Glazed Donut Muffins

For the Muffins:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup milk

For the Glaze:
3 tablespoons butter; melted
1 cup confectioners’ sugar; sifted
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons hot water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line 12 muffin cups with muffin liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter, vegetable oil, and sugars till smooth. Beat in eggs, one at a time. With the mixer on low speed, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt and vanilla until just combined. Stir the flour into the butter mixture alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour and mixing until just combined. Do not overmix!
Spoon batter into cups, filling the cups, and smooth tops. Divide batter equally among prepared muffin cups. Bake until muffin tops are a pale golden and springy to the touch, 15 to 17 minutes, rotating halfway through baking time. Cool muffins in muffin tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack and cool 10 minutes before glazing.
To make the glaze, In a medium bowl mix together the melted butter, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and water. Whisk until smooth.
When muffins have cooled slightly, dip the muffin crown into the glaze and allow the glaze to harden. Once hardened, dip a second time and allow to harden then serve.

Website

Single Serving Cookie Dough

Single Serving Ready to Eat Cookie Dough Recipe:

1 tbsp Milk

3 tbsp Flour

2 tbsp Sugar (white or brown)

1 1/2 tbsp Butter, splash of vanilla extract

 & as many Chocolate Chips as you want!

Bacon Trick

The trick is to put the pan in a cold oven and then switch it on and begin your timer. Im amazed how many people dont know this. Cook bacon in the oven. Cover cookie sheet with tinfoil first. We do 375 for about 20 min instead of 400 for ten because the lower and slower the more fat renders out. Then all the bacon is done at the same time, meanwhile you were free to make the rest of breakfast. -Martha Stewart

Pepperoni Cheese Stick Roll Ups

Pepperoni String Cheese Roll UpsSource: adapted from Dinner With The Donnells

Ingredients:
1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent roll dough
4 cheese sticks, halved
1 (3.5 ounce) package sliced pepperoni
optional – marinara or ranch sauce for dipping
Garlic Butter Glaze:
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasonings
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 Tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Take each triangle of crencent roll dough and place about 6 pepperoni on the bottom of the triangle. Place half of a cheese stick on top and roll up. Place seam side down on a cookie sheet and bake for 10-14 minutes or until golden brown.
While rolls are cooking, combine the melted butter, Italian seasonings, garlic powder and Parmesan cheese in a small bowl.
When rolls are done remove from the oven and brush with the garlic butter glaze. Serve with marinara or ranch for dipping.

Recipe

(Really good. I halfed the cheese sticks again just so they will melt)

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu
4 large chicken breast
4 slices deli ham
4 slices swiss cheese
1/4 cup flour
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
2 Tbsp finely shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp garlic salt

Place the flour in one shallow bowl, the beaten egg in another, and the bread crumbs, parmesan, and salt in another. Make a pocket in the chicken breasts by cutting them in half lengthwise almost all the way through. Leave one side intact. Place a piece of cheese on a slice of ham and roll up. Stuff into the chicken "pocket". Secure with toothpicks if necessary. Dip chicken into the flour, then into the egg, then into the crumb mixture. Place in a greased 9×13" pan. Repeat with remaining chicken, ham, and cheese.
Bake on bottom oven rack at 450° for about 10 minutes. Lower temperature to 400° and bake for 25-30 more minutes or until chicken is done.

Sauce:
1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp flour
1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp milk
1/2 tsp chicken bouillon
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp parmesan cheese
Melt butter in a small saucepan. Whisk in flour, then milk. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Boil for at least one minute.

Recipe

(Don't use such thick pieces of chicken, but still good)

S'more Krispy Treats

1/4 cup butter
1 (10 oz) bag regular marshmallows
1 box of Golden Graham cereal
1-2 cups Chocolate Chips

In a large sauce pan, melt butter over medium heat.  Add marshmallows and keep stirring until the marshmallows completely melt and you get a marshmallow sauce.  Remove from heat.

Add Golden Grahams and stir until they are all well coated.  You can chose to crush some up before adding them if you want some smaller pieces.  Next stir in chocolate chips.

Grease a 9×13 pan and press S’mores down.

Once they are all pressed down and cooled, drizzle with some melted chocolate chips over if you would like for a prettier appearance.

Recipe

(Really yummy and easy to do.)

Bacon-Cheese Pull Aparts

Ingredients:

1  egg

2 tbsp milk

1  (16.3-oz.) can Pillsbury® Grands!® Flaky Layers Refrigerated Original Biscuits

1  (2.1-oz.) pkg. precooked bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

3  oz. (3/4 cup) shredded Cheddar cheese

1/4  cup finely chopped green onions (4 medium)

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 11x7- or 12x8-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. In large bowl, beat egg and milk with wire whisk until smooth.

2. Separate dough into 8 biscuits; cut each into quarters. Gently stir biscuit pieces into egg mixture to coat evenly. Fold in bacon, cheese and onions. Spoon mixture into sprayed dish; arrange biscuit pieces in single layer.

3. Bake at 350°F. for 23 to 28 minutes or until golden brown. Cut into squares

Recipe

(For me, I did not use the green onions. I also used about 6 eggs. This made a lot. If you only do it for the family, with 4, it makes too much. You could half it and then just bake the rolls regular. Really good though)

Pizza Dough Recipe

Pizza Dough

4 c all purpose flour (white)
1 ¼ c lukewarm water
1 packet active dry yeast or 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast
2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
¼ c milk
Using mixing bowl add the flour and make a “well”, add 1 tsp salt and mix.
In liquid measuring cup add 1 tsp sugar to 1 ¼ cup lukewarm water stir then add yeast, stir and
set aside for 5 minutes to foam up.
Next mix the yeast water and ¼ c milk with 2 tbsp olive oil into the flour salt mixture. Stir with
wooden spoon or clean hands.
Knead the dough for 8 minutes on a floured surface until you have a smooth elastic rubbery
dough ball.
Set aside in a bowl, drizzle with olive oil to keep dough from drying out. Let sit covered lightly
for 30 – 60 minutes or until doubled.
This mix makes enough dough for 2 medium/large pizzas.
The dough can be used immediately or chilled overnight or even frozen. Bake at 500 degrees
for 11 minutes.
Best if baked on a pizza screen and pizza stone. The crust will not be as crispy if baked directly
on a pizza pan.

25 Days of Christmas

1. Go to Temple Square to see lights

2. Shapes on the Christmas Tree

3. Make cookies

4. Make candy

5. Decorate the tree

6. Make an ornament

7. Roll a penquin game

8. Write to Santa

9. Make a snowflake

10. Go shopping to daddy and siblings

11. Read Christmas book

12. Watch Christmas movie

13. Go look at Christmas lights in the neighborhood

14. Deliver neighbor gifts

15. Build a snowman (outside)

16. Decorate a tree

17. Christmas breakfast

18. Ward Christmas party

19. Christmas card to grandparents

20. Build a snowman

21. Go sledding

22. Wrap presents

23. Reindeer from lunch bags

24. The Pajama Elves come

25. Read Luke, open presents

31 Days of Halloween

31 Days Of Halloween

1. Go look at fall leaves

2. Go for walk to collect leaves and color leaves between paper.

3. Make spider with paint using your hands

4. Coloring pages (Halloween of course)

5. Make bats with construction paper and hands

6. Make ghosts with white paint and feet

7. Make pumpkins with strips of paper

8. Make bats with egg cartons

9. Make cookies and decorate

10. Go to Gardener Village and do Witch Scavenger Hunt (in SLC)

11. Make mouth  from apples, caramel, and marshmallows

12. Go to pumpkin patch

13. Put up Halloween Decorations

14. Paint pumpkins

15. Marshmallow mummies (pumpkins, ghost)

16. 5 Little pumpkins (make pumpkins out of paper bags and throw a ball to knock them over)

17. Halloween breakfast

18. Try on Costume

19. Watch "Mickey's Treat"

20. Carve pumpkins and make pumpkin seeds

21. Orange pumpkin, orange pumpkin

22. Skeleton Game

23. Make a cat (cut triangle on bottom of page and make face with it)

24. Cotton Ball ghosts

25. Caramel Apples

26. Trunk or Treat

27. Follow the Web Game

28. Make a Monster

29. Make ghosts from suckers

30. Watch "The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown"

31. Go Trick or Treating

Cake Balls/Pops

1. Make a cake in a 9 X 13 pan
2. Crumble cake into fine crumbs
3. Add frosting to the cake crumbs (add only enough to allow you to form balls)
4. Mix well.
5. Roll into balls and place on wax paper and chill (I found the freezer works best)
6. Dip in tempered chocolate (almond bark)
7. Make designs if wanted

Cinnamon Sugar Pizza

SUGAR CRUMB CRISPY

• 1/4 cup butter *make sure butter is cold*
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• dash of salt
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 can Pillsbury Cresent Rolls (I used home made crescent rolls)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
Cut in butter to sugars, cinnamon, and salt and flour to form crumbs.
On an ungreased cookie sheet, separate crescent roll dough into 8 triangles. Sprinkle crumbs on top.
Bake at 400 degrees F for 8-12 minutes.
After they were cooked and cooled I cut them into smaller triangles but you can leave them big too!

GLAZE

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar *I like my glaze thicker, so if the glaze is too runny, just add more powdered sugar to get yours to the desired consistency.*
• 1 Tbsp. softened butter
• 1-1/4 tsp. vanilla
• 1 to 1-1/2 Tbsp. milk

Blend together and drizzle over Sugar Crumb Crispies

Yummy!!

Website

Golden Crescent Rolls

Ingredients:

2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp=1 package)

3/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

1/2 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1/2 cup shortening

4 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup butter, softened

Directions:

1. Dissolve yeast in warm water.
2. Stir in sugar, salt, eggs, shortening, and 2 cups of flour. Beat until smooth. Mix in remaining flour until smooth. Scrape dough from side of bowl. Knead dough, then cover it and let rise in a warm place until double (about 1-1/2 hours).
3. Punch down dough. Divide in half. Roll each half into a 12-inch circle. Spread with butter. Cut into 10 to 15 wedge. Roll up the wedges starting with the wide end. Place rolls with point under on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise until double (about 1 hour).
4. Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 12-15 minute or until golden brown. Brush tops with butter when they come out.

Makes 20-30 rolls

Website

Candy Game

Take a bag of candy you will enjoy. Use masking tape (lots easier) and wrap up the candy in it. Do some short strips and some long strips of tape. It makes it more fun. Have dice that will be passed around. You will roll until you get doubles. The person tries to get the candy out of the tape until the doubles. You keep what you get out. Lots of fun. Make sure not to do too much candy though unless there are a lot of people.

Fruit Salad

Use:
Strawberries-sliced
Apples (gala)-sliced
Grapes

1 container of cool whip
1 snickers-sliced

Mix all together and serve. Great for summer.

Andes Cookies

1 Devil's Food Cake Mix
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
1 package of Andes Mints

Mix cake mix, oil, and eggs together. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 6-9 minutes. Don't cook any longer than that. You don't want them to be over done. Take sheet out of oven and while the cookies are still very hot, place an Andes Mint on top of each cookie. It will take about 5 minutes, but the mint will melt on the cookie. Take a spoon and spread the mint onto the cookie. You can eat them right away (which tastes a little better) or wait for them to cool.

Texas Sheet Cake

Ingredients:

 

2 cups sugar

2 cups flour, Pinch of salt     Put in large bowl

In saucepan put:

1/2 cup margarine

4 Tblsp cocoa

1/2 cup crisco

1 cup water

Put on stove and stir continuously. Bring to a boil. Pour in flour and sugar mix. Beat by hand

Add: 2 slightly beaten eggs

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup buttermilk ( 1 tsp lemon juice in rest of milk to get to 1/2 cup, let sit until it is buttermilk)

Beat together

Grease sheetpan. Pour in batter and smooth out. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes

Frosting:

While cake is baking mix 1/2 cup margarine, 4 Tbsp cocoa, 1/3 cup milk. Bring to a boil. Stir continuously then remove from heat.

Add 4 cups powder sugar. Beat until smooth. When cake is done remove from oven and pour frosting on top and let cool

 

From: MOM

Oreo trifle

Ingredients:

brownie mix

oreo pudding

package of oreo's

cool whip

Follow the instructions to make the brownies. Let cool. Follow directions on pudding mix. Layer all ingredients..brownie, pudding, oreo's blended, and cool whip. Serve in individual cups and enjoy.

So yummy!

S'more Cookies

S'mores Cookies
Source: Ice Cream Before Dinner

Ingredients:
11 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
½ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 ½ cups flour
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup mini marshmallows
3 regular sized Hershey’s bars, broken into pieces
1-2 packages graham crackers, broken into squares

Instructions:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, sea salt and cinnamon to combine. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter with white and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.
Add the flour mixture to the butter mixer and combine on low speed.
Fold in the chocolate chips and marshmallows. Chill dough in refrigerator for 1 hour to overnight (I did one batch right away and another after chilling overnight and found there was no difference.)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line baking pans with parchment paper. I used one 11x17 pan and one 9x13 pan but you can really use any sized pans you want.
Lay out graham crackers side by side on the pans as close as possible (they should be touching). I used 16 graham cracker squares on one pan and 10 squares on another. You may have to add or remove graham crackers according to how much dough you have. If you want your cookies thicker you will use more dough and less graham crackers.

Place tablespoons of dough on graham crackers about 1 – 1 ½ inches apart. I averaged about 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough per graham cracker square as seen in the picture above. Press down slightly with fingertips.

Bake for 5 minutes then remove from oven to press Hershey’s bar pieces on to the top. You can place as many pieces or as little as you want depending how much chocolate flavor you want.

Bake for 5 – 7 more minutes or until dough is beginning to turn golden brown at the edges. Remove to a wire rack to cool. For clean cutting make sure cookies are completely cool and cut with a sharp knife.

Website

Strawberry Cream Cheese Croissants

Ingredients:1 package of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
1/4 cup of homemade strawberry jam
4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg + 1 tsp of water for egg wash

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice and vanilla. Cream until there are no lumps.

Unroll each crescent roll. On the fattest part of the triangle place 1 tsp on cream cheese mixture and one tsp of jam. Roll into a croissant shape.

Whisk together egg and water for egg wash and brush over each croissant.

Bake for 8-10 minutes until croissants are golden brown and inside is no longer doughy. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.

Big hit!!

Website

Texas Sheet Cake Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

1/2 cup water

4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups white sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup buttermilk

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place 24 cupcake liners into muffin pans. In a small sauce, bring the butter, water, and coco powder to a boil. Turn off and set aside. Combine flour, sugar, and baking soda. Add eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, and coco mixture. Stir until well blended. Pour into cupcake liners (2/3 full). Bake for 18 - 20 minutes or until done. They will be moist. Do not over cook. Cool completely.

Fudge frosting:

6 tablespoons milk

4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup butter

4 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a small saucepan, combine milk, coco powder, and butter. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Add vanilla and powdered sugar.Stir until it starts to thicken. Drop a tablespoon full onto center of each cupcake. The frosting will thicken quickly, so do not make the frosting until ready to put on cupcakes.  

Website

Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies

Servings: 2 dozen cookies
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 15 min
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Confectioner’s sugar, for dusting
1   (18 ounce) box moist chocolate cake mix
1   (8-ounce) brick cream cheese, room temperature
1   egg
1   stick of butter, room temperature

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Beat in the egg. Then beat in the vanilla extract. Beat in the cake mix. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours to firm up so that you can roll the batter into balls. Roll the chilled batter into tablespoon sized balls and then roll them in confectioner’s sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake 12 minutes. The cookies will remain soft and gooey. Cool completely and sprinkle with more confectioners’ sugar, if desired.

Website

I Spy Bag

Supplies Needed:

2 fleece/cotton squares that are 7" square
a 4" square of clear vinyl (at least 4 mm or thicker)
poly-pellets (can be found at craft stores...it's usually used for doll stuffing)
aprox. 30+ small items to fill the bag

How to Make the bag:

1. On the wrong side of one piece of fabric, using a ruler, find the exact center of the square. Using your ruler, measure out from the center and draw a line 1.5" from the center on all sides of the square (make each line about 3" long). Then using scissors or rotary cutter, carefully cut a long the lines to make your "window".

2. Center the vinyl over the window, on the wrong side of the fabric. You might find it helpful to use a bit of tape to hold it in place. Very carefully sew the vinyl to the fleece. *vinyl can sometimes stick to the sewing machine, so you might want to test it first. If you find it sticking, you can use a piece of tissue paper between the vinyl and whatever it is sticking to and just tear it away when you are done. I personally like to sew with the fabric side against the pressure foot but do whatever works for you. Be sure to double stitch to prevent anything from falling out! I do a straight stitch around the window and the go over it with something decorative.

3. If you haven't already, now would be a good time to gather all the little doo-dads, type up your "i spy" list and print it. If you have printer fabric, this is where you would do that on a 3 X 3 square.

4. Now that your front "window" square (and back "list" square, if you did that) are done, pin them together, wrong sides together and carefully sew around the bag, make a sem of 1/4"-1/2". Again, I like to double stitch.

5. Fill your bag with you objects, then start pouring the poly-pellets, a funnel is really useful here. I start with about a coup of poly-pellets and slowly add. Personally I like the pellets to fill the bag, to the top edge of the window, but it's all personal preference. You don't want to add so many that it's hard to manipulate the pellets and the objects (especially when you close it up).

6. When you are done filling, carefully shake everything to the bottom of the bag and carefully sew up your opening and then you are done!

Website

Cinnamon Honey Butter

Recipe:

1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 c. powdered sugar
1/4 c. honey
1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Whip the room temperature butter with whisk attachment for 30 seconds. Add powdered sugar, honey and cinnamon and beat until completely combined and smooth. Scrape down sides of bowl and turn up speed and whip for a minute or two or until really light and fluffy. Yield: about 3/4 cup

Yummy. I had a hard time making it fluffy. Try whipping it longer.

Website

Texas Road House Rolls

Recipe:

4 tsp. active dry yeast
1/2 c. warm water
2 c. milk, scaleded and cooled to luke warm
3 Tbsp. melted butter, slightly cooled
1/2 c. sugar
2 quarts all purpose flour (7-8 cups)
2 eggs
2 tsp. salt

Dissolve yeast in warm water with a teaspoon of sugar; let stand until frothy. Combine yeast mixture, milk 1/2 cup sugar and enough flour to make a medium batter (about the consistency of pancake batter). Beat thoroughly. Add melted butter, eggs and salt. Beat well. Add enough flour to form a soft dough. Sprink a small amount of flour onto counter and let dough rest. Meanwhile, grease a large bowl. Knead dough until smooth and satiny an dput in greased bow; turn over to grease too (I used the dough hook on the Kitchen-Aid to knead for 4-5 minutes). Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubles in size. Punch down. Turn out onto a floured board. Divide into portions for shaping; let rest 10 minutes. Shape dough into desired forms. Place on greased baking sheets. Let rise until doubled.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Baste immediately with butter. Yield: 5 to 6 dozen. Serve with Cinnamon Honey Butter

I halfed the recipe and it was enough. Use the whole recipe if taking it to someones place. Yummy, especially with the cinnamon honey butter.

Website

Grasshopper Mint Cookies

Cookie bottom:
1 Devil's Food Cake Mix (use any chocolate cake mix)
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs

Mix cake mix, oil and eggs together (do not follow the directions on the box. Follow this recipe). Drop spoonfuls of dough onto baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 6-9 minutes and no longer than that. You don't want them to be overdone. Let cookie completely cool.

Peppermint Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 Tablespoons milk
2 cups powdered milk
1 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
Green food coloring (optional-8 drops gave me a good color)

Mix together all ingredients (add more or less powdered sugar until you get the desired thickness). Spread over cookie. (I used my buttercream frosting recipe and halfed it).

Chocolate Topping:
2 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or milk chocolate)
3/4 cup butter

Melt chocolate chips and butter together in microwave at 30-second intervals, then stir and repeat until the chips are fully melted. Add a little to each cookie-I have found that it works best to use the back of a spoon to spread the chocolate around. (this chocolate made a lot. I had a lot left over so maybe half it)

Really yummy and a big hit!
Website

FHE Ideas

The lessons go with the Children's Songbook unless otherwise indicated.

PRAYER
Song: A Child's Prayer #12
Activity: Use the prayer puppet. Talk about how you're supposed to pray. Have your toddler say the closing prayer.

DAVID & GOLIATH
Song: I Will Be Valiant #162
Activity: Tell the story of David & Goliath. make paper rocks and throw them at daddy.

AMMON
Song: Book of Mormon Stories #118
Activity: Have your toddler pretend to cut off arms (or use playdough)

TOWER OF BABEL
Song: Children All Over the World #16
Activity: Build a tall tower out of blocks or marshmallows and toothpicks.

ARTICLES OF FAITH
Songs and Activity: Go through the Articles of Faith songs #122-132

FAMILY HISTORY
Song: Family History#94
Activity: Go through pictures of grandparents, cousins, etc and practice saying their names.

MASTERPIECE MAKER
Song: My Heavenly Father Loves Me #228
Activity: Watch Create (Mormon Message). Make things with playdough and snacks.

FAITH
Song: Faith #96
Activity: Talk about how faith is like a seed and needs nourishment to grow. Plant a garden or indoor plant.

ORGANIZE YOURSELVES
Song: A Young Man Prepared #166
Activity: Sort objects by color, shape etc.

GOSPEL ART KIT
Song: I Want to Live the Gospel #148
Activity: Have your toddler pick a picture from gospel art book. Then talk about the picture and point out things/people your toddler knows.

FORTIFY OUR FAMILIES
Song: Families Can Be Together Forever #188
Activity: Have a lego fort built. Knock it over and rebuild it.

JESUS CHRIST
Song: The Church of Jesus Christ #77
Activity: Print out The Story of Jesus Christ and have it ready to color and talk about.

LEHI'S DREAM
Song: The Iron Rod Hymn #274
Activity: Have a piece of string taped up around the house (or outside depending on weather). Hold onto it and follow the string.

REVERENCE
Song: Reverence #27
Activity: Cut out the reverent child and talk about what it means to be reverent and why.

HEAVENLY FATHER
Song: I Need My Heavenly Father #18
Activity: Trace your toddler's body on butcher paper (or chalk outside). Talk about how Heavenly Father has a body like us.

KEEPING COMMANDMENTS
Song: Keep the Commandments #146
Activity: Talk about how keeping the commandments keep us safe. Use toy animals and Legos to surround them and talk about how animals can't get into trouble because the fence keeps them safe.

NOAH'S ARK
Song: Follow the Prophet #110
Activity: Use the page from the quiet book to tell the story and name the animals.

OBEDIENCE
Song: Quickly I'll Obey #197
Activity: Play 'Mother May I', 'Simon Says'. Talk about how obedience to our parents keeps us happy and safe.

LEHI'S JOURNEY
Song: Nephi's Courage #120
Activity: Set up a tent in the living room "Father dwelt in a tent" and read the story.

TEMPLES
Song: I Love to See the Temple #95
Activity: Make Temples out of play dough
Activity #2: Go walk around the temple grounds

USING OUR TALENTS
Song: When Grandpa Comes #201
Activity: Draw pictures for grandparents

HEALTH CARE
Song: For Health & Strenth #21
Activity: Put together Humanitarian Aid Kits. Help your toddler put objects in the bag.

WORD OF WISDOM-HEALTH
Song: Healthy Wealthy & Wise #280
Activity: Create and do an obstacle course together or practice physical activities (e.g. jumping, running)

WORD OF WISDOM-FOOD
Song: The Prophet Said to Plant a Garden #237
Activity: Eat and name healthy snacks

FOLLOW THE PROPHET
Song: Follow the Prophet #110
Activity: Popsicle stick puzzle with picture of current prophet

GENTLENESS
Song: I'm Trying to be Like Jesus #78
Activity: Put your hand into a bag to guess and grab objects

JESUS CALMS THE SEA
Song: Tell Me the Stories of Jesus #57
Activity: Create a tempest in a bottle

JONAH & THE WHALE
Song: The Books in the Old Testment #114
Activity: Eat Goldfish/Whales

THE HOLY GHOST
Song: The Still Small Voice #106
Activity: Play the Listen Game

WISE MAN
Song: The Wise Man & the Foolish Man #281
Activity: Teach the song and movements

CHOICES
Song: Choose the Right Hymn #239
Activity: Play a game where you give them directions. You can have one parent be the good parent and the other give bad directions or just both direct the toddler.

BOOK OF MORMON
Song: Book of Mormon Stories #118
Activity: Teach the song and movements

MUSIC IN THE HOME
Song: Pick various songs
Activity: Play piano, maracas, teach how to conduct etc.

RAIN IN THE DESERT
Song: Rain is Falling All Around #241
Activity: Make rain in the tub or over sink

FISHER'S OF MEN
Song: I Feel My Savior's Love #74
Activity: Use magnetic fishing pole and rod to catch fish.

I SPY
Song: Two Little Eyes#268
Activity: Create an I Spy bag with object related to gospel or things your toddle recognizes.

NEPHI
Song: Nephi's Courage #120
Activity: Create floating boats and put them in the tub or go race them in a stream.

MANNA
Song: Follow the Prophet #110
Activity: Bake and eat bread

LOVE THY NEIGHBOR
Song: Love One Another #136
Activity: Heart Attach the neighbor's house

TITLE OF LIBERTY
Song: The Books of the Book of Mormon
Activity: Create and wave around a homemade version of the title of liberty.

WORKING HARD
Song: The Things I Do #170
Activity: Create a Toddler Chore Chart

DANIEL & LION'S DEN
Song: Keep the Commandments #110
Activity: Chase your toddler around like a lion. Maybe have one parent protect them from the lions.

THE ARMOR OF GOD
Song: I Will Be Valiant #162
Activity: Dress your toddler in armor using kitchen utensils, paper, etc.

GOLDEN PLATES
Song: The Golden Plates #86
Activity: Color foil on cardboard like plates
Activity #2: Put together puzzle of Joseph Smith

ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
Song: Choose the Right Way #160
Activity: Dominos

MISSIONARIES
Song: I Hope They Call Me on a Mission #159
Activity: Dress up as a missionary. Color and make your own tag.

*EASTER
Song: Easter Hosanna #68
Activity: Dye Easter Eggs
Activity #2: Make Resurrection Cookies

*RESURRECTION
Song: On a Golden Springtime #89
Activity: Resurrection Easter Egg Hunt

*BIRTH OF JESUS
Song: Samuel Tells of Baby Jesus $36
Activity: Act out the nativity

*THANKSGIVING
Song: Thanks to Our Father #20
Activity: Trace hands and make turkeys

*CHRISTMAS SYMBOLS
Song: Have a Very Merry Christmas #51
Activity: Create a poster board with symbols of Christmas and have a cut out for each symbol. Have your toddler match the symbols as you talk about what each mean.

*YEAR IN REVIEW
Song: A Happy Family #198
Activity: Look at pictures from the past year and organize them.

Website

Onesie Dress

Step 1: Gather your supplies.
You will need:
a onesies, any size
1/3 yard fabric for dress
1/4 yard fabric for ruffle (really just a 3 inch width piece of fabric)
1/8 inch wide elastic, length depends on size on onesie

Step 2: Wash and dry onesie and fabric.

Step 3: Measure the onesie.
Put your measureing tape straight across the front, directly under the sleeves (mine measured 8.5 inches across)


Then measure the length, starting about where you measured the width (mine was 10.5 inches)


Step 4: Cut the fabric.
For the dress: You will need a long rectangle. Take the first measurement from Step 3 (8.5 in) and mulitply by it by 4 (34 in). This is the length of the rectangle.
Take the second measurement from Step 3 (10.5 in), minus 2 inches if you will add a ruffle (8.5 in). Cut the fabric to size.

For the ruffle:
Take the length of the rectangle for the dress (34 in) and multiply it by 1.5 (51 in). This is the length of the ruffle. The width can vary, but I find 3 inches (it will be 2 inches when done) to be a good size. Cut fabric to size.


Press torn edges.


Step 5: Sew side seams together on dress and ruffle.
(I prefer a 1/2 inch seam allowance, but anything will work).

Press.

Now finish the top edge of the dress and the bottom edge of the ruffle turning the rough edge under about 1/4 inch and then again, and stitching. (if you don't add a ruffle, you would finish both edges of the dress).

Step 6: Gather the ruffle and attach to the dress.
After gathering, pin the ruffle to the dress, right sides together, matching side seams and making sure to spread the gather evenly.


Sew in place. (This step is kind of a pain).
Finish the rough edge inside with a zig zag stitch. (This keeps it from raveling and just looks nicer.)


Step 7: Topstitch
This will make the ruffle lie flat and pretty. It also looks more official this way.


Step 8: Attach the elastic.
Remember when you measured across the front of the onesie way back in Step 3?
Take that measurement again (8.5 in) times two (17 in). Cut the elastic this length. Position the elastic on the wrong side of the fabric, just under the finished edge, and sew it on, pulling tight to stretch it as you go. (You can mark the halfway point of the elastic and the dress with some pins. I try to match these up as I am sewing the elastic so it will be even throughout the dress.)


Step 9: Attach the dress to the onesie.
Pin the dress to the onesie, making sure the top edge is straight. Sew in place. I used a small zig zag stitch directly over the elastic. Take your time on this step, and make sure the onesie is flat underneath.

Easy to do and can do whatever colors you want.



Website

The Maxi Skirt

You need:

2 yards of knit/stretchy fabric (more depending on your height/size)
elastic thread for your bobbin
thread to match your fabric

Step 1: Cut the skirt portion. Make sure to check which way the fabric stretches. Think of this as just 2 big triangles. The width of the waist can be exactly your waist measurement (include 1/4 " on each side for s.a), or an inch or so less, depending on how snug you want it around your waist. Ether way, it's stretchy fabric and will be pretty forgivable. (mine was 17" when pregnant so both were 17")


The length of my skirt was 37 1/2 " long (I added 1/4" s.a to the top and 3/4" to the bottom of my desired finished length.

The bottom width of the skirt was 37" wide, so it had a nice big flare. Instead of having the bottom of my skirt go straight across, I gave it a slight curve. To get an even curve, fold your skirt in half long way when cutting it, that way it is equal on both sides.


Step 2: Cut out your waistbands. I knew I wanted a really thick waistband because I wanted it to fold over like a yoga pant. My waistbands were 17" wide and 10" long (keep in mind 1/4" s.a. on all sides). To visualize how thick the waistband will be, fold it in half width wise. I wanted my waistband to be about 5", so that is why I needed a 10" piece.

Step 3: Lay your waistband pieces right sides together and stitch up the sides with 1/4" s.a (meaning 10" long sides). You will want some stretch in this stitch, so I would use the zig zag stitch. A straight stitch would make it lay funny.

Iron your seams flat so that it will hang right when turned right-side out.

Step 4: Fold your waistband (now one big tube)in half all around, so that there is a fold on one end and the 2 salvage ends on the other side.


Step 5: With right-sides together, stitch up the sides of your skirt with 1/4" s.a. Use the straight stitch.

Step 6: Now it's time to attach your waistband to the top of your skirt. Here is where the elastic thread come into play.

Slide the top of the skirt up through the waistband with the salvage ends of the waistband pointing up. Match all the side-seams and the salvage ends at the top. Notice how the folded side of the waistband is pointing down.

Now when you open it up (it should still be inside-out), iron the seams down.


Flip your skirt right-side out. The waistband will now be able to be flipped down like a yoga pant. Now all you have to do is hem.


Try on your skirt before hemming. Pin up to where you want it and hem.

There it is! Very comfortable. Love it!

Recipe for Finger Paints

Ingredients:

1/2 cup cornstarch
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups cold water
food coloring

Directions:

1. In a medium pan, mix all the ingredients together. Cook over low heat 10-15 minutes. Make sure you keep stirring the mixture until the moment it turns from thin to thick.
2. After the finger pain has thickened, take the pan off the stove immediately, and let the mixture cool. I put into four bowls to cool.
3. In each bowl, I used several drops of food coloring to create the primary colors. You will need a lot more drops for red or it will be pink.

The finger paint will last for about 3 days in an airtight container. The mixture will become dry and hard to handle.

Very easy to make. Messy, but that is part of finger painting.

Moon Dough

A really easy recipe:

8 cups flour
1 cup baby oil

I only did half and it made plenty. It smells really nice too. It is best to be played with outside though. It still can make a mess. I put it in a pan that I can throw away eventually. Lasts for a long time.

Marshmallow Popcorn

3 bags of popped popcorn (remove all kernals)
2 sticks of butter
16 oz bag of marshmallows
1 cup of brown sugar

Melt all together in a bowl for 2 1/2 minutes. Stir and put in microwave for another minute. Repeat until thin sauce. Pour over popcorn and stir in. Yum!

It is sticky, but yummy. I halfed the recipe and it made enough. It is better to eat it on the same day. Makes the popcorn a little soggy. It was really good though.

Crockpot Barbecue Chicken

4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (can put them in frozen)
1 bottle of BBQ sauce (I used honey bbq-great value)
1/4 c. vinegar
1 tsp. red pepper flakes (was a little spicy so maybe use half)
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2-1 tsp. garlic powder (I used 1/2)

Mix all the ingredients together. Place chicken in crockpot. Pour sauce over it and cook on LOW ofor 4-6 hours.

Very easy recipe and really quite good.