Anna

Finding Peace

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“Angels, shepherds, and Wise Men sought and found peace from their faith in Jesus Christ. So will you. The Savior’s birth is the gift that makes it possible for the Father to give us ‘peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.'”
—President Henry B. Eyring, First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional
A friend recently sent to me a copy of a talk entitled “Peace in this Life”, by Henry B. Eyring.  What a timely message this is.  Our world is in turmoil; oftentimes our personal lives are extremely challenging for many reasons, both within our control and not so much.  But amidst whatever trials, challenges, another’s choice that affects our lives, or influences that can impact us on a global level, we can find peace.  That one word means so much.  Where can we turn for peace?  We turn to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate this month.  The following quote from this talk was very meaningful to me, as I had just prayed that improving my relationship with my Savior would strengthen me on those days that are especially trying.  I hope it helps you and gives you some direction during a difficult time.
“It is only through following the Savior that any of us can find peace and serenity in the trials that will come to all of us.”
And it just now occurred to me that we should remember that our relationship with Jesus Christ, as well as our Heavenly Father, can make the good days even sweeter.  They aren’t just there for us on the rough days.

Image from LDS.org.

Slow Cooker Taco Soup

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Slow cooker or crockpot.  However you say it, this is probably my most favorite kitchen tool.  How much fun is it to throw a bunch of ingredients into a pot, put the lid on, plug it in and come home to dinner?  I was at my sister’s house last week and she had just started her new job and asked me if I would mind throwing the Taco Soup in the crockpot and making the Sweet Corn Cakes (another recipe–stay tuned).  I was delighted to help out and we had just had this recipe a couple of weeks before at her house and I was excited to have it again!  You do need to brown some ground beef and add it at the end of the cooking time, but that was no problem.  I think you will really enjoy this–I sure did!  And of course the house smelled wonderful all afternoon.

This is a great dish to have during these crazy busy days leading up to Christmas, when we are all over-extending ourselves with holiday prep.  You know I’m right.

Slow Cooker Taco Soup
Serves 6
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Ingredients
  1. 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained & rinsed
  2. 1 (15 oz.) can pinto beans, drained & rinsed
  3. 1 (15 oz.) can kidney beans, drained & rinsed
  4. 1 (14 oz.) can petite diced tomatoes, drained
  5. 1 (15 oz.) can sweet corn, drained (I used creamed corn undrained--because who wants to drain that?)
  6. 1 (10 oz.) can green enchilada sauce
  7. 1 (10 oz.) can red enchilada sauce
  8. half an onion, chopped
  9. 1 cup chicken broth
  10. 1 poblano pepper, chopped
  11. 1 (1 oz.) packet taco seasoning
  12. 1 T. cornstarch + 2 T. water
  13. 1 lb. ground beef
Instructions
  1. Add all beans, tomatoes, corn, onions, peppers, enchilada sauce, chicken broth and taco seasoning to a large crock pot. Stir to combine. Cover with lid and cook on low heat 3-6 hours.
  2. Mix together the cornstarch and water to create a "slurry." Add to the soup in the crock pot as a thickener.
  3. Brown and crumble the ground beef in a large skillet until thoroughly cooked. Drain off the grease and add beef to crock pot and stir to combine.
  4. Serve with shredded cheese, tortilla strips, sour cream, etc.
Adapted from Life in the Lofthouse
Adapted from Life in the Lofthouse
Mormon Mavens https://www.mormonmavens.com/

Inspiration from an Unexpected Source

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We have been serving as Church Service Missionaries in the Welfare Services Department of our church. Our area of focus is in a regional Home Storage Center where members of our church, as well as those who are not members, can come and purchase pre-pack and bulk items of foods such as flour, wheat, sugar, beans, etc. for everyday use or for food storage.  Ask me about the Hot Cocoa Mix.  We have been doing this for a few months now and have really enjoyed our service.  

This past week things were a little slow, until a young mom came in to buy a couple of items while she was in the area. She does not live locally, but sometimes stops by when she is in town on business and picks up a few things.  She was probably in her 30’s, and was just a delight to talk to.  She radiated the spirit of the Gospel: her light was warm and beautiful.  As I sat there chatting with her about her current assignment in church–she is Primary President in her congregation–I was struck by how strong her testimony was of the Savior and living the Gospel–she has only been a member of the church for 4 years!  

I am 58 and was baptized at 8 years old, and she is more spiritually mature than I am.  I was honored and blessed to be talking to her and I kept thinking that it was so cool to be having this conversation with a perfect stranger, and yet, because of our beliefs we were really sisters.

She set an example for me that day of a loving mother, a beautiful daughter of God, a strong warrior for our Savior Jesus Christ.

It was a good day.

Crunchy Cinnamon Ebelskivers

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Ebelskivers (pronounced “able-skeevers”) are snacks or desserts–hailing from Denmark–traditionally served during holidays and celebrations.  These puffy, sphere-shaped pancakes can be served in a variety of ways, from sweet to savory, and can include toppings and/or fillings.  I have tried them only a couple of times in my kitchen and each time I learn a little something new about how to prepare them.  

I am still learning how to NOT cook them so long, and maybe someday when I have a gas range again–instead of an electric or ceramic cook top–I will be able to better control the heat and not overcook so many!  But I did manage to salvage a few for the post today and I hope you will give me some grace and try the recipe even if you don’t they they look all that awesome.  I plan to keep honing my ebelskiver skills, so one day you might just see something amazing!

The only necessary tool is a seven-welled pan that forms the pancake’s cool shape.  You can use wooden skewers to turn them or purchase special ebelskiver turners–yes I did–which help flip these babies nicely.  I also have a really cool ebelskiver cookbook and that is where I got the recipe that I am sharing with you today.  According to the cookbook, the brown sugar and butter that ends up as the topping should crack brulee-style with every bite.  Still waiting on that!

Crunchy Cinnamon Ebelskivers
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Ingredients
  1. 1 cup all-purpose flour
  2. 1 1/2 t. sugar
  3. 1/2 t. baking powder
  4. 1/4 t. salt
  5. 2 large eggs, separated
  6. 1 cup whole milk
  7. 3 T. unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled,divided
  8. 2 t. ground cinnamon
  9. 1/4 t. nutmeg
  10. 3 1/2 T. light brown sugar
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  2. In a small bowl, lightly whisk the egg yolks, then whisk in the milk and 2 T. of the melted butter.
  3. Add the yolk mixture to the flour mixture and, using a wooden spoon, stir until well-blended--batter will be lumpy.
  4. In a clean bowl, using an electric mixer on high speed, beat the egg whites until stiff--but not dry--peaks form. To lighten the batter, use a rubber spatula and gently fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the batter, then fold in the rest of the egg whites just until no white streaks remain.
Notes
  1. Cooking Tip: You might want to cook these on a little lower temperature if your stove tends to cook things a little too hot. Trust me on this.
Adapted from Ebelskivers: Filled Pancakes and Other Mouthwatering Miniatures
Adapted from Ebelskivers: Filled Pancakes and Other Mouthwatering Miniatures
Mormon Mavens https://www.mormonmavens.com/

Peppermint Bark Rice Krispie Treats

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This recipe was originally posted on February 16, 2012.  We thought we would bring it back for the holidays!

These are a tasty rendition of the classic Rice Krispie Treat and are great for any holiday involving chocolate and mint–and they are so pretty!  I have made these for our youth at church and for several family gatherings and they are a big hit.  Personally, I can’t stay away from the platter–so many favorite flavors.

Peppermint Bark Rice Krispie Treats
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Ingredients
  1. 1 10.5 oz. bag of peppermint mini marshmallows*
  2. 4 tablespoons butter, plus extra to butter the pan
  3. 5-6 oz. krispy rice cereal
  4. 3 tablespoons semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
  5. 3 tablespoons white chocolate chips
  6. 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil, divided (I used shortening)
  7. a few drops peppermint extract
  8. 2-3 medium sized candy canes, crushed
Instructions
  1. Line a 9×13 pan with foil and lightly butter bottom of pan and about 1 inch up the sides.
  2. Melt butter in a very large bowl in the microwave. Add marshmallows and stir to coat. Microwave on high for 30 seconds at a time until melted and smooth, stirring as you go.
  3. Add the krispy rice cereal and stir to evenly combine. With buttered hands, press mixture into pan.
  4. Place the white chocolate chips and about 1/2 teaspoon or less of shortening in a small bowl. Heat in microwave in 30 second intervals on 50% power, stirring in between until melted and smooth. Repeat same process with the semi-sweet chocolate chips and add a few drops of peppermint extract.
  5. Drizzle both chocolates on top of the treats and sprinkle with the crushed candy canes–I used those that are more porous, you know, the kind you can stick into a hole in an orange and suck the juice through? Really…have you never tried that? Anyway, let sit until chocolate is set. You can put it in the refrigerator to speed up the process. Cut into squares and oh my goodness….
Notes
  1. * If you can’t find the peppermint marshmallows, use regular and add about 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract to the melted marshmallow mixture.
Adapted from Our Best Bites
Adapted from Our Best Bites
Mormon Mavens https://www.mormonmavens.com/
 
 
 

Ham & Egg Cups

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ham-egg-cups

 

I am sure that you have probably seen a gazillion recipes for this one.  I have seen a few myself–like back in the 70’s–and I had not even tried one yet. So I was going through that stack of Paleo recipes I was telling you about a couple of weeks ago and came across this super simple egg cup recipe and thought it was high flippin’ time I tried one.  This was so easy, you won’t believe it.  As a matter of fact, the original recipe title is Kid Simple Ham and Egg Cups.  There you go.  Your kids could totally make this for breakfast.  And who doesn’t love that little tidbit of something that will help you out, Busy Mama!  Two ingredients, a muffin tin and some cooking spray–BAM!!

Ham & Egg Cups
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Ingredients
  1. Thin-sliced ham (2 per cup)
  2. 1 egg for each cup
  3. Spices like salt & pepper, ground mustard, etc.
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Spray muffin tins with cooking spray.
  3. Place 2 slices of ham in each cup.
  4. Crack an egg into each cup.
  5. Sprinkle with your chosen spices or you can do it later if you forget to.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes.
  7. You're done.
Notes
  1. These egg cups don't even require utensils. You can just pick them up and eat them on the go, if needed. And don't you just love the curly edges of the ham? It's all about the presentation, you know.
Adapted from PaleoBurn Fat Burning Cookbook
Adapted from PaleoBurn Fat Burning Cookbook
Mormon Mavens https://www.mormonmavens.com/

Sweet Orange-Berry Butter

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sweet-orange-berry-butter

 

Don’t you just love Our Best Bites ? I followed them for several years and then stopped and now I am ready to follow again–I have missed those girls.  A few years back I printed off this recipe so that I could substitute some THRIVE freeze-dried fruit and thereby find even more ways to use this great stuff! So here you go–and just so you know, the original recipe is a different color.  It all depends on how you use your fruit.  It’s delicious either way.  Be sure and try this on those Banana Bread Paleo Muffins from last week’s post!  Pretty tasty.

Sweet Orange-Berry Butter
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Ingredients
  1. 1 c. real butter, at room temperature
  2. 3 T. honey
  3. 2 T powdered sugar
  4. 1 or 2 drops of Wild Orange Essential oil *
  5. 1/4 to 1/2 c. freeze-dried berries (I used strawberries/blueberries/raspberries)
Instructions
  1. Place all the ingredients in a food processor and whip until creamy and lovely.
  2. Serve at room temperature on just about any kind of sweet bread, muffin, etc.
Notes
  1. * A story--so I whipped up my berry butter and tasted it and thought "Okay, that's pretty good." Then I was looking over my recipe and realized I had left out the orange zest--and my oranges were sitting right over there on my kitchen island! I had already put my processor in the sink, so I got out my Wild Orange Essential Oil and added a couple of drops to the spread and stirred it up really well. Oh my goodness! That orange really sets this off. DO NOT FORGET TO DO IT!!
Adapted from Our Best Bites
Adapted from Our Best Bites
Mormon Mavens https://www.mormonmavens.com/

Banana Bread Muffins (Paleo)

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banana-bread-muffins-paleo

 

No, I have not exactly jumped on the Paleo band wagon, but I am kind of running along beside it.  We are trying to eat healthier around here and so I have been checking out recipes from friends, Facebook, Google, Leanne Ely and Jeff Reagan.  So if you have any tried, true and tasty recipes, feel free to share on our Facebook Page .  I will be grateful.

I found this recipe in a packet given to me by a friend who ordered one of those Paleo programs from an infomercial and she never used it–thought she would sell it on eBay, but ended up giving it to me because she was tired of having it around the house.  So I have sifted through each of those cards and found a few that I think are doable.  I thought these muffins were pretty tasty on their own!  And then I found another recipe  I had been wanting to try for a flavored butter spread and made that at the same time.  They were great together, let me tell you.  But you will have to wait until next week for that one.

Banana Bread Muffins (Paleo)
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Ingredients
  1. 1 1/2 c. almond flour
  2. 2 T. ground flaxseed
  3. 1 t. ground cinnamon
  4. 1/2 t. baking soda
  5. 1/2 t. baking powder
  6. pinch of nutmeg
  7. pinch of salt
  8. 2 very ripe bananas, mashed
  9. 2 eggs, beaten
  10. 1 T. honey
  11. 1 T. olive oil
  12. 1/2 t. vanilla extract
  13. 1/3 c. chopped walnuts, plus extra for garnish
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Place muffin cups in muffin tin and set aside.
  3. In large bowl, sift together all the dry ingredients, except the nuts.
  4. In a small bowl, combine all the wet ingredients, including the bananas--mix well. Pour this mixture over the dry ingredients. Add in chopped walnuts, stirring until combined.
  5. Fill the baking cups about 3/4 full--I used a cookie scoop.
  6. Sprinkle a few more chopped walnuts on each muffin before baking.
  7. Bake muffins for 21-23 minutes.
  8. Serve warm with your favorite spread (original recipe suggests coconut oil).
Adapted from PaleoBurn Fat Burning Cookbook
Adapted from PaleoBurn Fat Burning Cookbook
Mormon Mavens https://www.mormonmavens.com/

Traditions & Popcorn Balls

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traditions-popcorn-balls

 

Traditions have meant a lot to me for as long as I can remember, but I haven’t always been that great at starting continuing them.  I can sure start one, but it’s the hardest thing for me to continue.  I remember a few from my childhood–oyster stew for Christmas Eve (for years we did this in our family until one day we realized that only one or two of us even liked it that much), opening gifts on Christmas Eve (still do that one!)—Trick or Treating at Halloween in the neighborhood with costumes from Mom’s Costume Box, etc.   This time of year really gets my mind spinning on what traditions my family expects on Christmas Eve–full from scratch Mexican meal, opening gifts. doing stockings, EVEN FOR THE ADULTS–and other things like decorating for Fall (my favorite season).  Hmmm….that’s not very many traditions.  I need some more.  

So a couple of days ago I was at the store picking up some things for dinner and I realized that my grandsons would be at the house that day and I needed to give them their Halloween treats!  I am trying to start that tradition with them, since I am not with them for the Trick or Treating.  So I grabbed a couple of different small bags of candy and I was trying to think of something else I could do that would be slightly healthy and I remembered something my Mom did for us when we were younger–homemade popcorn balls!  I loved those and did them a few times when my girls were little.  I knew it was time for me to start that tradition with my grandkids, so I picked up some microwave popcorn, some orange and green Jell-O and some tiny marshmallows, some Halloween goodie bags and pencils.

It was so much fun to share those popcorn balls with my boys!

Traditions are fun and bonding and build great relationships in your family.  So today, think about some traditions that you are already doing and some new ones that you can add.  And they don’t have to be built around holidays.  Some of the best are things you do together randomly that the kids consider as traditions, because they will certainly remind you to do them again!

I know it’s Mormon Morsel Sunday, but how about I share my Marshmallow Popcorn Ball recipe with you today?  Maybe you can make some for your Trick or Treaters…

Marshmallow Popcorn Balls
Yields 12
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Ingredients
  1. 6 T. butter
  2. 3 cups tiny marshmallows
  3. 1/2 of a 3-oz. pkg of Jell-O, in flavor of choice (3 T.)
  4. 3 quarts unsalted popped corn
Instructions
  1. Place popped corn in a large bowl and set aside.
  2. In medium pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add marshmallow, stirring until melted.
  3. Blend in Jell-O, and pour over popcorn, mixing well.
  4. With buttered hands, form popcorn into balls.
Notes
  1. Have fun with different colors of Jell-O, depending on the occasion. Hey, let the kids help make the popcorn balls--you shouldn't have ALL the fun!
Mormon Mavens https://www.mormonmavens.com/

Autumn Chopped Salad

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We originally posted this salad on October 7, 2012.  I was looking up the ingredients to make it for dinner tonight and thought I would repost it.  One of my all-time favorites and this is the perfect time of year to enjoy it!
 
Oh Pinterest, how we love thee and how we love the world of food that you have brought to us!  I pinned this recipe the other day and my sister and I made it last night.  Oh so good.  It was a big hit with all!  Even the guys.  Just love chopped salads.
 
 
Autumn Chopped Salad
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Ingredients
  1. 6-8 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  2. 2 medium pears, chopped (we used one green and one red)
  3. 1 cup dried cranberries (love me some Craisins!)
  4. 1 cup chopped pecans
  5. 8 slices thick-cut bacon, crisp and crumbled (we used pre-packaged real bacon pieces, because of time)
  6. 4-6 oz. crumbled feta cheese
  7. Poppy Seed Salad Dressing
  8. Balsamic Vinaigrette (we used Newman's Own, my personal favorite)
Instructions
  1. Combine the lettuce, pears, cranberries, pecans, bacon and feta on a large platter.
  2. Drizzle generously with the poppy seed dressing, followed by the balsamic vinaigrette (you should end up with about a cup of dressing, so adjust the quantities of the two dressings according to your taste bud preferences).
  3. We added chopped, cooked chicken to this recipe when we made it because we were using it as a main dish.  Grilled would be a great option on the chicken, but we were in a hurry so we picked up one of those awesome rotisserie chickens at the grocery store.  Yeah, one of those....
Adapted from Espresso and Cream
Adapted from Espresso and Cream
Mormon Mavens https://www.mormonmavens.com/