February 2012 Announcements

Announcements

Relief Society Information: Please check out www.LockportRS.blogger.com for up-to-date Relief Society information, announcements, lessons, and visiting teaching messages.

Visiting Teaching: Itʼs a new year and a chance for a new start. Please visit your sisters and show your love for them. If you donʼt have time to visit in person, please call your sisters or send them a note. Check in with them. All visiting teachers: Please call Sister Debbie Casselman (716-998-3395) to report your visiting teaching by the 30th.

Be Prepared: The Buffalo Stake leadership has asked all individuals and families in the Stake to prepare a 72-hour kit by January 31, 2012. Visit the Relief Society blog for suggestions on items to include in your kit. More information about self reliance is available at www.providentliving.org.

February Calendar

1 (Wednesday) - New session of the family finance class begins. 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

7 (Tuesday) - RS Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Light dinner and a class on using New Family Search and doing family history.

19 (Sunday) - Linger Longer - Please bring a generous dish to pass

26 (Sunday) - Lockport Ward Conference

February Relief Society lessons:

5 - Fast Sunday/RS Presidency

12 - GAS #3 Our Testimony of Jesus Christ (Heather Norris)

19 - GAS #4 The Prophet Joseph Smith, God's Instrument in Restoring the Truth (Jesika Froman)

26 - Ward Conference - Lesson will be taught by the Stake Relief Society Presidency

GAS: Teachings of Presidents of the Church - George Albert Smith

TFOT: Teaching for our Times - these lessons, generally taught on the 4th Sunday, are taken from talks given in the most recent General Conference.

February Birthdays:

6 - Ruby Wheeler

8 - Adele Harris

10 - Michelle Mayes

16 - Hillary Georgia

16 - Trina Pardee

19 - Jessica Durrant

20 - Sue Stevens

27 - Anna Maria Steimer

27 - Barbara Hoffman

28 - Louise Schroeder

February Visiting Teaching Message - Guardians of the Hearth

Study this material and, as appropriate, discuss it with the sisters you visit. Use the questions to help you strengthen your sisters and to make Relief Society an active part of your own life.

“You are the guardians of the hearth,” said President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) as he introduced “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” in the general Relief Society meeting in 1995. “You are the bearers of the children. You are they who nurture them and establish within them the habits of their lives. No other work reaches so close to divinity as does the nurturing of the sons and daughters of God.”1

For almost 17 years now this proclamation has reinforced that our most significant responsibilities are centered in strengthening families and homes—no matter our current circumstances. Barbara Thompson, now second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, was in the Salt Lake Tabernacle when President Hinckley first read the proclamation. “That was a great occasion,” she remembers. “I felt the significance of the message. I also found myself thinking, ‘This is a great guide for parents. It is also a big responsibility for parents.’ I thought for a moment that it really didn’t pertain too much to me since I wasn’t married and didn’t have any children. But almost as quickly I thought, ‘But it does pertain to me. I am a member of a family. I am a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a cousin, a niece, and a granddaughter. I do have responsibilities—and blessings—because I am a member of a family. Even if I were the only living member of my family, I am still a member of God’s family, and I have a responsibility to help strengthen other families.’”

Fortunately, we are not left alone in our efforts. “The greatest help,” says Sister Thompson, “we will have in strengthening families is to know and follow the doctrines of Christ and rely on Him to help us.”2

From the Scriptures

Proverbs 22:6; 1 Nephi 1:1; 2 Nephi 25:26; Alma 56:46–48; Doctrine and Covenants 93:40

What Can I Do?

1. How can I help the sisters I watch over to strengthen families?

2. How can I be a righteous influence in my family?

For more information, go to reliefsociety.lds.org.

Stake Goal - All members have a 72-hour kit by 1-31-12

The Buffalo Stake leadership has asked all members and families in the Stake to prepare a 72-hour kit by January 31, 2012. Following is some information that may be helpful as you prepare your 72-hour kit. Click on the links (in blue) for additional information. More information about self reliance and emergency preparedness is available at www.providentliving.org (see link in the far right column).

Build a Kit

After a major disaster the usual services we take for granted, such as running water, refrigeration, and telephones, may be unavailable. Experts recommend that you should be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least three days. Store your household disaster kit in an easily accessible location. Put contents in a large, watertight container (e.g. a large plastic garbage can with a lid and wheels) that you can move easily.

Your basic emergency kit should include:

• Water – one gallon per person per day
• Food – ready to eat or requiring minimal water
• Manual can opener and other cooking supplies
• Plates, utensils and other feeding supplies
• First Aid kit & instructions
• A copy of important documents & phone numbers
• Warm clothes and rain gear for each family member.
• Heavy work gloves
• Disposable camera
• Unscented liquid household bleach and an eyedropper for water purification
• Personal hygiene items including toilet paper, feminine supplies, hand sanitizer and soap
• Plastic sheeting, duct tape and utility knife for covering broken windows
• Tools such as a crowbar, hammer & nails, staple gun, adjustable wrench and bungee cords.
• Blanket or sleeping bag
• Large heavy duty plastic bags and a plastic bucket for waste and sanitation
• Any special-needs items for children,seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget water and supplies for your pets.

A component of your disaster kit is your Go-bag. Put the following items together in a backpack or another easy to carry container in case you must evacuate quickly. Prepare one Go-bag for each family member and make sure each has an I.D. tag. You may not be at home when an emergency strikes so keep some additional supplies in your car and at work, considering what you would need for your immediate safety.

• Flashlight
• Radio – battery operated
• Batteries
• Whistle
• Dust mask
• Pocket knife
• Emergency cash in small denominations and quarters for phone calls
• Sturdy shoes, a change of clothes, and a warm hat
• Local map
• Some water and food
• Permanent marker, paper and tape
• Photos of family members and pets for re-identification purposes
• List of emergency point-of -contact phone numbers
• List of allergies to any drug (especially antibiotics) or food
• Copy of health insurance and identification cards
• Extra prescription eye glasses, hearing aid or other vital personal items
• Prescription medications and first aid supplies
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Extra keys to your house and vehicle
• Any special-needs items for children,seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget to make a Go-bag for your pets.

Homemade Salad Dressing

The sisters on our Relief Society meeting committee shared these wonderful salad dressing recipes.

Vinaigrette Dressing

1/4 cup salad oil

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

1 clove garlic, minced

1 TB Dijon mustard

1 1/2 tsp oregano leaves

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.

Poppy Seed Dressing

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp dry mustard

1 tsp salt

1/3 cup cider vinegar

1 cup salad oil

1 TB dried chopped onions

1 tsp poppy seeds

1 tsp toasted sesame seeds

Whirl sugar, mustard, salt, and vinegar in a blender. With blender running, slowly pour in oil. Add chopped onions and whirl only a couple of times. Stir in poppy seeds and sesame seeds. Makes 1 1/2 cups dressing. This dressing is ideal to serve over all kinds of fruit.

Sweet French Dressing

1 cup oil

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup catsup

1/3 cup sugar

3/4 tsp pepper

1 tsp dry mustard

1 tsp salt

1 TB dried chopped onions

Put all ingredients EXCEPT oil in a blender and mix well. Turn blender to high speed and pour oil very slowly into mixture, making sure it mixes well. Dressing will thicken as oil is added.

Farmhouse Chicken Pot Pie + Never Fail Pie Crust

This recipe was served at our Christmas social in December. Thanks to Dana Dwyer for the recipes. And thanks to everyone else who made the delicious dinner!

Farmhouse Chicken Pot Pie

2 cups chicken or 2 cans of chicken

1 TB chicken bouillon

2/3 cup flour

6 cups water

1/2 cup chopped carrots

1/2 cup frozen peas

1/4 cup onion

1/2 tsp pepper

Pie crust pastry (recipe follows)

Line casserole dish with pie pastry. Cut chicken into small pieces. Combine chicken, bouillon, flour, carrots, peas, onions, and pepper in a large saucepan. Add water. Cook over medium heat until it forms a smooth, thick gravy. (If the filling seems too soupy, thicken it with 1/3 cup cornstarch mixed with enough water to liquefy it. Pour cornstarch mixture into the filling and stir until thick.) Pour filling into pie crust lined casserole dish. Cover with remaining pie crust pastry. Bake at 400 degrees F for 35-45 minutes until browned.

**Variation** Instead of using pie crust, pour chicken combination into casserole dish and top with biscuits.

Never Fail Pie Crust

3 cups flour

1 tsp vinegar

1 tsp salt

1 1/4 cups lard or shortening (Crisco)

1 egg

5 TB cold water

Mix flour and shortening together. Add salt. Beat egg, vinegar, and water together. Add to flour and mix well. Section into 4 parts - roll between sheets of waxed paper or on a lightly floured surface.

Recipe makes 4 pie crusts or 2 double crust pie crusts. For a casserole dish, divide the dough in half and use part for the bottom crust and the other half for the top. **Note from Dana: I usually roll out what I can, place it in the bottom of the casserole dish, and then press it into the casserole dish and up the sides. I then roll out the top as best I can between 2 sheets of waxed paper. Peel off one side of the waxed paper, place the crust on the top of the casserole dish, and then peel off the remaining piece of waxed paper.

Homemade Granola

Homemade granola is easy, delicious, and inexpensive (especially compared to store bought alternatives). Recipe courtesy of Lori D'Alba, who adapted it from Feast by Nigella Lawson.

5 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

2 cups sliced almonds or chopped pecans

2 cups shredded coconut

1 cup oat bran

1 cup toasted wheat germ

1 cup whole wheat flour (freshly ground)

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

2/3 cup untoasted sesame seeds

1/2 cup golden flax seeds

1/3 cup sunflower seeds

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt

3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup honey

1/4 cup vegetable oil

Preheat the oven to 325 F.

1. Put rolled oats in a large baking pan and bake for 20 minutes while assembling the other ingredients.

2. In a large bowl, combine nuts, coconut, oat bran, wheat germ, whole wheat flour, brown sugar, sesame seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, cinnamon, and kosher salt.

3. In a small saucepan, heat the applesauce, syrup, honey, and vegetable oil until warm.

4. Add oats to other dry ingredients and mix well.

5. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until thoroughly dispersed. The mixture should clump a bit. It if seems too dry, add warm water 1 tablespoon at a time (shouldn't need to add more than 2 tablespoons), and mix well.

6. Spray 2 large baking sheets with cooking spray, then divide mixture evenly between the two pans. Spread out the mixture to an even layer.

7. Bake the granola for 45-60 minutes, stirring and rotating pans every 10 minutes, until the granola is a deep golden brown.

8. Remove from oven and cool in pans. The granola gets crunchy as it cools. Store granola in a large, airtight container. Add raisins, dates, dried apples, dried cherries, or dried cranberries when you serve the granola. Enjoy!

Egg Rice Soup

This recipe was served at an evening Relief Society meeting and utilizes many food storage items. Recipe courtesy of Dana Dwyer.

3 cups chicken broth

1 can evaporated milk

2 egg yolks

1 cup cooked white or brown rice

1/2 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Heat the chicken broth in a saucepan. Beat egg yolks and milk together. Pour 1/2 cup broth into the egg mixture, then pour the mixture in a thin stream back into the remaining broth in the saucepan. Heat gently until soup thickens slightly, stirring frequently. Add rice and season with salt and pepper. Serve warm with pretzel sticks or whole wheat croutons.

Homemade Laundry Soap

We made this laundry detergent last year, and I've been using it ever since. The cost is roughly estimated at $1.00 for enough detergent for 64 loads of laundry - or about 1 1/2 cents per load. When doing whites or items that are really dirty, I add about 1 TB Oxyclean to the load.

1/2 bar Fels Naptha Soap

2/3 cup Borax (for a stronger soap, double this amount)

1/3 cup Arm & Hammer washing soda

4 quarts of water

Grate Fels Naptha soap. Add it to 2 quarts of water in a large pot. Let it heat until soap has completely dissolved, stirring occasionally. Add 2 more quarts of water, the borax and washing soda. Heat until all ingredients have totally dissolved. Allow mixture to cool. Separate the mixture into 2 1-gallon jugs. Fill close to the top with tap water and shake vigorously. Let sit for 24 hours. Shake well again before use. It will have gelled clumps that break up easily and dissolve readily in your wash. This will not produce suds, and no added smells. This will yield 2 gallons of detergent for about $1.00. Each jug makes approximately 32 loads - using about 1/2 cup per load. This laundry soap works well in high efficiency machines and front loaders because there are no suds.