I have been trying out a couple of recipes, this one was really good, sorry no photos.
Recipe by Grace Parisi from the foodandwine.com
MASALA MARINADE
. 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
. 2 garlic cloves, minced
. 1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger
. 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
. 1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
. 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
. 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
. 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
. Salt and freshly ground pepper
CHICKEN
. 2 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, fat trimmed
. Salt and freshly ground pepper
. 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
. 1/4 cup blanched whole almonds
. 1 large onion, finely chopped
. 2 garlic cloves, minced
. 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
. 1 1/2 tablespoons garam masala
. 1 1/2 teaspoons pure chile powder
. 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
. One 35-ounce can peeled tomatoes, finely chopped, juices reserved
. Pinch of sugar
. 1 cup heavy cream
DIRECTIONS
. MAKE THE MASALA MARINADE: In a large glass or stainless steel bowl, combine the yogurt, garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, cardamom, cayenne and turmeric. Season with salt and pepper.
. PREPARE THE CHICKEN: Using a sharp knife, make a few shallow slashes in each piece of chicken. Add the chicken to the marinade, turn to coat and refrigerate overnight.
. Preheat the broiler and position a rack about 8 inches from the heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade; scrape off as much of the marinade as possible. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and spread the pieces on a baking sheet. Broil the chicken, turning once or twice, until just cooked through and browned in spots, about 12 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and cut it into 2-inch pieces.
. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of the oil. Add the almonds and cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer the almonds to a plate and let cool completely. In a food processor, pulse the almonds until finely ground.
. In a large enameled cast-iron casserole, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil until shimmering. Add the onion, garlic and ginger and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until tender and golden, about 8 minutes. Add the garam masala, chile powder and cayenne and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes with their juices and the sugar and season with salt and pepper. Cover partially and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 20 minutes. Add the cream and ground almonds and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 10 minutes longer. Stir in the chicken; simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring frequently, and serve.
. Variation The marinade and sauce here are also delicious with shrimp, lamb and vegetables.
MAKE AHEAD
. The Chicken Tikka Masala can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. Reheat gently before serving.
SERVE WITH
. Steamed basmati rice, rice pilaf or warm nan.
My Changes to the Recipe
The directions say to broil the chicken. I chopped the chicken up to marinate it and then I just cooked it in a separate pan for about 10 minutes and then added it into the tagine, don't add all of the juice.
When sauteing the onions, garlic, and ginger I added mushrooms, pablano and serrano peppers. I only did a half of the serrano, because I had some people over that hadn't tried Indian food before, so I didn't want to add too much of a kick.
I added cilantro in at the end and also some tomato paste, because it was really creamy. I added a dash of nutmeg, cardamon, red pepper flakes, and cumin.
Instead of nan, we used the fresh tortillas that you cook yourself and they were a pretty good substitute!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
"Your Happily Ever After"
I was flipping through the Ensign the other day and a few words caught my attention, "The Gospel Is the Way to Happily Ever After." I thought, what a cute phrase, and then I started to read through the talk and just loved it. I didn't have time to read it all then, but I was dying to listen to the rest of it, so I listened to it on the way to Salt Lake in my car and I was in awe of what I learned. This talk is by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf and it was given in the April 2010 General Young Women meeting that takes place a week prior to conference. I usually don't listen to the Young Women broadcast until later, because I just forget about it.
I put some photos in of President Dieter F. Uchtdorf and his wife. What a great example they are to us, and I just love the story that he shares! It gives me hope that with persistence, I might make someone see me in a different way, not just as friends. Haha! But I really do just love this talk, I can't stop thinking about it!
Your Happily Ever After
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Second Counselor in the First Presidency
Heavenly Father offers to you the greatest gift of all—eternal life—and the opportunity and infinite blessing of your own “happily ever after.”
My dear young sisters all around the world, I am grateful and honored to be with you today. President Thomas S. Monson and all the leaders of the Church love you; we pray for you, and we rejoice in your faithfulness.
Over the years I have been exposed to many beautiful languages—each of them is fascinating and remarkable; each has its particular charm. But as different as these languages can be, they often have things in common. For example, in most languages there exists a phrase as magical and full of promise as perhaps any in the world. That phrase is “Once upon a time.”
Aren’t those wonderful words to begin a story? “Once upon a time” promises something: a story of adventure and romance, a story of princesses and princes. It may include tales of courage, hope, and everlasting love. In many of these stories, nice overcomes mean and good overcomes evil. But perhaps most of all, I love it when we turn to the last page and our eyes reach the final lines and we see the enchanting words “And they lived happily ever after.”
Isn’t that what we all desire: to be the heroes and heroines of our own stories; to triumph over adversity; to experience life in all its beauty; and, in the end, to live happily ever after?
Today I want to draw your attention to something very significant, very extraordinary. On the first page of your Young Women Personal Progress book, you will find these words: “You are a beloved daughter of Heavenly Father, prepared to come to the earth at this particular time for a sacred and glorious purpose.”1
Sisters, those words are true! They are not made up in a fairy tale! Isn’t it remarkable to know that our eternal Heavenly Father knows you, hears you, watches over you, and loves you with an infinite love? In fact, His love for you is so great that He has granted you this earthly life as a precious gift of “once upon a time,” complete with your own true story of adventure, trial, and opportunities for greatness, nobility, courage, and love. And, most glorious of all, He offers you a gift beyond price and comprehension. Heavenly Father offers to you the greatest gift of all—eternal life—and the opportunity and infinite blessing of your own “happily ever after.”
But such a blessing does not come without a price. It is not given simply because you desire it. It comes only through understanding who you are and what you must become in order to be worthy of such a gift.
Trial Is Part of the Journey
For a moment, think back about your favorite fairy tale. In that story the main character may be a princess or a peasant; she might be a mermaid or a milkmaid, a ruler or a servant. You will find one thing all have in common: they must overcome adversity.
Cinderella has to endure her wicked stepmother and evil stepsisters. She is compelled to suffer long hours of servitude and ridicule.
In “Beauty and the Beast,” Belle becomes a captive to a frightful-looking beast in order to save her father. She sacrifices her home and family, all she holds dear, to spend several months in the beast’s castle.
In the tale “Rumpelstiltskin,” a poor miller promises the king that his daughter can spin straw into gold. The king immediately sends for her and locks her in a room with a mound of straw and a spinning wheel. Later in the story she faces the danger of losing her firstborn child unless she can guess the name of the magical creature who helped her in this impossible task.
In each of these stories, Cinderella, Belle, and the miller’s daughter have to experience sadness and trial before they can reach their “happily ever after.” Think about it. Has there ever been a person who did not have to go through his or her own dark valley of temptation, trial, and sorrow?
Sandwiched between their “once upon a time” and “happily ever after,” they all had to experience great adversity. Why must all experience sadness and tragedy? Why could we not simply live in bliss and peace, each day filled with wonder, joy, and love?
The scriptures tell us there must be opposition in all things, for without it we could not discern the sweet from the bitter.2 Would the marathon runner feel the triumph of finishing the race had she not felt the pain of the hours of pushing against her limits? Would the pianist feel the joy of mastering an intricate sonata without the painstaking hours of practice?
In stories, as in life, adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwise. Adversity helps to develop a depth of character that comes in no other way. Our loving Heavenly Father has set us in a world filled with challenges and trials so that we, through opposition, can learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience joy.
Let me share with you a personal experience I had as a teenager while our family was attending church in Frankfurt, Germany.
One Sunday the missionaries brought a new family to our meetings whom I hadn’t seen before. It was a mother with two beautiful daughters. I thought that these missionaries were doing a very, very good job.
I particularly took notice of the one daughter with gorgeous dark hair and large brown eyes. Her name was Harriet, and I think I fell in love with her from the first moment I saw her. Unfortunately, this beautiful young woman didn’t seem to feel the same about me. She had many young men who wanted to make her acquaintance, and I began to wonder if she would ever see me as anything but a friend. But I didn’t let that deter me. I figured out ways to be where she was. When I passed the sacrament, I made sure I was in the right position so that I would be the one to pass the sacrament to her.
When we had special activities at church, I rode my bike to Harriet’s house and rang the doorbell. Harriet’s mother usually answered. In fact, she opened the kitchen window of their apartment on the fourth floor and asked what I wanted. I would ask if Harriet would like a ride to church on my bicycle. Harriet’s mother would say, “No, she will be coming later, but I will be happy to ride with you to church.” This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, but how could I decline?
And so we rode to church. I must admit I had a very impressive road bike. Harriet’s mother sat on the top tube bar just in front of me, and I tried to be the most elegant bicycle driver over roads of rough cobblestone.
Time passed. While beautiful Harriet was seeing many other young men, it seemed that I could not make any headway with her.
Was I disappointed? Yes.
Was I defeated? Absolutely not!
Actually, looking back I recognize that it doesn’t hurt at all to be on good terms with the mother of the girl of your dreams.
Years later, after I had finished my training as a fighter pilot in the air force, I experienced a modern miracle in Harriet’s response to my continued courting. One day she said, “Dieter, you have matured much over these past years.”
I moved quickly after that, and within a few months I was married to the woman I had loved ever since I first saw her. The process hadn’t been easy—there were moments of suffering and despair—but finally my happiness was full, and it still is, even more so.
My dear young sisters, you need to know that you will experience your own adversity. None is exempt. You will suffer, be tempted, and make mistakes. You will learn for yourself what every heroine has learned: through overcoming challenges come growth and strength.
It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop.
There are those among you who, although young, have already suffered a full measure of grief and sorrow. My heart is filled with compassion and love for you. How dear you are to the Church. How beloved you are of your Heavenly Father. Though it may seem that you are alone, angels attend you. Though you may feel that no one can understand the depth of your despair, our Savior, Jesus Christ, understands. He suffered more than we can possibly imagine, and He did it for us; He did it for you. You are not alone.
If you ever feel your burden is too great to bear, lift your heart to your Heavenly Father, and He will uphold and bless you. He says to you, as He said to Joseph Smith, “[Your] adversity and [your] afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if [you] endure it well, God shall exalt [you] on high.”3
Enduring adversity is not the only thing you must do to experience a happy life. Let me repeat: how you react to adversity and temptation is a critical factor in whether or not you arrive at your own “happily ever after.”
Stay True to What You Know Is Right
Sisters, young sisters, beloved young sisters, stay true to what you know is right. Everywhere you look today, you will find promises of happiness. Ads in magazines promise total bliss if you will only buy a certain outfit, shampoo, or makeup. Certain media productions glamorize those who embrace evil or who give in to base instincts. Often these same people are portrayed as models of success and accomplishment.
In a world where evil is portrayed as good and good as evil, sometimes it is difficult to know the truth. In some ways it is almost like Little Red Riding Hood’s dilemma: when you are not quite sure what you are seeing, is it a beloved grandmother or is it a dangerous wolf?
I spent many years in the cockpit of an airplane. My task was to get a big jet safely from any part of the world to our desired destination. I knew with certainty that if I wanted to travel from New York to Rome, I needed to fly east. If some were to tell me that I should fly south, I knew there was no truth in their words. I would not trust them because I knew for myself. No amount of persuasion, no amount of flattery, bribery, or threats could convince me that flying south would get me to my destination because I knew.
We all search for happiness, and we all try to find our own “happily ever after.” The truth is, God knows how to get there! And He has created a map for you; He knows the way. He is your beloved Heavenly Father, who seeks your good, your happiness. He desires with all the love of a perfect and pure Father that you reach your supernal destination. The map is available to all. It gives explicit directions of what to do and where to go to everyone who is striving to come unto Christ and “stand as [a witness] of God at all times and in all things, and in all places.”4 All you have to do is trust your Heavenly Father. Trust Him enough to follow His plan.
Nevertheless, not all will follow the map. They may look at it. They may think it is reasonable, perhaps even true. But they do not follow the divine directions. Many believe that any road will take them to a “happily ever after.” Some may even become angry when others who know the way try to help and tell them. They suppose that such advice is outdated, irrelevant, out of touch with modern life.
Sisters, they suppose wrong.
The Gospel Is the Way to Happily Ever After
I understand that, at times, some may wonder why they attend Church meetings or why it is so important to read the scriptures regularly or pray to our Heavenly Father daily. Here is my answer: You do these things because they are part of God’s path for you. And that path will take you to your “happily ever after” destination.
“Happily ever after” is not something found only in fairy tales. You can have it! It is available for you! But you must follow your Heavenly Father’s map.
Sisters, please embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ! Learn to love your Heavenly Father with all your heart, might, and mind. Fill your souls with virtue, and love goodness. Always strive to bring out the best in yourself and others.
Learn to accept and act upon the Young Women values. Live the standards in For the Strength of Youth. These standards guide and direct you to your “happily ever after.” Living these standards will prepare you to make sacred covenants in the temple and establish your own legacy of goodness in your individual circumstances. “Stand . . . in holy places, and be not moved,”5 regardless of temptations or difficulties. I promise you that future generations will be grateful for you and praise your name for your courage and faithfulness during this crucial time of your life.
My dear young sisters—you who stand for truth and righteousness, you who seek goodness, you who have entered the waters of baptism and walk in the ways of the Lord—our Father in Heaven has promised that you will “mount up with wings as eagles; [you] shall run, and not be weary; and [you] shall walk, and not faint.”6 You “shall not be deceived.”7 God will bless and prosper you.8 “The gates of hell shall not prevail against you; . . . and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory.”9
Sisters, we love you. We pray for you. Be strong and of good courage. You are truly royal spirit daughters of Almighty God. You are princesses, destined to become queens. Your own wondrous story has already begun. Your “once upon a time” is now.
As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I leave you my blessing and give you a promise that as you accept and live the values and principles of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, “[you] will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.”10 And the day will come when you turn the final pages of your own glorious story; there you will read and experience the fulfillment of those blessed and wonderful words: “And they lived happily ever after.” Of this I testify in the holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.
NOTES
1. Young Women Personal Progress (booklet, 2009), 1.
2. See 2 Nephi 2:11, 15.
3. Doctrine and Covenants 121:7–8.
4. Mosiah 18:9.
5. Doctrine and Covenants 87:8.
6. Isaiah 40:31.
7. Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:37.
8. See Mosiah 2:22–24.
9. Doctrine and Covenants 21:6.
10. Young Women Personal Progress, 3.
I know this analogy is going to sound a little cheesy, but there is so much truth and power to it. As I was reading this talk, I thought back to when I was little, I dressed up as a princess and I dreamed of living in a castle. Every girl dreamed of this. Everyone wants a "Happily Ever After" ending to their own lives. As I thought of this, I realized that I do have this fairy tale life. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I will have a "Happily Ever After." I will one day meet my prince charming and we together will live as King and Queen in a palace unimaginable. We can't even fathom this. We know that we will one day be exalted and we will live for ever. We will be able to have eternal life if we live righteously in this life. Just as in the fairy tales, they all have trials. We too have trials, sometimes unbearable and we wonder if they will ever end; they will and we will be strengthened through them. Why would we ever want to jeopardize what we are promised to inherit. I put the two photos on of "castles" the top photo is of the Salt Lake LDS Temple, as we enter the temple and stay true to the covenants that we make, we will be able to inherit eternal life. It won't end in this life, it will continue on forever, and we will be able to live with our loved ones and most importantly our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Fairy tales end with "Happily Ever After," but that is just the beginning, it doesn't end.
I just love this talk, and I wanted to share it with everyone I know. Especially with girls like me, that are stuck in a spot where we see no end to being single. This talk gives me hope and makes me realize the great importance of the decision, it also makes me realize how much I have grown in the last 5 years. I am so thankful for all of the toads that I have kissed and dated, even though none of them turned to princes, one day I will get lucky and I will find the man of my dreams and I can look back at all of the other toads and see how they have prepared me to be the person I need to be in order to start my "Happily Ever After."
I put some photos in of President Dieter F. Uchtdorf and his wife. What a great example they are to us, and I just love the story that he shares! It gives me hope that with persistence, I might make someone see me in a different way, not just as friends. Haha! But I really do just love this talk, I can't stop thinking about it!
Your Happily Ever After
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Second Counselor in the First Presidency
Heavenly Father offers to you the greatest gift of all—eternal life—and the opportunity and infinite blessing of your own “happily ever after.”
My dear young sisters all around the world, I am grateful and honored to be with you today. President Thomas S. Monson and all the leaders of the Church love you; we pray for you, and we rejoice in your faithfulness.
Over the years I have been exposed to many beautiful languages—each of them is fascinating and remarkable; each has its particular charm. But as different as these languages can be, they often have things in common. For example, in most languages there exists a phrase as magical and full of promise as perhaps any in the world. That phrase is “Once upon a time.”
Aren’t those wonderful words to begin a story? “Once upon a time” promises something: a story of adventure and romance, a story of princesses and princes. It may include tales of courage, hope, and everlasting love. In many of these stories, nice overcomes mean and good overcomes evil. But perhaps most of all, I love it when we turn to the last page and our eyes reach the final lines and we see the enchanting words “And they lived happily ever after.”
Isn’t that what we all desire: to be the heroes and heroines of our own stories; to triumph over adversity; to experience life in all its beauty; and, in the end, to live happily ever after?
Today I want to draw your attention to something very significant, very extraordinary. On the first page of your Young Women Personal Progress book, you will find these words: “You are a beloved daughter of Heavenly Father, prepared to come to the earth at this particular time for a sacred and glorious purpose.”1
Sisters, those words are true! They are not made up in a fairy tale! Isn’t it remarkable to know that our eternal Heavenly Father knows you, hears you, watches over you, and loves you with an infinite love? In fact, His love for you is so great that He has granted you this earthly life as a precious gift of “once upon a time,” complete with your own true story of adventure, trial, and opportunities for greatness, nobility, courage, and love. And, most glorious of all, He offers you a gift beyond price and comprehension. Heavenly Father offers to you the greatest gift of all—eternal life—and the opportunity and infinite blessing of your own “happily ever after.”
But such a blessing does not come without a price. It is not given simply because you desire it. It comes only through understanding who you are and what you must become in order to be worthy of such a gift.
Trial Is Part of the Journey
For a moment, think back about your favorite fairy tale. In that story the main character may be a princess or a peasant; she might be a mermaid or a milkmaid, a ruler or a servant. You will find one thing all have in common: they must overcome adversity.
Cinderella has to endure her wicked stepmother and evil stepsisters. She is compelled to suffer long hours of servitude and ridicule.
In “Beauty and the Beast,” Belle becomes a captive to a frightful-looking beast in order to save her father. She sacrifices her home and family, all she holds dear, to spend several months in the beast’s castle.
In the tale “Rumpelstiltskin,” a poor miller promises the king that his daughter can spin straw into gold. The king immediately sends for her and locks her in a room with a mound of straw and a spinning wheel. Later in the story she faces the danger of losing her firstborn child unless she can guess the name of the magical creature who helped her in this impossible task.
In each of these stories, Cinderella, Belle, and the miller’s daughter have to experience sadness and trial before they can reach their “happily ever after.” Think about it. Has there ever been a person who did not have to go through his or her own dark valley of temptation, trial, and sorrow?
Sandwiched between their “once upon a time” and “happily ever after,” they all had to experience great adversity. Why must all experience sadness and tragedy? Why could we not simply live in bliss and peace, each day filled with wonder, joy, and love?
The scriptures tell us there must be opposition in all things, for without it we could not discern the sweet from the bitter.2 Would the marathon runner feel the triumph of finishing the race had she not felt the pain of the hours of pushing against her limits? Would the pianist feel the joy of mastering an intricate sonata without the painstaking hours of practice?
In stories, as in life, adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwise. Adversity helps to develop a depth of character that comes in no other way. Our loving Heavenly Father has set us in a world filled with challenges and trials so that we, through opposition, can learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience joy.
Let me share with you a personal experience I had as a teenager while our family was attending church in Frankfurt, Germany.
One Sunday the missionaries brought a new family to our meetings whom I hadn’t seen before. It was a mother with two beautiful daughters. I thought that these missionaries were doing a very, very good job.
I particularly took notice of the one daughter with gorgeous dark hair and large brown eyes. Her name was Harriet, and I think I fell in love with her from the first moment I saw her. Unfortunately, this beautiful young woman didn’t seem to feel the same about me. She had many young men who wanted to make her acquaintance, and I began to wonder if she would ever see me as anything but a friend. But I didn’t let that deter me. I figured out ways to be where she was. When I passed the sacrament, I made sure I was in the right position so that I would be the one to pass the sacrament to her.
When we had special activities at church, I rode my bike to Harriet’s house and rang the doorbell. Harriet’s mother usually answered. In fact, she opened the kitchen window of their apartment on the fourth floor and asked what I wanted. I would ask if Harriet would like a ride to church on my bicycle. Harriet’s mother would say, “No, she will be coming later, but I will be happy to ride with you to church.” This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, but how could I decline?
And so we rode to church. I must admit I had a very impressive road bike. Harriet’s mother sat on the top tube bar just in front of me, and I tried to be the most elegant bicycle driver over roads of rough cobblestone.
Time passed. While beautiful Harriet was seeing many other young men, it seemed that I could not make any headway with her.
Was I disappointed? Yes.
Was I defeated? Absolutely not!
Actually, looking back I recognize that it doesn’t hurt at all to be on good terms with the mother of the girl of your dreams.
Years later, after I had finished my training as a fighter pilot in the air force, I experienced a modern miracle in Harriet’s response to my continued courting. One day she said, “Dieter, you have matured much over these past years.”
I moved quickly after that, and within a few months I was married to the woman I had loved ever since I first saw her. The process hadn’t been easy—there were moments of suffering and despair—but finally my happiness was full, and it still is, even more so.
My dear young sisters, you need to know that you will experience your own adversity. None is exempt. You will suffer, be tempted, and make mistakes. You will learn for yourself what every heroine has learned: through overcoming challenges come growth and strength.
It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop.
There are those among you who, although young, have already suffered a full measure of grief and sorrow. My heart is filled with compassion and love for you. How dear you are to the Church. How beloved you are of your Heavenly Father. Though it may seem that you are alone, angels attend you. Though you may feel that no one can understand the depth of your despair, our Savior, Jesus Christ, understands. He suffered more than we can possibly imagine, and He did it for us; He did it for you. You are not alone.
If you ever feel your burden is too great to bear, lift your heart to your Heavenly Father, and He will uphold and bless you. He says to you, as He said to Joseph Smith, “[Your] adversity and [your] afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if [you] endure it well, God shall exalt [you] on high.”3
Enduring adversity is not the only thing you must do to experience a happy life. Let me repeat: how you react to adversity and temptation is a critical factor in whether or not you arrive at your own “happily ever after.”
Stay True to What You Know Is Right
Sisters, young sisters, beloved young sisters, stay true to what you know is right. Everywhere you look today, you will find promises of happiness. Ads in magazines promise total bliss if you will only buy a certain outfit, shampoo, or makeup. Certain media productions glamorize those who embrace evil or who give in to base instincts. Often these same people are portrayed as models of success and accomplishment.
In a world where evil is portrayed as good and good as evil, sometimes it is difficult to know the truth. In some ways it is almost like Little Red Riding Hood’s dilemma: when you are not quite sure what you are seeing, is it a beloved grandmother or is it a dangerous wolf?
I spent many years in the cockpit of an airplane. My task was to get a big jet safely from any part of the world to our desired destination. I knew with certainty that if I wanted to travel from New York to Rome, I needed to fly east. If some were to tell me that I should fly south, I knew there was no truth in their words. I would not trust them because I knew for myself. No amount of persuasion, no amount of flattery, bribery, or threats could convince me that flying south would get me to my destination because I knew.
We all search for happiness, and we all try to find our own “happily ever after.” The truth is, God knows how to get there! And He has created a map for you; He knows the way. He is your beloved Heavenly Father, who seeks your good, your happiness. He desires with all the love of a perfect and pure Father that you reach your supernal destination. The map is available to all. It gives explicit directions of what to do and where to go to everyone who is striving to come unto Christ and “stand as [a witness] of God at all times and in all things, and in all places.”4 All you have to do is trust your Heavenly Father. Trust Him enough to follow His plan.
Nevertheless, not all will follow the map. They may look at it. They may think it is reasonable, perhaps even true. But they do not follow the divine directions. Many believe that any road will take them to a “happily ever after.” Some may even become angry when others who know the way try to help and tell them. They suppose that such advice is outdated, irrelevant, out of touch with modern life.
Sisters, they suppose wrong.
The Gospel Is the Way to Happily Ever After
I understand that, at times, some may wonder why they attend Church meetings or why it is so important to read the scriptures regularly or pray to our Heavenly Father daily. Here is my answer: You do these things because they are part of God’s path for you. And that path will take you to your “happily ever after” destination.
“Happily ever after” is not something found only in fairy tales. You can have it! It is available for you! But you must follow your Heavenly Father’s map.
Sisters, please embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ! Learn to love your Heavenly Father with all your heart, might, and mind. Fill your souls with virtue, and love goodness. Always strive to bring out the best in yourself and others.
Learn to accept and act upon the Young Women values. Live the standards in For the Strength of Youth. These standards guide and direct you to your “happily ever after.” Living these standards will prepare you to make sacred covenants in the temple and establish your own legacy of goodness in your individual circumstances. “Stand . . . in holy places, and be not moved,”5 regardless of temptations or difficulties. I promise you that future generations will be grateful for you and praise your name for your courage and faithfulness during this crucial time of your life.
My dear young sisters—you who stand for truth and righteousness, you who seek goodness, you who have entered the waters of baptism and walk in the ways of the Lord—our Father in Heaven has promised that you will “mount up with wings as eagles; [you] shall run, and not be weary; and [you] shall walk, and not faint.”6 You “shall not be deceived.”7 God will bless and prosper you.8 “The gates of hell shall not prevail against you; . . . and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory.”9
Sisters, we love you. We pray for you. Be strong and of good courage. You are truly royal spirit daughters of Almighty God. You are princesses, destined to become queens. Your own wondrous story has already begun. Your “once upon a time” is now.
As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I leave you my blessing and give you a promise that as you accept and live the values and principles of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, “[you] will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.”10 And the day will come when you turn the final pages of your own glorious story; there you will read and experience the fulfillment of those blessed and wonderful words: “And they lived happily ever after.” Of this I testify in the holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.
NOTES
1. Young Women Personal Progress (booklet, 2009), 1.
2. See 2 Nephi 2:11, 15.
3. Doctrine and Covenants 121:7–8.
4. Mosiah 18:9.
5. Doctrine and Covenants 87:8.
6. Isaiah 40:31.
7. Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:37.
8. See Mosiah 2:22–24.
9. Doctrine and Covenants 21:6.
10. Young Women Personal Progress, 3.
I know this analogy is going to sound a little cheesy, but there is so much truth and power to it. As I was reading this talk, I thought back to when I was little, I dressed up as a princess and I dreamed of living in a castle. Every girl dreamed of this. Everyone wants a "Happily Ever After" ending to their own lives. As I thought of this, I realized that I do have this fairy tale life. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I will have a "Happily Ever After." I will one day meet my prince charming and we together will live as King and Queen in a palace unimaginable. We can't even fathom this. We know that we will one day be exalted and we will live for ever. We will be able to have eternal life if we live righteously in this life. Just as in the fairy tales, they all have trials. We too have trials, sometimes unbearable and we wonder if they will ever end; they will and we will be strengthened through them. Why would we ever want to jeopardize what we are promised to inherit. I put the two photos on of "castles" the top photo is of the Salt Lake LDS Temple, as we enter the temple and stay true to the covenants that we make, we will be able to inherit eternal life. It won't end in this life, it will continue on forever, and we will be able to live with our loved ones and most importantly our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Fairy tales end with "Happily Ever After," but that is just the beginning, it doesn't end.
I just love this talk, and I wanted to share it with everyone I know. Especially with girls like me, that are stuck in a spot where we see no end to being single. This talk gives me hope and makes me realize the great importance of the decision, it also makes me realize how much I have grown in the last 5 years. I am so thankful for all of the toads that I have kissed and dated, even though none of them turned to princes, one day I will get lucky and I will find the man of my dreams and I can look back at all of the other toads and see how they have prepared me to be the person I need to be in order to start my "Happily Ever After."
Ribbon Necklace
I saw one of these and thought they were way cute, so I decided to try and make one. They are super easy and super cheap! The cost on everything was around $3!
Clutch
I have loved clutches lately, I think they are so cute and sometimes I get so sick of hauling a big purse around. I have also needed a project that will use up a lot of wool from my stash. I was excited how it turned out, I am not very good with zippers so I still need to practice on that. I am usually not very good with ruffles either, but I figured out that I have been doing it wrong. When you pull the strings you only pull the top thread! It was a cinch after I figured that out! The wool is from an old lady skirt and the lace and lining are from thrift stores. I love making use of old things. Total cost on this was probably 2 bucks! I love the lining fabric! I was sad it was only a yard of fabric, so I need to use it wisely!
The power of vinegar!
When I first moved into my house, I ran the dishwasher without any jet dry. Big mistake! I thought my glasses were ruined! Every time I had people over I had to apologize for how gross my glasses looked. I had no idea that there was a solution! I went a year and a half with gross glasses! This picture was taken a while after I cleaned them, I thought I cleaned them all; one dirty one surfaced from my room mates room weeks later. I was kind of glad so I could see a comparison. I just soaked them in vinegar and they came clean! I was so happy, I love drinking out of them! I know I am a nerd!
Earring Holder
I have been wanting to make this forever. I love it! I used an old frame that I found in my grandpas basement, scrap book paper for the backing and then some netting on top to hold the earrings.
Chicken Noodle Soup
In Logan it has been so cold, I think we have had 1-2 warm days. I love soup on rainy days!
I have no set recipe, I just kind of throw stuff in.
Boil 1 chicken breast for about 15 minutes. After cooked and cooled
Save water to add in later, I save at least 4 cups and then add 2-3 bouillon cubes after.
Slice a handful of baby carrots
Slice 2-3 celery sticks
Slice a 1/3 yellow onion
Pepper (I use freshly ground) and salt (I usually use Kosher salt) to taste
1-2 tsp Parsley (fresh if you have it, but if not dried works fine.)
1 tsp thyme
Saute these in olive oil for 5 minutes or so.
Add I-2 cans of Swansons Chicken broth, depending on how much juice you want, add water from chicken and bouillon cubes. Cook for 8 minutes, add noodles. I use probably a cup and a half of homemade style noodles. Cook for another 8 minutes and then add chicken and cook for 5 minutes.
I love making soups, they are so easy to just throw stuff in a pot. It is a good way to use up veggies that are almost going bad.
Fancy Dinner Party!
My friends and I wanted to make a fancy dinner and get all dressed up. After making plans for it we decided to get dates. I was really excited about the date thing, and I think that my friends started to hesitate on the date, but I made them because I already asked mine. I know this sounds way forward, but someone's got to do the asking and the guys aren't. :) I think the guys had fun, although they didn't get into the dressing up like we did. Here are some of the photos of the food ( I just snapped some fast ones), I wanted to get photos of everyone there, but the guys already thought we were weird!
Menu:
Appetizers: Bruschetta
Main Course: Chicken Marsala
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Steamed Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce
Dessert: Fruit Pizza
Chicken Marsala Recipe:
This recipe is from the Food Network chef Tyler Florence. We had 10 people so I had to double the recipe a bit.
Ingredients
4 skinless, boneless, chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)
All-purpose flour, for dredging
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced (We didn't use the prosciutto, but it would have been great!)
8 ounces crimini or porcini mushrooms, stemmed and halved
1/2 cup sweet Marsala wine
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
Directions
Put the chicken breasts side by side on a cutting board and lay a piece of plastic wrap over them; pound with a flat meat mallet, until they are about 1/4-inch thick. Put some flour in a shallow platter and season with a fair amount of salt and pepper; mix with a fork to distribute evenly.
Heat the oil over medium-high flame in a large skillet. When the oil is nice and hot, dredge both sides of the chicken cutlets in the seasoned flour, shaking off the excess. Slip the cutlets into the pan and fry for 5 minutes on each side until golden, turning once – do this in batches if the pieces don't fit comfortably in the pan. Remove the chicken to a large platter in a single layer to keep warm.
Lower the heat to medium and add the prosciutto to the drippings in the pan, saute for 1 minute to render out some of the fat. Now, add the mushrooms and saute until they are nicely browned and their moisture has evaporated, about 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Pour the Marsala in the pan and boil down for a few seconds to cook out the alcohol. Add the chicken stock and simmer for a minute to reduce the sauce slightly. Stir in the butter and return the chicken to the pan; simmer gently for 1 minute to heat the chicken through. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
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