Playgroup this week

is at Heather Higbee's House!

Wednesday, January 21
10:00 AM

Let me know if you need directions to her house. All are welcome!

Tomorrow's Lesson

Tomorrow's lesson in Relief Society is from the Joseph Smith manual - Lesson #26. Elijah and the Restoration of the Sealing Keys found on page 306 or you can read it online here.

Emergency Preparedness

There will not be a preparedness class in January, but if you would like to use the ward hand wheat grinder, you can contact Marjorie Harward any time.

Also, here's a little secret to the best window cleaning solution:

1 pint rubbing alcohol
1 TBLS liquid detergent
4 TBLS ammonia
Add enough water to make a gallon
Add a little blue coloring if blue makes you feel cleaner :)

Happy Birthday Relief Society!

For our Enrichment night coming up on January 21st we are celebrating Relief Society's birthday. The true birthday isn't until March (I think) but we are partying early.

We are looking for one more person who likes the idea of making a birthday cake and decorating a table for 8 to help at the party. The cake and decorations can be any theme you wish. Meredith Harris has offered to be a resource and I've seen her teach the young women about cake decorating. She really knows what she's talking about and has a great cake book to look through.

If you'd like to volunteer just leave a comment or email me or call me. Thanks!

Playgroup Clarification

Please note that playgroup is really on Thursday, January 15th at Janet Dustin's house, not Wednesday. I changed the original post below, but I'm not sure those changes show up if you are subscribed to the blog. Anyway, come play!

Playgroup with date correction...

Thursday, January 15th

Janet Dustin's house

10:00 AM

We look forward to seeing y'all there :)

(Leave a comment if you need to know where she lives. I'll email it to you.)

Upcoming Lessons

This week's lesson will be from the Joseph Smith manual, lesson #25 Truths from the Savior's Parables in Matthew 13.
January's Teaching for our Time lesson will be from President Monson's talk Finding Joy in the Journey
as well as Elder Wirthlin's talk Come What May, and Love it.

Red Cross Blood Drive

But seriously folks, giving blood is a great opportunity to help others and provide an important community service. Our American Red Cross blood drive will be held on Tuesday, January 13 at 1850 West 1600 North in the Cultural Hall.

The blood drive will run from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Please contact Brother Boyd Minor to schedule your appointment to help save a life by donating blood or to help on location. Sign up sheets will be passe around in Relief Society.

Brother Minor: 373-6860

Merry Christmas!

There is something special about celebrating the birth of the Savior along with people all over the world.

It's probably very apparent from the lack of posting that I've been very busy this holiday season. Mostly the lack of posting comes from lack of knowing what's going on! I didn't realize it until just the other day, but I didn't get to attend our own ward at all in November! That's just about long enough to make you feel out of the loop. However I do have some Enrichment Committee insider information on some things to look forward to...

• Keep your eyes out this Sunday for announcements about our super exciting Enrichment Activity coming up in January. It is going to be FUN!! (All caps intended.)
• In 2009 there will be TWO new Enrichment groups announced!
• Also in 2009 the Get Moving Group will be resurrected! If you're interested in getting moving, please let me know how you like to move and the times/days that would work best for you to move. Email me. Camille. bootstothemoon@gmail.com
• Also in 2009 we will begin work on the Stake Road Show Film Festival. If you're thinking, hey wasn't that supposed to be in November? Yes. It was, but it was quickly rescheduled because it just wasn't enough time to make a short film. The new date has yet to be announced, but they were thinking Spring so we think January will be a good month to get to work :)
  

Also, we're spending the Christmas and New Year celebration with Micah's family in Sparks, NV so I'll continue to be out of the loop just a little while longer. If there is anything that you would like to share on the blog, please please please let me know! bootstothemoon@gmail.com

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Playgroup Tuesday, December 16

Playgroup will be at Caroline Shillig's (1680 Woodland drive Bldg 7) tomorrow at 10am.
She says, "Sorry it is once again at my house and at the same time...
Maybe after the holidays we can spice it up a bit :)
We look forward to seeing y'all here!"

Playgroup on Friday

Friday, December 12
Kid's Gift Exchange @ Caroline Shillig's house (1680 Woodland Drive Bldg 7)
@10AM
Please bring a small gift (no more than $5 in value, let Caroline know via email or phone if you are unable to do so and we will make it possible for your children to participate), and if you'd like a snack/treat to share, to my home for a fun filled time of food and presents!

Goodness from Rachel Hiatt

Sorry it's been a while since there have been any posts. I've been in and out of town and I guess the combination of business and feeling out of touch with our Relief Society has led to less posting. Hopefully these recipes will make up for it.

Rachel Hiatt has shared her crock pot oatmeal and granola recipes. She gave me the original recipes that inspired her versions and then her version as well. She said that she never really fully follows a recipe and it must be working because she's gotten so many requests for the recipes. Here they are.

“Set for Life” Granola
4 c. old-fashioned oats
2 c. rolled wheat
1 c. oat or wheat bran
1 c. whole wheat flour
½ c. dry milk
½ ts. salt
½ to 1 c. sunflower seeds
1 to 2 c. slivered almonds
12 oz. can frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
1 ts. vanilla
2 c. dried fruit, chopped

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix apple juice concentrate and vanilla. Pour over dry ingredients and stir until well mixed. Spread mixture on large baking sheet in a thin layer. Bake in a 200* oven until golden and almost dry, about 1 ½ to 2 hours. For chunky granola, don’t stir while baking. Break into bite size pieces and add dried fruit. Store in an airtight container.

Rachel’s Granola
6 c. oats or 6-grain cereal or combination of both
1 c. flour or bran
½ c. dry milk
½ ts. salt
12 oz. can frozen apple-raspberry juice concentrate, thawed
1 tb. vanilla
Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix apple juice concentrate and vanilla. Pour over dry ingredients and stir until well mixed. Spread mixture on large baking sheet in a thin layer. Bake in a 200* oven until golden and almost dry, about 1 ½ to 2 hours. Generally it isn’t chunky, even if you don’t stir. I am thinking about adding ½ c. honey to the juice to see if that would make it chunky.
I add dried or fresh fruit to my bowl of granola, then I can choose what kind of fruit I want.

Overnight Oatmeal (Alton Brown)
1 c. steel cut oats
1 c. dried cranberries
1 c. dried figs
4 c. water
½ c. half and half
Combine ingredients in crockpot and set to low heat. Let cook for 8-9 hours.

Rachel’s Crockpot Oatmeal
½ c. steel cut oats or 9-grain cereal
1 ½ c. water
3 tbs. milk
2 tbs. cream or half and half
Combine ingredients in crockpot and set to low heat. Let cook for 7-8 hours. You can increase or decrease the liquids to make it thicker or thinner as you like. I confess, I just pour in a little milk and then add a little less in cream. Adding dried fruit means adding more liquid as well. Usually there is a film on the surface that I stir in as soon as I get up and it’s mostly gone by the time we eat.

Why didn't I think of that?

Jolly Snowman Faces from BettyCrocker.com

I love finding things like this that are refreshingly cute and truly simple. It looks like they used those licorice strings for the band of the ear muffs and lifesavers for the muff of the ear muffs, but I don't see why you couldn't do the whole thing out of frosting if that's all you had at home.

This is my mom's rolled sugar cookie recipe. Recently I found the exact same recipe somewhere online titled "The last sugar cookie dough recipe you will ever need." I agree completely.

In bowl add:
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups butter

Cream ingredients well. Add:
5 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Chill for at least an hour before rolling. Roll at least a 1/4 of an inch thick. Do not brown cookies.

Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

A Night in Bethlehem

Nativity by local artist, J. Kirk Richards

I hope I wasn't the only one who got a knock on my door from a genuine Roman announcing our ward's Christmas party! In case you did miss it, here is the information:

Decree
By order of his Royal Majesty, the Emperor, it is decreed that all the world is to be counted and taxed.
Therefore, let each person and family come for "A Night in Bethlehem" to be taxed according to the law.
Donkeys must be ties on the north side of the building and enter through t he proper gate.
Everyone dress (if you wish) in "Biblical" attire to enter the city.
Bring a blanket for your family to rest on from their long journey, you may find that the Inn is full.
Each family will be assessed taxes. Your taxes will be canned goods (be generous).
A light supper will be available in the open market.
All taxing will take place on the date, time and place shown below. Those found disobeying the law to appear, will be sentenced to a holiday season without the true spirit of Christmas.
So let it be written. So let it be done.
Caesar Augustus

Date: 13 December 2008
Time" 6:00 PM Sharp
Place: The program will start in the Chapel. (Please sit as families)

REINDEER SHIRT PLAYGROUP

Today Monday, December 1
REINDEER SHIRTS
We will be making shirts so please bring a white shirt/onesie for your child. We're meeting
at Caroline's house (1680 Woodland Drive Bldg #7) at 10:00AM

I hope Thanksgiving was wonderful at your house.

(These are cake pops from www.bakerella.blogspot.com)

I just conducted a classic pull-a-name-out-of-a-hat with Nigel's help (which worked out really well because he can't read so there was no chance of cheating and he decidedly chose one name, not the whole bunch).

Heidi won the surplus bag from the craft-a-thon! Congratulations and let me know when you'll be home so I can deliver it.

More recipes from the Emergency Preparedness Oats Class

Two fantastic recipes. One offers an idea of what to do with leftover oatmeal and the other sounds like it would make divine French toast!

Oatmeal Cake
Serves 16

1 1/4 cups water, boiling
1 cup oats, instant
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar, granulated
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour, stirred and measured
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1.2 tsp nutmeg
6 TBLS butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup evaporated milk
3/4 cup pecans, chopped
1 cup coconut flakes

Pour boiling water over rolled oats; set aside for 20 minutes. (Or 1 1/2 cups leftover oatmeal may be used.) In large mixing bowl, cream together butter or margarine and sugars; add eggs and vanilla and blend well. Stir in oatmeal, then mixed dry ingredients. Bake in greased 9x13 inch pan at 350 degrees F. for 40 to 45 minutes or until done.

Combine butter (or margarine), brown sugar, evaporated milk, chopped nuts, and coconut. Mix well. Spread over cake; broil until frosting bubbles and is slightly brown, taking care not to burn.

Raisin-Oatmeal Bread
Serves 16
Serving Size: 1 slice
Makes: 1 loaf, 16 slices
Use this bread for unforgettable slices of warm, golden French toast, kissed with cinnamon and sweet, plump raisins.

1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 TBL shortening
1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (1o5-115 degrees)
1/2 cup raisins
3 to 3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 egg white, slightly beaten
2 TBLS quick cooking oats

1. heat water and salt to boiling in 3-quart saucepan. Stir in 1 1/2 coups oats, the brown sugar and shortening; cool to lukewarm. Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water. Stir into oat mixture. Stir in raisins. Mix in flour with spoon (dough will be sticky). Turn dough onto lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl; turn greased side up. Cover; let rise in warm place (85 degrees) until double, about 1 1/2 hours. (If kitchen is cool, place dough on a rack over a bowl of hot water and cover completely with a towel.)

2. Grease loag pan, 9x5x3 inches. Punch down dough; shape into rounded loag. Place in pan. Brush top with egg white; sprinkle with 2 TBL oats. Cover; let rise in warm place until double, about 1 hour.

3. Heat oven to 375. Bake until dark brown, 40-45 minutes. Rmeove from pan; cool on wire rack.

1 slice: Calories 155 (calories from fat 20); Fat 2g (Saturated 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 230 mg; Carbohydrates 32 g (Dietary Fiber 2 g); Protein 4g.

From "Betty Crocker's Best Loved Recipes" Text Copyright 199 General

Craft-a-thon Surplus Give-away!

I'm really excited about today's post. I have two of these shoulder bags that I made for displays for the Craft-a-thon sign up process that I'm just not using. I'd love to give this one away. The outside is kind of an Asian print with all different kinds of paper umbrellas. The lining is green with colored polka dots. It's reversible. The strap on this one is really long so you could either tie it to a length you like or cut and resew to a length you like or just have a really long strap.

To win this bag, just leave a comment here before this Friday - November, 28th at midnight.

Quote from yesterday's lesson

Yesterday's lesson in Relief Society came from the May 2008 Ensign. Here is a quote from Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander found on page 101:

"Among the crowd was a woman. ...a humble woman...approaching the Savior from behind and then with embarrassment confessing that she had touched the hem of His garment. She was a woman exhausted and impoverished by her difficulties. She was desperate for help. Outwardly, there was little to distinguish her from any other person in the crowd. No on tried to stop her from moving toward Jesus. ...But there was something that set her apart from all others in the crowd that day. Though buried among the thronging mass, she resolutely and quietly pressed forward with a single purpose in mind: to come to the Savior, having faith that He had the power to heal her, that He cared about her and would respond to her need. In this one thing she set herself apart from the crowd. The crowd came to see, but the woman came to be healed."

Playgroup

Today's playgroup will be at Caroline's house (1680 Woodland Drive Bldg 7) at 10AM.
We will just chat and let the kids play.
Hope to see y'all there!

Recipes, Recipes!

Here are as many recipes as I can type while Nigel is still asleep from the Emergency Preparedness Oats class last night.

No Bake Cookies
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter/margarine
2-4 TBLS cocoa (depending on how chocolatey you want them to be)
1/2 cup water

Bring to a full rolling boil. Watch closely, stirring constantly so that the sugar is dissoled but isn't burning.

Add 3 cups oats directly after taking above mixture off the heat, add 1 tsp vanilla. Mix well. If desired, add 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1.2 cup coconut or nuts. Drop by spoon onto waxed paper and let cool.

Instant Oatmeal Packets
3/4 cups solled oats
1 1/2 cups quick oats
1/2 cup powdered milk
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp salt (scant)
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Blend dry rolled oats in a blender, pulsing until oats are powdery (not flour). In a mixing bowl, combine powdery oats and the remaining ingredients.

Put 1.2 up instant oatmeal into zipper lock bags. For variety you can add toppings to each bag (raisins, other dried fruits etc.) Makes 6 instant packets.

To use, combine 1/2 cup instant oatmeal and 2/3 cup water in microwavable bowl. Microwave for approximately 2 minutes. (A little less for an 1100 watt microwave, and more or fewer watts) Stir.

Cranberry Almond Granola
4 cups old fashioned oats
2/3 cup honey
4 TBLS butter or margarine, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup natural almonds, cjopped
1 cup sweetened flake coconut (optional)
1.2 cup wheat germ
1 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place oatns in 2- 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 jelly roll pans. Place pans on 2 oven racks, and bake oats 18 to 20 minutes or until lightly toasted, stirring oats and rotating pans between upper and lower racks halfway through baking.

In large bowl, stir noney, butter, vanilla and salt. Stir in oats, almonds, coconut (if using), and wheat germ to coat.

Spray same pans with nonstick spreay. Spread oat mixture evenly in pans; bake 12 to 14 minutes or until golden-brown, stirring once and rotating pans between racks halfway through baking. Cool granila in pans on wire racks about 15 minutes.

Transfer granola to large bowl. stirn in fruit. Store at room temperature in teightly sealed container up to 2 weeks. (To keep crisp, store oat mixture separately from fruit; mix before serving).

Makes 10 cups.

Breakfast Take Alongs
2/3 cup butter or margaring
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup oats (quick or old Fasioned, uncooked)
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup wheat germ
6 crispy coooked bacon slices, crumbled

Beat together butter, sugar, egg and vanilla uuntil well blended. Add combined flour, soda and slat; miz well. Stir in oats, cheese wheat germ and bacon. Derop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto greases cookie sheet; bake at 350 degrees 12 to 14 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookes sheet; remove to wire cooling rack. Store in loosely covered container in regergerator or at room temperature.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Oatmeal Cake
Serves 16

1 1 /4 cup....

The oatmeal cake and all the others will have to wait. I hear Nigel calling for me. Enjoy! It all sounds so yummy!

The book club is reading,,,

The Prize Winner by Terry Ryan. The Book Group will meet on Thursday, December 4th to discuss the book and have some refreshment by way of food. That means you have 3 weeks to read the book, or you could rent the movie, or do neither and just show up for the company.

The Book Group would appreciate anyone attending to bring a snack to share if possible.

"What to do with all those stored oats"

The Emergency Preparedness class is tonight at 7:00 PM in the Relief Society room. We will be learning about cooking with oats. There will be samples of yummy foods you can make with oats. The recipes will also be posted here later this week.

Let's enjoy the outdoors while we can!

This afternoon Caroline Shillig is hosting playgroup at Nielsen's Grove Park. It's not as green as this picture, but it should be sunny enough to enjoy letting the kids run around before it gets too cold.

Nielsen's Grove Park
2000 South Sandhill Road, Orem
@ 2:30pm

Everyone is welcome to come, whether you have children or just feel like playing with children. Bring friends and family and their children. It's always a blast.

mmm...

Margie Harward will be hosting an oatmeal class this coming week.

Tuesday, Nov 18th
7:30 PM
Relief Society Room

You may remember the wheat class that was a smashing success. I'm sure that oatmeal will be just as enjoyable, if not more!

You Won't Want to Miss This!

Come show off your cooking skills in our fabulous Enrichment Group –

Iron Chef: Grandview 1^st

Prepare one dish (appetizer, entrée, side, salad, dessert or drink) using our “theme” and then bring it and the recipe to share.

Let’s have fun, taste what others have created and swap recipes!

The theme for November is: Holiday Favorites!!!

Thursday, November 13^th

Willowbrook Clubhouse

6:30-7:30 PM

(a children’s class will be provided)

After 2 weeks of nothing...

Caroline is going to make up for the lack of posting with a great playgroup announcement:

FOR PLAYGROUP THIS WEEK WE ARE GOING TO GET TOGETHER AND MAKE HALLOWEEN SUGAR COOKIES!!!

I WILL PROVIDE THE SUGAR COOKIES AND Y'ALL JUST BRING SUPPLIES TO DECORATE THE COOKIES!
ICING, SPRINKLES, THE WORKS!
EXCITED TO SEE Y'ALL HERE!

FRIDAY OCTOBER 24, 2008

CAROLINE SHILLIG'S HOUSE
1680 Woodland Drive Bldg #7 1130AM

Sounds fun!

The Playgroup to rival all Playgroups!

Caroline has put together a really great playgroup for tomorrow.

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
The Little Gym
150 W Center Street
Orem, UT 84058

The class has been scheduled specifically for our playgroup and there is no cost! Caroline needs to have an accurate head count before we go, so please contact her as soon as possible to say how many children you will be bringing.

The Little Gym has several different programs focusing on all different kinds of gymnastics, martial arts, etc. I'm sure the kids will love playing there.

Book Group!

The book group is meeting this Thursday, October 9th at 8:00 PM at Marilyn Miles' house. There is still time to read A Girl with a Pearl Earring and join them.

All are welcome, even if you haven't read the book.

Taking a break

I'm out of town visiting Micah's family for the General Conference weekend so I just wanted to let you know that there will officially be no posts until Tuesday of next week.

Remember that this Saturday and Sunday is General Conference. See you next week!