Yesterday I tried out two recipes that were quick and EASY AS. Two recipes for scones (or for my US friends...biscuits).
Cheesy Scones:
1 cup self raising flour (in lieu of SR flour 1 cup plain flour, 2 tsp baking powder 1 1/4 tsp cream of tartar)
1/4 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter or marg
1 cup grated cheese
1/3 cup milk
Heat oven to 200 degrees C (450 degrees F). Cut or rub in butter and flour till it looks like bread crumbs. Stir in cheese and milk. Stir until mixture forms soft dough (a little....VERY little...more flour can be added if dough is too sticky)
Turn onto lightly floured surface (I use one of those cheap cutting 'boards' that come in different colours for fish, dairy, poultry etc...such easy clean up). Knead only 8-10 times or until dough is smooth-ish. Pat into a 6 inch square. Cut into 9 squares (can use scone cutter but squares leave no off cuts). Place on ungreased baking tray (I still use baking paper). Bake for 10-12 mins or until golden brown.
Optional: I also threw in a handful of chopped ham.
The other one is TOO easy. I got it from my friend Naomi. THANKS Naomi.
Lemonade Scones:
3 cup SR flour
1 cup lemonade (for my US friends that would be SPRITE and NOT what you would call lemonade)
1 cup cream
Mix all ingredients until they come together. Turn onto floured surface and knead lightly. Cut scones and place on baking tray. Pop into pre-heated oven (180 degrees C or 350 degrees F) for about 15 mins or until lightly browned.
Serve with cream and jam.
ENJOY!!!!!!!!!
November 25, 2008
November 23, 2008
Loving Friends
The other night I was with a number of dear friends for a birthday party. The birthday girl had a lovely idea of having each of us share something (bring for show and tell or just the tell part) that has helped us to feel loved.
There were many lovely things spoken about. How one feels when complimented by a loved one; or when someone brings home gifts that are thoughtful. Some spoke of how their spirituality helps them feel loved, by reading the scriptures or feeling the Holy Ghost, or even by recognizing the 'tender mercies' of the Lord. All these things are beautiful and have helped me to feel love. One friend even mentioned her 'happy skirt' and how it makes her feel good when she wears it.
What I shared was a scrapbook I made (nothing like the scrapbooking they do now...literally a scrapbook that I stuck things in) MANY years ago. I filled it with cards, letters, notes, etc from people who said nice things to and about me. Someone was at my place of work once and wrote a note on the desk calendar...just to say hi...I have kept that for over 20 years. It was a show of love.
In thinking about what I would share with my friends, I came to realize there is a difference between knowing you are loved to 'feeling' you are loved.
I have always known I was/am loved. But that doesn't mean I always FELT loved. I have had times of loneliness that makes me ache. I've had times of hurt where I have wished for the end to come. I think many of us have felt like that, if only for a short a time. If you haven't....well lucky you.
Early in my married life when I was away from all that I had loved, all my family and friends, I was the loneliest I've ever been. A dish of loneliness and newlywed 'bliss'(?) and all the difficulty that can come from discovering the faults in each other. So I was not 'feeling' loved. I would often sit and look through my scrapbook to remind me that I was loved and I could actually 'feel' it too. I would cry...sometimes sob like a baby. It's so good to feel loved.
I got to a point that I didn't need to look at the book as often and when someone would say anything unkind to me I was able to say "It doesn't matter what you say. You can't make me feel bad! I'm a good person and people love me!" Ok it wasn't quite like that but in essence that's what I was saying.
It's easy enough to be loved and not 'feel' loved when our lives are filled with trials and unkindness. We may even have times where friends are few and far between or we are just too busy to enjoy them. I think we need to have something that we can bring to memory that reminds us of the feeling that comes with knowing you are loved. Whether it's a 'happy skirt', a post it note, a scrapbook of cards and notes or some other way.
Here's some songs and a story with a great message. I love them.
Max Lucado writes beautiful stories with wonderful messages. This one is called "You are special"
Book being read.
Cute little play by kids.
ASL version.
Michael McLean has some beautiful songs that are uplifting and inspiring. Just a couple of my favourites are:
You're not alone. (sorry...I could only find them on a facebook page/application. So if you don't have facebook I'm sorry)
If only you believe in yourself.
This song is by Hilary Weeks. She seems to capture just what a woman is feeling...the loneliness, the pull to be Wonder Mum or Super Girl, she gets it and she writes about it in her music.
He'll carry you.
And this one is another one by Michael McLean. I just found it. I hadn't heard it before. It's beautiful. It speaks of the struggles we have that aren't always seen by others and how we need to pull together.
Safe Harbors.
I would hope that during those times we are in need of a 'safe harbor' and need to feel loved, that we remember that we ARE loved.
There were many lovely things spoken about. How one feels when complimented by a loved one; or when someone brings home gifts that are thoughtful. Some spoke of how their spirituality helps them feel loved, by reading the scriptures or feeling the Holy Ghost, or even by recognizing the 'tender mercies' of the Lord. All these things are beautiful and have helped me to feel love. One friend even mentioned her 'happy skirt' and how it makes her feel good when she wears it.
What I shared was a scrapbook I made (nothing like the scrapbooking they do now...literally a scrapbook that I stuck things in) MANY years ago. I filled it with cards, letters, notes, etc from people who said nice things to and about me. Someone was at my place of work once and wrote a note on the desk calendar...just to say hi...I have kept that for over 20 years. It was a show of love.
In thinking about what I would share with my friends, I came to realize there is a difference between knowing you are loved to 'feeling' you are loved.
I have always known I was/am loved. But that doesn't mean I always FELT loved. I have had times of loneliness that makes me ache. I've had times of hurt where I have wished for the end to come. I think many of us have felt like that, if only for a short a time. If you haven't....well lucky you.
Early in my married life when I was away from all that I had loved, all my family and friends, I was the loneliest I've ever been. A dish of loneliness and newlywed 'bliss'(?) and all the difficulty that can come from discovering the faults in each other. So I was not 'feeling' loved. I would often sit and look through my scrapbook to remind me that I was loved and I could actually 'feel' it too. I would cry...sometimes sob like a baby. It's so good to feel loved.
I got to a point that I didn't need to look at the book as often and when someone would say anything unkind to me I was able to say "It doesn't matter what you say. You can't make me feel bad! I'm a good person and people love me!" Ok it wasn't quite like that but in essence that's what I was saying.
It's easy enough to be loved and not 'feel' loved when our lives are filled with trials and unkindness. We may even have times where friends are few and far between or we are just too busy to enjoy them. I think we need to have something that we can bring to memory that reminds us of the feeling that comes with knowing you are loved. Whether it's a 'happy skirt', a post it note, a scrapbook of cards and notes or some other way.
Here's some songs and a story with a great message. I love them.
Max Lucado writes beautiful stories with wonderful messages. This one is called "You are special"
Book being read.
Cute little play by kids.
ASL version.
Michael McLean has some beautiful songs that are uplifting and inspiring. Just a couple of my favourites are:
You're not alone. (sorry...I could only find them on a facebook page/application. So if you don't have facebook I'm sorry)
If only you believe in yourself.
This song is by Hilary Weeks. She seems to capture just what a woman is feeling...the loneliness, the pull to be Wonder Mum or Super Girl, she gets it and she writes about it in her music.
He'll carry you.
And this one is another one by Michael McLean. I just found it. I hadn't heard it before. It's beautiful. It speaks of the struggles we have that aren't always seen by others and how we need to pull together.
Safe Harbors.
I would hope that during those times we are in need of a 'safe harbor' and need to feel loved, that we remember that we ARE loved.
November 18, 2008
Joys of parenting...
The house is lovely and quiet right now. It's not even 6am. It's my favourite time of the day. Sure I have a splitting headache but hopefully the medication will kick in anytime now.
Last night didn't go as planned. FHE was going to be one that I knew I wouldn't hear groans and complaints about. I just KNEW it. Everyone was going to be happy, participate AND enjoy it.
We have been asked to sing a couple of songs for a friend's work party this coming Saturday. We are NOT great singers (well maybe I speak for myself....I can NOT hit a correct note to save my life) but we did have fun singing at a couple of church activities. What we sang made people laugh and that was our aim.
So anyway...for FHE we were going to practice the songs. Cheers were heard all 'round. They were happy and I was once again 'RIGHT'....which by the way, I usually am.
So we practiced our song through once. PERFECT family harmony (not so much the singing but the getting along). We sang the song through again and yet again. FINE. Everything was going smoothly. "Ok...one more time!" I got greedy.
We were facing towards a window and I could see one son, a recent teenager, acting foolish behind me. I informed him that he needed to stop what he was doing. He came to stand by me and we started our 'one last time' again.
That's when it began! He was standing between me and the other teenage male in the home. That was my first mistake. Their arms touched at one point and the "Don't touch my body!!!" drama began. Only it's worse as they get older and bigger. And it's at that point that the practicing of that song ended. One stormed off to his room and the other just refused to put any effort into anything else we might do.
We decided that my husband and I would practice our song, have a treat and call it DONE!
As we sang our song and did the actions our children were laughing (except for the one up in his room) and my husband cracked up too. This is a good sign.
Maybe after this performance the hole in the bucket will FINALLY be fixed.
Last night didn't go as planned. FHE was going to be one that I knew I wouldn't hear groans and complaints about. I just KNEW it. Everyone was going to be happy, participate AND enjoy it.
We have been asked to sing a couple of songs for a friend's work party this coming Saturday. We are NOT great singers (well maybe I speak for myself....I can NOT hit a correct note to save my life) but we did have fun singing at a couple of church activities. What we sang made people laugh and that was our aim.
So anyway...for FHE we were going to practice the songs. Cheers were heard all 'round. They were happy and I was once again 'RIGHT'....which by the way, I usually am.
So we practiced our song through once. PERFECT family harmony (not so much the singing but the getting along). We sang the song through again and yet again. FINE. Everything was going smoothly. "Ok...one more time!" I got greedy.
We were facing towards a window and I could see one son, a recent teenager, acting foolish behind me. I informed him that he needed to stop what he was doing. He came to stand by me and we started our 'one last time' again.
That's when it began! He was standing between me and the other teenage male in the home. That was my first mistake. Their arms touched at one point and the "Don't touch my body!!!" drama began. Only it's worse as they get older and bigger. And it's at that point that the practicing of that song ended. One stormed off to his room and the other just refused to put any effort into anything else we might do.
We decided that my husband and I would practice our song, have a treat and call it DONE!
As we sang our song and did the actions our children were laughing (except for the one up in his room) and my husband cracked up too. This is a good sign.
Maybe after this performance the hole in the bucket will FINALLY be fixed.
November 3, 2008
Banana Muffins
Ohhh my goodness. Making muffins could not be any easier than using this recipe. It said it was a banana cake recipe but I much prefer muffins. You could make it into a cake if you wanted to.
2 bananas mashed
1 cup Self Raising Flour
1 cup Sugar
1 cup dessicated coconut (flaked is fine)
1 cup milk
1 cup choc chips (optional)
Mix it all together. Pour mixture into well sprayed muffin tin (or use paddy papers). Cook in 180 degree Celsius oven (350 degree Fahrenheit) until cooked through.
You can tell if they are cooked by inserting a toothpick in the middle and having it come out clean.
NOTE: Before placing in the oven you can sprinkle with sugar.
2 bananas mashed
1 cup Self Raising Flour
1 cup Sugar
1 cup dessicated coconut (flaked is fine)
1 cup milk
1 cup choc chips (optional)
Mix it all together. Pour mixture into well sprayed muffin tin (or use paddy papers). Cook in 180 degree Celsius oven (350 degree Fahrenheit) until cooked through.
You can tell if they are cooked by inserting a toothpick in the middle and having it come out clean.
NOTE: Before placing in the oven you can sprinkle with sugar.
November 2, 2008
Testimony Meeting
Today (pay no attention to the date. I live in Australia and the blog site must live in USA) being the day we 'enjoy' Testimony meeting, I thought I'd share a song that is a particular favourite of mine. It's sung to the tune of "My Favourite Things" from the Sound of Music.
A FEW OF THE TESTIMONIES
Parody of "My Favorite Things" from Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music
Lyrics by M. Spaff Sumsion
Parody of "My Favorite Things" from Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music
Lyrics by M. Spaff Sumsion
PERFORMED BY ROBERT LUND
From the new edition of the CD Workin' the Glory
Brother Johansen says God fixed his prostate
Sister Hill wails that her son's gone apostate
Missy Brown details her trip to Belize
These are a few of the testimoniesBrother Stone calls his ex-wife to repentance
Sister Dean can't form a blubber-free sentence
Ammon Smith's grateful the Jazz beat the Kings
These are a few of the Fast Meeting thingsThere's unchaste movies at Wal-Mart in Layton
Hillary Clinton's a minion of Satan
God loves you just a bit less if you're gay
These are some nuggets I've picked up todayWhen this low-key
Karaoke
Shows how odd we are
I simply remember I'm not Warren Jeffs
And then I don't feel bizarreMadison cries that her mom flushed her turtle
Then she announces her daddy's infertile
Tyler loves Jesus and recess and peas
These are a few of the testimoniesElder Jones gripes that less-actives frustrate 'im
Nine CTR's thank the same things verbatim
Brother McPhie knows Rush Limbaugh is true
And The Da Vinci Code may well be tooSister Cabell says the United Nations
Must be the beast from the book Revelations
Folks squirm through dubious doctrine and then
Everyone drowsily mumbles "Amen"When euphor-ya
Starts to bore ya
Here's the thing that's sweet:
Each talk brings us nearer Hymn 152
And then we go home to eat!
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