cake and Conference and cooking
Sunday, October 5, 2008 at 10:50PM CAKE:
I dream of making girly cakes, but with two boys it seldom happens, so I had to laugh when Aidan angrily approached my finished butterfly piece (that Angie kindly let me make for her girlies' 1st birthday). "That's a girl cake, Mom. Why do you always make girl things?!"
(a bit out of focus!)
I have been wanting to work more with melting chocolates, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity. The butterflies are colored chocolate. First you pipe the wings onto waxed paper. Once those harden, you fold a piece of cardstock into an "M" shape, cover with waxed paper, place a wing on each side and fill in the body of the butterfly. When it hardens the wings will be held together. They turned out very fragile, but I loved their vibrance.
One of the smash cakes:
(a tiny 3" in diameter...and the main cake was 6" 3-layered)
CONFERENCE:
On Tuesday night of this week we had our Young Women's Evening in Excellence. The night was beautiful, but as the culminating moment of much planning, it had occupied most of my thoughts for the two weeks prior. So when I woke up on Wednesday morning able to take in the rest of the calendar, I saw that General Conference was coming. And I realized that I hadn't told the girls I teach how I feel about conference. That I love it. I wanted them to know that. And I want my children to remember that about me, too. So I'm going to paste the note of testimony & advice I gave to them with a package that held notebook, pen & treats.
"Feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what you should do." 2 Nephi 32:3
I love Conference weekend. It's a time when all else can be put aside, and I can focus and feast on the words of Christ. It's a time when I can take personal inventory of where I am in my life when I feel prompted to strengthen my weakness and reorganize my priorities.
I hope you use this notebook and pen to do the same this weekend. As a missionary in California, I met Elder Richard G. Scott at a Zone Conference. He offered insights into note-taking that have impacted me deeply. I'd like to pass his ideas on to you. He suggested drawing a vertical line down the middle of your page. On one side, record parts of the talk that stand out to you. On the other side, record the promptings you feel as you listen ot the talk. Those promptings may or may not have to do with the subject of the talk, but they will be what the Lord wants you to know right now.
I also want to give another challenge. Before Conference begins, take a few moments to consider any problems or questions you are currently facing. kneel and pray about these. And I promise you that you will receive answers as you listen to the General Authorities speak this weekend, and they will be the answers that the Lord wants you to have.
I know that this is His gospel. I know that you are His daughter. And I pray that you will invite Him into your life by Feasting on the Words that He has given and continues to give (conference!).
We madly rushed to deliver these on Saturday morning before 9, and I was very grateful for a boy old enough (finally!) to do the running to and from each door. After 8 young women and 2 visiting teachee drop-off's (go here for gooey caramel popcorn recipe), his end prize was jumping into a rolled down front seat window. I laughed and wished I'd had my camera. So I made him recreate the feat today. He must be Jim's son because this definitely wouldn't have been my dream prize.
COOKING:
One joy of cake-making is leftover filling. A few weeks ago we made crepes with extra of a strawberry whipped cream. And today we did cream puffs. Yum! These were often a treat in the family that grew me, so I enjoyed them today with a good deal of nostalgia (and even more so because Cyn & Mandi were snacking by my side).
for the recipe we use, go here.
We also made my favorite, easy crock pot roast today. The joy of this roast is that it makes its own flavorful gravy as it cooks. I posted the recipe months ago, but finally remembered to take a picture for those who are like me and don't ever try recipes that don't come with a picture. This one is worth trying either way, but you'll have to click the Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner icon on my sidebar because I've been trying to link it for the past twenty minutes, and am now giving up because it's late, conference left me too filled for squarespace hate, and I'm wiped.
The End.
Reader Comments (20)
I love seeing your Conference kits and think giving them to all your YW is a brilliant idea. I also think it's sweet that you wanted them to know how you feel about Conference. They're lucky to have a leader like you!
Your roast looks so fantastic. I am such a meat and potatoes girl.
Great survivial kits--thanks for passing along your note-taking hints from Elder Scott! What a cute jumping boy. I need a motivation prize like that. :)
I remember you making cream puffs in 222. It was the first time I had ever seen them made. I've only made them about 2-3 times in my life. I think I need a lesson from the master!
I enjoyed your testimony of conference, I wish I would have read it before hand so I could have taken notes as suggested by Elder Scott. Every conference is incredible, but this one was extra special for me and my heart was softened to complete mush as I listened to each talk. I swear the Lord inspired each speaker for my benefit. I hope everyone feels that way when they listen.
It's just a little sad to think of you all together this past weekend, cooking, baking and sharing cream puffs. Can't wait till I'm there hanging out. It will come soon enough!
I love your conference survival kits. What a great leader you are!!
Your cakes are beautiful...love the butterflies. You are so clever and SKILLED.
And I have tried that pot roast recipe (even without the picture) and it is delicious. I hope you know your bl&d has improved our table in so many ways.
Your conference packets are a thing of beauty. Love them -- the note alone is such a treasure.
I remember eating cream puffs at your house on whatever road that was back in the day. I've never tried making them, but my family loves the frozen ones from Costco (dipped into a chocolate fountain), so I'll have to try making real ones.
(your Young Women are lucky to have you in their lives. those were sweet thoughts you shared.)
I had to laugh, because I read that caption that read "One of the smash cakes".... and was trying to figure "One" out. I pictured all the people at the party having their own individual smash cake and thinking that is way above and beyond in the friend department. (And a bit comical to picture as well.) Then I read someone's comment and remembered Angie had twins and all order seemed to be returned.
Your young women are beyond lucky and I hope they know that!!
I loved the note that you posted. It was also beautiful.
Thanks for the idea on note taking. I finally gave up taking notes because as I would scramble to write something down that I definitely wanted to remember, I missed the end of that thought and the rest of the next few minutes. I'm not good at note taking but maybe I can try again. I was listening to Pres. Uchtdorf's talk again. It was wonderful.
had one in years and have nothing with Lora in it. Now that it is cooler, I really want to get it done. What do you think?