THE SWEETNESS OF CHURCH

A post from the facebook of one of our Young Adults in the Canaries.  The baby is praying that the week will pass quickly for the anticipated Friday Family Home Evening.

I have always wanted my blog to contain a smattering of my interests, including my love for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Today I sat in church with an overwhelming sense of the sweetness of the families gathered to share a spiritual experience.  There was a High Council speaker and he was having a difficult time delivering his message, yet I felt peace and love there.  I said to myself, "This is good, this is right."  Even in the weakness of this mans abilities I felt the spirit."   I thought of a favorite quote from Rabbi Harold Kushner.   He said:
 

“In congregational worship, regularly scheduled services on a Saturday or Sunday morning, I have come to believe that the congregating is more important than the words we speak.  Something miraculous happens when people come together seeking the presence of God.  The miracle is that we so often find it.  Somehow the whole becomes more than the sum of its parts.  A spirit is created in our midst which none of us brought there.  In fact, each of us came there looking for it because we did not have it when we were alone.  But in our coming together, we create the mood and the moment in which God is present.”  (Who Needs God, p. 149)

Recently I had a conversation with the wife of a Dr. I am seeing, who was helping out that day.  I told her about our mission.  She is not LDS but was very impressed with the idea that we are going to help a group of young adults, in a far flung area of the world, be together, have a community.  We have already connected with some of these young people on facebook.  They have impressed us with the things they say and post on their facebook page.  (Bless Mike, who is proficient at reading Spanish) They are not ashamed of their testimonies.  They link to church talks, songs, scriptures and quotes that inspire them.  The bulk for their facebook friends are not LDS.  They are showing the joy and direction the gospel gives them for a good, clean life of hope and love. 

I have a file of favorite gospel articles from various sources.  This is a great essay with a challenge to atheism .  Athiests  Here is a quote from it:  

Dr. Nicholi, author of "The Question of God," conducted a research project at Harvard University in which he interviewed undergraduates who had experienced what they called a "religious conversion."  The author interviewed the students themselves and the people who knew them before and after their conversions.  The results, which were published in the "American Journal of Psychiatry," showed that each subject described a "marked improvement in ego functioning.a radical change in life style with an abrupt halt in the use of drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes; improved impulse control, with adoption of a strict sexual code demanding chastity or marriage with fidelity; improved academic performance; enhanced self-image and greater access to inner feelings; an increased capacity for establishing 'close, satisfying relationships'; improved communication with parents.a lessening of 'existential despair;' and a decrease in preoccupation with.apprehension over death." (see "The Question of God, p. 80)

My favorite scripture find this year is in Enos: " ...and the words which I often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart."  (v.3)

Yes,  My favorite thoughts are usually of the "joy of the saints," those who have taught me, loved me and influenced me for good in the sojourn of my life.  And I look forward to many more experiences with saints in new places.

This is a wonderfully cool and refreshing summer dish perfect for using a small piece of leftover salmon.  It is good with crackers as an appetizer or by itself as a salad.  I have had this recipe for years and want to make it if I have some leftover Salmon.  I often do the lighter version if I plan on mostly eating it myself, the richer version for company. 

Salmon Mousse

1 C. cold water

1 pkg. Gelatin (1 T)

1 C. mayonnaise (you can use light if you’re counting calories or I often make it with 1 ½ C. water and ½ C. mayo for a lighter version)

2 C. broiled salmon flaked or other flaky fish

1 C. minced celery

1 C. chopped peeled English cucumber

2 T. fresh dill or 1 T.  Dried (I use the freeze dried)

1 T. fresh lemon juice

½  tsp. Sea salt

¼ tsp. Pepper

Sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water.  Heat in microwave until hot.  Stir until gelatin is dissolved.   Add the dill here.   Cool until it barely starts to thicken.  Add the mayonnaise and then the remaining ingredients and stir well. (Add the Salmon last and let it be in chunks not shreds)  Pour into oiled mold or spray with Pam.  Chill for about 3 hours.  Unmold by submerging the mold in very hot water for 30 seconds or so.  Serve with crackers or on a lettuce leaf as a salad.

SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN

I heard someone review this movie who said, "It was so dark it wasn't really enjoyable but I couldn't look away."  These are my sentiments exactly.  The queen was almost too evil to believe.  There was very little in the movie that made me feel good.  The dwarfs lived in the fairy forest and the movie spent a 10 minute or so segment there and my fear eased up a little then, otherwise I was gripping my seat with dread of  who might die a violent death next.  The scenery was spectacularly dark and frightening.  There were too many desperate fights and battle scenes...too many violent outbursts of the queen and her creepy brother and a fierce monster.  Some of the special affects were amazing.   The story line loosely followed the original story.  The apple and the kiss finally showed up but the romance was nil.  The ending is left dangling, not for a sequel, really, just a situation where you can decide how you want it to end.  This is absolutely not for children.  There is no sex but the violence was R rated even though it is a PG-13.  My husband LOVED it!  I would give it 2 Stars or less.  I don't have much of a taste for this kind of movie, but I understand why adventure junkies like my husband can get enjoyment.

SPINACH AND MUSHROOM BAKE

This is the one with chicken and no mushrooms

I have made this 3 time with a recipe from Stacy's Snacks  which originated from Martha Stewart.  I made it twice with chicken and spinach and once with Swiss Chard and chicken because my neighbor brought some fresh over.  It was good.  I eliminated 1/4 C. of cream and didn't miss it.  I added the thyme and loved it with the mushrooms.   Then I decided to make this as a vegetable side dish with more spinach and mushrooms instead of the chicken.  My husband, who is my most important picky critic said, "I don't usually like stuff like this, but this is good."  (Don't tell him that it has onions.  I always have to grate onions small so he can't see them.)   My dinner guest asked for the recipe.  4 of us polished off one recipe.  I will make this again.  It serves 4-6

SPINACH AND MUSHROOM BAKE

Mix 2 C. bread torn into bite size pieces.  (I love Costco’s big ciabatta rolls and used one of them. Toss with a 1 T. oil and a little garlic powder.  These are so lovely and crunchy on the finished product.

Sauce

Add 2 T. oil or butter to a saucepan and stir fry the following until starting to brown:  2 cloves of coarse grated garlic, ¼ of a grated sweet onion and 8 oz. sliced mushrooms.  Add 1/3 C. white wine, 1 scant tsp. thyme leaves and simmer low for a minute or so.  Add ½ C. whipping cream and ½ tsp. salt.  Mix 1 C. milk with 3 T. flour until smooth.  Add to the mixture and bring to a boil, stirring for 1 minute.   Pack a 4 cup measuring cup to overflowing with fresh chopped or baby spinach (or chopped Swiss Chard.)  Put the spinach and ½ C. Parmesan Cheese into a bowl and pour the sauce over and toss with your hands until well mixed.  Pour into a 9 inch square size casserole dish and top with the bread cubes.  Bake 350 for 20 minutes.  Sprinkle on a little more Parmesan Cheese the last 5 minutes if desired. 

I have made this with 1 ½-2 C. rotisserie chicken if you choose to have it as a meat main dish.  Mushrooms or no, thyme or no, they were all delicious. 

Here is the measuring cup packed with spinach

SECRET GARDEN ENTRANCE

More than 10 years ago I found this gate in an antique store in South Carolina while visiting Maren.  I had it shipped home thinking I would use it in a new house we planned to build in St. George.  Two years later I found 2 - 9 ft. lengths of old scalloped iron fencing at a local antique sale. I was very excited and envisioned exactly this placement with the stone pillars.  Plans changed and we ended up in Fruit Heights but I knew when we picked out our lot that this was the place for my fence and gate.   Today it was finally finished and I am thrilled with the results.  It is rusty and may get paint at some point, but I don't mind the rusty look and the fence is charmingly crooked.  It is the perfect entrance to my secret garden and waterfall.   

LEMON CHEESE TART

 

I have made this several times and like it a lot.  It is quick dessert (if you don't do the preserved lemons) with great lemon flavor.   I made it once with key limes and thought it was a little bitter with that much key lime peel (besides it takes forever to get any juice out of key limes).  I might make it again with regular limes and I plan to try it with oranges and a chocolate glaze.  Stay tuned.  I preserved some orange slices for some cupcakes I made recently and decided that it would work with the lemons also.  The lemons were pretty and delicious but my husband picked them off so the picky won't like them.  8 servings.  Store in the refrigerator but  better if served room temperature.

Lemon Cheese Tart
Cake Layer

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

6 T melted butter

2 eggs

2 T lemon juice 

2 T lemon zest 

For the cream cheese filling --

8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature

2 tablespoons melted butter

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

1 T. fresh lemon juice

1 generous tsp. lemon zest

1 cup confectioners' sugar

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease or spray a 9" springform pan with vegetable spray.

Stir the Lemon cake ingredients all together until smooth but not overmixed and spread into the bottom of the springform pan.

Beat the cream cheese ingredients together until fluffy.  Dollop gently on top of the cake to about ½ inch from the edge and spread as much as possible.    Bake for 25 minutes on 325 and turn off the oven for another 5 minutes.  Let cool for 10 minutes.

Add 1 T vegetable oil to ½ C. white chocolate chips.  Microwave on half power for 1 ½ minutes or more until melted.  You might have to stir for a minute to get them all to melt.  Glaze the top of the cake.

Preserved Lemon – (Fun but not necessary)  Stir together in a Dutch oven size pan ¾ C sugar and 3/4 C. water. Bring to a boil.   Slice 2 lemons in 1/3 inch slices and lay in a single layer in the pan.  Simmer for 20 minutes turning the slices a couple of times.  Remove carefully and drain in a colander and chill.  Save the boiling sauce for lemonade or freeze it for the next time you want to make this.  Also works with oranges.  .  Sprinkle with a little sugar before putting them on top of your cake.  

MY GOD IS CHEERFUL

President Heber C. Kimball said,  "I am perfectly satisfied that my Father and my God is a cheerful, pleasant, lively, and good-natured Being.  Why?  Because I am cheerful, pleasant, lively, and good-natured when I have His Spirit.  That is one reason why I know; and another is--the Lord said, through Joseph Smith, 'I delight in a glad heart and a cheerful countenance' (D&C 59:15) That arises from the perfection of His attributes; He is a jovial, lively person..."  (Journal of Discourses 4:222)

TAMALE PIE

This is my mother's recipe. We all loved it growing up. Most of my kids liked it too. My mother never put cheese on it but we like the cheese and then serving it with the taco condiments makes it even better. It is an easy quick meal to fix. 

TAMALE PIE

Brown: 1 lb. Ground meat - Turkey, Chicken or Beef 
(This is also a good vegetarian dish.  Add some chopped roasted red peppers or fresh chiles for some interest.  Add 3-4 T. oil if you have a very lean meat or no meat for browning your onions and garlic.)

with 1 small onion and 1-3 cloves of grated garlic (I like more)
Add: 2 T. chili powder
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 T. oregano leaves
1 can undrained corn
1 lg. Can tomatoes  (28 oz.) 

If you use canned crushed tomatoes don't add tomato juice.  
Simmer covered for 20 min. – remove from heat
Add: 2 C. corn meal
1 can of black olives cut in half or small can of sliced olives

2 C. tomato juice (or 1 can tomato sauce and
1 1/4 c. water or just 2 C. of water.  The water works fine.

Bake in a greased 9x13 casserole dish 350 for 45 min.
Add 2-3 C. grated cheese the last 10 minutes if desired.  Serve with salsa, guacamole and sour cream.

We can't eat an entire casserole so I usually split it up into 3 parts and freeze 2 in a zip lock bag to bake later.  It is good to have something in the freezer that tastes good.  

We like plain guacamole.  This is my quick recipe:  Mash 1 avocado, add 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. of chile powder (depending on the size of the avocado) and 1/4 tsp. garlic powder.  Stir together and paint the top with 2-3 T. real mayo.   Stir in the mayo when you are ready to eat.  I won 2nd place in a ward guacamole contest recently.  Even kids like this. 

I also like to make a little condiment salad with chopped tomatoes, cilantro and a little sour cream mixed together.  (See first photo.) 

WHEN THE HOLY GHOST RESTS UPON YOU - Eliza R. Snow

"When you are filled with the Spirit of God, and the Holy Ghost rests upon you . . . do you have any trials? I do not think you do. For that satisfies and fills up every longing of the human heart, and fills up every vacuum. When I am filled with that spirit my soul is satisfied; and I can say in good earnest, that the trifling things of the day do not seem to stand in my way at all. But just let me lose my hold on that spirit and power of the Gospel, and partake of the spirit of the world, in the slightest degree, and trouble comes; there is something wrong ... And is it not our privilege to so live that we can have this constantly flowing into our souls?" (Eliza R. Snow, September 1873)

This is true, beautiful and hopeful.  I want to know this every day. 

BROCCOLI BACON AND FRUIT SALAD

This Broccoli Salad has become a favorite picnic salad.  Recently I wanted a little different dinner salad with some fruit and decided to make this without the pasta.  I usually always have broccoli some apples and oranges in the refrigerator and some precooked Costo bacon in the freezer and now I am trying to keep a can of cashews in the pantry so I can make this whenever I want to (along with some dried cranberries, which I usually have).  Grapes are good too but not something I always have.

I make a double batch of dressing and it keeps for a long time so I can mix this up quickly.  1 C. of Mayo, 1/3 C. vinegar and 1/3 C. of sugar and 1/4 tsp salt.

This makes 4 servings and the leftovers keep for a couple of days -  1 apple cubed, 1 orange cut peeled and cubed (and or some grapes), 1 C. of thinned pieces of broccoli  and 3-4 T. dried cranberries.  Toss with 2-4 T. dressing (to taste) and top with a sprinkling of cashews and 2 piece of cooked bacon, sliced thin.  This is nice served in individual serving dishes.  This has to be very healthy and a nice way to get your broccoli.