Elf on the Shelf Kissing Booth

I created a kissing booth for your elf on the shelf to use!

If you want the PDF printable, just comment with your email and I will send it over!

Cheesy Potato Soup

Potato soup is one of my favorite things! I don't like my soups very brothy. They have to be chunky and yummy enough to dip breadsticks in :)

Ingredients:
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1 bunch chopped green onions
1/2 green pepper chopped
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon parsley
1 teaspoon onion salt
4 cups chicken broth
4 tablespoons butter
4 cups peeled and chopped potatoes
1/4 cup flour
8 oz Velveeta
1 cup milk
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 pepper
1/2 salt

Directions:
Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a stockpot. Add carrots, celery, green onions, green pepper, basil, parsley and onion salt. Saute for about 5-10 minutes until vegetables are tender. Add chicken broth and potatoes. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat. Cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.
In a separate sauce pan, melt the rest of the butter and and the flour. stir and cook for about 5 minutes, until the mixture is bubbly. This creates a roux which makes it thick.
Add the roux to the potato mix. Cook for a few minutes. Add the velveeta and milk. Let the cheese melt. Top with some of the shredded Parmesan cheese, pepper, and salt.


Recipe adapted from: http://east9thstreet.com/2013/01/13/cheesy-potato-soup-recipe/

Neighbor/Friend gift idea for Christmas.

My mom has been needing a gift to give her friends for Christmas. Every year she always waits until the last minute and I am there to help her. :) I thought I would make it easier on myself this year. I have been creating subway art for all the holidays. I thought it would be fun to make them a 5x7 size, print them out and frame them.
Super easy and super cute.
I decided to sell them on my etsy shop. There, you can purchase them and they are already to print! No need to resize them. Right now, my coupon code "merrychristmas" gets you 20% off.

you can find them HERE

Rustic Christmas Tags

I made some rustic Christmas tags for my Etsy shop. Same goes for this order: enter in "merrychristmas" to get 20% off any $5 order.

You can find these tags HERE!

Christmas Bunco

I seemed to have skipped making a bunco score sheet for Thanksgiving. I thought I better get on a Christmas one. Here is one version.
If you'd like it just right click the image and save it for the full version.

Orange Rolls

I wanted to make something that I've never made for my neighbors and friends this year. On Christmas morning my mom would always make orange rolls. Even though everything was typically homemade from here, these were never homemade. I didn't have a recipe for it, other than my dough recipe and regular cinnamon rolls. Anyway, I decided to make them to try them out and see if they would work as neighbor gifts this year.
I made one batch of dough which equaled out to be 18 rolls. I put them in those circle disposable pans to make it easy. I tried one right away to see how it tasted and put the other two in the freezer. I tried one that was in the freezer this morning and there was no difference! Yum! Can't wait to make them for Christmas.

I plan on making a cute little tag for them. I will post them as soon as I do.

you get the half eaten picture until I make another batch. I just couldn't wait :)


First make the dough:
 2 cups heated milk (heat in the microwave for 2 minutes)
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
4 1/2 -5 cups flour
2 teaspoons yeast

If you have a bread maker just put the ingredients in the bread maker in that order on the dough setting. This is what I do and I LOVE it.

 If not just use a mixer. Melt the butter in the milk. Pour milk into mixer. Add sugar and salt. Slowly add half of the flour. Add the yeast and the rest of the flour. Knead for 5-10 minutes. Dough should be soft. Cover and let raise for about 45 minutes. (at least 10 if you don't have a lot of time)

Filling Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons brown sugar
orange juice concentrate, thawed


Frosting Ingredients:
1 square butter
3 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons orange juice concentrate, thawed
splash of water
2 teaspoons orange zest

Roll the dough in a rectangle shape. You could also just roll the dough in a pan and use the pan to guide the shape and then cut the rolls. Spread the butter over the dough, covering it all. sprinkle the sugars over the butter. Drizzle a couple tablespoons of the orange juice concentrate over the sugars. Roll from the long side as tight as possible.
Cut into rolls, I usually do about 1.5 inches apart. Place in the greased baking dish you are using.
To cook right away let them raise for about an hour (or more if you have time). Then cook on 350 for 22 minutes. They should be light brown when done. Pipe icing over them while they are warm.

To make the frosting just mix all ingredients until they are nice and fluffy. Add water and/or powdered sugar as needed to get the taste you desire.

To Freeze:
After you place them in the baking dish cover with foil and then the lid. When you are ready to make them, take them out and let them sit out until they are room temperature (that takes about an hour to two hours) Then let them raise another hour. You could also take them out of the freezer the night before you want to serve them and put them in the fridge. Then you can let them raise about an hour and a half outside the fridge.
Once the rolls have doubled in size you will cook them on 350 for about 22 minutes.

And there you go! Easy homemade orange rolls.

More Christmas Tags

I made some more Christmas Tags and put them on my Etsy shop. Here is a preview of them. You can purchase them HERE. For my blog readers you can get 20% off of them . You could even use this coupon code on anything on my shop over $5, which is currently not much :) Use coupon code "merrychristmas"! Enjoy

My first feature!

My thanksgiving printable/subway art was featured on http://savannahattic.com/ and on Time to Sparkle Link Party!

It's my very first time being featured. If you get the chance please go check out their sites! There are amazing things all over!
Here is my fall printable again for any of you that might have missed it :)

Feel free to print and share! It's created as an 8x10 so if you need another size just be sure to adjust it after saving it. For best results send to a photo place. I usually send mine to Costco. Good quality for a fairly cheap price. Just be sure to right click the image and save it for the full page

Christmas Subway Art

Here is the new Christmas Subway Art/Christmas Printable I made. I will be making one for every holiday and then I'm going to print them out, get a frame and give them as a gift to friends.

Please right click the image and then save it as something to your computer. This way you will get the full version of it. I made this as an 8x10 photo. If you need a different size please just make the adjustments.

Christmas Subway Art

Elf is one of our favorite shows. It's something my husband and I have watched ever since it came out. When I saw the signs with the saying, " the best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing loud for all to hear" I knew I had to make it!

Here is my version of it. Feel free to print/share. Make sure you right click the image and save it for the full photo. It's created as an 8x10. If you need another size just make the adjustments.

Printable Christmas Tags

I have been in the Christmas mood! I have been listening to Christmas music as I get inspired to make some Christmas signs and stuff. I made some Christmas Tags that can be printed out or sent to a photo studio. They are made to go with the trendy chalkboard style. If you'd like to snag some of the chalkboard printable gift tags, just head over to my Etsy Shop found HERE!

Enjoy!

Chalk Fonts

I love chalk fonts, but I have a hard time remembering what ones to use. I created this as an easy reference for me. I thought I would share it with everyone and where to find each font.

Also, check out my part 2 font here: http://recipesfromstephanie.blogspot.com/2015/08/favorite-chalk-fonts-part-2.html

1. FFF TUSJ
2. pea ellie bellie
3. Sketch Nice
4. Denne Milk Tea
5. clementine sketch
6. Basic Scratch
7. A Song for Jennifer
8. Castro Script Personal
9. Chalk Line Outline
10. Chalk-hand-lettering
11. Closure
12. DK Carte Blanche
13. Eight Fifteen
14. Grutch
15. KG Makes You Stronger
16. Lavanderia
17. Orniste TFB
18.Sandwich Paper
19. Return to Sender
20. Susie's Hand
21. Villa Didot
22. Thinking of You
23. Miserably Lose
24. Flavor & Frames
25. Bergamot Ornaments

Christmas Printables

November 2013 Visiting Teaching Message

This month there is not an assigned visiting teaching message. Instead, we are told to prayerfully select a message to teach our sisters from the General Conference talks found HERE.

After reading through some, I found a talk that really spoke to me. I have a testimony in serving others. I feel that we are the ones that end up blessed when we actively seek to help others. As we are mindful of our attitudes and responses, we can continue to be a positive example to the people around us. I love to see people that are genuinely nice to others. I feel that the more we smile, are kind, and help other when we can, the more we can feel love from our Father in Heaven.

I chose the talk by Carole M. Stephen's "We Have Great Reason to Rejoice". It's a great talk that encourages serving those around us. You can find the article HERE.

Here is a handout I made to go along with this talk. I might create another handout on a different talk a little later.

To get the handouts, just right click the image and click save as. Then you will be able to pull the full page up and print from there.

 

Navajo Tacos

My mom makes these all the time and they are my husband's favorite. Since he just had a birthday we decided to make them for him. :) They are fairly easy, except for frying the scones. That part just takes a little longer.

Ingredients:
Dough for scones (see our dough recipe below)
Oil for frying
Chili-use your favorite kind. (My mom makes a bunch and freezes it to use for later times)
Toppings off your choice:
lettuce
onions
tomatoes
olives
ranch dressing
hot sauce


Start by heating oil over medium heat.

To make the scones you will need to break off small pieces of the dough and roll them out into small circles. Our recipe makes about 12-15 medium sized scones.
Take the dough and place into the hot pan of oil. Let dough fry for about 3 minutes (or until light brown) and then turn over until that side is done. Place scones on a paper towel lined plate, to catch the grease.

 

Top with chili and other desired toppings. Enjoy!

If you want our dough recipe, here it is:

Dough:
2 cups heated milk (heat in the microwave for 2 minutes)
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
4 1/2 -5 cups flour
2 teaspoons yeast

If you have a bread maker just put the ingredients in the bread maker in that order on the dough setting. This is what I do and I LOVE it.

 If not just use a mixer. Melt the butter in the milk. Pour milk into mixer. Add sugar and salt. Slowly add half of the flour. Add the yeast and the rest of the flour. Knead for 5-10 minutes. Dough should be soft. Cover and let raise for about 45 minutes. (at least 10 if you don't have a lot of time)

Fall Printable

Here is my fall printable/subway art I made. Feel free to print and share! It's created as an 8x10 so if you need another size just be sure to adjust it after saving it.

For best results send to a photo place. I usually send mine to Costco. Good quality for a fairly cheap price. Just be sure to right click the image and save it for the full page. If you need me to send you the PDF file, I totally can. I still don't know how to upload to blogger :)

Why is it important for me to get an education?

The curriculum in "Come Follow Me" this month is all about "Spiritual & Temporal Self-Reliance." I am teaching the whole group of young women this week (my first time ) and decided to do the lesson on education.
I have decided to follow the lesson outline on lds.org almost to a T. HERE is the lesson link.  There are a lot of good things in it. I liked it because there are some group work things in there. Since I will have a large group, I plan on dividing them up and making sure they participate! :)

The lesson ideas that stuck out to me and I chose to teach are:

Intro:
Invite the young women to imagine that a friend from church tells them she is going to drop out of school, explaining, “I’m going to get married someday, and my husband will support me, so I don’t need to keep going to school.” How would the young women encourage her to continue to pursue an education? Ask them to write their responses on a piece of paper. Collect the papers, and read and discuss the responses with the class. At the end of class, give them the opportunity to add to their responses based on what they learned during the lesson.

I chose this one because it's something that will happen in every day life. The young women are at a time in their life where they will hear their fellow classmates talking like this.

Next, a few ladies that have pursued their education are coming to come are class to talk about how their education has blessed their lives. I told them to talk for about 3-5 minutes each.

Next, I'm going to divide the class into five different groups to complete this: Assign the young women to read individually one of the five paragraphs from the “Education” section of For the Strength of Youth or the statements by President Gordon B. Hinckley and President Thomas S. Monson at the beginning of the talk “Seek Learning: You Have a Work to Do.” Ask them to explain to the class what they read, and discuss why it is important to work diligently now to gain a good education. Invite the young women to think about and share their goals to gain an education.

Time permitting I will also have them complete this: Divide the class into three groups. Ask the first group to read Proverbs 31:10–31, ask the second group to read the scriptures in this outline that teach that we should seek wisdom and knowledge, and ask the third group to read the scriptures in this outline that give examples of people who sought knowledge. Ask each group to discuss what their assigned scriptures teach them about the importance of pursuing education and developing skills. Invite each group to share with the rest of the class what they discussed. How will gaining an education help the young women in their lives? How will it help them become better wives and mothers?

The scripture references are included on the lds.org lesson plan I linked to above.

Finally, I will share my personal testimony on education, focusing on how much they will learn about themselves.. I will also encourage the young women to seek education in their own ways. College, travel, reading, etc. are all great ideas to gain education.
They will then complete their goals using the sheet I created here:

Feel free to print and share. Just right click the image and save it.

I LOVE the handout that is posted on All Things Bright and Beautiful HERE. It ties perfectly with my lesson. I love the bookmark idea too! So cute.

Young Women Halloween Party

This week we decided to do a Halloween party for the girls. We combined with the Mia Maids since the Laurels had a stake activity. It was fun! We kept it pretty simple.
We picked up a few pizzas and a couple things of breadsticks. We also had some hot chocolate there too. The girls wanted to make some sugar cookies-but not just any sugar cookies. They HAD to have swig sugar cookies. Swig is a place here in St. George that sells drinks and you can add any flavor shot to it. They also have some trendy cookies too.
I used the COOKIE recipe on THIS website. The only thing I did different was baked them at 375 degrees for 11 minutes. I tried the frosting on that website before, but it was a little too sour creamy for me (even though it's the closest thing to swig). Instead, I used the FROSTING recipe from THIS website. Instead of dying the frosting pink, we did black and yellow.

We also had a word Halloween game the girls played when we first got there. Afterwards, we just hung out, ate pizza and decorated cookies. Towards the end the girls decided to play a game of mafia.

A nice, simple activity :)

Classroom Party Ideas

Here are some printables and ideas if you're in charge of the classroom Halloween party!

To save each printable just right click the image and click save as. Then you can pull the image up and print it.

1. Halloween Bingo- this one is fun and easy. There are ten different cards here along with the call out cards.

 

2. Halloween Unscramble- Just unscramble the words in each of the columns.

3. Roll a Jack-O-Lantern- follow the instructions to have each child complete a pumpkin with their own design!

4. Coloring pages- print these out and let the students color their favorite Halloween picture. 

Just cut each page in half and you will have two coloring pages per sheet.
5. Decorate sugar cookies- my mom was the room mother every year. She would always make sugar cookies and we would decorate them. So fun. You can find here recipe HERE

6. Bring your Wii and play Just Dance. We did this activity in the class I student taught in. The kids LOVED it.

7. Paint pumpkins- A room mother had a family member that had a pumpkin patch. She brought a small pumpkin for everyone and they were able to paint them.

8. Musical Chairs -  do this with some Halloween music. It's so fun and all the kids love it.

9. Create a ghost story. You will need a tape recorder for this activity. The leader of this group (room mom or teacher) will start the story. Just make something up that starts out spooky. Pass the recorder around and have each student make up their own part. Later you could make this into a book for the classroom.

10.  Read a Halloween story. Most kids love to listen to adults read them a story. Find your favorite Halloween book and read with excitement. They will be on their seats trying to find out what happens next. You could pass out treats that went along with the book you chose.

Halloween Unscramble

Need more ideas for you kids' Halloween party? Here is another free printable with the answer key.

To download make sure you right click each image and then save it. That way you don't have the web address printed on the bottom.

if you prefer two per page you can use this one.

Caramel Apple Spice - Starbucks Copycat

This is one of my all time favorite drinks! Perfect to sip on a cold day, or any day really :) I posted awhile back about one I saw on Pinterest. It uses a slow cooker and cloves. I didn't like how the cloves didn't dissolve whatsoever. So here is the new and improved one, and so much easier!

Ingredients:
3 cups apple cider
1/2 cup brown sugar
1-2 teaspoons cinnamon
2-3 tablespoons caramel topping
whipped cream

Directions:
Bring the apple cider, brown sugar and cinnamon to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, remove from heat and stir in the caramel topping. Pour into glasses and top with whip cream. You can also add some caramel to the top for some extra flavor :)

*You don't have to use apple cider. Apple juice would be a fine substitute
** If you don't want lit bits of cinnamon in the drink, boil it with a cinnamon stick and then discard.

Vegetable Dip

This dip is another family recipe. I use it any time I need a veggie dip! It's filled with good spices and the usual sour cream and mayo.

Ingredients:
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons bon appetit seasoning
2 teaspoons dill weed

Mix ingredients together and chill until ready to serve.

*Bon appetite seasoning is hard to find. Beau monde seasoning is the same thing. If you can't find either, you can use 1 teaspoon onion salt and 1 teaspoon garlic salt as the difference.

Roll a Jack-O-Lantern Game

When I was in school I got to volunteer and then student teach in some of the different schools. I always liked going to the classroom parties! I really liked Halloween parties. They were always fun.

In one of the classes I was in we played this game and it was so fun! Feel free to print and play at your classroom party!

To print, right click the image and save it. From there you will be able to print it on a full sheet.

Halloween Bingo

I created some Bingo Halloween cards. It might be fun to do at home with your kids. You could also use this in your classroom for a Halloween party. If you're a room mom these would be perfect! There are 10 total bingo cards for you to use.

In order for you to print them, you'll need to right click each picture and then save them. Then you can print them and they will pull up as a full page.

 

and here are the call cards. Just print and cut.
*I realized I was missing one so this is updated. I'm sorry for any problems.