Bloom where you have Wi-Fi

I am posting this for people who were unable to attend a session I did at a Relief Society mini-conference.  This session was on using social media to build/strengthen relationships.

The two videos I used in the presentation are linked below:

Elder Uchtdorf's Create Video is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhLlnq5yY7k

And the Mormon Messages for Youth Video is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtTg4M_XdsY

Any questions, just let me know!

Chicken & Artichoke Pesto Pasta

I made this tonight and we really liked it.  I've combined a few recipes and some store ought shortcuts to make this really simple.

Ingredients:

1 chicken breast, sliced thinly 

1 small jar of marinated artichoke hearts (mine was 7.5 Oz) (I drained most if the liquid out)

2tsp. Minced garlic 

1 small jar of traditional pesto

1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

3-4 tablespoons of sun dried tomatoes in oil

1/2 cup milk ( I used 2 %)

1-2 tablespoon of oil

Salt and pepper

2 tsp. Mrs. Dash original

1 tablespoon of dried minced onions

3/4 pound of angel hair pasta

1/2 cup of Texas pecans

Put pasta on to boil in well salted water.  Cook until just under al dente.

Put oil in a large medium high sauté pan.  Add chicken and salt and pepper the chicken.   Cook until about 3/4 done then add garlic and Mrs. Dash.  Continue to stir for about a minute then pour in the artichokes and sun dried tomatoes.  Continue stirring another 2 minutes.  Add the cooked pasta and stir.  Next, add half the pesto jar (or more if you want more) and stir until it is all covered and mixed well, stir in milk and cook another minute or two, stir in pecans.  Turn off the heat and then add in the cheese and stir.  Serve with a green salad and garlic bread. Serves 4 and could easily be doubled.

Summer Learning Week 1...ART

For this summer's activities, I sat down with my son and we came up with a list of topics or themes that we will work on each week.  I plan to do a learning activity, a craft, and an away from the house activity each week that revolves around the theme for that week plus our weekly trips to the library will focus on the topic as well.  For week 1, we have Art as the topic and I am focusing mainly on painters.  I put together a slide show to show my son some of the different styles of art and so I thought I might share it here in case anyone else would like to follow what we are doing.  Our craft will be doing pointillism art or dot art painting with q-tips!  Some of the other themes for later weeks are Dinosaurs, African Animals, Sea Creatures, Transportation, Navigation, Cooking, and Building/Architecture.

If you would like a copy of the slide show, I am happy to send you the file, just leave a comment for me.

Thanks!

Happy Summer!

Pancake Squares

I just made these this morning and they are super easy and good...two of my favorite combinations!

Pancake Squares 

The original recipe comes from this blog http://www.bigredkitchen.com/2008/08/pancake-squares/

I tweaked it a tiny but and doubled the below recipe to make a 9x13 sized pan and I think I probably 

Could have put it in a bigger pan for shorter pancakes.  These were big and fluffy and good and great with fruit and any of your favorite toppings.  We had them with fruit smoothies and they were great!

One thing I really love about this recipe is that everyone can eat at the same time and you are not having to make 

Batches and batches...and spending forever in the kitchen.

If you have egg allergies in your group, I think you could use an egg substitute with this without any problems.

Ingredients

3/4 cup milk
2 T. melted butter
1 large egg
1 T. sugar
1 cup flour
2 t. baking powder

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/4 t. salt

Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease an 8×8 baking dish ( or 9x13 or larger if you want short pancakes and doible the recipe).  i just turned on the mixer and let it go as i added the ingredients.  i had it on medium high until it was time to add the flour, then took it down to low.  In a large mixing bowl, beat together milk, butter and egg. Add sugar, then gradually beat the flour in (1/4th -1/2 cup at a time). Carefully stir in the baking powder and salt. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Serves 3-5, depending on their love for pancakes.  I'm going to put leftovers in the fridge and warm up again tomorrow.  They visually remind me of corn bread because they are light in color and look like cornbread but they are light and very much e consistency of regular pancakes.  I think next time I will spread butter on it a few minutes before it's done to see if I can make it a little more golden colored.

Hope you love 'em!