Fat-free Coffee Cake

I got this recipe from Sara's roomate in college because at the time I was trying to lose weight and regulate my eating habits. Fat was the F-word in our family at the time. I was discouraged and had pretty much decided that I was just going to be a really nice fat person but that I was going to eat healthily. It took years but that's what did the trick. I stopped feeling guilty and deprived and weight was not such an issue. Now I eat what I want when I am truly hungry and have become educated in healthy eating.
I was surprised how good this cake tasted despite all the fat-free ingredients.

Sara's roomate's Fat-free Coffee Cake

Mix the following ingredients and put in a 9x13" greased pan.
1/2 cup fat=free dairy sour cream
2 beaten egg whites
1 c. skim milk
3 c. flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
Mix the following topping and sprinkle on topof cake batter.
3/4 c. sugar
3 T. flour
3 tsp. cinnamon
3 T chilled butter (Cut into topping mixture.)
Bake 13 min. @ 375 degrees.
10+ min. @ 400 degrees.

Fish cakes and Creamed Pea Sauce

Last week Hailey and I made Fish Cakes. It is kind a land-locked version of crab cakes found on the coast. It is my style because it is easy and inexpensive. Hailey and I may have made these fish cakes before but I like the creamed peas served with it. You could make a white sauce and add peas but this is even easier than that. Below is the recipe for fish cakes then Creamed Peas:

FISH CAKES

Open 1 can of tuna (I like Chicken of the Sea water-packed brand.) Drain and pour tuna into a large bowl and make a well in the center of the tuna. Into well put 1 egg, and 1 slice of bread broken or cut into 1/2 inch square pieces. Season with Mrs. Dash and Dill. I do not any salt or pepper as these spices seem sufficient. Spoon onto a heated and oiled griddle or pan. Cook on both sides just until egg is set and fish cakes are lightly browned.

Creamed Peas

Cook 1 package of frozen peas by barely covering with water. Boil peas and season according to package directions. 1/2 tsp. sugar may be added if desired. When peas are cooked add 1/2 to 3/4 of a can of evaoporated milk to peas and water. Bring to a gentle boil and thicken with 1-2 T. of cornstarch mixed with about 1/2 c. cold water. Stir into boiling peas and liquid and simmer until desired consistency. Creamed peas may be served on top of fish cakes like a sauce or on the side.

Exercise For The Soul - The Holy Ghost

One of the most important things a parent can teach their children is how to hear and listen to the Holy Ghost. It truly is a great gift and important for our return to Heavenly Father. It can offer comfort, direction and safety.

There are many times in my life and the life of my children when the Holy Ghost was an influence. It is important to keep the commandments of God so the Holy Ghost can influence us and to listen and obey so that we don't become "past feelling".(See Book of Mormon)

Define: A testimony is a knowledge of the reality of God,the Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. This testimony can only come by revelation through the Holy Ghost. You cannot get it from your parents, brothers, sisters or friends.

Ask: What can we do to gain a testimony?

Bring out the following points:

1. The first step in gaining a testimony is to want one. (See 1 Nephi 2:16).

2. We must ask our Heavenly Father to help us gain a testimony (see D&C 42:51).

3. We must want a testimony enough that we are willing to work for it. (see Ether 12:6).

4. We will enjoy our testimony as we study and grow and increase in the knowledge of the truth. (see John 8:32).

5. We must care for our most prized posession, our testimony, by keeping the commandments of our Heavenly Father (see Mosiah 2:41, Alma 32:41).

Gaining a testimony sometimes takes a long time and requires diligence in attending church, listening attentively, living the Gospel principles taught at church, studying the scriptures, fasting and praying in faith that you will gain a testimony through the Holy Ghost. (see Alma 5:45-47)
Alma told his people that the word of God was like a seed that needs caring for every day so it will grow. (see Alma 32: 28-43) Our testimony of Heavenly Father is like that seed. We must care for it every day. If we neglect it, and do not nourish it, it will not bear fruit.

If desired, help the family plant some fast growing seeds and watch them grow.

True story: When Grandma and Grandpa lived in Finland we had the missionaries to dinner every week. In addition we had a strong impression that we should invite the missionaries over for Thanksgiving Dinner. Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Finland but I made a pumpkin pie other traditional "Thanksgiving foods". A turkey was not available so we had three chickens. Ralph went to look for the missionaries who were not home and found them in town. We were so glad we had invited them. One missionary was brand new and was related to William Bradford of the original Pilgrims. Thanksgiving had always been a big celebration in his family. He even brought genealogy charts that showed his ancesestors. Then we knew why we had been impressed to invite them.
Suggested Hymns: "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" ( Hymn No. 95) or "I Know My Father Lives" (Sing With Me B-39)

Person of the Week: Ben Kern who called me from a slumber party when he was just a boy because he had a bad feeling there.

Exercises for the Soul

In case you haven't already guessed, I am using the first four principles of the gospel as indicated in the fourth Article of Faith for topics in these FHE lessons. Today the lesson will be on Baptism. There are two baptisms in our family this year, Jack Manwaring and Reese Kern. So they have been on my mind. There are also several grandchildren that have already taken this important step.
Start by displaying a picture of Christ baptized by John the baptist. Ask what important things does this picture suggest that we need to know. (It is so important that even Jesus was baptized. It is done be immersion [explain if necessary]. etc.)
Ask: What is a covenant? (An agreement or promise between two persons that each will do certain things).
Who are the persons involved in the baptism covenant?
What do you promise when you are baptized? (Read Mosiah 18:10)
What does Heavenly Father promise? (Read D&C 33:11, D&C 20:37 and 3Nephi 11:33.)
Why do you think our Heavenly Father has asked us to make a sacred covenant or promise to obey his commandments when we are baptized? (Because he loves us, he wants us to be happy, and he wants us to be with him in the kingdom of heaven.)

Story:
My sister,Stephanie, was baptized in Sinkut Creek by our house in Canada. My dad found a place that was surrounded by trees and was deep enough for her to be baptized by immersion. On the day she was to be baptized, we all walked down a trail to the place and my father baptized my sister. There were others there too, the full time missionaries, and others they had invited including Granny Hobsen, a nonmember who lived in town. Afterward we had a big dinner at our house for all in attendance. Even though it was different than a baptism at a stake center, it had all the important elements that Heavenly Father wants at a baptism. She was baptized by immersion by my father who had the proper priesthood authority with the approval of the mission president.

Suggested Songs: Any if the Baptism Songs from the Primary Children Sing songbook

Persons of the week Jack Manwaring and Reese Kern who are planning to be baptized soon.

Rhubarb Criso

We have a patch of rhubarb in our back yard that came with the house. It is very good rhubarb and is one of the things that grows well in this climate. It was getting big so Hailey and I decided to do something with it. I do not like all rhubarb recipes but feel obligated to use it because it's there and it is free. Last week the neighbor brought over some rhubarb quick bread but neither Ralph nor I cared for it. It was kind of like zucchini bread which has never been a personal favorite. My mother used to make rhubarb/strawberry jam which to me seemed like a good way to ruin strawberries. We just took the recipe for Apple Crisp and used rhubarb in place of apples.

Rhubarb Crisp
Wash and cut stalks of rhubarb into 1 in. pieces. (Leaves should have already been cut off as I have heard they are toxic if eaten.) Fill the bottom of a 9x12 pan with one layer of rhubarb pieces. Sprinkle about 2/3 c. of white, granulated sugar over the top. (You can adjust this to your taste and the sweetness of the rhubarb.) Then mix the following ingredients and spread or crumble over the top of rhubarb pieces.
2 c. flour
1 c. brown sugar
16 shakes of salt (from a salt shaker not the box)
Mix and add 2 cubes of butter cut into slices
1 1/2 c. oatmeal
Mix thoroughly and spread over rhubarb pieces.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 min.

This is good served warm with vanilla ice cream. It is quite tart to me but everything tastes sour to me these days.

JAR CAKES

This week Hailey and I tried an experiment and made Jar Cakes, a recipe found in Family Fun magazine. They tasted marginal in my opinion. It was presented as an idea to take camping but it is probably like foil dinners which taste much beter in the open air around a campfire. I know because once I cooked them in the oven for supper one night - not as good as when you are in the mountains and really hungry. At any rate, I will include the recipe below:

Jar Cakes

Mix in a large zip-lock plastic bag:
3/4 c.flour
1/2 c. sugar
2 T. cocoa powder
1/2 tsp.baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Mix in jar with screw-top lif (pint jars or jelly jars)
1/2 c. water
3 T oil\
1 1/2 tsp.white vinegar
1 tsp. vanilla
(At this point jars and zip-lock bag can be packed for camping.)
When ready to cook, pour contents of jar into zip-lock bag containing dry dry ingredients. Seal bag and knead with hands through the bag. When mixed, snip off corner of bag and squeeze out batter into 4 clean jars. Screw on lids. (not too tight)and then carefully place in rapidly boiling water. (about an in. deep or a little deeper, just enough so the jars don't float) Cook about 35 min. Let cool 10 min. Cake will be softer than most cakes. Serve while warm. Makes 4 servings.

Exercises For The Soul - Repentance

When I was baptized. I was excited because I would be totally clean from every mistake I had made but I knew there was a chance I would make another one. Then what would I do? Throughout my life I have made more mistakes but I have learned that we get to recommit every Sunday when we take the Sacrament and have Jesus' wonderful gift called repentance.
I got a little feel for what life would be like without repentance when I was in 2nd grade. We lived on Castle Drive in Boise. Idaho across the street from a building site where my father was working on a new LDS Church. Sometimes my friend and I would play in the partly finished building. One day there were some classroom blackboards delivered and we discovered we could write our names in the dust on them. That night my father called me to him and explained that he had to admit to the foreman that his little girl was named Connie and listened to the foreman tell him that possibly the names were permanent and could not be removed. My father asked me if I had written my name on the blackboard. I admitted that I had. I will never forget the awful feeling that I had made a mistake that could never be fixed.
I have not been back to that meetinghouse to see if my name is still on the blackboard but I have been grateful for the principle of repentance every time I use it.

Display baby pictures of each family member. Have children guess which is each family member. Explain that all were pure and innocent when they first came from Heavenly Father to your family. Heavenly Father knew that we would all make some mistakes while we were growing up and learning to do right. He also knew that we couldn't return to live with Him if we were burdened down by sin. (See 2 Neph 9:23 ).
Show pictures of Jesus on the cross and at Gethsemane. Have a family member read D & C 19:16. Remind children that if Jesus had not atoned for our sins, we could not be forgiven and would continue to suffer for them. We should be grateful for repentance and the atonement of Jesus Christ.

As a family, take the following true/false Quiz.
1. The suffering and death of Jesus 2,000 years ago does not affect our lives today. (False. If Jesus had not atoned for our sins, we could not repent and grow. We could never return to live with our Heavenly Father again.
2. When we make a mistake or sin, Jesus stops loving us. (False. Jesus never stops loving us. It is because of this love that we have the gift of repentance.)
3. Because Jesus suffered and died for our sins, they ar automatically forgiven. (False. Jesus can only forgive those who are sorry for their sins and who repent of them. )
4. When we repent of a sin,we are completely forgiven and we do not need to worry about it any more. (True. When we have repented of a sin the Lord not only forgives us, but our sin is also also forgotten [see Isaiah 1;16-18, D&C 58:42)
5. When we repent of our sins, we can learn through correcting our mistakes and continue to grow and progress spiritually. (True. When we repent of our sins, we are free to go on and not be held back because of them. Our weaknesses can even become our strengths.[See Ether 12:27.])

Suggested Songs: "I Stand All Amazed" (Hymns, No. 80) or "I Want to Live The Gospel" (Sing With Me, B-65).
Person of the Week: Emily Manwaring who made a delicious chocolate/raspberry cobbler for everyone at the cabin.