Conference Confections

Well, I can't believe that conference is already over. It is always such a treat and  I'm always a little sad when it ends because I enjoy it so much and look forward to it for six whole months. I literally start my countdown to the next conference the day that it ends. It always seems to come at the perfect time and never ceases to bring a renewed sense of well-being, hope, and motivation. There were so many amazing talks, as always, and I can't wait until they are published so I can read them all over again! I love our prophet, first presidency, and the apostles so much. I just wish I could give them all big hugs through the TV screen! (or in our case, because we don't have TV, our macbook. Thank heavens for the internet and live streaming).

Highlights that touched Easton and I:
* Dieter F. Uchtdorf: “When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm—please apply the following: Stop it!”


* Jeffrey R. Holland: “There are going to be times in our lives when someone else gets an unexpected blessing or receives some special recognition. May I plead with us not to be hurt—and certainly not to feel envious—when good fortune comes to another. We are not diminished when someone else is added upon. We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against sin, and surely envy is one of the most universal of those."

* Russel M. Nelson:  "A loving God has provided His children with physical and spiritual gifts. Each organ of the body is a wondrous gift from God—from the eyes to the heart and to the body’s remarkable ability to heal and renew itself."“Yet some people erroneously think that these marvelous physical attributes happened by chance or resulted from a big bang somewhere,” he said. “Ask yourself, ‘Could an explosion in a printing shop produce a dictionary?’ The likelihood is most remote. But if so, it could never heal its own torn pages or reproduce its own newer editions.”

I also love conference because it's a good time to make some goodies and lounge around with my hotness. Today was no exception. We made GF baked corn dogs and "Naughty" Chex Mix. For dinner we'll be having E's fav, chicken brocolli casserole and grilled pineapple...SO excited!

NAUGHTY CHEX MIX:

Ingredients:

• 8 cups Chocolate Chex cereal (If you can't find them like me, I used 6 cups Rice Chex Cereal and 2 cups Cocoa Krispies.)
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 6 Tbsp. butter
• 3 Tbsp. Light Corn Syrup
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1 cup MINI Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
• 1 cup mini marshmallows
• 1/2 cup caramel bits
• 1 Tbsp. heavy cream
• 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips (more if you would like)
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 tsp. coarse sea salt.

Pour measured cereal into a large microwaveable bowl.

Line cookie sheet with waxed paper or foil.

In 2-cup microwaveable measuring up, microwave brown sugar, butter and corn syrup uncovered on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute, until melted and smooth.  Stir in baking soda until dissolved.  Pour caramel mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated.  Microwave on high for 3 minutes, stirring every minute.  Spread on cookie sheet.  Cool 10 minutes.  Break into bite-sized pieces.

Make sure Chex mixture is cool to the touch (so candy doesn't melt). Evenly sprinkle mini peanut butter cups candy and mini marshmallows over the Chex mixture.

In a small microwaveable bowl, microwave caramel baking bits and cream uncovered on high for 1 minute or until chips can be stirred smooth.  Use a spoon or fork to drizzle over Chex mixture.   Repeat with milk chocolate baking chips and again with the white baking chips.  Quickly sprinkle coarse salt over all the chex mixture while candy drizzles are still wet.

Refrigerate until set. Break apart and store in tightly covered container.

GF CORN DOGS: 

Ingredients: 

Hot dogs

"Bob's Red Mill" Corn Bread Mix

This is the easiest thing ever! Spray mini muffin tins. Make corn bread as directed on label. Cut hot dog to fill bottom of muffin tin, pour dough on top. Make sure hot dog is covered. Watch it cook in the oven because it will not need to be cooked the full length that it says on the label. I left it in for 15 minutes. Top of corn bread should be browned.

Bob's Red Mill is found at most health food stores and some grocery stores. If you can't find it, you can use this corn bread recipe from the kitchen of Korinne Roberts: 

Combine: 2/3 Cup sugar, 1/2 Cup melted butter, 2 eggs. 

Add: 1 Cup butter milk and 1/2 tsp baking soda. 

Combine 1 cup cornmeal, 1 cup GF Featherlight Flour, 1 tsp xantham gum, 1/2 tsp salt.

Bake in 8 inch glass pan @ 375 F. for 30 min. 

The best part is, it's baked, not fried! Last, I wanted to share a GF cream of chicken soup recipe (also from the Korinne Roberts kitchen) that I use all the time. Tonight we used it in our casserole, but this is a go to that is called for in a lot of recipes so I thought I'd share it! 

Ingredients:

1 c. cold milk

2 Tbs. corn starch

1 1/2 Tbs. butter

1 tsp. chicken bouillon

1/2 tsp. salt

dash of pepper

1. Whisk milk and corn starch in a small sauce pan.

2. Add butter, bouillon, salt and pepper.

3. Heat to a boil, stirring constantly. Simmer on low 1 minute to thicken. 

ENJOY!!!! HAVE A FABULOUS SUNDAY!!!!