Ginger Snaps

I like to be a little different as anyone who has met me knows so when it came to holiday baking I wasn't happy doing sugar cookies. Everybody and their mother seems to do sugar cookies during the holidays and though they are good I like to have a little something different that stands out. I don't remember if it was last year that I bought 'The Best of Fine Cooking Cookies' or if it was just that last year I finally tried this recipe, but I love them and so does everyone else that I have given them to. Also from my other blog this is the same recipe that I used for Galvin's' Robotics competition when I made 'Algae cookies'. Yes I added ground up algae pills to the recipe. They were still good, even the judges couldn't tell. The things I do for my kids.
So now I share this recipe with you minus the algae. It does require a bit of planning and prep but I think it is worth it. These snaps have a crunchy texture and an almost tingly spicy warmth. I am told they are great dipped in milk.
I hope you and your family enjoy these cookies.

Ginger Snaps

• 7 1/2 oz. (1 2/3 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. table salt
• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 lb. (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, completely softened at room temperature
• 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 large egg yoke
• 3 Tbs. molasses

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and black pepper.

Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment( or in a large bowl with a hand mixer), beat the butter and brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and molasses and mic until will blended, about 1 minute. Add the flour mixture and mix on medium-low speed until the dough is well blended and forms moist pebbles, 30 to 60 seconds.

Dump the dough onto an unfloured work surface; gently knead until it comes together. Shape into an 8-inch-long log about 1 1/2 inches in diameter; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours. You will want to roll the log every 10 or 15 minutes in the beginning to prevent it from being flat on one side. I personally put mine in the freezer, but cutting it by hand then would be impossible. I use a spare compact size meat cutter we have to cut my frozen log. That's how all my cookies are the same thickness, I just gave up some of my trade secrets there. lol

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350 degrees. I have found out the hard way that an oven thermometer is a must when baking. I highly recommend buying one. My oven is about 25 degrees hotter than the dial setting and has ruined my baking in the past. I don't think I have ever had an oven that wasn't off a little. Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking liners.

Unwrap the dough and use a thin, sharp knife to cut the log into 3/16-inch slices. Arrange the slices about 1 inch apart on the sheets. Bake one sheet at a time until the cookies are slightly darker brown on the bottoms and around the edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Set the sheet on a rack to cool for 15 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a rack and let cool completely. When cool, store in airtight containers.

Now I can't promise that you can make these to taste as good as mine. I go that extra mile and use wheat that I grind myself and I get my eggs super fresh from a friend of mine that owns a few chickens but I made them before with regular store bought flour and eggs and they are still yummy.

I wanted to get this posted for those of you that were wild about the ginger snaps so I don't have pictures yet but I will be making more today and tomorrow so I will take pics as I go and post them to aid you in your baking. Enjoy all and Merry Christmas!!

Primary May 2009

Valerie Empie asked me to post some things about Primary to the Relief Society blog. I'm not exactly sure what she was looking for, but I thought I would begin with telling you the things we are studying this month. The theme for this month in Primary is "Baptism and confirmation are ordinances that bless my family. " Our scripture for the month is John 3:5, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Finally, the song we are learning for the month is number 100 in the Children's Songbook, "Baptism".



Also, I thought I would list the people that are working with the children in Primary:



President: Karen Laitur

First Counselor: Lisa Bowie

Second Counselor: Mary Amanda Brockman

Secretary: Kathy Linenkugel

Chorister: Sarah Ping

Valiant Teacher: Courtney Stamper

CTR 7 & 8 year old Teacher: Teresa Hales

CTR 5 & 6 year old Teacher: Kirsten Peless

Sunbeam Teacher: Jennifer Richardson

Nursery Leaders: Terri Potter, Seana Potter, Amanda Hickey, Emily Stamper



I put my name right up there at the top so that it will come to your mind first if you ever have any questions or concerns about Primary. If you would be interested in being a substitute teacher when we have a need (and we have two classes this weekend that need substitutes), please let me know.

Thanks for reading about Primary!

Karen Laitur

Thoughtful Thursday

In Alma chapter 37 we read ". . .by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise." There are many examples of this in the scriptures, such as the Israelites and the fiery serpents and the Nephites and the Liahona. As I think of my own experiences I can see the truth of it in my own life as well.
Emily Dickenson said, "Sometimes when I consider the tremendous consequences from little things. . .a chance word. . . a tap on the shoulder or a wink of an eye, I am tempted to think there are no little things."
We all know what a difference a smile or a kind word can make, and I thank all of you for all of those small and wonderful things you do to help and lift others. Helen Keller said, "I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble."
I invite you to think about small things in your life that have brought about great things and share them with us by clicking on comments and writing.

FHE Idea

Thoughts:
Obey the word of the Lord as it is given to you. His word will not only love and comfort but invariably instruct and correct. Do as He bids you to do, no matter how hard it may seem to you, and do it now. It is in doing the will of the Lord that knowledge of Him and love for Him accrue to your soul, which leads you to be ever more willing to lay down your own life and follow Him.
(James J. Hamula, "Winning the War against Evil," Ensign, Nov 2008, 50-53.)

Song:
"Keep the Commandments," Children's Songbook, p. 146.

Scripture:
And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.
(Mosiah 2:22)

Lesson:
Put each of the following clues on separate pieces of paper.
Begin with 3 Nephi 13:14. If this verse starts with the word for, turn to D&C 138:4, and use word seven. If not, turn to 1 Nephi 1:10 and use word three.

Begin with 1 Nephi 2:3. If this verse talks about baptism, go to D&C 88:126 and use word six. If not, turn to D&C 11:12 and use word sixteen.

Begin with D&C 28:3. If this verse ends with the word and, use word six. If not, go to 28:15 and use word three.

Begin with Jacob 2:4. If this verse ends with the word you, turn to D&C 132:24 and use word three. If it ends with the word hearts, use the seventh word.

Begin with D&C 130:19. If this verse ends with the word us, use word four. If come is the last word, use the word twelve. Working as individuals or groups, hand out the clues and a blank piece of paper.

Tell your family that they need to follow the instructions carefully, and when they have found the correct word they should write it on the paper.

If the correct word was used, give each person a small reward. Tell them they earned the reward because they followed the instructions.Gather the papers together and place them in random order. Have the family arrange them in the correct order. ("Obedience leadeth unto eternal life").
What is eternal life? (Life with Heavenly Father.)
What does it mean to be obedient? (To keep the commandments.)
Explain that the commandments are instructions Heavenly Father gives to us. When we follow the instructions, or obey. we earn a reward. What is that reward? (Eternal life with Heavenly Father.)
What are some commandments that Heavenly Father has given us? (Baptism, tithing, and so on.)
Where can we find these commandments? (Scriptures, listening to leaders, and so on.)
(Beth Lefgren and Jennifer Jackson, Sharing Time, Family Time, Anytime, Book Two, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988], 67.)

Story:
Joseph F. Smith
I recollect most vividly a circumstance that occurred in the days of my childhood. My mother was a widow, with a large family to provide for. One spring when we opened our potato pits she had her boys get a load of the best potatoes, and she took them to the tithing office; potatoes were scarce that season. I was a little boy at the time, and drove the team. When we drove up to the steps of the tithing office, ready to unload the potatoes, one of the clerks came out and said to my mother, "Widow Smith, it's a shame that you should have to pay tithing." He said a number of other things that I rememberwell, but they are not necessary for me to repeat here. The . . . name of that tithing clerk was William Thompson, and he chided my mother for paying her tithing, called her anything but wise or prudent; and said there were others who were strong and able to work that were supported from the tithing office. My mother turned upon him and said:
"William, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. Would you deny me a blessing? If I did not pay my tithing, I should expect the Lord to withhold His blessings from me. I pay my tithing, not only becauseit is a law of God, but because I expect a blessing by doing it. By keeping this and other laws, I expect to prosper and to be able to provide for my family." Though she was a widow, you may turn to therecords of the Church from the beginning unto the day of her death, and you will find that she never received a farthing from the Church to help her support herself and her family; but she paid in thousands of dollars in wheat, potatoes, corn, vegetables, meat, etc. The tithes of her sheep and cattle, the tenth pound of her butter, her tenth chicken, the tenth of her eggs, the tenth pig, the tenth calf, the tenth colt—a tenth of everything she raised was paid. . . . . She prospered because she obeyed the laws of God. . . . That widow was entitled to the privileges of the house of God. No ordinance of the Gospel could be denied her, for she was obedient to the laws of God.
(Jack M. Lyon, Linda Ririe Gundry, Jay A. Parry, Best-Loved Stories of the LDS People, Vol. 1, [Salt Lake City: DeseretBook, 1997].)

Activity:
Instruct the group to close their eyes and each to hold both hands in front of the body, with the index fingers touching and pointing at each other, and about 12 inches from the nose. Announce that you are going to give them a coordination test. Tell them to raise the right hand six inches, lower the left hand six inches, more he right hand six inches away from the body and the left hand six inches toward the body. Continue this type of direction until each one’s fingers should be touching when the group opens their eyes. It is surprising how poorly some people follow instructions.
Gospel application: We should to follow (obey) the gospel teachings.
(Alma Heaton, The LDS Game Book [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968], p. 51.)

Recipe List

"...a merry heart hath a continual feast."

Proverbs 15:15


Main Dishes
Mexican Pork
Italian Spinach Torta
Mexican Lasagna

Desserts
Lemon-Cornmeal Cake

Family Home Evening

"The First Presidency stated in 1976:

“Family home evening is for everyone. It is for families with parents and children, for families with just one parent, and for parents who have no children at home. It is for home evening groups of single adults and for those who live alone or with roommates. …

“Regular participation in family home evening will develop increased personal worth, family unity, love for our fellowmen, and trust in our Father in heaven. It is our promise that great blessings will come to all who conscientiously plan and hold weekly family home evenings." I testify that this is as true today as it was almost 30 years ago.

If we go forward with our family home evenings, our homes will be enriched, our wards and branches will grow and prosper, our lives will be purified, and the gates of hell will not prevail against us."

-Pres. Faust

Keeping the Commandments

Announcments

This Thursday is the first Thursday of the month. Call the Temple and make reservations early for the 10 a.m. session. We will leave the Meijer parking lot at 8:30 a.m. Call me and let me know if you are going so I'll know who to expect.

The Stake RS Women's Conderence is April 25 from 9:30-1:30. You can learn about it and register at www.ldsbooklovers.com/wc.asp

I'm looking forward to General Conference this weekend. Hope everyone gets to see it.

Gardens

I've been planning my garden. I can't wait to get outside and get my hands in the dirt. I've read a good gardening book-- "Gardening When It Counts" -- and am hoping to have greater success this year. In reading about gardening I found a garden that everyone can plant. Of course it will take work and weeding, but the harvest will be fantastic! Here it is:

PLANT THREE ROWS OF SQUASH:

1. Squash gossip.

2. Squash criticism.

3. Squash indifference.

PLANT SEVEN ROWS OF PEAS:

1. Prayer

2. Promptness

3. Perseverance

4. Politeness

5. Preparedness

6. Purity

7. Patience

PLANT SEVEN HEADS OF LETTUCE:

1. Let us be unselfish and loyal.

2. Let us be faithful to duty.

3. Let us search the scriptures.

4. Let us not be weary in well doing.

5. Let us be obedient in all things.

6. Let us be truthful.

7. Let us love one another.

NO GARDEN IS COMPLETE WITHOUT TURNIPS:

1. Turn up for church.

2. Turn up for meetings.

3. Turn up with a smile, even when things are difficult.

4. Turn up with determination to do your best.

MAKE SURE YOUR GARDEN GETS PLENTY OF EXPOSURE TO THE SON!

Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. --Gal. 6:7

Good thoughts bear good fruit, bad thoughts bear bad fruit--and man is his own gardener. --James Lane Allen

Happy gardening!

Lemon-Cornmeal Cake

When life serves you a lemon make this cake!

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp each baking soda and salt
2 sticks (l cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 Tbsp grated lemon zest
1/4 cup lemon juice
4 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk or plain yogurt, stirred to loosen

Sugar Glaze
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup lemon juice

1. Heat oven to 325 F. You'll need a 10-cup decorative tube pan or a 12-cup Bundt pan coated with baking spray. In medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder and soda, and salt.

2. In large bowl beat butter, sugar, lemon zest and juice with mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time until blended. With mixer on low, alternately beat in flour mixture and buttermilk until batter is smooth. Scrape into prepared pan; level top with spatula.

3. Bake 55 to 65 minutes until wooden pick inserted in cake comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on wire rack 5 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, make the sugar glaze:
Whisk glaze ingredients in a small bowl just until combined (sugar will not be totally dissolved). Invert cake from pan onto rack; place rack over a baking sheet. Brush glaze all over hot cake until absorbed (sugar crystals will be evident). Cool completely. Transfer cake to a serving plate and cover. Let cake rest several hours or overnight, before serving. Store cake covered at room temperature up to 4 days. Cut into thin slices to serve.

Tip: Use lime zest and juice for a zesty alternative.

I've been thinking. . .

about Identity Theft. In Primary we learn "I am a child of God." In Young Women we learn, "We are daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us and we love Him." In Relief Society we learn, "We are beloved spirit daughters of God, and our lives have meaning, purp0se, and direction." This is our identity, the one Satan is forever trying to steal from us. He uses deceit, mocking, comparison, criticism, riches, and many other methods to take this identity from us.

Our identity protection is weakened by disobedience, apathy, ingratitude, and failure to pray. Our best protection is to always remember who we are, where we came from and that we are destined to become a Goddess. Reading our scriptures daily and praying daily are our reminders and will help us through any identity crises that we come up against. Remembering who we are will keep us from being enticed by the party in the 'large and spacious building'. How do we best help those around us who are suffering from identity theft or identity crises?

Welcome to the RS Blog

This blog is for you. It is my hope that we can all benefit from it as sisters in the Gospel. I hope that it can be a place of inspiration as well as a place of information. I'm hoping that all will feel that they can make suggestions, ask questions and offer help to each other using this blog as one means of communication. I am not very good at this (computer-stuff), but I think that I will get better with your help, and maybe there is someone out there who would really like to do this.
Perhaps at least once a month we could have a topic to think about and share ideas on. Also we will post announcements of activities. Please feel free to make suggestions and we will work on them together. For now, please note the announcements that follow:

Meet at McDonalds this Wed. (tomorrow) at 9:00 a.m.
Temple Trip this Thurs. Meet at Miejer at 8:15 a.m. We will leave at 8:30. You call the temple if you are planning to go.
HFPE Tues. March 10 at 6:30 p.m.

To Create