Spiritually Speaking

"Don't save something for a special occasion. Every day of your life is a special occasion."

— Thomas S. Monson

Friday Night Treat - Homemade Hot Fudge

So tonight we had the missionaries over for dinner. It was one of their Birthdays and so I asked what he would like. The answer was Angel Hair pasta and Alfredo sauce and Brownies with ice cream and hot fudge. Well Alfredo and Hot Fudge are not available in England so i learned a long time ago how to make my own. I love Hot Fudge sauce. I tend to make a lot of it and then put it in jars. it doesnt last long so I cant give you a shelf life. Im pretty sure this wont last long in your home either! Enjoy!

My Yummy Hot Fudge Recipe:

1/2 cup butter (Ive always used real butter)
5 Tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 cup sugar
6 oz Evaporated Milk
1/2 tsp Vanilla

Mix the butter, cocoa, sugar and milk all together on high heat stirring constantly until it boils. Reduce heat to medium stiring regularly for an additional 7 - 10 minutes depending on the consistance you want. Remove from heat and add vanilla.

Please not this will be VERY HOT when you take it off the heat. I always let mine cool for about 15 - 20 minutes before serving it. It will also thicken a bit more while it is cooling.

Pour over anything you like, ice cream, brownies, cake, etc. So Delish!

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership With God

I saw this during this past week and thought it would be perfect for today seeing as its Mothers Day. Happy Mothers Day to you all!

Holiday Time

SOrry for the lack of posts this week but my lovely family have all been off school and work due to Easter Break and the Royal Wedding. So I have taken the week off too. I promise to be back next week with some new craft ideas, recipes, FHE ideas and a Spiritual thought! Till then.....

He Lives - Testimonies Of Jesus Christ

Friday Night Treat - Vanilla Cupcakes with Strawberry Frosting

Remember I said earlier this week that it was my little man's 4th Birthday? He wanted Strawberry cakes so I threw these together.

They were so delicious. So moist. Just lovely. My husband actually said they are the best cupcakes he had ever had. Whoop Whoop!! Here is the recipe. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Vanilla Cake

Ingredients:

1 Cup unsalted Butter, softened
2 Cups Sugar
4 Large Eggs, room temp
1 1/2 cups Self Rising Flour
1 1/4 Cup Plain Flour
1 Cup Milk
1 teaspoon Vanilla

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F

In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer cream the butter until smooth

Add the sugar gradually and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes

Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each

Combine the flours and add in four parts, altering with the milk and the vanillia extract, beating well after each addition.

Bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until cake tester insterted into center of cake comes out clean.

Let the cakes cool in the muffin pans for 10 minutes and then cool completely on a wire rack.

Strawberry Buttercream Icing:

1 cup unsalted butter, very soft
8 cups powder (icing, confectioners) sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 teas Strawberry Flavoring
Red Food Coloring

Directions:

Place butter in a large mixing bowl

Add 4 cups of powder sugar and then the milk and flavor

Beat until smooth and creamy

Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, until icing is the thickness you want.

Add the food coloring last and mix throughly.

Use and store icing at room tempas it will set if chilled, Can store in an airtight container for up to three days!

I sprinkled mine with edible glitter too! Just to add a little more pretty!

LOVELY!

Easter Bunnies

This Sunday being Easter I am in a rush (as Always) to get something really cute (and simple) to give out to my Visiting Teaching Sisters. As well I've just been called back into the YW presidency in my ward and need something adorable to give to the YW. So I have decided on the Tried and Tested Washcloth Easter Bunny.



I posted this last year. But hey what the heck why not post something this cute twice? Right? So here it is again. So adorable and perfect for Easter. The only difference is this year I will try to find some White Wash Clothes rather than blue.

Supplies:

washcloth - a large baby washcloth is ideal
rubber band


Instructions:

Lay the washcloth on a table. Roll one corner, diagonally, into the middle. Roll the opposite corner in the same way, so that both rolls meet in the middle.

Fold the rolled washcloth in half.

Hold the two sides together and fold the two ends backwards, over the top. Fasten a rubber band around the front area to form the head. Fluff out the two ends to make bunny ears.

That is it really. If you wanted to you could decorate it with eyes and ribbon. But essentially that is all there is to it. If you have more questions let me know and I will do a tutorial with pictures! So easy, effective and cute!!

Birthday Party Idea - Luigi (Mario Bros)

This week my handsome prince turns 4. Its hard to believe my little 2 pound baby (he was born at 26 weeks) is going to be 4. When I asked him what kind of Party he wanted for his bday it came as no surprise to me that he wanted a Luigi Party. Not a Mario Party. He is totally a Luigi Fan. So I started to search the net for anything just Luigi. And came up with.... nothing. Most everything is Mario. So straight away I knew this was going to have to be a homemade party!

Step 1: Party Invitations.

This step was really easy and really fun. I love digital Scrapbooking so I knew I could do this no problem. Here is what I came up with:

Simple right! I literally found a picture and tweeked it a bit so that it would fit what I needed.

Step 2: Decorations.
Every Party needs cool decorations so here is what I came up with:

First a Party Banner,

Second Lables for the soda bottles:

Third Party Bags:

Fourth Cupcake Toppers:

(I ran out of time but I did create them just didnt get them on the cakes :( )

Lastly You cant have a party without Party Games.

My ever so creative hubby drew this Luigi for pin the mustache on Luigi:

We also had a pinata and played the British classic Pass the Parcel.

Everyone had a lovely time... or so I think. And when all his little friends let my little man came up to me and said "That was one fantastic Party!!"

Family Home Evening - Easter Story Cookies

This is an activity / lesson all in one. Enjoy!


I love this and it has become a tradition each Easter in our home. I feel it is a great way to teach little children the true meaning of Easter. Plus in the end they have a yummy cookie on Easter morning!


Easter Story Cookies

To be made the evening before Easter

1cup whole pecans
1tsp vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important, don't wait till you're half done with the recipe!)

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was Beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1tsp vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.

YOU MAY WANT TO ADJUST/ADAPT THIS TO SUIT YOUR OWN BELIEF.

An Apostle's Easter Thoughts on Christ