2012 Primary Theme

The Primary theme for 2012 is Choose the Right.

Here's a little block I made~

I've already given this one away. But I really like it! I may make another one for my daughter's room.
This post has been link to the following~




I {heart}naptime

2012 Mutual Theme

Here is where they announced the 2012 Mutual Theme.

And here is what I did with that~

All I did was paint a board chocolate brown, then an ivory over that. I sanded it down so the brown shows thru in some areas. I added some vinyl lettering and finished it all with a clear coat finish.
Then I tied some tulle around the bottom.
I LOVE this scripture and I think it's a great theme for the Mutual, as well as anyone!
This post has been linked to the following~

Tatertots and Jello weekend wrap up party
I {heart} Nap Time

More Family reunion fundraiser items!

Alright, here are some more photos of some items I've made and am donating to our family reunion fundraiser~
Lead me, Guide me stackers~

A set of photo blocks with pictures of my grandma and grandpa. Some when they were young, some when they were older~

Holiday countdown blocks~

I added some vinyl lettering to the bucket so it says ' Bucket of Spuds'. We are coming from Idaho, so I thought it would be fun. These Spud candy bars are the best, if you haven't had one, you need to find one!~

Some 12 in. tiles~
{ I got the idea for the one with names on it from here. She sells the kits for these, only I think they are for a different size block of wood, not a 12 in. tile. I just changed it up to fit what I had.}

One of my Grandma's favorite quotes form her favorite author~
{only looking at it now, I realize I added a 't' on nearest that shouldn't be there. Looks like I need to fix that before we leave!}

Be blocks~ I got the idea for these from here. She sells the kits for these,{at least I think she still does}~


This next block has my Grandpa's motto on it. It reads " Anything worth doing, is worth Overdoing."

I thought this would be great for our family~

Family reunion fundraiser items

I've been busy making a few items to donate to our Family reunion fundraiser. This is the first year we are doing a fundraiser, we'll see how it turns out! I think we will be raffling off items, with a few larger items being in a silent auction. All the proceeds will go to help fund future reunions!
So here's a few pictures of just a few items I've made and will donate for the fundraiser!
I'm putting together two packages that contain crochet headbands and hats for little girls/babies, that I bought at The Ribbon Retreat ,{SOOO afordable!} And I made the flower hair clips myself!~

Some Holiday Stackers. { I still need to make a summer one}~

A couple of small Pampered Chef gift sets I put together. { Did you know that Pampered Chef has an outlet store online? LOVE IT!!}~

Primary children's blocks~

I'll post some more pictures of more items later....

Little Pink Chicken {Sweet and Sour Chicken}

I've never been a fan of sweet and sour chicken. Until I found a yummy recipe for it! I found the recipe here. She found the recipe in the "The WorldWide Ward" cookbook. {She also gives the story behind why it's called Little pink chicken} You really should give it a try! This is now a family favorite at our house!

Little Pink Chicken {Sweet and Sour Chicken}

2 large chicken breasts
1/2 tsp garlic salt
cornstarch
1 egg beaten w/ 1 T water
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup vinegar
1/3 cup ketchup
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 tsp salt
2 T soy sauce

Cut chicken in pieces and sprinkle with garlic salt. Let sit 1 hr. Dip in cornstarch, then in beaten egg. Fry in hot oil until brown. Place in casserole dish. Combine sugar, vinegar, ketchup, chicken broth, salt and soy sauce. Microwave for 5 minutes, stirring mixture halfway thru. Pour over chicken and bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes, until the sauce is thickened. Makes 6-8 servings.
I also made some fried rice to serve with this. Tasty!

Buttermilk Sheet Cake

Alright, here's the other recipe I tried today. It turned out really good! My pre-schooler even ate the cake part, and she usually just eats the frosting! I got this out of a ward cookbook from my home ward. This recipe was submitted by my parents neighbor, Lynette.

Buttermilk Sheet Cake

2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1/2 shortening
1/2 cup butter or margarine

3 tablespoons cocoa
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda

Set together in large bowl the sugar, flour, and salt. Mix water, shortening, butter, and cocoa in saucepan and bring to a boil. Pour over dry ingredients and mix. Add eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, and baking soda. Mix well. Pour into greased 11x15 inch cookie sheet. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Frosting~
1/2 cup butter or margarine
4 tablespoons cocoa
6 tablespoons milk

1 lb powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped nut { optional}

Bring butter, cocoa, and milk to a boil. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Add nuts, if desired. Spread over cake while warm.
*I thought something tasted just a little off with the frosting. It was still very good, but I think I'll look for a different recipe for the frosting to try next time.

Whole- Wheat Quick Bread

This is another new recipe I tried today. It was....okay. I liked it, but I don't think it'll be a favorite. But that's just me and my family! Give this a try and see how your family likes it! One thing I did like was how easy this was to make. I make homemade wheat bread all the time that takes ALL afternoon to make. So I did like the quickness of this! And like I said, it wasn't bad. Just not really something I would make alot. I will make it once in awhile though. I got this recipe out of "The Essential Mormon Celebrations" cookbook.

Whole-Wheat Quick Bread

1 egg, beaten
2 cups Buttermilk
3 tablespoons molasses or honey {I used the honey}
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder

In a bowl, combine egg, buttermilk, molasses or honey, and butter. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and baking power. Stir well; add to first mixture and mix well. Pour into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 400 degrees for about 45-50 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool slightly, then turn out of pan onto a wire rack. Slice while warm. Makes 1 loaf.
*I think the baking time was too long, I baked mine for about 42 minutes and it came out almost too dark on top. So next time I'll definitely shorten the baking time. Also, I had a slice of this while warm with Honey Butter. Soooooo good! You should try that! Here's a recipe for the butter out of the same cookbook~

Beehive Honey Butter

1 cup Honey
1 cup Butter, softened
1 teaspoon Vanilla
Combine honey, softened butter and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on high speed for about 3 minutes until thickened. Put into jars and refrigerate. Keeps up to 4 weeks in refrigerator.
*I loved this Honey Butter! I want to make corn bread now, and scones, and fry bread and just smear it all with this butter. Very good!

"Come what may" quote block

Joseph B. Wirthlin was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Once he told a story of how his mother would always say to him," Joseph, Come what may. And love it."
What an inspiring thought!
So I made a block with that quote on it.

I mod podged some scrapbook paper onto the block. Then printed the quote off my computer and mod podged that on as well.

2010 Primary birthday gifts

I was in charge of finding something to give the Primary kids on their birthdays next year. We wanted something that had the years theme on it. This is what I came up with....

I just painted some blocks and cut the lettering out with my cricut. The ones with the ribbon is of course for the girls. And the black ones will be for the boys. I think I figured the cost for everything will be around $20 total. We have only maybe 45 kids in our Primary. So very affordable, and something they can keep with the years theme on it.

Super Hero Cape

For my daughter's fourth birthday I wanted to get her a super hero cape, since she is always running around with a blanket or something tied around her neck. I was going to make it myself, but...sewing really brings out the worst in me. I, in no way, find it relaxing or enjoyable. Yes, I can sew. But I try to do as little as possible!
A friend of mine, Jill, loves to sew! She has her own business, http://jillscraftycovers.blogspot.com/ and she just started selling super hero capes. So I asked her if she would make a double-sided one for my daughter. I changed my mind about a dozen times with how I wanted it to look. But I finally made a decision and she had it made and in the mail before the week was over! And it turned out perfect!
On one side I asked her to do the CTR symbol.{CTR= Choose The Right}

Here's the other side, My daughters first initial~ Jill also makes hooded towels, nursing covers, and toy mats. Perfect gifts for Christmas, Birthdays, Baby showers, etc. And I think her prices are great! So go check her out at http://jillscraftycovers.blogspot.com/ and tell her Mary sent you!

Pumpkin Bread

I made this over the weekend and was going to take a picture to get your mouth watering. But I couldn't find the camera. My hubbie had taken it hunting! I think it might be time for me to get my own... Anyway, my three nieces and nephew were over, so by the time I DID have the camera, there was no bread left to take a picture of.
But let me tell you, this is really yummy bread. I loved it and the kids loved it! You need to try it out!
I got the recipe out of 'The Essential Mormon Cookbook'. Again. But honestly, everything I try in this book is yummy! And I have to share it! Plus, it will make your home smell yummy!
{This would also be a good treat to take around to your visiting Teaching sisters, or your husbands home teaching families}


Pumpkin Bread

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1 3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 cup chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped pecans

Cream butter, sugar, and eggs. Add pumpkin and mix; set aside. In another bowl sift dry ingredients. Gradually add dry ingredients to creamy mixture. Beat until blended. Add chocolate chips and pecans, if desired. Grease one loaf pan or four mini loaves. Pour batter into pans. For one loaf, bake at 350 F. for about 1 hour or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. For mini loaves, bake at 350 F. for about 35-40 minutes. Makes one loaf or four mini loaves.

Zuchinni Chocolate Cake/Bread

I made cupcakes with this recipe the other day and They. Were. Delicious! All three of us couldn't stop eating them! You can't even taste the zucchini! I got the recipe out of 'The Essential Mormon Cookbook', which I originally bought from http://www.deseretbook.com/, But I couldn't find it there anymore...

Anyway, my friend Jamie asked for the recipe and when I gave it to her she said she uses the exact same recipe to make bread. The only thing different was the chocolate that you use. So I tried the bread, and it was just as yummy!

Here's the original recipe~

Zucchini Chocolate Cake

1 cup vegetable oil

2 cups sugar

3 eggs

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup milk

*3 {1-ounce} squares unsweetened baking chocolate

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 cups grated Zucchini

In a large bowl combine oil, sugar, and eggs. In a separate bowl sift dry ingredients; add to first mixture. Add milk and mix well. Melt baking chocolate in the microwave for 20-second intervals, until just melted. Blend chocolate and vanilla into batter. Stir in Zucchini. Bake in a greased 9x13 baking dish at 350 for about 25 minutes. Cool and frost with either a homemade or store bought chocolate frosting.

* If making bread, use 1/2 cup cocoa instead. Add chocolate chips if you like! This makes two loafs. It took a little longer to bake all the way thru, just bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Breakfast Rolls

These are oh-so-yummy! I only make them about twice a year. Always on Christmas morning, and this year on the Fouth of July morning! They are the most delicious thing you will ever eat for breakfast!

Now, the recipe is not my own. I got it out of 'The Essential Mormon Cookbook', which you can get at Deseret Bookstore{ www.deseretbook.com}. All of the recipes I have tried in this book have been fantastic! I would definetly recommend getting this cookbook! Scroll down for the recipe.

Tear off a couple of gooey rolls.....

Dig in and enjoy!

Butterscotch Bundt Rolls

18 frozen dinner rolls

1 (3-ounce) package of Butterscotch pudding(not instant)

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup chopped pecans(optional)

1/2 cup melted buter

Arrange frozen rolls in a greased Bundt pan. Sprinkle pudding, brown sugar, and pecans over rolls. Drizzle butter all over. Cover Bundt pan with a dishtowel, plastic wrap, or waxed paper and let rise at room temperature overnight, or about 12 hours. Bake at 350 F. for about 25 minutes. Cool 5-10 minutes before inverting to a serving plate. Serve warm. Makes 18 rolls.

These also taste yummy with 3/4 cup sugar, white or brown. And 1 Tablespoon cinnamon. Use these instead of the brown sugar and pudding. Drizzle with butter and follow the rest of the directions as above.

'Jesus know me' block

I made this for my toddlers playroom. I cut a 2x4 piece of wood to the size I wanted. Painted it pink and sanded the edges . I cut the words out of vinyl with my Cricut and tied a ribbon around the whole thing. Cute, huh? This would make a nice gift for a child, or anyone!