Monday, September 29, 2008

October's Activities

Sewing 101 : Wed. October 8th in the gym 
at 10:00 AM.  Questions?  Contact Shauna Cannon

Legacy Lunch : Thursday, Oct 23rd at Noon at 
Maria Thomas' house. Potluck Lunch. 
Theme : Family Vacations

Kid-Richment : Thursday, October 30th at 10:00 
Costume parade and decorating halloween cookies!
This is for mom, grandma's, aunts, day-care providers, 
and any kids you have at home! We'll have activities,
games, and a small craft.  We'll meet in the gym.
Bring one item for a potluck lunch for the kids at 11:00


Book Group: Tuesday, October 21st 
at 7 PM at the d'Evegnee's house. 
The book is The Peacegiver
 If you need a copy of the book, contact Lindsey Dewey!



Recipe Party : Thursday, October 16th
at Mindy Sutherland's (602 Autumn Court)
The theme is Spud Celebration
Please e-mail your recipes to devegnees@byui.edu
by the 10 AM the day of the party 
 
You can find the recipes for last month's party at recipeparty.blogspot.com

SUPER SATURDAY: November 8th at 10:00 
We will be eating lunch at noon and also wrapping presents for our sub-for-santa project. 
Your group leaders will be contacting you next week.
Please let me know if you need a group!

Please ask any questions via e-mail or right here on the blog! THANKS!
Don't forget to pick up a calendar in Relief Society or on our bulletin board!
The calendar also has the Visiting Teaching message for October on the back.

Friday, September 26, 2008

September Recipe Party Pictures

Posted by Maija-Liisa
                                          
Wasabi! Wow our tongues had a treat last night with all of the various Asian dishes from many different Asian/Oriental countries.
 

A large group gathered at Christine's new home with chopsticks in hand to do some serious taste testing.










"Sen Say" Jay demonstrates his sushi of many sorts much to the ooohing and aaahing of the ladies gathered around him.

We tasted won tons, lettuce wraps, even homemade fortune cookies and so many authentic, delectable dishes, you'll just have to get their names, recipes and who made them at   
recipeparty.blogspot.com












If you didn't email your recipe to Sarah yet, please do so, so we can try all of them on our families:)

Thanks for a fun, festive and filling evening together as friends!






  See you next month for our "Spud Celebration" at Mindy's.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Kid-Richment : Playtime for ALL!


Kid-Richment was held on Monday, September 22nd, and provided as much fun for the kids as it did for the Moms and Grandmas. (Okay, so Peter and Grant don't look exactly thrilled here, but it's only because we wouldn't let Peter scarf down an entire bag of cookies.)






THANK YOU to Janeese Summers for planning and organizing the event, from the fruit loop jewelry to the red light/green light game, complete with individual stop and go signs for each child.

The hit of the pot-luck lunch was Iris Garner's salad, so we're sharing the recipe here.


















Iris Garner's Fiesta Ranch Salad

1 head of lettuce, chopped
1 can ranch-style beans (located near the baked beans in the grocery store)
1 cup shredded mexican blend cheese
1/4 cup Creamy Italian Dressing (or more, to taste)
1 cup crushed Fritos

Layer ingredients and enjoy--ole! 
(This is Iris with her grand-daughter, Olivia.  Olivia is lucky enough to look just like Grandma:).) (Iris is holding that reeeeaaally cute baby so the photographer could snap the picture. . . no bias here)

We're looking forward to next month's Kid-Richment already!  

Friday, September 19, 2008

Get to Know Emily Rowe!


My husband and I have 7 grown children...4 boys in a row, then three
girls--twins and one more. They are spread out all over the country,
but love Rexburg and love to get together so we think we will be
seeing them all pretty regularly. 

I love to read, beautiful music, to sew, sports (mostly armchair these days)--go BYU!, travel, cook,watch old movies and do anything fun. 

My favorite snack would have to be a mix of gummy bears and either m & m's or those mini Hershey Kisses. My sister got us started on this treat. It is a great combination. 

One of my favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon is
Mosiah 3:19 about how the natural man is an enemy to God and that we
must become a saint through the atonement and become as little
children. we can learn so much about our relationship with our
Father in Heaven and the Savior in just this one scripture. 

I can't really think of anything that would be a surprise--this whole move
was a huge surprise as we were settled so well in Houston! But
sometimes the Lord has another plan for us. And we know we are
supposed to be here.. We are loving this beautiful country and being
close to family. What a treat!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Upcoming Activities!

Legacy Lunch : Thursday, Sep. 18th at Noon
                            at Jean Hope's house.  Potluck Lunch.
                         Theme : Elementary School Years

Kid-Richment : Monday, September 22nd at 10:00 AM
                         This is for mom, grandma's, aunts, day-care providers,
                        and any kids you have at home!  We'll have activities, 
                         games, and a small craft.
                         We'll meet in the gym at the Church.
                         Bring one item for a potluck lunch for the kids

Quarterly Birthday Lunch: Tuesday, September 23rd at Noon at the 
                                       Church.  This is for our July, August, 
                                       and September birthdays!

Recipe Party : Thursday, September 25th 
                      at the Gilbert's house (678 Wheatland Dr)
                          The theme is Asian Recipes.  
                       Please e-mail your recipes to devegnees@byui.edu
                            by the 10 AM the day of the party (at the verrrrry latest)

Please ask any questions via e-mail or right here on the blog!  THANKS for your participation and interest and help and. . . . well, everything!

PS Let us know if you have a fun fall floral arrangement (can anyone think a word for "arrangement" that starts with an "f"?) that you'd be willing to share that can grace our RS table for our Sunday lessons.  Thank you!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Get to Know Caryn Esplin!


1) How did you meet your husband?
I met Keith when he moved into my Ricks College FHE group after his mission to Argentina. We kind of recognized each other from high school debate and later we realized we had debated each other four times during his senior year. Luckily, we each won twice! I was dating two of his roommates when he moved into our ward, but he definitely captured my attention right away. We only dated two weeks before he proposed. He hadn’t even kissed me yet. Moving back to Rexburg now is like coming back home. Our new theme song is that oldy... “Right back where we started from.”

2) What is your favorite meal to eat?
I just love pizza and pasta, so the Craigo’s buffet is my favorite place to go out. Stir fry and dessert crepes is my favorite meal to eat in. Gourmet cooking is my favorite hobby, next to photography and Photoshop.

3) What is something about you that would come as a "surprise?"
Before teaching at BYU-Idaho, I was the Idaho PTA lobbyist where I authored state legislation to reduce teenage smoking. It turned out to be a huge battle with Big Tobacco, but it was a rewarding and worthwhile experience. I was very pregnant with our Zoe (now 10) which turned out to be an advantage I had not planned on. That government experience catapulted me into our local school board, where I served for three, very long years. I felt much more comfortable to start a teaching career in 2003 on the campus that I grew to love as a young adult. I am so glad to no longer have to commute from Blackfoot.

4) If you had an hour of "free time" what would you do?
Ah, I just love a nice long soak in the tub with candles, bubbles, a good book, and a tall, icy Fresca.

5) What would you like the sisters in the ward to know about you?
I am so grateful for the warm welcome everyone in the ward has extended to us. Thank you! We already feel so comfortable... almost as if we have been here for much longer than two months.

Peaches and Cream Pie is "What's Cookin" Today"

Peaches and Cream Pie

"We tasted this scrumptious pie at the state fair and I started a search to find the recipe. Several calls later, I found the lady in Aberdeen who generously shared this family treasure." 
Caryn Esplin

CRUST:
3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. BAKING POWDER
3 T. soft BUTTER
1 EGG
1/2 c. SKIM MILK
1 sm. Cook-style VANILLA PUDDING
Beat on Med. for 2 Min. 

FRUIT:
1 lg. can well-drained PEACHES
(save some liquid) 

TOPPING:
6 oz. CREAM CHEESE
1/2 c. SUGAR
3 T. PEACH JUICE
Beat well.

1.  Spread crust into large pie plate.
2. Arrange peaches on top.
3. Spoon topping over peaches.
4. Sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar.

Bake 35 min. at 350 until well-browned. 
Makes 8 servings.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Sisters Really "Serve'd Up" Monster Sized Waves of Service

Flown in straight from the islands, Hawaiian Dan, our Auctioneer asked us, "Who'll give me 50, now 55. . . Lindsey!  YOU should bid on this. . . 
now 60, now back to you with 65, now 70

oh now I hear 100, 150, 200. . .  Just how many points do you have?. . . okay, going once, twice, sold to . . ." (THANKS, Daniel!  You were the perfect auctioneer!)

Sister Lola had the most points to bid with.  Just how many grandchildren and great grandchildren does she have?  
Sister Marian offered a most daring service of "an hour driving with your teenager, in your car".

Items that sent multiple waves of 'serv'ice bidding included: 
goods, 
book, 2 books, tape & book, peach jam, raspberry jam, cherry jelly, cherry pancake syrup, Sunday chocolate dessert, lemon bars, 2 doz cinnamon rolls, 1 month FHE treats, monthly dessert 'til 2009, 2 dozen sugar filled chocolate chip cookies, dozen cinnamon rolls, 2 doz rolls/piano lesson, YW apple pie, 12 ears of corn, bushel of fresh apples, Halloween basket, cooking bowl, free rose when you least expect it
double dates
walk & talk, lunch out, double date to Chiz's, lunch date, free lunch in Rexburg, lunch at Gringo's, lunch of your choice, temple session & lunch,   
services
babysitting, 3 hours of babysiting, 3 hours child care, temple babysitting,
photography sitting, 2 photo sittings, digital photo lesson, photoshop session, 1 hour of digital photograph organization, 2 hour computer time, Christmas cards, wrapping all your Christmas presents, bookbinding/mat/laminating, 1 hour housekeeping, 1 hour of any service, help tutor or edit English paper, mending, cross stitch project, custom designed clothing piece, crochet lessons, sewing & quilting, 
Oh! and the 1 hour "wedding" oops!  "weeding" Penny offered:).

Mahalo for what you contributed to an evening in paradise.  We are excited to have the 'serv'ice teams who will 'serve' 4 local families at Christmas.  If you weren't able to be put on a team last night, please make a comment here and we'll make sure you get a team!  Stay tuned for more details . . .

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Service Auction Luau Recipes



Kalua Pork

1 5 pound Pork Butt Roast
1 Tablespoon liquid smoke
3 Tablespoon Sea Salt

Directions : Rub meat all over with sea salt and place in crock pot. Add liquid smoke. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 8-9 hours. Shred and enjoy!

Luau Punch




       1 Can Pineapple Juice Concentrate
1 Can Orange Juice Concentrate
2 T Lime Juice or Lime Juice Concentrate
2 Two-Liter Bottles Lemon-Lime Soda
1 Can Pineapple rings
1 Cup Frozen Strawberries
Mix all ingredients together and sip away!





White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
2 cup Oreo cookie crumbs (with frosting)
1 tablespoons white sugar    
1/4 cup butter, melted                                                                                                       
8T Seedless raspberry preserves or jam                                                                             
2 cups white chocolate chips
1/4 cup heavy cream
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 bar of white chocolate (can use the kind with chocolate cookie crumbs in it)
In a medium bowl, mix together cookie crumbs, 1 tablespoons sugar, and melted butter. Press cookie mixture into the bottom of 10 inch springform pan.
Heat up raspberry preserves in microwave for 15-20 seconds and stir well.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Heat whit
e chocolate chips in microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring after each 30 seconds. (This should only take 2 or 3 turns in the microwave. Stir completely and don’t overheat!) Stir in cream with a whisk or fork and heat for 30 more seconds ONLY if it loses its smooth texture.
In a large bowl, mix together cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time. Blend in vanilla and melted white chocolate. Pour half of batter over crust. Spoon 3 tablespoons raspberry sauce over batter. Pour remaining cheesecake batter into pan, and again spoon 3 tablespoons raspberry sauce over the top. Swirl batter with the tip of a knife to create a marbled effect.Place pan with about 1 inch of water on rack below where cheesecake will bake to help avoid cracks in your cheesecake. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until filling is set. Turn off oven, crack open the door and let cheesecake set for one hour. Cool, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 8 hours before removing from pan. Use remaining raspberry preserves to decorate the top by placing them in a small pastic bag, snipping off the corner and making a zig-zag pattern. Carefully shave white chocolate curls over the top of the cheesecake using your vegetable peeler. Keep refrigerated until right before serving.


Pina Colada Pie


1/2 cup shredded coconut
2 cups crushed vanilla wafers
1/3 cup butter, melted
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup cream of coconut
1 teaspoon vanilla or coconut flavored extract
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 cup maraschino cherries, chopped
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Spread coconut evenly onto a baking sheet and toast in preheated oven 5 minutes, until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
In a medium bowl, mix together vanilla wafer crumbs and melted butter or margarine. Press firmly into bottom and sides of a 9 inch pie pan.
In a large mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese and coconut cream until fluffy. Mix in vanilla extract. Fold in whipped topping, pineapple, cherries, and nuts. Spread mixture into crust. Sprinkle with toasted coconut. Chill several hours before serving.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Service Auction LUAU TOMORROW-- Tuesday, September 9th!


Come at to Service Paradise as we savor a Tropical Feast, then enjoy a Service Auction of Sisterhood! 

Get ready for Hawaiian haystacks, kalua pork, white chocolate raspberry cheesecake, and pina colada pie. . . (sigh of satisfaction). . . and then  you'll get to know other sisters through our service auction!!!

Let me give a few answers to some questions that have come up:

1) If you've signed up to bring a food item, just bring it a few minutes early and set it on the buffet table.  THANK YOU for helping!!!  We are starting at 6:30 p.m.!!

2) You don't have to auction something to come!  We just want YOU there!

3) Feel free to dress up in your festive island attire, or just come in what you feel like wearing!  It's up to YOU!!!  

4) When you come to the Luau, you'll have a card to fill out for your auction at your place-setting.

5) Can't think of what to offer at the auction?  Here. . . let me help!

Think of a talent or skill you have and then turn it into an item or act of SERVICE to "auction" at our Service Auction Luau.  Sisters will then be able to "win" the item or the act with POINTS they earn at Enrichment that night!

6) You can BRING an item to auction off or you can auction off a "service" that the winner will get at a later date (you and the winner can decide when).

Here are some ideas to get you started: 
Bring cookies, bread, treats, crafts, scrapbook pages, a fun themed basket filled with goodies, giftcards, or other items you think another sister would like.  Auction off your TIME by offering to teach a lesson, tutor a son or daughter, do dishes or laundry or mending, paint a room, be an exercise partner, scrub a floor, kitchen or bathroom, take someone out to lunch etc. etc. etc.

You can create an auction out of ANYTHING you think another sister might like.  Think of how this will help you get to know each other!

Tomorrow night  we will also be starting a service project to help 4 families in our community for the holidays.

So. . . please join us for LOTS of fun, feasting, and friendship!

Feel free to ask questions or give ideas on the blog or e-mail devegnees@byui.edu

SERVE'S UP, DUDE!!!  


Saturday, September 6, 2008

Homemade Hamburger Stew is What's Cookin' Today

Hello Sisters,

Today, Saturday, September 6th, Peggy shares a stew recipe with us. Notice how she uses such healthy ingredients like cracked brown rice.

Homemade Hamburger Stew

(Canned in advance or recipe below)*

Prep. Time: 45 min./ serves 4-6
1 lb. extra lean stew meat or hamburger (browned)
2 quarts water
½ cup cracked brown rice
1 lg. onion chopped
2 stalks celery diced
1 can corn
4 lg. diced carrots
2 large sliced potatoes
1 tsp. salt and ½ t. pepper
Cover and simmer for 1 hour.

*Canned recipe is different. Call me if you want the recipe.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Chili is What's Cookin' Today

Hello Sisters,

I know it's Friday, so that may mean pizza at your home, but Peggy has given us a great recipe to plop our canned beans and canned tomatoes into --

Chili
Prep time: 30 minutes

Serves 6
1 quart pink or pinto beans
1 lb. hamburger browned in onion
1 green pepper chopped
2 quarts home canned tomatoes
2 T. chili powder
½ tsp. pepper
1 tsp. salt
Simmer on low for 20 minutes.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Homemade Tomato Soup is What's Cookin' Today

Hi Sisters,

Tomato juice -- what a great way to preserve our garden's tomatoes. Peggy's been canning the food she, Gary and the girls have grown in their garden this summer and has shared her tomato soup recipe with us below. You can serve it tonight or any other night you're in the mood!

Personally I really like tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, especially with honey on my grilled cheese sandwich and cheese melted in my tomato soup. Yummy, yum, yum! Give it a try and let me know how you liked it or what crazy additions you make to tomato soup or grilled cheese sandwiches with a Comment here.
Homemade Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Prep time: 5 minutes
(Canned in advance)
16 quarts tomato juice (set aside)
Cook in microwave until tender:
1 c. chopped green peppers
2 c. ground onions
3 c. celery

Add above ingredients to tomato juice
Then mix together:
1 ½ c. sugar
½ c. salt
½ tsp. pepper
2 C. flour

Add dry ingredients to 1 quart of the cold juice, and then stir into remaining tomato mixture. Bring almost to a boil, stirring so it won’t burn. If tomato juice purchased from the store, do not add salt. Process 12 ½ lbs. pressure for 15 minutes. Makes about 17 quarts of soup.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Clam Chowder is What's Cookin' Today

Hello Sisters,

Please let us know if you enjoy getting a daily recipe.
Also, please email Maija-Liisa or Sarah if you have a few recipes, you'd like to share.
Since Peggy has shared hers in Enrichment before, we asked her to get us started.

So, "what's cookin' today", day 2 of 7 in the kitchen of Peggy Rogers?
Clam Chowder -- Peggy Rogers
I have bolded what needs to be canned or frozen in advance.

1 quart of potatoes (can be freshly cooked)
1 cube of margarine or butter
½ cup whole wheat flour
1 can evaporated milk
1 can of milk or water
1 small onion
Frozen or canned corn
½ cup sautéed celery
1 fresh sliced and cooked carrot (not bottled or canned)
1 can clams

Brown onions in sauce pan with margarine. Add flour, remove from heat and add milk. Return to heat and add vegetables. Stir and cook until thickened.
Potato Soup

Follow recipe for clam chowder except don’t add clams.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Recipe Party Recipes are on their own blog!

For those of you who would like the recipes from Recipe Parties you may have missed, we've decided to give them their very own blog.  We'll post them each month after the Recipe Party, and I'll also start dishing out (I know. . . I couldn't help it) other recipes from the past few months bit by bit.  The blog address is : recipeparty.blogspot.com   Bon appetit!!!! You can find all of the yummy recipes from August's party at Konda's house on the new blog.  

If you'd like a hard copy, please let me know because we have some of those too.  I'll bring the piles of hard-copies I have from other parties to Christine's casa on the 25th. 

The theme for the month of September will be Asian Cuisine and Brother McMaster will be doing a sushi demonstration! 



What's Cookin' Today?

Hello Hungry-for-Recipes-Sisters,

Some of you have requested that we share more recipes on the blog, so we're startin' by askin' Peggy Rogers to share 7 of her favorite recipes she makes.  Each night we'll post one of her week's worth of recipes.   

So -- drum roll please -- introducin' . . . "what's cookin' today"!
From the Kitchen of Peggy Rogers:  "I tried to pick a couple of recipes that should be canned this time of year with the abundance of fresh foods. I have bolded the stuff that needs to be canned or frozen in advance.

This one is Charlene Christensen’s. It uses up the abundance of garden produce this time of year. I have added my own touch to it and the grandchildren love this soup. I made nine batches of it last week because I needed to use up produce from my garden."
1 c. onions (chopped)
1 c. celery (sliced)
2 T. margarine
2 c. chicken stock or (2 cubes bouillon with 2 cups water)
2 c. carrots (sliced or diced)
2 c. zucchini, (sliced or diced)
2 c. corn cut from the cob
1 c. green peppers (chopped)
salt and pepper to taste


Saute onion and celery in margarine. Add broth and carrots. Simmer for 20 min. Add zucchini, corn and green peppers and simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Season. Pour into freezer containers for future use in stews, soups, casseroles or squash fillings.

* I thaw this soup base, add one can cream of chicken soup, a can of cannery chicken or turkey and a small package of egg noodles (cook the noodles first).