Hemming Jeans Enrichment Style

Tonight for Enrichment we learned how to hem our favorite pair of jeans that is a little too long! Thank you to all who participated - more to come:) Here are a few videos if you missed this great activity.

Budget Bliss... and Worksheet:)

Last week we had another great Enrichment taught by Mike Cunningham! We learned all about budgeting, saving for the future, banks accounts, 401K's etc. There was so much to learn and so much to think about for our financial futures. Mike really knows his stuff and broke it down in a practical way. We finished the night off with homemade ice cream sandwiches - thank you to all the sisters who contributed!

Here is the link to Mike's financial forms - check them out and use them for your budget!

files.me.com/thedigitalorange/0ukwmp

PANINI PARTY! Thanks to everyone who came!

Thank you everyone for a great and memorable night!  Come over for paninis anytime!!!

Dinner Impossible - Cooking on a Budget!

Candy Bar Pizza

- Chocolate chip cookie dough, either homemade or packaged tube from the store (you can use any cookie dough recipe you like)

- Chocolate chips

- peanut butter (optional)

- Assorted candy; cut up candy bars, reeces pieces, m&m's, licorice, skittles, corn candy, etc.

Spread cookie dough on a greased or non-stick foil covered pizza pan.  Spread just to or near edge.  Back at 375 degrees for 2 minutes.  Ovens vary, keep a watch on dough and bake until golden on edges.  Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips.  You can also drop globs of peanut butter sporatically over pizza.  Wait 5 minutes.  With the back of a spoon spread melted chocolate and peanut butter mixture.  Immediately sprinkle and/or place candy all over pizza.  Can cool in refrigerator if in a hurry.  Cut into slices. Kids love to help decorate and eat!

Fruit Pizza

- 1 pkg (or recipe) sugar cookie dough

- 1 8 oz. cream cheese, softened

- 1/3 cup sugar (granulated)

- 1/2 tsp. vanilla

- Sliced fruit such as kiwi, strawberries, blueberries, bananas etc.

- 1/2 cup jam (orange marmalade, peach, or apricot)

- 2 T water

Cut dough in 1/8" slices and lay slightly overlapping on a non-stick foil covered pizza pan.  Press together to form a large cookie.  Back at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes until golden.  Cool.  (Can do ahead a day)  Mix cream cheese, sugar and vanilla and spread on cookies almost to the edge.  Refrigerate.  When nearing time to serve arrange fruit slices on top attractively.  Drizzle with mixture made of the jam and water.  Cut in pizza type wedges.

Chicken Gravy and Rice

Italian Crockpot Chicken

4 Chicken Breasts

1 can campbell's Healthy Request (98% fat free) cream of chicken soup

8 oz pkg light cream cheese (neufchatel cheese)

1 packet (dry) Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix

Place ingredients into crock pot and cook on low 6-7 hours. High 3-4 hours. Serve with brown rice and a vegetable.

Dinner Impossible - Cooking on a Budget!

Bruschetta

3 large tomatoes, chopped 

1/3 C red (purple) onion, chopped 

1/4 clove garlic—chop fine, sprinkle with Kosher salt, & mash with side of knife blade 

Fresh basil—roll leaves & chop (about 1/4 C after chopping) 

Fresh oregano—remove stems & chop (use ½ as much as basil) 

Balsamic vinegar (about 2 T) 

Olive oil (about 1 T) 

Salt & pepper to taste 

Mix and allow to mellow in refrigerator.  Serve with toasted French bread or Musso’s Cheese and Garlic Toasts. 

All amounts can be adjusted to taste.

Budgeting Fun!!

Bugeting FUN with Mikey C.!!!

**80-90% of women will be COMPLETELY responsible for their own personal/family finances at one time in their life. It is time to learn how to take control of your finances and make your money work for you!!

Ladies... for those of you who were in attendance, Wednesday night's enrichment was the BOMB!! Mike Cunningham came and taught us all about the importance of paying a full tithe, budgeting, saving/investing and even having an "oh shiz" fund for emergencies. It was very informative and everyone that was in attendance learned a lot. Mike gave us a few items to keep in mind when creating our money plan. They are as follows:



1. It is not how much you make, but how much you spend!!



2. 401 K Plans/IRA (if self employed). Contribute the max amount that your budget will allow. You are paying yourself and if your company matches a percentage, find out how much they match because that is FREE MONEY!! Try to max out as much as you can. For example: if you make at least $50,000 and contribute 30% each paycheck, you can max out the allowable federal contribution of $14,400 a year.



3. Bank Accounts- A. Checking Account (for regular, budgeted purchases) B. "Oh Shiz" savings account (at the same bank as your checking, with a contribution of at least $50 per paycheck or $100 a month. Also known as your emergency fund). C. Long term Savings/Investment Account- This should be at a bank like ING Savings or Immigrant Savings. Something that is not easily accessible and should be set up with your direct deposit for a set amount to come out of your paycheck each month. Pay yourself! D. Earmarked Savings Account- use this account to save for things like a bike, trip, large purchases, etc. This one can also be at your regular bank or credit union.



4. Budget!!! (Round down your income, round up your expenses, when in doubt!)



Sample Budget:


Income
2000



Tithing
-200
Earmarked
-100
Savings
-100
Rent
-550
Utilities
-65
Debt Payments (credit cards, loans, student loans, consumer debt)
-100
Car Insurance
-100
Gas
-70
Groceries
-150
Eating Out
-200
Arts & Crafts
-50
Entertainment
-50

Toiletries
-50

Clothing
-50

Gym Fee
-35
Grooming
-75
Oh Shiz Fund
-50



$2000 TOTAL



The goal would be to meet your budget the first month and then BEAT your budget the next. Whatever you have left over should be rolled into your savings account, preferably your long term savings.



5. Get a copy of your credit report annually at http://www.annualcreditreport.com/ for FREE!!!

6. If you want to make it easier or are just starting, use some type of software like Quicken, Microsoft Money or Excel.

7. Never loan money to anyone unless you are okay with not getting it back. :)

8. Never pay retail for anything... shop around!!

9. If possible, use a credit card to pay for clothing, food, entertainment, etc. and PAY OFF every month. This not only builds your credit, but if you have a Credit Card that earns points, miles, etc., you earn those as well!! DOUBLE BONUS!!

10. Be smart... evalute if it is a NEED vs a WANT. You can do it!!!



A big thank you to Mike Cunningham and Christi Costello for putting this together!!

Strawberry Pretzel Jello Dessert - Sister Gilbert

Press: 2 cup crushed stick pretzels, 3 Tbl sugar, 1/2 cup melted butter in a 9x13 pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Mix together: 1 8oz package cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 8oz carton cool whip

Spread on cooled crust. Seal to edges (this is important or the jello will seep through and turn the crust mushy - I seal and refrigerate for an hour to firm a bit)

Mix together: 6 oz package strawberry jello,2 cup boiling water, 2oz frozen strawberries (orfresh if in season)

Spread on top of cool whip mixture. Refrigerate overnight if possible

Half-hearted Valentine Cookies

Cookies: 3/4 cup sugar, 1 cup butter softened, 1 egg, 1 tsp peppermint extract, 3 cup all-purpose flour.
Glaze: 1 cup semi-sweetreal chocolate chips, 1/4 cup butter

Directions: In large bowl combine sugar, butter, cream cheese, egg and peppermint extract. Beat at medium speedm, scraping often until lightly fluffy. Add flour, beat until mixed. Divide dough into halves. Wrap in waxed paper. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll out dough on floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out with floured heart shaped cutters. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 7-10 min or until edges are very lightly browned. Remove immediately and cool completely on racks. For glaze: In a small saucepan (or microwave) heat butter and chocolate. Dip 1/2 cookie into chocolate. Refrigerate on waxedpaper lined cookie sheet until chocolate is firm. Store covered, in refrigerator.

Magic Bars - Sara Smith

- smash 8 graham crackers
- melt 1 stick of butter
- mix together and spread on the bottom of a 9x13 pan
- Pour on top 1 can of sweetened condensed milk
- Layer 1 cup of chocolate chips
- Layer 1 cup of coconut
- Layer 1/2 cup of chopped nuts of your choice!

Directions:
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool and serve!

Babe Ruth Bars - Kyle Legones

1 cup sugar
1 cup karo syrup
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
6 cups rice krispies
6 ounces chocolate chips
6 ounces butterscotch chips

Directions:
Boil sugar and karo syrup. Remove from heat and mix in peanut butter. Mix with rice krispies in large bowl. Put in 9x13 pan. Flatten and melt chips. Pour in pan and smooth over. Put in fridge for 1 hour.

Oatmeal Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies - Lisa Strebel

3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. In mixing bowl beat butter for 30 seconds. Add brown sugarm, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Beat until combined. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Beat in as much of the flour as you can. Stir in remaining flour. Stir in oats. Stir in butterscotch and chocolate chips. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are light brown.

Mint Chocolate cupcakes - Amy Clark

These are like those chocolate-covered mint patties that the kids love so much. You absolutely can't eat mint icing on its own, it needs the chocolate ganache to bring it all together. But once it is brough, it is heavenly.

Ingredients:
1 cup Soy Milk
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup canola oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract, chocolate extract, or more vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder, Dutch-processed or regular
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin pan with paper or foil liners
2. Whisk together the soy milk and vinegar in a large bowl, and set aside for a few minutes to curdle. Add the sugar, oil, and vanilla extract, and other extract, if using, to the soy milk mixture and beat till foamy. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add in two batches to wet ingredients andbeat till no large lumps remain (a few tiny lumps are okay).
3. Pour into liners, filling three-quarters of the way. Bake 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer to cooling rack and let cool completely.

Icing:
1/4 cup nonhydrogenated shortening
3 cups confectioner's sugar (sifted if clumpy)
1/4 cup plus 1 Tbs soy creamer or soy milk
1 1/2 tsp mint extract
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Small drop green food coloring liquid or paste

Directions:
1. Cream the shortening for a few seconds to soften it. We found that it's easier to do this with a fork than with a handheld mixer.
2. Add 1 cup powdered sugar and a splash (Tbl or so) of soy creamer and mix to incorporate. Alternately add sugar and creamer, mixing after each addition, until all the ingredients are used and the icing is smooth and creamy. Add the mint and vanilla extracts and coloring; mix to incorporate.

Quick Melty Ganache:
3 Tbls soy creamer or soy milk
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Heat soy creamer in a small saucepan over medium heat till just about to simmer. Remove from heat; add chocolate chips and stir till chocolate is completely melted and creamer is incorporated. Set aside and allow to cool for 10 minutes.

To Assemble:
1. After frosting the cooled cupcakes, drizzle the cooled ganache mixture on top of the green mint icing.

Angels Among Us

We had a great night on Thursday February 12th, with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk "Angels Among Us" as the theme. Emily Knudsen gave a beautiful lesson and encouraged us all to find ways to be angels to others. Jeni Baird and Brianna Walker shared their testimonies of angels in their lives and how they have been touched by Visiting Teachers and loved ones in their lives.

After a wonderful lesson, we decorated Valentine's Day cookies for our visiting teachees and had a great time conversing and thinking of ways to become angels to each other:)

Enrichment with the Seniors!

Thank you to all who participated in last week's enrichment - everyone had a great time and the Seniors we visited really appreciated our time and attention:) Comment on this post if you would like to share a special moment that you had that morning!

February Calendar

Thursday, February 5th - Stake Teacher Training Meeting 7pm (Stake Center)
Friday, February 6th - YSA Stake Dance 9-12pm (17th Street Building)
Monday, February 9th - Valentine's for the Elderly
Thursday, February 12th - QUARTERLY ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY - "Angel's Among Us" 7pm (Stake Center)
Saturday, February 14th - Adult Session Stake Conference 7pm (Stake Center)
Sunday, February 15th - Stake Conference 10am (Stake Center)
Saturday, February 21st - Academy Awards Activity with Goldenwest Ward 7-9pm (Stake Center)
Tuesday, February 24th - Tentative ENRICHMENT night 7pm (Stake Center)