BRIEF OVERVIEW of January & February During the BLOG BLUNDER!

January was the month to recover from the Holidays, count our blessings and set our goals for 2010. We had a fabulous Cooking Class for Spaghetti Sauce by Lori Gregson. It is DIVINE - the best ever I think and oh so easy. Recipe to follow! Brother Pingree declared it totally yummy and his bird enjoyed it as well! He loves Spaghetti Squash and gives that delightful vegetable some of the credit for his youthful figure! (Bro P that is - NOT the bird) Hurrah for Complex Carbohydrates! Recipe Section coming up!

FEBRUARY was our first monthly Relief Society Meeting and it was a total success. It was on learning to love and improve our scripture study time. Mark Hobbins did a totallly fabulous job!! Victoria McDaniels also was wonderful with some great hints that we can all enjoy! Thanks to the awesome RS Meeting Committee and their FEARLESS LEADER, Diane Hobbins. UTTERLY AWESOME - AS USUAL!!!!

Our Chrstmas Dinner & Entertainment Was Incredible!

Thank you to Wendy Klapp and the entire Relief Society Meeting Committee (the old enrichment committee- not that they are old - You know what I mean) for working so hard to make it a fabulous evening! Your Goal WAS ACHIEVED!!! NO DINNER EVER WAS MORE BEAUTIFUL AND DELICIOUS AND NO WAITERS ON EARTH EVER MORE HANDSOME OR MORE APPRECIATED!! AS IF THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH...NOTE THEIR SAMPLE PLATE AND HOW WELL THEY FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS!!!

BLAME ME FOR THE BLOG BLOCKAGE

OK. . . . I admit to being a BIG BLOCKHEAD!!!
I am BLUE about my BLUNDER with the LOC Relief Society BLOG!! I have committed a BOO BOO and should be BLUDGEONED or at the very least BLACKLISTED for my BLAND outlook on our important communication tool~ To be perfectly BLUNT and not try to BLUFF, the BLOG has been a bit of a BLIGHT during the Holiday BLISS and I seem to be a BLOB and not get my act back together! Here is my BLANKET BLUEPRINT for BLOOMING on the BLOG: I BLISSFULLY and BLUNTLY BLURT that I will be diligent in keeping up to date, as this BLOG is a BLESSING to us for information and fun. I will not BLEMISH my record again and that is not BLATHER - The RELIEF SOCIETY is WONDERFUL and that is NO BLARNEY!
With love,
The Blizzard of Blog-less-ness!

PS: Tell your non-blogging friends to Log on to LOCENRICH.BLOGSPOT.COM and participate in the SURVEY. We need your answers and everyone who responds will have a special treat at the end of the survey period which is March 1st at noon!

Stake Conference Is Coming Up!!!

For the Live Oak Canyon Ward - Here's the Times we will be attending and Where!

Priesthood/Leadership - Sat., Sep. 12th from 4-6 P.M. at the SMSC

ALL Adult Saturday Evening - Sat., Sep. 12th from 7-9 P.M. at the SMSC

New Members & Investigators - Sun., Sep. 13th from 9-9:45 A.M. at the SMSC

Sunday General Session - Sun., Sep. 13th from 10-12 noon at the SMSC

Crafts for October 7th Enrichment!! ORDER NOW. Must be in by 8/18/09! NO ROOM FOR ERROR!!

On October 7th, 2009 at the SMSC - we will be having our fall Enrichment Night. Remember last year with the fun craft night and all our friends and neighbors joining us??? We made great items for our homes that were also FABULOUS gifts! There will be some extra items that can be purchased that night. You can always help others or just come, sit, and relax and enjoy a light dinner and friendship. IF YOU NEED TO CALL ME USE MY CELL AT: 949-584-2555.

??? WHO'S WHO ??? AND UPDATE ON HEALTH. . . . . . .

WHO'S WHO??? AND WHERE DID THEY GO?? THE BLODGETTS AND THE MONTIERTHS HAVE moved off to other lucky wards

and or states! We Will miss them sorely!!!

But alas..... We have been delivered of several new healthy, bouncing ..... families!!!

Brig & Jenn Chaney & 2 girls with a 3rd on the way

Eric & Laura Suman & adorable almost new baby girl

Dave & Traci Meridith with 2 young teens at home, Sam & Jennie

WELCOME!!!! WE NEED AND LOVE YOU!!!

_________________

On a HEALTH NOTE - Things may be improving....

or else I'm just out of touch! hmmmmmmmmmmm?!

Dave Pingree just had his knee replaced! Bionic Dave is doing great!

Mike Burton is doing well after his neck surgery. He will be wearing a rather stylish collar for about 6 weeks which must be uncomfortable, but is hoping to be pain free!

Donni Shield's father just passed away. Please keep Donni, the Shields and Donni's whole family in our prayers. We are so very sorry Donni.

Diana Ranck has had jaw surgery and will be not having much to say through that wired jaw. She doing well and is the Queen of Smoothies!

The Chaney's were blessed with a new member of their family! Beautiful Meghan and her Mommie are doing well.

and the saga of who's who in the health & hospital issues goes on! Call Jan Pingree if you know something we should know!

Awesome Sweet & Sour Chicken Recipe

Donni Shields is a great cook and is responsible for this wonderful Sweet & Sour Chicken!

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Chicken
4-6 Chicken Breasts
1/3 C. Flour
1/3 C. Oil

Sauce
1 can 13 oz. pineapple chunks (such a thing does not exist. We used 20+ oz.)
1 C. sugar
2 Tblsp. Cornstarch
¾ C. Cidar Vinegar (the brown vinegar) *Note: Donni uses ½ C. vinegar and ¼ C. water
1 Tblsp. Soy Sauce , ½ tsp Ginger (When Linda Broker made the sauce at the class on the 15th, she added some fresh grated ginger. About a tablespoon or 2 actually – DELICIOUS!!)
1 Chicken Bullion Cube
1 large green pepper (strips)

Directions
1. Wash chicken and coat with flour
2. Heat oil in large skillet adding chicken pieces a few at a time and brown. Remove to
shallow roasting pan and sprinkle with salt & pepper.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
4. Make sauce: drain pineapple pouring syrup into a 2 cup measuring cup. Add water to
make a total of 1 ¼ cups liquid.
5. Combine sugar and cornstarch in pineapple juice with soy sauce, vinegar, ginger & bullion
cube. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
6. Pour over chicken and bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Add pepper strips and pineapple. Bake 30 minutes more or until bubbly.

Rice
Just spoke with my client from Thailand. Figured she’d be an expert on rice. She said to use Jasmine (longer grain) and to use 1 part rice to 2 parts water. Add rice to water, bring to a boil, cover and turn down to a simmer for 20 minutes. Just fluff it with a fork. She said rice cookers are not a must for good rice. She fixes rice daily and doesn’t own one! * Serve over cooked rice with a small salad of some sort and maybe a vegetable? Teri Cooper still remembers this from when Donni brought it to her house when Camille was born! She raved!

A Woman's Place Is In The Kitchen ! ? On Cooking Class Day.... it may be true!

I forgot to take pictures AGAIN..... but it was FUN!!!!!

THE COOKING CLASS PRODUCED A LARGE NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO HAD FUN, laughed, made dinner, took a fabulous recipe (thank you Donni!) and dinner, home to their families! A special thanks to the clean up crew, and wow.... is Linda Broker a born cook or WHAT!!! Thanks Linda and we are looking forward to Mango Pork Chops with Cathy Drasso in August! See you then!

"CHICKEN DROPS DEAD AT NEWS OF 7/15/09 COOKING CLASS!!"

Don't Miss the Gourmet Cooking Class by our very own Madonna Shields! Wednesday, 7/15/09 at 9:00 A.M. Cost is $10.00 to take home what you need for a dinner for 4-6 of SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN & RICE! This poor chicken kept telling me "Chickens are SOUR - you won't like us!!" . . . . but I KNOW BETTER!!!! This class will be SWEET!! Call Jan Pingree (949-584-2555) or Linda Broker (949-584-3289) if you have questions or want to sign up. SEE YOU THERE!!

WE WILL MISS KIM SO MUCH!

Today KIM KOELLIKER was released as Counselor in the Relief Society and was set apart as the new YOUNG WOMEN PRESIDENT! While I am excited for the Young Women to have the opportunity to grow under this fabulous woman's tutelage. . . . I am heart broken to have Kim leave Relief Society. I am certain that I speak for all of us when I say, that her effervescence, her generosity, enthusiasm, gentleness, tender spirituality and her beautiful face will be badly missed. The thought of not hearing that CRAZY laugh and seeing her on at least a weekly basis is a huge loss! However. . . . . our loss is truly the Young Women's gain! They can love her, look up to her and emulate her in every way! We love you Kim and are so grateful for the time you were in Relief Society and the author of this piece will miss you most of all! YIKES!!! What do I do NOW?????? Kim and her youngest angel Quincy, who will be joining the Beehives this December are pictured above. At the risk of repeating myself - I love your beautiful face AND spirit! With Much love from all of us and poor little old me, Jan :(

THE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE 2009

WOMEN'S CONFERENCE simply could not have been better. It was a wonderful day to reflect on how blessed we are to have each other and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our guest speaker, Jamie Ward did a fabulous job of helping us learn to prioritize and walk toward the light of the gospel. The musical performance was....well.... MUSIC TO OUR EARS! I don't know that I have heard a more beautiful musical presentation. Thank You to those of you that blessed us with your talents. The slide show of sweet moments in the lives of all of our sisters brought many quiet tears, and the Bishop was inspiring - as usual! He gave a great talk that spoke to all of us in one way or another. Then - as if that wasn't more than wonderful, our President spoke. Teri has a heart as big as all out doors and it shows. She reminded all of us how much we mean to each other and how indispensable we are in each others lives. She could have talked forever and we would have begged for more. We love you dear President and know that your love and concern for us is ever present in your mind. We want you to know we are so blessed to have you as our own private angel! I for one, strive to be better because of the influence you have on me. Thanks you for all you do! Julia, Kim & Cori tempted our appetites with a gorgeous display of INCREDIBLE delights. See below for recipes for the cheesecakes and the cookies! How lucky we are to have each other! Until next year's conference, let us carry on in our love of the Savior & each other!

THE SAVIOR LOVES US. HE UNDERSTANDS US.

ANGEL KISSES aka WOMEN CONFERENCE COOKIES

KISSES:
2 cups flour
2 cups butter
1 ½ cups cornstarch
2/3 cup powdered sugar

FROSTING:
6 oz. cream cheese & about 2 Tblsp. Butter
2 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Light purple coloring (or what ever)

Mix the basic 4 ingredients together until the dough is smooth (use a mixer). Roll dough into small balls. Use about 1 tsp. per cookie (roll into smooth balls between your palms so they are about the size of a big marble- these are best as 1 bite cookies. If they are too big and you have to actually bite into them, the second half crumbles in your hand! Place on parchment paper on a cookie sheet.
Bake at 300 degrees for about 20 minutes. They have just the slightest golden tinge on the bottom. Don’t over cook! Cool on wire racks. Frost with beautiful pale purple frosting - OR WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE. At the Women's Conference they looked like sunflowers! Use a small knife and the goal is to put a nice big swirl of the frosting on the top of the cookie. Get as much on there as possible! (Use a mixer for the frosting & don’t let
it sit uncovered. You may have to add more powdered sugar to get it to ‘hold’! It depends on the weather!

Hint – the amount of powdered sugar is approximate. I used to use 2 cups and now for some reason – the frosting is just too soft. It should be thick enough so that you can see the swirl on top – yet not too thick so it is dry and stiff. Start with a bit less and add as necessary.
Hint – Regarding the size of the cookie. These are tiny & delicate. If you make them too big, they crumble when you bite into them. Start with about the size large marble. It seems like a ridiculously small amount of dough. 1 recipe makes about 125 cookies. If you use sparkles, edible glitter or some decoration – you have to put on while frosting is wet. Once frosted you can store in a pan with a lid. Lay them on paper towels so they don’t slide around to transfer them to another location. Obviously they cannot be stacked!

INDIVIDUAL CHEESECAKES FROM WOMEN'S CONFERENCE

CHEESE CAKES
1 pkg. Vanilla Wafers
2 (8 oz.) blocks of softened cream cheese
3/4 C. sugar
2 eggs & 1 tsp. vanilla
Line a 6 cavity muffin tin with cup cake liners (foil may be best), and place 1 vanilla wafer in each cup. Cream together the cream cheese, sugar, eggs & vanilla. Fill each cup 3/4 of the way full. Bake @ 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Cheesecakes will "fall" after removing from oven. Cool & fill with curd or pie filling. You can garnish with a slice of strawberry, kiwi, or whatever! Serves 6.
LEMON CURD
1/2 C. fresh lemon juice
2 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
1/3 C. sugar
3 eggs
6 Tblsp. butter
In heavy pan, whisk together the lemon juice, zest, sugar & eggs. Stir in butter & cook over medium heat, whisking vigorously & continuously until the curd is thick enough to hold a ripple mark from the whisk & the 1st bubbles appear on the surface. (about 6-7 minutes.) Transfer to bowl and cover with plastic wrap to prevent skinning. Chill for a 2 hour minimum. Will keep up to a week. Makes about 1 1/2 cups

A few of the Cast of 'PURSE-ONALITY PURSUIT'