Watercolor Painting Class!

Thanks Kym for teaching our class! We had so much fun and learned some great techniques! Kym taught us a watercolor technique called glazing. First we wet down the entire watercolor paper with water. Then we added our lightest color moving to darker colors. You let it completely dry and then start over so the colors become darker and richer. We learned different techniques using paper towels, designs and taping off sections. After your glazing is finished and completely dry, you then stencil your picture on to your paper and trace with a black marker. (Or another color; Jenn did a really cute robot for Davis so hers was traced in a silver metallic marker, it was so cute!) Isn't Kym's large piece just beautiful!?

Showing off our masterpieces, not too bad for our first class! We had so much fun!

Personal Finance Recap

Thank you to Lauren for teaching an amazing class! What valuable information she shared with us!

Here is a brief recap. For more information or the worksheets from the class contact Lauren Jensen.

Key- Live off of only 50% of your income!
Savings: Have an "emergency fund" this should be 3-6 months of total monthly expenses. Also set-up other things should would like to save for; put money there and only spend it on those things. (ex: college/mission, vacation, gifts/holidays.)
* Plan for your retirement! Start saving now. When do you want to retire? How much money will it take? How much money to I need to save each month to make my goal?
Debt Elimination: Have a plan, pay smart. Make a list of all your debts starting with highest interest rate. Make monthly payments of the minimum required payment on each account, adding an additional amount to the highest interest rate account. (So that gets paid of the fastest). After it's paid off continue with the next largest account. Continue until you are out of debt! With this strategy you will pay less money (because of interest) and pay it off faster!

Food Storage Recap!

We had an amazing class with our talented Laura Earl here are some pictures, amazing recipes and cool gadgets!

Laura demoed her wheat grinder, this one is a Nutrimill it currently runs for $269.99 new

Kelli helps out by trying the hand grinder, this one is Victorio. Saw one on amazon for $62.00Whole-Wheat Quick Bread
1 egg beaten (or 1 Tbsp dry egg powder + 2 Tbsp water)
2 C buttermilk (or 1/3 C dry milk + 2 C water + 2 Tbsp vinegar or lemon juice-let sit for 5 min)
3 Tbsp Molasses or honey
2 Tbsp butter, melted
2 C whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
*Grease loaf pan- 400 degrees for 40-45 min

Biscuits
4 C flour
2 Tbsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
10 Tbsp shortening
2 C buttermilk (or 1/3 C dry milk + 2 C water +2 Tbsp vinegar or lemon juice- let sit for 5 min)
* Preheat to 450. Sift together first 4 ingredients. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut shortening in to form crumbs. Add buttermilk tossing with a fork. Knead VERY lightly. (dough can be made 2 hours in advance- wrap in plastic and put in fridge) Pat dough into ¾ inch think. Use a biscuit cutter or a glass dipped in flour. Place on UNGREASED cookie sheet and bake at 425 for 12-15 min.

This is a fun little gadget to make really yummy corn tortillas!

These can be found for about $15-$20Southwest White Chili- in crock pot
1 Cup chopped onion (or 1/4 C dehydrated onions)
4 cloves of garlic
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano, crushed
¼ tsp ground red pepper
3-15 ½ oz cans of great northern beans-rinsed (or 1 lb bag white beans – soaked overnight)
2- 4oz cans diced green chiles
4 C chicken broth
3 C chopped chicken
2 C shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Sour cream
LOW for 7-8 Hours or HIGH for 3 ½
*Add the cheese at the end, and top with sour cream

Black Bean Recipe
Soak beans (2-3 cups of water for every cup of beans) place in fridge for 6-72 hours. Pour out water and cook in fresh water.
Place following in crock pot
Beans and water (4 C soaked beans=8-9 cups of water)
3 Tbsp Chicken bouillon
2 Tbsp Italian seasoning
2 Tbsp garlic
Optional additions: cheese, red pepper, onions, tomatoes, corn, any spice that you like!

Cilantro Jalepeno Hummas
2 Cloves garlic
2 cans garbanozo beans (or 1lb bag of garbanzo beans soaked overnight, cooked and rinsed)
3 Tbsp lime juice
½ tsp salt
½ C Olive Oil
¾ C chopped cilantro
2 Jalepeno peppers
*Blend to make sauce. Can add a little water to achieve right consistency


Popped Wheat
Soak any amount of hard wheat you would like.
Drain and rinse
Fry soaked wheat in pan with hot oil until it is a golden brown
Scoop out onto paper towel and add seasonings. (ranch dressing dry pack, cinnamon/sugar. Lemon pepper, whatever seasonings you like)

Roasted Garbonzo Beans
Soak and cook garbonzo beans (or use drained beans from a can)
In pan (with no oil) sauté the beans. Then add some seasonings. We like smoked paprika with a touch of salt and pepper. (great to serve hot with ketchup- mini French fries for the kids)

Granola
2 C oats
2 Tbsp Brown sugar
½ C Wheat Germ
¼ tsp Salt
1 C (TOTAL) of extras: cinnamon, coconut, almonds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, dried fruit

In sauce pan or in microwave heat
¼ C syrup
3 Tbsp oil
1 Tbsp water

Add liquid to dry mixture. Work in with your hands to make clumps. Spread out on non-greased cookie sheet. Bake in the over for 30 min @ 275. *Note: first time you bake it keep an eye on it…the time could vary.


Lastly another cool gadget, this is a "jar vacuum". You place any food in a jar and place in the vacuum and it will suck all the air out increasing the shelf life. You can even reseal the same jar!

We just want to thank Laura so much for all the wonderful tips! Thanks for sharing your talent with us!

Introducing...Interest Groups!

We are so excited to introduce our interest groups! These groups/clubs are designed to meet the needs and likes of smaller groups of sisters in the RS.

1. Book Club- will meet the last Thursday of every month. Jenn Terry will be heading it up so just let her know if you would like to host or if there is a book your interested in!

2. Card Club- will meet the 3rd Thursday of every month. The group gets together and exchanges cards of a certain theme picked for that month!

3. Cooking Club- will meet the 1st Thursday of every month. The group gets together at one sisters home to learn to cook something new, learn new techniques and get new recipes! Tamara Hall will be heading up this group so if you have anything specific that you would like to learn let her know.

4. Dinner Group- this group you'll need to sign up for every month, according to how many people sign up, you'll recieve a food assignment (like salad or dessert etc.) and then every one will meet together for good food and good company! Please sign up in the binder at church or contact Heidi Clayton.

5. Temple Group- a certain day and time will be picked, babysitting arranged and the group will get to attend the temple together.

6. Walking and Running- lets get together for some exercise! Sign up in the binders for a morning or evening group!

7. Garage Sale Saturdays-looking for some deals, Lauren Jensen checks out all the ads and maps out all the routes. Contact her if you would like to get on the mailing list!

8.Play Group- bring yourself and the kids for some play time for both mommy and child! We meet every Friday at 10:30am at the playground South of the daycare center.

9. Beach Day- this Summer every Monday is beach day! We meet at 10:00am at Ocean Park Beach. For more specifics and to be on the mailing/reminder list contact Jaime Johnson.

We are so excited about all our new clubs, hope you are too!