Conference Cakes

This is a family tradition that we do for each General Conference. It's the only time of the year that we make these. My mom used to do this every year and now I make them for my family. My kids are excited all morning long as they can smell them baking during the morning session.


3 cups Milk
1 cup Sugar
2 pkg. Yeast (4 Tlbs yeast)
3 Eggs
1 tsp Salt
1 cup Butter/Marg.
8-10 cups Flour

Mix all ingredients until dough is sticky.

Let dough rise until double in size. Roll dough out on flat surface and cut into 3x5 squares. Place on greased pan. Let rise on pan. I poke my finger in the middle of each one and make an indent for the 'belly buttons'. Inside each belly button I put a little brown sugar and melted butter.

Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.

Our family has these every conference Sunday. We whip up real whipping cream and dip the Conference Cakes in the whipping cream and drink Chocolate Milk with them. Not healthy at all so maybe invite some neighbors over to help you eat them. (Thank goodness for a free day!)

Cracked Wheat

I just tried something pretty yummy! I love hot cereal and lately I've been eating a lot of Cracked Wheat. It's so de-lish!! I just have to have some sugar on it though and I'm trying hard to cut out as much sugar as possible. So, I decided to put some cinnamon on it and then for sweetness I added a touch of honey! It was heaven! I now would love to eat it for lunch and dinner too. (Oh, it also keeps me full for the morning. No craving the junk food.)

I get the Cracked wheat at Winco in the bulk section. You'll have to try it sometime. If you have some favorite breakfast foods, share them with the rest of us! Don't keep secrets.

Stuffed Pork Chops

Prep 15 min Cook 20 min Serves 4
1 (10 oz) pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
2 Tbsp golden raisins
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
4 (1/4 lb each) boneless center-cut pork chops
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 tsp balsamic vinegar

1. To make the filling, mix the spinach, raisins, garlic, 1/2 tsp of the salt, and 1/4 tsp of the pepper in a medium bowl.

2. Insert a small knife into one side of each pork chop and cut until a pocket has opened. Fill each pocket with 1/2 cup of the filling. Secure the openings with toothpicks.

3. Sprinkle the chops evenly with the remaining 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Heat a large heavy skillet (preferrably cast-iron) over high heat until very hot, about 2 minutes. Add the chops and cook until browned, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer the chops to a large plate; cover loosely with foil and keep warm.

4. To make the sauce, add the broth to the skillet and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, scraping up the browned bits with a wooden spoon, until the mixture is reduced by one half, about 3 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the balsamic vinegar. Pour the sauce evenly over the pork. Enjoy!

Thanks Amy!

Fruit Smoothie

1 1/2 CUPS OF PINEAPPLE JUICE (OR ANY JUICE YOU LIKE)
1 CUP OF FAT FREE MILK
STRAWBERRIES
1 BANANNA
2 SPOONFULS OF LOWFAT VANILLA YOGURT
FILL THE BLENDER WITH ALL INGREDIENTS,
BLEND AND ENJOY

Thanks Brooke!

Yellow Bows of Texas

1 lb. lean ground turkey
2 tsp. minced garlic
1 cup each :Chopped onions, chopped green bell peppers, and diced carrots
1-1 1/2 cups no- salt added tomato sauce
1- 1 1/2 cups salsa
1 can black beans drained and rinsed
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp dried oregano
12 oz. uncooked whole wheat bow-tie pasta (about 7 cups dry)
1/2 cup light sour cream
1/2 cup shredded light cheese
1/2 cup chopped green onions

Cook turkey and garlic in a large, deep, non-stick skillet or pot over medium-high heat until turkey in no longer pink. Add onions, green pepper, and carrots. Cook and stir for 4-5 min., until veggies have softened. Stir in tomato sauce, salsa, beans, cumin and oregano. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 15 min., stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, prepare pasta according to pkg. directions. Drain well. Divide pasta among 6 serving bowls. ladle mixture over pasta. Place a dollop of sour cream in the center, then sprinkle with cheese and green onions. Serve immediately.

per serving: 441 calories, 6.1 total grams of fat, 35 g. protein, 66 g. carbs, 10 g. fiber

Thanks Kim!

Banana Bread

I have to say, this was the yummiest banana bread I have ever had. I love my dad's banana bread but this was to die for! You have to try this. Good luck limiting yourself to just 1 slice! Thanks Celeste!

1/4 c butter, softened
1 c sugar
2 eggs
1 cup mashed banana (about 2 medium)
1/3 c fat-free plain yogurt
1 t vanilla
1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/2 c whole wheat flour
3/4 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 c peanut butter chips
1/2 c semi-sweet choc chips, melted

1. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly, about 2 min. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the bananas, yogurt and vanilla. Combine the flours, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; gradually beat into the butter mixture. Stir in peanut butter chips.
2. Remove 2 cup batter to a small bowl;stir in melted chocolate until well blended. Pour half of the remaining plain batter into a 9 x 5 in loaf pan coated with cooking spray; top with half of the chocolate batter. Repeat layers. Cut through batter with a knife to swirl.
3. Bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.

Nutrition facts: 1 slice equals 272 calories, 9 grams far, 45 mg cholesterol, 238 mg sodium, 44 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 5 g protein. Makes 12 slices.

Chicken Kabobs

Cube chicken breasts and put in a bowl with pineapple chunks, cut up onions, zucchini, green and red peppers, mushrooms, etc. You can add whatever your family likes. Pour Yoshida sauce over it and marinade for a few hours. Put chicken and veggies on skewers and grill until cooked. Serve with rice. This is a family favorite, especially in the summer! Kids can customize their own with their favorite items!

Granola

8 cups Oats
1 ½ cups Honey
¾ cup almonds
1 cup Wheat Germ
1 tsp Salt
2/3 cup Vegetable Oil
2 cups Coconut
1 tsp Vanilla
1 tbls Cinnamon
any other nuts or sunflower seeds you'd like to add
dried fruit is good also

Mix and put in jelly roll pan at 250 for 30 min. You can cook it for longer if you like your granola crispy.
Serve like parfait with berries and yogurt

Chicken Fajitas

1/4 c lime juice
1 garlic clove minced or 1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp chili powder...I use a sprinkle
1/2 tsp ground cumin
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into strips
1 red, green or yellow pepper cut into strips

In a small bowl, combine the lime juice, garlic, chili powderand cumin. Add chicken strips, stir and let marinate for 30 minutes. In a nonstick skillet, cook chicken for 10 minutesor until chicken is no longer pink. Add peppers, saute 5-10 minutes or until crisp-tender. Stir in salsa if you wish. Serve with whole wheat tortillas, salsa, shredded cheese and low fat sour cream.

Amy's Tip...I like to cook the chicken a little and then add the left over marinade. It gets all of the yummy browned bits off the pan and onto the chicken. Let that cook until it's cooked down and then add the peppers.

My kids don't eat the peppers, but they love the chicken.I serve it with pineapple and olives to munch on, and salad. You may want to add more than one pepper and another chicken breast if you have a bigger family.

Porcupine Meatballs

1 lb extra-lean ground beef
1/2 cup uncooked brown rice
3 Tbsp. finely diced onion
1/2 tsp. salt1 egg, slightly beaten
1/4 tsp. marjoram
4 cups tomato juice
salt and pepper
6-8 hot baked potatoes

Mix the first six ingredients. Shape into small balls. Bring tomato juice to a boil in a medium saucepan. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add meatballs. Simmer about one hour or until rice is tender. Serve over baked potatoes.
Cook: 1 hour Yield: 6-8 servings

*This recipe works well in a slow cooker.
*Tip: Use 1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice in place of raw rice and reduce cooking time to 30 minutes.

Banana Pancakes

1 cup whole wheat flour( can use half white flour)
2t. baking powder
1T. sugar
1/4 t ground nutmeg
2/3 cup milk
1 medium ripe banana, mashed
1 T oil
1 egg, lightly beaten

Mix wet and dry ingredients seperately. Combine and stir. Add small amount of water if too thick. Pour about 1/4 cup onto pre heated griddle. Cook on both sides.

Three Bean Chicken Chili

1 medium zucchini chopped
1 15oz can of each of the following, drained and rinsed:
Dark Red Kidney beans
Black beans
Light Red Kidney beans
1 can corn (I use 1 cup of frozen corn because I don’t like canned corn)

16 oz jar of thick and chunky salsa
3 cups shredded chicken
2 tsp. chili powder
2 14 oz cans low sodium chicken broth
8 oz tomato sauce
1 garlic clove pressed
1 t cumin

Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer30 minutes. You can top with chips, cheese, sour cream, etc. but it is great without. I usually make this and freeze half of it.

Whole Wheat Bread

Whole Wheat Bread

Combine:
5 c. hot water
½ – 2/3 c. Sugar (or Honey)
1 Tbls Salt
2/3 c. Oil (I use applesauce)

then add:
5 Tbls Lecithin
5 c. flour

then add:
3Tbls. Yeast (I proof it first)
7-9 c. flour
5 Tbls. Gluten

Knead 6-7 minutes

Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes
Yields 5 loaves (I make 4 big loaves)
Butter top of bread after done baking.