Easy DESSERT - Raspberry Log Roll

Today at book group we had an wonderful vicarious AMAZON adventure as we reviewed the book previously blogged about here!

(River of Doubt, Theodore Roosevelts Darkest Journey)

Once again I highly recommend the book . . .

Turns out it's going to be on my short list of favorite books ever.

If you're a bit adventuresome, like a little history and exploration . . . in a foreign country

with a smattering of science thrown in there . . .

Well then, it's a certain read for you :)

BUT . . .

What I really want to share is this yummy recipe that we had for dessert!

This is is Raspberry Log Roll

and is a specialty made by Sue

(so perfect for your favorite Valentines!)

and here's the recipe . . .
this is EASY . . . seriously!
But looks so impressive!

Ingredients

• 6 egg whites
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sifted cake flour
• 
  
• Filling:
• 1T powdered sugar
• 2 -3 cups whipped whipping cream 
• 1 pint fresh raspberries

Directions

• Line a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. jelly roll pan with parchment paper and spray parchment with cooking spray.  Set aside. In large bowl, beat egg whites and salt with electric mixer at low speed until foamy. Gradually add granulated sugar, beating at medium-high speed until soft peaks form. With whisk or rubber scraper, fold flour 1/4 cup at a time, into egg white mixture. Spread batter evenly into prepared pan. 
• Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until cake springs back when touched in center. Cool on wire for 5 minutes. Cover with parchment paper, then a kitchen towel and baking sheet or bread board. Invert pan so cake lies flat on towel. 
• Gently peel away waxed paper from top of cake. Beginning with narrow end, roll cake with towel, keeping towel and bottom waxed paper pressed to underside of cake. Place rolled cake on rack to cool.
• Prepare filling by whipping cream and combining with powdered sugar.  Cover; refrigerate until ready to use. To fill cake, carefully unroll on flat surface. With spatula, spread whip cream evenly over cake to within 1/2 in. of edges. Sprinkle with 1-1/2 cups raspberries. 
• Using towel to lift edge of cake, gently roll as before, this time pulling away towel and waxed paper. Place roll, seam side down, on serving platter. Chill. Garnish with remaining raspberries and powdered sugar. Serve chilled. Yield: 12 servings.

With all the spring berries that are now available

you can experiment . . .

Try blueberry log roll

or with strawberries . . .

OR 

combine all three for a yummy

BERRY log roll cake!

See . . . yep, it's perfect for Valentines day!

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I Hope they call me on a Mission

¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ i hope they call me on ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ a Mission! ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ WHEN I have grown a foot or two ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫ I hope by then I will be READY ..... ♥ ♥ ♥ to teach and preach ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ AND work ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪...as missionaries DO ! ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫

It's a song

that Primary children everywhere

as members of the

have sung since they were little . . .

Many of the young men especially have contemplated, worked for, saved for and spiritually prepared for through

daily scripture study, seminary classes,

mission prep classes, family home evenings

and much more . . .
throughout their lives
so that they might serve in this manner.

And now more of the young women of the church

as well are making similar preparations.

And this is the big moment they all anxiously anticipate . . .

I am touched and amazed by this video

and marvel at the outstanding youth

of the 

and their desire to serve their Heavenly Father as volunteer representatives 

 who engage variously in proselytizing, church service, humanitarian aid, and community service. Mormon missionaries may serve on a full- or part-time basis depending on the assignment, and are organized geographically into missions. The mission assignment could be to any one of the 347 missions organized worldwide.^[1]

Perhaps many of you are aware that 

Norm and I will have the great opportunity to serve

alongside these many young men and young women as Norm has been 

called (LDS terminology for asked by our Heavenly Father through his

representatives here on earth) to serve as a Mission President and preside

over a Spanish speaking mission of the church

somewhere in the world. 

Mission Presidents typically supervise 100-200 missionaries

and direct their missionary labors.   

One of these first days . . .

We hope to have a similar moment as we discover the location

where WE have been called to serve . . .

While it will be a sacrifice and a challenge to say goodbye to so many dear loved

ones and family for so long (Mission Presidents serve for a period of three years)

We are EXCITED to be of service.

Somewhere in the world  . . .

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It all began in 1933 . . . that was a very good year

I guess you could say our story really began way way back . . .

in the year 1933.

That was a very good year . . .

Both my parents were born in 1933.

Dad in Lawrence Kansas . . . to Col. Francis E. Morawetz and Helen Edwina Myers
and
Mom was born in Rocksprings, Wyoming to Issac Christofferson and Mildred Mouritsen

Mom was raised in the LDS faith . . . (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and was the youngest of 9 children.

Dad was a convert to the Church and that is a story for another day.

I couldn't begin to do justice to my favorite memories growing up at home in this short post . . . but since we are celebrating 80 years "young" with dad this week . . . I thought I would share a few favorite thoughts . . .

I love that my dad taught me to appreciate many of the finer things in life.  The quiet, the outdoors, the wildflowers, rocks, trees, leaves, soil.  He was an avid gardener.  I can still picture the beautiful yard of our childhood home.  It was humble to be sure but beautiful with green lawns, flowering beds and fruit trees heavy with ripening fruit.   His current summertime home  . . .  the yard during the summer months resembles something right out of Better Homes and Gardens.  I think I learned / earned my green thumb from my dad for certain . . . but I still can't match his tomatoes, pumpkins or green peppers.

We enjoyed the symphony together . . . he taught me how to listen for and identify each instrument and pick out their own unique sounds, rhythms from a full orchestra.  He relayed over and over again the story of Peter and the Wolf.  He would lay on the floor with us and read poetry - the Jabberwocky, Little Boy Blue, The Owl and the Pussy Cat.  Which are all included below so I can read them and reminisce  :)

HaPPY BirthdAY to You DAd!

Here's to another 80 years . . .

Oh . . . and did I forget to mention . . . where I inherited my love for traveling?

From Dad of course!  That's why we had to make a temporary trip to Hawaii for a fine Hawaiian Luau to celebrate his 80th birthday!  Aloha!   The best part is I get to take mom and dad to Kauai for a week in April!  

Little Boy Blue - 
The little toy dog is covered with dust,
   But sturdy and stanch he stands;
And the little toy soldier is red with rust,
   And his musket moulds in his hands.
Time was when the little toy dog was new,
   And the soldier was passing fair;
And that was the time when our Little Boy Blue
   Kissed them and put them there.

"Now, don't you go till I come," he said,
   "And don't you make any noise!"
So, toddling off to his trundle-bed,
   He dreamt of the pretty toys;
And, as he was dreaming, an angel song
   Awakened our Little Boy Blue---
Oh! the years are many, the years are long,
   But the little toy friends are true!

Ay, faithful to Little Boy Blue they stand,
   Each in the same old place---
Awaiting the touch of a little hand,
   The smile of a little face;
And they wonder, as waiting the long years through
   In the dust of that little chair,
What has become of our Little Boy Blue,
   Since he kissed them and put them there.

"Jabberwocky"

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

THE OWL AND THE PUSSY-CAT

I

The Owl and the Pussy Cat 1 by Edward Lear

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
'O lovely Pussy! O Pussy my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!'

II

The Owl and the Pussy Cat 2 by Edward Lear

Pussy said to the Owl, 'You elegant fowl!
How charmingly sweet you sing!
O let us be married! too long we have tarried:
But what shall we do for a ring?'
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the Bong-tree grows
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose,
His nose,
His nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.

III

The Owl and the Pussy Cat 3 by Edward Lear

'Dear pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
Your ring?' Said the Piggy, 'I will.'
So they took it away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.

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Faith . . . is hard sometimes . . .

Man . . .

Life is rough . . .

It can be really tough sometimes.

I remember the day we had my little 8 and 7 year old nephew and niece over to play for the day, while their parents were out running errands.  They mentioned the 8 year old hadn't been feeling well,  and although he had had frequent fevers the last little while . . . they didn't think he was contagious.  I remember that awful, sick feeling when they told us the next day - the 8 year old had just been diagnosed with acute mylogeneous leukemia.  One day everything is rosy . . . and the next changed forever . . .

I remember the day when I was 8 months pregnant expecting our first baby, and my family had all traveled to Hawaii without my husband and I as I couldn't fly at that stage of the game.  I remember getting a phone call telling us that my father had fallen off a cliff and was in critical condition in a small Hawaiian hospital and they weren't sure if he was going to survive or not . . .

I remember the morning one of my best friends and neighbors called to tell me she hadn't felt the baby move inside her womb that she could think of for the last several hours . . . I remember reassuring her it was probably nothing but she needed to make a visit to the doctors to be sure.  I remember being overcome with grief for her as she learned her baby had passed away just days before her due date . . .

I remember being at work one night late and getting a text to pray for my nephew who had been involved in an auto accident.  I remember crying alone in a dark room and praying that his life would be spared, and not to take the life of a young 19 year old boy, just at the beginning of so many important forks in the road.  I remember jumping in the car to travel to his hometown with family to be there and support my brother and his wife and family only to learn he had passed away as we traveled . . .

I remember hearing the news that a beloved childhood friend was stricken with a brain tumor . . .

I remember just yesterday seeing the local news that two boys, brothers ages 14 and 7 had perished in an avalanche while snowmobiling in Utah . . .

I remember just barely reading a friends blog about the sudden and unexpected death of her husband and father of their two young boys . . . while far away from his home and family . . .

How does one even begin to get through the minutes . . . the hours . . . days, weeks and months that follow . . .

Only through Faith.

Faith in a Savior, even Jesus Christ, a healer of our souls.  Trust in a Savior who has suffered for our sake that during times such as these, we might still have hope.  The pain that we feel . . . he has suffered.  He has been there, been through it all, and can help us through.  

If we will exercise even a particle of faith . . .

Even with a knowledge that families CAN be together forever, we still suffer, and life is tough . . .

because sometimes . . .

Faith is hard . . . it is.

Life is short.

There isn't any time for disagreements, for hurt feelings, for pride, contention. There isn't time.


Never
      Never
Never . . . . Never
 . . . Never


Take life for granted.

Learn more about Faith, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

You're invited . . .

Finding Faith in Christ

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This . . . is Incredible . . .

I know that I have an appreciation for music that started many years ago.  I frequently reflect on my youth and my dad's love for classical music, and generally,  music of many different genre's and how that has influenced my life throughout my life.  
As a youth, inspiring me to pursue musical studies, as a mom, inspiring my children to pursue and gain an appreciation for many different types of music.  And looking back what a blessing it has been to my life forever.

Music touches us in so many different ways .  . . 
It's a way to express an aspect of our personal identity, helps us relax, helps us to manage our moods or change our outlook for the day or moment.  Frequently it wakes us up, makes us want to dance or sing, or soothes us when we're sad . . .

So I guess that's one reason why I find this  . . .

Incredible . . .





Landfill Harmonic movie teaser from Landfill Harmonic on Vimeo.

What do you think?
How has music been a positive influence in your life?

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Why I like Book Group . . .

Most of the time we read the most amazing books . . .

But the truth is, most of them I probably would not pick up and read if it wasn't a selection decided upon by the "Book Group".  It's one of my favorite aspects of belonging to a book group . . . that everyone has such different taste in reading adventures, and it's a great experience to find a good book you wouldn't normally have read.

That's how I feel especially about our book for the month of February.


It actually appears to be kind of a long and difficult read . . .

River of Doubt

by Candice Millard

And it is 432 pages.  I have been postponing beginning the read . . . I was feeling a little intimidated by the subject and length of the book.

It's described as -
At once an incredible adventure narrative and a penetrating biographical portrait, The River of Doubt is the true story of Theodore Roosevelt’s harrowing exploration of one of the most dangerous rivers on earth.

The River of Doubt—it is a black, uncharted tributary of the Amazon that snakes through one of the most treacherous jungles in the world. Indians armed with poison-tipped arrows haunt its shadows; piranhas glide through its waters; boulder-strewn rapids turn the river into a roiling cauldron.

After his humiliating election defeat in 1912, Roosevelt set his sights on the most punishing physical challenge he could find, the first descent of an unmapped, rapids-choked tributary of the Amazon. Together with his son Kermit and Brazil’s most famous explorer, Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon, Roosevelt accomplished a feat so great that many at the time refused to believe it. In the process, he changed the map of the western hemisphere forever.


AND NOW - 

That I"ve started it . . . I can't put it down . . . it really is the most interesting story and it grabbed my attention right from the very beginning.  I'm finding it very inspiring and sparked my interest in Theodore Roosevelt . . . someone whom I previously hadn't found very interesting (shame on me!).

So if you're like me . . . and hesitate to jump into something outside your favorite genre.  I'm going to suggest you give this one a try . . . I highly recommend it!

You can see all the book on our 2012 - 2013 schedule at this blog post!

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