ROSEMARY PARMESAN TWISTS

It’s a wonderful thing to bake treats for your dog. But if you like to multi-task, or rarely have a chance to bake for yourself let alone your dog, here’s a recipe that could go either way – as appropriate for humans as for canines, these beautiful twists flavoured with fresh rosemary and Parmesan cheese make savoury snacks for you as well as the pooch.

This basic baking powder dough could be used as a canvas to add whatever flavours you (or your dog) fancy; experiment with various fresh or dried herbs, different cheeses, and flours such as rye or oat. For nut twists, add 1/4 cup finely ground nuts such as pecans, hazelnuts or walnuts to the dough in place of (or as well as) the Parmesan cheese, and if you like, replace the canola or olive oil with walnut oil. For bacon-cheese twists, replace the oil with bacon drippings (while they are still liquid) and omit the rosemary.

NGREDIENTS

1 cup (250 mL) all-purpose flour

1 cup (250 mL) whole wheat flour

1 tsp (5 mL) baking powder

1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt

1/4 cup (60 mL) grated Parmesan cheese

2 tbsp (30 mL) fresh rosemary

3 tbsp (45 mL) canola or olive oil

1/2 to 3/4 cup (125 to 165 mL) water, chicken stock or milk

(optional) coarse salt for sprinkling

Yield:

Makes about 24 breadsticks.

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in the bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine. Add any flavourings you like and pulse until chopped and blended in with the remaining ingredients. Add the oil and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. (Alternatively, blend everything together in a bowl with a spatula or whisk.)

3. With the machine running, pour 1/2 cup of cold water, chicken stock or milk through the feed tube and pulse, adding extra if you need it, until the dough starts to come together. This will depend on your flour and what flavourings you added; I usually need 1/2 cup plus about 2 tbsp of liquid.

4. Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, gather it into a ball and let it rest for about 10 minutes. Roll the dough out about a quarter-inch thick, sprinkle it with salt (if you like), and roll lightly to help the salt adhere. Cut into quarter- to half-inch-wide strips as long or short as you like, then twist the strips and place them on an ungreased baking sheet, pressing the ends lightly onto the sheet if they start to unravel. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden.

Stupid Feminists!

I just can't stand it when certain women in society presume to tell me and other women what we are 'entitled to' or what we are 'forced into'.  I know exactly what I am entitled to. I am entitled to be treated fairly and equally but not the same as men. I am entitled to raise my children and not feel pressure from anyone but myself to go back to work outside the home.  I am entitled to respectfully disagree with anyone who tried to convince me that I need more 'me time'.  But most of all I am entitled to fiercely fight anyone or thing that threatens to mess with my family or beliefs.

I have never nor will I ever be forced into anything and I am insulted that some women seem to look down upon women who CHOOSE to sacrifice their careers and become mothers.  Being a Mother is the most Noble and Honorable calling a person can do.  Do people not remember that it is the Mother that teaches the most fundimental and important lessons and virtues and are so valued (and sometimes absent but I'll get to that later) in society today.  Just maybe could people think that the 'old way' of doing 'family' was the best way.  The family were Dad is the bread winner and feel pride in being able to support his family.  A Mother that stays home and manages her family with love and nurturing that only a mother can do.  With Children that have a security that comes from knowing that their mom is waiting at home for them when they get home from school.

I think is just selfish to have the view that you need to not 'lose yourself' once you have children.  I have lost myself.  But I found a much better version of me.  MOM

Poppycock!

Oh poppycock!  By definition means nonsense.  But the wonderful snack that is keeping me company on my computer desk right now is so not nonsense!  I was walking through our grocery store and my Bex saw a blue canister she 'really really needed'.  All she knew was that there was chocolate in it and that is the only criteria for her.  I have trained her well.  But I totally forgot how much I really like poppycock.  It kind of reminds me of my grandma but mine isn't stale.

FHE Idea of the Week

Lesson 2: My Pre-mortal Life

Opening Song:  “I Lived in Heaven” (CS, page 4)

Opening Prayer

Family Business:

Scripture or Testimony:  D & C 138:56

Lesson:  Margaret Lifferth, “Sharing Time: The Plan of Happiness,” Friend, Jan 2005, 14

For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39).

Many people want to know where they came from, why they are here, and where they are going. Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness answers these questions.   Before we were born, we all lived together in heaven with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We learned and grew as much as we could. But eventually Heavenly Father gathered all His children in a council and told us that to become like Him, we must leave heaven for a time. He would create an earth for us, He would give us the freedom to choose between good and evil, and He would show us the way to know what is good. He would provide a Savior so that when we sinned, we could repent and still return to Him.

We came to earth to gain a body and walk by faith. We can’t remember our home in heaven, but we can choose the right by following the example of Jesus, obeying our parents, and living My Gospel Standards.

After we die, we will all live again because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He overcame death through the Resurrection, and everyone will be resurrected. He also overcame sin, and those who have faith, repent, are baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and keep the commandments will return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They will have the gift of eternal life, which is what the plan of happiness is all about.

Activity: 

Teach children that in the pre-mortal life Heavenly Father chose Jesus Christ to be our Savior. Before we came to earth, we lived with Heavenly Father.  Explain that Heavenly Father presented a plan for all of us to get a physical body and to learn to choose the right. Read Moses 4:1–4, and have the children tell the story in their own words. Ask, “Who is the ‘Beloved Son’ Heavenly Father spoke of?” Show GAK 240 (Jesus the Christ). On a large sheet of paper list the following statements: “An earth would be created where we could live and show we would obey Heavenly Father’s commandments”; “We shouted for joy when we heard Heavenly Father’s plan”; “Jesus was prepared to redeem us”; “There was a war in heaven.” Write another list of the following scriptures in random order: Abr. 3:24–25; Job 38:7; Ether 3:14; Rev. 12:7–9. Have the children read the scriptures and match each scripture to a statement. Testify of Jesus Christ.

Closing Prayer:

Treat  

March Visiting Teaching Message

Here is a link to the Visiting Teaching Message for March

Below is a Handout for this month

FHE Idea of the Week

I Am a Child of God

Opening Song:  “I Am a Child of God” (CS, page 2)  

Opening Prayer

Family Business:

Scripture or Testimony:   Psalms 82:6

Lesson: Vicki F. Matsumori, “Sharing Time: I Am a Child of God,” Friend, Mar 2003, 18

All of you are children of the most High (Ps. 82:6). Name some of your favorite Primary songs. Why did you choose those particular songs? You probably enjoy them because they have a good melody or an important message. 

One song that is a favorite for Primary children throughout the world is “I Am a Child of God.” It was written for a Primary conference in 1957 by Sister Naomi W. Randall and Sister Mildred T. Pettit. Sister Randall prayed for help in writing the message. She awoke in the middle of the night with the words of the song in mind. She mailed the words, or lyrics, to Sister Pettit, who lived in California. Sister Pettit put the words to music. 

A few years later, President Spencer W. Kimball, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, suggested changing “Teach me all that I must know” to “Teach me all that I must do.” He said that “to know isn’t enough. … We have to do something.” (Friend, Oct. 1984, 14.) 

In Primary, you learn some important truths when you sing this song. You learn that you really are a child of God. You learn that Heavenly Father has sent you to a home with parents to help you. And, especially, you learn that when you do what is right, you can one day return to live with Heavenly Father. 

Activity: Display pictures of some of the children in your family. Tell how each child is different—and special. Testify of each child’s divine nature.  Make copies of the picture for kids to color.

Discuss various talents and personality traits, such as being good at athletics, music, or art; being friendly; being kind. Have the children stand in a circle. Choose one child to be “It.” The child who is It tosses a beanbag or other item to someone standing in the circle and calls out a talent such as “athletics,” then counts quickly to 10. The child who catches the beanbag must name an athletic talent, such as “playing soccer,” before It reaches 10; if not, he or she becomes It.

Closing Prayer

Treat

The Family that Prays Together Stays Together

The Home Teaching Message this month is from Pres. Monson.

"As father hears his tiny son pray unto God that his dad will do the right things and be obedient to the Lord's bidding, do you think that such a father would find it difficult to honor the prayer of his precious son?"

This line in the message got me thinking about a very real way to influence my wonderful children and family to do what the Lord would have us do.

If I were to gear our family prayers towards gratitude, repentance, and guidance.  Including every family members' needs in the prayer, not only will my family enjoy increased peace and love but they will feel the love of our Heavenly Father and be motivated to live up to my hopes and wishes for them.

At least that is the theory.