 6th @ 7pm if you would like to learn how to save money, stretch your dollars and beef up your food storage and pantry for less. Look forward to seeing you!

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- September 26

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

"Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul", Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

We encourage you to read the lesson beforehand and bring your May 2010 Ensign and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- September 19

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 18: Faith in Jesus Christ

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Caselot Sales

Now is a great time to stock up on some of those items you use all of the time.  Smiths and Harmons are having caselot sales.  Pull out their ads or go to their websites for prices.  Smiths has great deals on canned veggies, tuna, apple juice, pudding, brownie mixes, mandarin oranges, Hormel chili, tomato paste and lots of other stuff.  Harmons is offering many Western Family brands at caselot prices.

Maceys is having an emergency preparedness sale where freeze dried and #10 cans are available.  I don't really know good prices for these items but if you are in the market, you should be able to get what you want.  They also have buckets of wheat for $12.99.

The Nutty Guys are offering free shipping through Monday.  Use coupon code "ship9" when you checkout.

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- September 12

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 17: The Church of Christ Today

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Newspapers and Pizza

I had 2 lovely ladies share deals with me this week and I am excited to pass them on to you!  The first one is from Donna Mather:

"You can sign up for the Deseret News or SL Tribune for one year Sunday only paper for $19.99.  That equals .38 per paper!! This price started yesterday and is good for two weeks.(August 25th was the yesterday in question so time is running out!) 

To order, call Debbie at 801-344-2923.  For more info go to freebies2deals.com and click on "craziest deals" at the top.  This is  an awesome deal!  I don't know if any of the ladies in our ward do coupons but I have never seen the paper this cheap before."  From what we understand, you can already be a subscriber and just get an additional copy for the coupons.

Rose Hutchison let me know about a sale Papa Murphy's is having on their large pepperoni pizzas.  They are $3.99 and she said they can be frozen.  The only problem, it is only good through today. Sounds like a good time to stock up!

Thanks for keeping me in the loop!  Keep your tips coming:).

Peaches

Peaches are the deal of the week.  Maceys has a 24 lb. box of canning peaches for $13.98.  That comes out to .58 per pound.  Some of you may have a tree full of them but for those of us that didn't want to pick up squishy fruit off of our grass, this is the next best thing.  Plus, it is cheaper than driving to Brigham City.  Maceys is really good about buying local so I would suspect they are Utah peaches but I can't be certain.  While you are there, check out these other deals.

Libby's canned veggies 3 for $1, Kraft Mac and Cheese 4 pack $1.99, Banquet Pot Pies .48, Crisco Cooking Oil $1.98, dz medium eggs .58, 32 oz Smuckers jelly $1.25, Shasta 2 liter .68, Totinos frozen pizza $1, WF biscuit tubes .25, lrg avocados .69, 1 lb. bag mini carrots.

Peach Crunch Cake

For those of you who went to the last Relief Society meeting at Julie Chamber's house, and loved the dessert, this is how to make it. You can also find the recipe on Bakerella's website, here. Thanks, Julie!

Peach Crunch Cake

24.5 oz jar of sliced peaches in light syrup
1 package yellow cake mix
1 stick butter (1/2 cup), cut into 16 pieces
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

{Julie didn’t use the walnuts, but instead mixed 1 cup of oats with the brown sugar and sprinkled on top.}

Preheat oven to 350° F.
Layer ingredients in a 13 X 9 dish, in order starting with the peaches.
Bake for about 40 minutes.
Serve warm or cold… with or without ice cream.

Enjoy!

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- August 22

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

"He Lives! All Glory to His Name", Elder Richard G. Scott

We encourage you to read the lesson beforehand and bring your May 2010 Ensign and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- August 15

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 16: The Church of Jesus Christ in Former Times

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

A Secret Sale

So this is not really a secret sale but the only way you would know about it is to do a little shopping at Maceys, see it at the checkout...assume they would put one in your sack of groceries, and take one when they don't.  It is a one day sale and there are some great things.  The sale runs on Monday, August 16th from 8:00 am to midnight.  All things are while supplies last.

Gatorade .38-must buy 10 and in-store coupon
Coke products $2.40-must buy 5 and in-store coupon
Freschetta Pizza $2.99
Suddenly Salad .68-must buy 2 and in-store coupon
Scotch household scissors .10
Corn Nuts Chips .10 (taste just like corn nuts only flat like chips)
Betty Crocker brownies .38-must buy 10 and in-store coupon-limit 10
10 lb. individually frozen chicken breasts $13.90 per case-limit 2 cases
Van Camp's pork and beans .38
Dryer's ice cream $2.50
Calidad tortilla chips .68
Dole classic ice berg salad .48
Poptarts 12 ct. $1.98-must buy 2 and in-store coupon
bananas .38 lb.
seeded watermelon .25 lb.
cantaloupe .25 lb.

Backyard Social

This year's Backyard Social was amazing.  If you missed it you really missed out.  Julie's backyard was beautiful.  It was a peaceful setting to enjoy some perfect "ladies" food...chicken salad croissants, chips, fruit and some homemade lemonade.  It was so much fun to visit with so many of you!

Julie's sister-in-law and partner sang to us for a half an hour or so. They were fantastic!  There were songs to please each one in our eclectic little group.  While they were finishing up we were served some warm peach cobbler ala mode....mmmm.

A super-huge THANK YOU to Julie Chambers, Dawn Armstrong, Wendy Selu and Jaimi Slade for giving us a great girls night out!

School Supplies and Candy Bars

Since I am sure we ALL have this on our minds I thought I would share some deals on school supplies this week.  I am sorry I didn't get these up sooner as these prices are only good through Saturday but watch for your Sunday paper ads for more great deals to come.  This is the time of year to stock up!

Crayons Cra-Z-Art .20 Walmart- Crayola .25 Toys R Us or K-Mart
Pens 10 pk .10 Office Max
Rulers - wood .05 Office Max
Pencils 12 pk .10 Office Max - 10 pk .09 Walgreens
Binders .30 Office Max - Avery .59 Staples (thru Wed)
Filler paper .20 Office Max
Colored pencils 12 pk -99 Shopko - 1.00 Toys R Us - 24 pk 2.00 K-Mart
8 ct watercolor - .99 Shopko or K-Mart
Notebooks (70 sheet) .15 Walmart
Markers (Crayola) - 1.19 Shopko - 1.00 K-Mart
highlighters - 6 pk .19 Walgreens
Bic dry erase markers - 1.00 Staples
GB Flashdrive- 9.99 Staples
Double BoxTops on Ziploc, Hefty and GM products at Walmart (Boxtops help our school)

Let me just put a plug in for box tops.  Bennion Elementary earned over $2000 last year from those little things.  If you aren't saving them please start.  You can give them to your little neighbor school child or I would be happy to take them and turn them in.  Or, save them for your grandchildren.  I am certain their school collects them too.  Don't let them go to waste!  It is like throwing money down the drain.  (Now you know how I really feel about that!  I have been called the box top nazi before:))

And last but not least, I highly recommend you head to Macey's where you can get M&M Mars candybars 3 for $1.  They have not been this price for over a year and there is no limit.  It is just the basic plain and peanut M&M's, Snickers, Milky Way, Twix and 3 Musketeers.  They will give rainchecks if they are out.  Pick up their ad while you are there and get of few more of those front page deals...bottled water, pasta, sobe drinks.  It is worth your trip.

Also, since I have your attention, would you mind leaving a comment or emailing me to let me know you actually read this?  I am trying to decide if it is worth my time or not.  Thanks!

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- August 8

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 15: The Lord's Covenant People

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Dining Out Deal

I wasn't super impressed with the grocery ads this week but I have a deal I just have to share.  My family went to Carinos Italian this past Monday night because their family meals are half price.  Our favorite is the Bowtie Festival.  It comes with a giant bowl of pasta and all-you-can-eat bread and salad.  The menu says it feeds 2-3 but I promise you, my family brought home enough for one more person and we were stuffed.  Family style meals start at 19.99 and go up to about $30 so at half price it is a bargain...$13.00 for us.  It is only on Monday night and the waitress told me it will probably run for a few more weeks.  Give it a try.  It sure beats the dollar menu!  And, since you are saving so much money, I highly recommend a small order of the chicken nachos to share.  They are like no other.  You have to try them!

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- July 25

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

"Our Duty To God: The Mission of Parents and Leaders to the Rising Generation" by Elder Robert D. Hales

We encourage you to read the lesson beforehand and bring your May 2010 Ensign and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- July 18

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 14: Priesthood Organization

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Deals for the Week

My favorite finds of the week are:

Harmons:  grapes .99, Breyers ice cream 2.00, goldfish crackers .99, Grandma Sycamore's bread 1.67, Yoplait .50, ketchup .99, Keeblers cookies 1.67, Oscar Mayer bologna Buy one get one free

Maceys:  dozen eggs .58, peaches & nectarines .99 lb., margarine .48, hashbrowns .98, bottled water 2.48, snack pack pudding .78, Wacky Mac pasta .78, paper plates and napkins .98, Nalley relish .98, Dannon yogurt .50, Oscar Mayer bologna 1.19

Smiths: avacados .50, yoplait .50, Skippy peanut butter 1.50, Suddenly Salad .89, Sunnny Delight .88, Tillamook Cheese 5 lbs. for 9.99, Kraft singles 1.79

These items you must buy in groups of 10 to get this price.  You can mix and match different items but for every 10 purchased, $5.00 will be deducted from your bill.  You also have to count correctly!  Don't take your kids with you for this trip.  It is a nightmare everytime, so I hear:).

Bryers ice cream 1.97, Klondike bars 1.97, Spaghettios .49, Propel or Gatorade .49, Philadelphia cream cheese .99, rice a roni .79, Velveeta sheels .49, Keebler Fudge shoppe cookies 1.49, Kraft may or Miracle whip 1.69, Quaker cereal 1.99, Simply potatoes .99

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- July 11

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 13: The Priesthood

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Recap from Sunday Lesson

Sister Knowlton taught a very inspired lesson on the Sacrament. Every ordinance of the gospel focuses in one way or another on the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, and surely that is why this particular ordinance with all its symbolism and imagery comes to us more readily and more repeatedly than any other in our life. It comes in what has been called “the most sacred, the most holy, of all the meetings of the Church” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954–56, 2:340).

Elder Russell M. Nelson: "We are seated well before the meeting begins. During that quiet interval, prelude music is subdued. This is not a time for conversation or transmission of messages but a period of prayerful meditation as leaders and members prepare spiritually for the sacrament” (Liahona, Aug. 2004, 13; Ensign, Aug. 2004, 27).

Elder Dallin H. Oaks: "During sacrament meeting—and especially during the sacrament service—we should concentrate on worship and refrain from all other activities, especially from behavior that could interfere with the worship of others… Sacrament meeting is not a time for reading books or magazines. Young people, it is not a time for whispered conversations on cell phones or for texting persons at other locations. When we partake of the sacrament, we make a sacred covenant that we will always remember the Savior. How sad to see persons obviously violating that covenant in the very meeting where they are making it. For families who have or will someday have young men who will officiate in the ordinance, teach the Priests who offer the prayers in behalf of the congregation to speak the words slowly and distinctly, expressing the terms of the covenants and promised blessings. This is a very sacred act. All should be well-groomed and modestly dressed. There should be nothing about their personal appearance or actions that would call special attention to themselves or distract anyone present from full attention to the worship and covenant making that are the purpose of this sacred service."

How can we prepare ourselves and our family to be more spiritually prepared each week to partake of this sacred ordinance? Much of the lesson came from the following two talks if you would like to spend some personal study time on this topic "Reflections on the Sacrament Prayers" & "This Do in Remembrance of Me".

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- July 4

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 12: The Atonement

We encourage you to read the lesson beforehand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Deals for the Week

I got coupons in the mail on Saturday for Winco.  I am not a big fan of bagging my own groceries with a toddler in tow and it isn't super close but when their coupons come out they are worth the effort.  Hopefully you saved yours.  If not, ask for an ad at the customer service desk.

Winco:  These are ALL coupons with limited quantities.  Shasta 12 pk. .98, bottled water 1.98, 12 double rolls bath tissue 2.98, KRAFT mac and cheese .38, pork and beans .28, Bar S franks .28, tuna .28, Lay's potato chips .98, ketchup .78, spaghetti sauce .48.  Without a coupon you can get corn on the cob for .10, a whole seedless watermelon 1.98, rib eye steak 2.98 lb., chicken quarters .48.

Prices are good through the 4th so get there this weekend!

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- June 27

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

"That Our Children Might See the Face of the Savior", Sister Cheryl C. Lant

We encourage you to read the lesson beforehand and bring your May 2010 Ensign and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Deals For the Week

Smith's is the pick store of the week.  They are having a great sale, plus, all coupons will be rounded up to $1.  Anything over that will be the value it is.  The hard thing about the sale is you need to buy in increments of 10 and they will take $3 off of your bill.  This is really hard to do with little ones so find some time to shop all by yourself.  It is a little confusing but all of the items are mix and match.  You just need to make sure you get them in groups of 10 or you will miss out on the extra $3.

Must Buy 10 Items: GM Cereal (these are the big boxes) $1.99, Breyers Ice Cream $1.97, Tropicana Juice $2.69, Kroger cheese shredded or blocks .95 (GET THE CHEESE.  THIS IS CHEAPER THAN SAM'S), 12 ct. Poptarts $1.99, Capri Sun $1.69, Totinos party pizza .95, hot pockets $1.69, Chef Boyardee .69

Good deals that you don't need 10 of: goldfish crackers $1, sour cream and cottage cheese .88, grapes .99, Suddenly Salad .88, Sunny Delight .88. avocados .50, mangoes .50

Maceys: boneless pork chops $1.98 lb., GM cereal $1.78 w/in ad coupon, Koolaid Bursts .58, Capri Sun $1.78, shoestring potatoes .58, hashbrowns .98, shasta .88 6-pk, biscuit tubes 3 for .98, 18 ct. eggs $1.18, MG 5 qt. ice cream $4.98, M & M Mars candy bars .48, Shasta 2 liter .67, twin pops .99 w/in ad coupon, Shasta 24 pk $2.99 w/in ad coupon, paper towels $2.50 w/ in ad coupon, ice cream $4.99 w/ in ad coupon, WF orange juice $1.99 w/ in ad coupon, fruit snacks $3.00 w/ in ad coupon, Malt -O-Meal cereal $2.50 w/in ad coupon, cantaloupe .50 lb.

Harmons: powerade .50, hot pockets $1.67, MG Ice cream $1.88, M&M Mars candy bars .50, fruit snacks $1.50

These are the things that excited me.  If you noticed something your family buys for a good deal this week, please leave a comment.  We can help each other save money and build our food storage.

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- June 20

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 11: The Life of Christ

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Deals for the Week

I have to admit, there wasn't really anything to knock my socks off this week but since we all need to eat and there are some decent deals, I will share.

Harmons:  corn on the cob .25, seedless watermelon .29 lb.,sour cream .99, Cheetos or Fritos $1.67 (I still buy a big bag at Sam's but if you just want a small one:)), GM cereal $2.00, 7-Up 6 pack for $1, eggs .99 dz.

Smith's:  beef ribs .99 lb., cake mix .88, Kroger Ice Cream***(this is my deal of the week and I have tasted it.  It is worth the $) $1, yoplait yogurt .44. lettuce .89, corn .20, salmon 4.99 lb., ice cream sandwiches .78, eggs .79 dz., sour cream $1, cottage cheese $1, Post Cereal $1.25***(get this too and maybe you even have a coupon laying around:)) whole seedless watermelon $3.88,

Maceys:  leaf lettuce .98, plastic cups $1.77, tortilla chips .88, bacon $1.25 lb., relish .78, MG ice cream $1.98, Nestle candy bars 3/.98, Nalley pickles 46 0z $1.88, buns .88, potato chips 1.58, farm bread $1.25, frozen lemonade .69, cream cheese .99, sour cream .88, eggs .99 dz., WF margarine .59, cherries 2.98 lb., Gatorade drinks 8 pack $3.48 with 2 and in-store coupon.

So, my store pick this week is Smith's.  Get some ribs and salmon for dinner, serve a cake with ice cream and cereal for breakfast.

Non-grocery related:  Bath and Body Works is having a big sale right now.  I know soap is $3 and wall flowers are $5 for the next few days.  Just thought I would share!

Video clip from RS lesson

Sister Chambers showed the following Mormon Messages video clip during her recent Relief Society lesson entitled "Gathering Strength in Adversity."

"My New Life"

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- June 13

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 10: Scriptures

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

This Week's Deals

Just a little more clarification on how something makes it to my deals list.  If I can get it cheaper than I could at Costco or Sam's, it is considered a deal.  Otherwise, I have my list of things I normally buy there because they are always cheaper....shredded cheese, milk, eggs, Ziploc bags, beef jerky, canned chicken, chips, bagged lettuce.  One thing that might interest you, I NEVER buy cereal in bulk.  It is not cheaper and I don't like dealing with bags vs. boxes.  Also, I don't think something is much of a deal unless it is close to 50% off.  With that in mind, here is what I liked from the ads this week.

Harmons: red seedless grapes .98 lb, Aquarius bottled water $2.50, Aquafresh toothpaste $1, Arrid deodorant $1, Don Julio tortilla chips $1, Lawry's bottled marinades $1, Tree Top apple juice $1, Gatorade .69 (must buy 10 and use coupon in ad), Life or Cap'n Crunch (big boxes) $2.50, Flipz chocolate covered pretzels $1, Dole frozen juice $1, Mrs. Cubbison's croutons $1.

Smith's: flour torillas $1, Skippy peanut butter $1.50, Miracle Whip $1.98, Sun detergent $1.88, Bar S lunchmeat $2.50, burritos $2 for 9, 5 dz eggs $3.49, extra lean ground beef $1.99 lb., grapes $1.50, yoplait .44, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter $1.49, Coppertone sunscreen $5.00, 

Maceys: cantaloupe .48 lb., Western Family paper towels $2.98 6-pack, WF water bottles $2.48, Exude sport drink .50, WF bleach .98, M&M Mars candy bars .44, Yoplait .45, roma tomatoes .79 lb., 

Worth Mentioning:

Reams: hamburger or hot dog buns .79, bottled water $2.50, Kool-Aid bursts .69, seedless grapes .99 lb., fresh chicken breasts $1.89, cottage cheese .88, Nestle candy bars .33, Go-gurt and Trix yogurt $2.00, Capri Sun 3 for $5.00 (must buy 3), roma tomatoes .69 lb., cantaloupe .49 lb., pineapples .49 lb., medium avocados .39, green peppers .50, Dole bagged lettuce $1.39.

Fresh Market: grapes .99 lb.,  raspberries, blackberries and blueberries $1.50, watermelon .25 lb., strawberries $1.25, 5 lb bag sugar $1.98, 18 ct. eggs .98, toilet paper .77, Exude .50, Quaker cereal $2.50.

Sunflower Farmers Market:  RASPBERRIES .97.  Maybe it is time to make some jam!

I didn't really have a stock-up item of the week but I think my store pick would be Reams.  I know I told you last week that I didn't love shopping there but they have some good produce prices and I am going to make something for dinner that involves avocados!

Notes from Sunday's lesson

Bishop Hutchison taught the Sunday lesson to the combined Priesthood and Relief Society classes. He gave inspired counsel specific to our ward and drew upon his experience as our Bishop for the past 5 1/2 years.

PROPHETS

(Amos 3:7) We were encouraged to review, contemplate and meditate upon the most recent General Conference talks. We were reminded to search out the words of the prophets through past General Conferences talks and other addresses as well as the scriptures.

FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT

(Galatians 5:22-23) The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. We can use these attributes to help us to judge and discern righteously. We can also look at the opposite of these specific attributes to know when things are from the adversary or we have drifted from the influence of the Holy Ghost.

YOUTH

The youth in our ward are strong, righteous choice spirits and the greatest asset for the future. They need more models and less critics. They want and need our time; they want to be where we are. Are we home? Are we mentally engaged when we are home? Frequently tell your children that you love them, put your arms around them and hug them. There are temptations and experiences that parents are strong enough to resist but not our children, be careful what you expose your children to including movies. Our youth are thinking deeply, pondering deeply and contemplating whether the Church is true. Three areas of common questions from youth to the Bishop are

1) pornography

2) love

3) sexuality

MARRIAGE

Bishop Hutchison stressed the importance of making our marriages whole by

1) personal prayers

2) personal scripture reading

3) time together

4) communication

5) growing spiritually stronger together.

The Marriage manual put out by the Church has 12 great lessons as a resource for us.

AREAS OF CAUTION

1) Facebook, it is good to reconnect with our acquaintances BUT caution needs to be exercised in how much time we expend, the appropriateness of relationships fostered, awareness of the addictive nature of this application, and not replacing face-to-face interaction

2) Time away from family and spouse (e.g. girls/guys nights out, the gym, etc.)

TIME WITH THE LORD

Our time is overtaxed and we are overwhelmed. It is crucial that we allow ourselves more time to be with the Lord. We should not be comfortable with our spirituality but rather have the lofty goal of striving to talk to our Heavenly Father all day long. To help us evaluate how we use our time Bishop Hutchison referenced some criteria from President Gordon B. Hinckley

1) Does it enrich the mind?

2) Does it discipline and strengthen the body?

3) Does it nourish the spirit?

At the end of the lesson, Bishop Hutchison distributed a handout and encouraged us to read the following talks. The talks can be found on http://speeches.byu.edu or click on the links below.

1. "Caesar, Circus, or Christ", Gordon B. Hinckley, October 26, 1965

2. "Born of the Spirit", Harold B. Lee, June 26, 1962

3. "A Law of Increasing Returns", Henry B. Eyring, March 28, 1982

4. "How Do We Teach Reverence?", Joseph Fielding Smith, June 18, 1956

This Week's Deals

So I am not claiming to be an expert by any means.  I just have this strange little hobby of finding and getting grocery deals.  All I really do is look at the weekly ads.  For the most part, they come with your Tuesday mail.  The ads run from Wednesday to Tuesday.  Harmon's goes from Monday to Sunday.  If I can getter something cheaper at Sam's or Costco I do but if I prefer to buy the flavors I like in the size I like at the grocery store.  Clearly, I will alert you to things that I like to buy and that my family eats.  I encourage you to do your own research and figure out the cheapest way to get what your family likes.  If that seems a little too overwhelming for you, feel free to copy my deals!

I have decided for the sake of time to focus only on 3 stores...Maceys, Smith's and Harmons.  Reams and Fresh Market are Associated Foods owned and the prices are very similar to that of Maceys.  And, wouldn't you rather shop at Macey's?  I would:).   Stock up on the great deals to help build your food storage.  In theory, you won't be stocking up on the same things each month and since you are getting items for cheaper, you shouldn't be spending more than your regular budget to get some food storage in place.  You may also want to plan your weekly meals around meats that are on sale and fruits and veggies that are in season.  Here goes.  Feel free to email me with any questions or suggestions you may have and happy saving!

Harmons:  corn on the cob .25, Heinz ketchup 40 oz. bottle $1.67, Black Pearl Olives .99, Capri Sun Drinks $1.67, sour cream .79, Meadow Gold Twin Pops .99, Dryers Ice Cream $2.49, Keebler Cookies $1.67, Powerade Drinks .50, Nalley's 46 oz pickles $2.00, PRICES GOOD THROUGH MONDAY

Smith's:  Heinz ketchup 40 oz. $1.59, corn on the cob .25, watermelon .25 lb., beef hot dogs half price, Dryers Ice Cream $2.50, Frozen chicken breast 4 lbs. for $6.96, Arrowhead water $2.99, Koolaid packets $10 for $1, Curly's BBQ tubs Buy One Get One Free, extra lean ground beef $1.99 lb., Cool Whip .99, Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce $1, Betty Crocker Brownie mixes $1, Bags of Lifesavers $1, Maybeline Cosmetics Half Price PRICES GOOD THROUGH TUESDAY

Maceys: corn on the cob .25, Chinet Plates .98 w/ in store coupon, boneless pork ribs $1.68(great for Cafe Rio salads or use the meat to make pork tacos or pulled pork sandwiches),  Kraft salad dressing $1.58, Aquarius water $2.48, 46 oz Nalleys Pickles $1.88, Meadow Gold popsicles .98, Breyers Ice Cream $2.28, 40 oz Heinz Ketchup $1.48 (Stock up!), Van Camps Pork and Beans .48, 18 ct. eggs $1.29, Hostess Twinkies or Cupcakes $2.00, PRICES GOOD THROUGH TUESDAY

**Stock up item of the week, Heinz 40 oz Ketchup....on sale at every store.  You need a little ketchup to drown out the flavor of those freeze dried meals!

Thoughts on Today's Lesson

If you haven't read President Uchtdorf's entire lesson yet, I wanted to share with you the last paragraph.

"...the work of patience boils down to this: keep the commandments; trust in God, our Heavenly Father; serve Him with meekness and Christlike love; exercise faith and hope in the Savior; and never give up. The lessons we learn from patience will cultivate our character, lift our lives, and heighten our happiness."

I especially like the "never give up" part. I also liked Rose Hutchison's comment in the meeting when she said she taught her children that patience meant "to wait and be happy."

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- May 23

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

"Continue in Patience", President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

We encourage you to read the lesson beforehand and bring your May 2010 Ensign and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Tres Leche Cake

This cake was so incredibly delicious!

Tres Leche Cake

1 pkg. yellow butter-flavored cake mix

2 eggs

1/2 cup water (or substitute coconut milk)

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

4 oz. (1/2 cup) sour cream

1/3 cup melted butter, room temperature

1 tsp butter-rum flavoring

3 tsp vanilla extract, divided

3 Tbs. rum flavoring (optional), divided

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk

1 can (5 oz) evaporated milk

1 cup whipping cream (do not whip)

pinch of salt

whipped cream for topping

toasted coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In the bowl of a standing mixer (or a large bowl if you're mixing by hand), add cake mix, eggs, and water (or coconut milk). Mix on low speed for 30 seconds.

Add softened cream cheese, sour cream, melted butter, butter rum flavoring, 1 tsp vanilla and 2 Tbs. rum flavoring. Mix on medium speed for 1-2 minutes, until blended well.

Pour batter into a 9x13-inch cake pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until toothpick tests clean.

Let cake cool for 15 minutes while you make the "syrup" that will soak into the cooled cake.

In a bowl, whisk together the condensed milk, evaporated milk, 1 cup whipping cream, 1 tsp vanilla, pinch of salt and 1 Tbs. rum flavoring (optional).

With a fork or small skewer, poke lots of holes in the cooled cake, and then slowly pour the milk mixture over the entire cake. The mixture may not soak in immediately and may flow to the sides and bottom of the cake, but tilt the pan around to help distribute the milk mixture.

Cover cake with plastic wrap and chill for 3-4 hours or overnight.

Top with whipped cream and toasted coconut.

Tamra served this with a few sliced strawberries as well. I highly recommend this cake!

Cafe Rio Salad

Thank you, Tamra, for teaching us how to make this fantastic salad!

Cafe Rio Pork Salad

Shredded Pork

5-6 lb. pork butt or pork loin

1 16 oz jar salsa

2-3 cups brown sugar

6 oz. Coke or Dr. Pepper

3 Tbs. molasses

1 Tbs. cumin

1 tsp salt

Place pork in crock-pot. Cover with brown sugar (use the amount of sugar you prefer, depending on how sweet you want it), salsa, molasses, cumin, salt and Coke. Cover and cook until meat is tender and shreds easily with fork, about 6-8 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low.

Lime Rice

2 Tbs. butter

1 cup long grain rice

2 cups chicken broth

juice and zest of 1-2 limes

2 Tbs. chopped cilantro

1/4 tsp. cumin

salt and pepper to taste

In a heavy pan, melt butter with rice. Add broth and other ingredients. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer about 20 minutes, until liquid is absorbed.

Creamy Tomatillo Dressing

3 fresh tomatillos

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup sour cream

1 cup fresh cilantro

1/4 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1 pkg. ranch dressing mix

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/3 to 1/2 cup buttermilk

Combine all ingredients in blender until smooth. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

To assemble salad:

Place warm flour tortilla on plate. Add rice, and then add either black beans or pinto beans. Add shredded pork and some torn romaine lettuce. Sprinkle on some tortilla strips (available near the croutons at the store), and guacamole, if desired. Top with dressing.

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- May 9

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 9: Prophets of God

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Orange Cake

Dear Sisters,
We have made a decision to no longer publish the Sharing Sisterhood newsletter, due to budget constraints and other factors. We thought that most other information would still be delivered to you by way of the ward newsletter, but one thing you might miss would be the recipe! I thought I would share a recipe with you that I made yesterday. The picture isn't worthy of the deliciousness of this cake! If anyone has a recipe they adore, let me know and we'll post it here.

For the cake, I started with a white cake mix. I followed the directions for the oil and eggs, but instead of using water, I used orange juice. I also added 2 tsp. orange extract, and baked as directed.
Here's where it gets really good...the frosting.
1/2 cup butter (that's one stick)
3 oz. cream cheese
4 cups powdered sugar
4 Tbls orange juice
2 tsp orange rind, grated
dash of salt
2 tsp. orange extract
Cream the butter and cream cheese together for 3-4 minutes. Gradually add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time. After all the sugar is mixed in, add the orange juice, salt and orange extract.
Frost your cake and then sprinkle on some sweetened flaked coconut. Try not to eat the whole cake by yourself. Remember...moderation in all things!

April 25 -- full text for Elder Oaks quote

Here is the full text that has the 8 purposes for revelation

from Elder Oak's quote that Sister Mather referenced in her April 25 lesson.

Elder Dallin H. Oak's talk

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- May 2

The upcoming Sunday lesson will be

"Joy in the Various Seasons of Womanhood"

using text from the following General Conference talks --

"And upon the Handmaids

in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit"

Sister Julie B. Beck (April 2010)

"Daughters of God"

Elder M. Russell Ballard

(April 2008)

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- April 25

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

"Ask, Seek, Knock", Elder Russell M. Nelson

We encourage you to read the lesson beforehand and bring your November 2009 Ensign and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- April 18

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 8: Praying to Our Heavenly Father

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- April 11

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 7: The Holy Ghost

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

General Conference talks available

The MP3 files are already available on lds.org so you can start listening to April 2010 General Conference.

Text will be available on Thursday.

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- March 28

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

"Ask, Seek, Knock", Elder Russell M. Nelson

We encourage you to read the lesson beforehand and bring your November 2009 Ensign and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- March 21

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 6: The Fall of Adam and Eve

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- March 14

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 5: The Creation

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Just Checking

Does anyone out there check this blog? Does anyone out there use Reader to receive automatic updates on this blog? Does anyone out there know that if you click on the lesson title they'll be directed to that lesson and can then just read it while they sit at their computer? Just checking. Up until now, we've had commenting disabled, but I have decided to enable it so you can give us any feedback you feel we need, and ask any questions you may have.

Wylie stated that tomorrow's lesson will be lesson #4, but in reality, it's not. However, if you would still read that lesson on your own, that would be great because you're not going to get that lesson in Relief Society tomorrow, or at any other time in the future. Sorry.

Tomorrow's lesson is going to be on Visiting Teaching. :-) Put a smile on your face and we'll see you there!

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- March 7

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 4: Freedom to Choose

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- February 28

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

"More Diligent and Concerned at Home", Elder David A. Bednar

We encourage you to read the lesson beforehand and bring your November 2009 Ensign and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- February 14

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 3: Jesus Christ, Our Chosen Leader and Savior

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- January 24

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

"To Acquire Spiritual Guidance", Elder Richard G. Scott

We encourage you to read the lesson beforehand and bring your November 2009 Ensign and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Don't Forget!

The Stake Preparedness meeting is this Saturday at the Stake Center from 7PM to 8:30PM. Please make time to attend this important meeting! Husbands may come if they'd like, but they will receive similar information at their Priesthood meeting later.

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- January 17

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 2: Our Heavenly Family

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.

Something to think about...

"We women have a lot to learn about simplifying our lives. We have to decide what is important and then move along at a pace that is comfortable for us. We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something. We have to learn to be content with what we are."

— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Upcoming Sunday lesson -- January 10

The lesson this coming Sunday will be

Chapter 1: Our Heavenly Father

We encourage you to read the lesson before hand and bring your Gospel Principles manual and scriptures to Relief Society on Sunday.