Our General Conference Feast

This weekend is our Church's Semi annual General Conference. It is an opportunity that we have as Latter-Day Saints to hear from our beloved Prophet, Thomas S. Monson as well as many other church leaders. We are blessed enough to live in Utah where we get to watch this conference on tv instead of needing to go to our church buildings.

I always like to make this weekend unique and special for our family. Watching 8+ hours of conference can be very hard for little ones as well as mom and dad. So we do a few traditions each year to help us feast on the amazing words we hear.

Our Spiritual Feast.

I print out coloring and activity packets for Emmy. This year I found her's here. It's by far the best packet I've ever found for nursery age kids. Emmy's been having a blast so far this morning doing it and can't wait to finish it tomorrow.
I try to rotate our activities each year. Some years we pitch a tent and listen to conference in a tent, this year we had a picnic outside. Other ideas are to work on 72 hour kits or food storage, plan a family activity outside the house during the 2 hour break, etc.

I also made Apostle and Prophet matching cards like she did on her site. Mine aren't as cute but I didn't find this idea until 10pm last night! Thank heavens for the Cricut! I'm going to laminate them as well as punch holes in the top so she can use them in sacrament meeting as well. We played a couple of different games with them this morning and she loved holding her heart up to the tv when one of the General Authorities was speaking.
On her site as well she has a great bingo game for small children that we'll be doing tomorrow.

I heard this idea in sacrament meeting a few years ago but was reminded of the idea by Lindsey
It's so perfect for small kids. Whenever we hear the "sweet word" said in conference, we get to eat an M&M or gummy worm. I have a different word for each session. We are also doing prayer, temples, and family. It was a great way for Jeremy and I to keep our listening ears on as well.

Physical Feast

We believe in lots of yummy food on conference weekend. Usually I only make these recipes once or twice a year. Some if it is an actual meal but a lot of it is just munchy stuff.
Here is our menu for the weekend:

Saturday

I didn't make breakfast today - they got chocolate doughnuts this morning. I was running late.
Chips and Guacamole
Lemon Cheese Ball
Taco Macaroni Salad

Sunday
Baked Apple French Toast with Caramel Sauce
Black Bean Salsa Chicken soup
Leftover snacks from saturday

M&M's and sour gummy worms!

Here are my recipes - all of this is fabulous!

Chipotle's Guacamole

Individual sized recipe:
2 Hass Avocados
1/2 of a Jalapeno pepper, seeded, and minced
1/4 of a red onion, finely chopped
2 heaping Tablespoons of Cilantro, finely chopped
1/4 of a lime, juiced
1/4 teaspoon salt

Combine all of the ingredients into a bowl, and mash together until smooth. Add additional lime juice or salt to taste. For extra spicy guacamole, you can leave in the jalepeno seeds!

Taco Macaroni Salad - recipe from my Aunt

2 cups uncooked corkscrew macaroni (I use the colored) Cook, drain and chill.
1 lb hamburger
1 pkg taco seasoning
1/2 c of french dressing ( However, I use the Catalina)
1/2 head shredded lettuce
tomatoes
1 c. grated cheese
1/2 c. chopped green onions
1/2 c. olives
Brown hamburger, drain grease, stir in taco seasoning and dressing. I add more dressing, unless I make an avocado dressing to go with it. Sometimes I do...sometimes I don't.

Combine and serve immediately.

For an avocado dressing I mash an avocado, add a little lemon juice, a dash of tabasco sauce and 1 c. sour cream.

Lemon Cheese Ball - recipe from my Aunt
1---8 oz. pkg of cream cheese
1/4 c. softened butter
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 pkg. of Koolaid pink Lemonade mix.
In a medium bowl mix the above ingredients using an electric mixer. Refrigerate for 3 hrs.
When the mixtureis completely chilled, shape into a ball and roll in 1/4 c. graham cracker crumbs. (I used the store bought crumbs rather than crushing my own because I had them.) Serve with crackers.
suggested crackers: teddy grahams, animal cookies, graham crackers...regular or cinnamon. Nilla wafers (my favorite!) Wheat thins, really just use your imagination.



Lion House's Baked Apple French Toast with Caramel Sauce

Ingredients:

• Baked Apple French Toast with Caramel Sauce
• 1 loaf French bread, sliced in 1½ inch slices
• 6 eggs
• 1½ cups milk
• 1 tbsp. vanilla
• 6 medium apples, peeled and sliced (Fuji, Jonathan or Granny Smith)
• 1½ tsp. ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp. ground nutmeg
• 3 tbsp. packed brown sugar
• Caramel Sauce (see below)

Method:

The night before serving, coat a 9X13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Layer bread slices on the bottom of the pan. Combine eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl, beat well and pour over bread slices. Place apple slices on top of bread. Sprinkle apples with cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake, covered, about 50 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10 minutes more. Serve toast hot, topped with Caramel Sauce. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Caramel Sauce

Ingredients:

• 3/4 c. packed brown sugar
• ¼ c. flour
• ½ c. butter, melted
• 1½ c. milk
• 2 tsp. vanilla

Method:

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until thick, stirring constantly.

Black Bean Salsa Chicken Soup

2 chicken breasts
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup salsa
1 can corn, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Place chicken in crock pot. Pour broth, salsa, corn, beans, and taco seasoning over chicken Cover and cook on low heat 6-8 hours or high heat 3-4 hours. Shred chicken in crock pot. Stir sour cream and cheese into sauce in slow cooker. Serve with warm tortillas.