Mom's Sweet Recipes

Congo Squares

3/4 c butter
1 lb brown sugar

Melt together until sugar dissolves. Allow to cool and add:

3 eggs, one at a time
1 tsp. vanilla
In a separate bowl, sift together:
2 1/2 c flour
2 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Add butter/sugar mixture to flour mixture. When batter is completely cool, add:

1 12oz. bag chocolate chips
chopped walnuts, if desired.

Pour into greased and floured 9 x 13 x 2 pan. Bake at 350 for 30-35 min, until golden.

Mom's Peach Pie

Crust:
1 cube butter
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 c flour
pinch salt

Combine dry ingredients, then cut butter in. Press into pie tin and flute edges. Bake at 350 for 15-20 min.

Filling:
1/2 c cold pineapple juice
1/4 c corn starch
pinch salt
3/4 c sugar
1 sm pkg Peach Jell-O
2 Tbsp lemon juice
4 large peaches

Add 2/3 c boiling water and cook until thick; add Jell-O and boil 1 min. Remove from heat and add lemon juice. Let set up partially in bowl, then cut peaches into mixture and pour into crust. Keep refrigerated.

Sour Cream Chocolate Cake

2 c flour
2 c sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 c water
1 c butter
1/4 c baking cocoa
1/2 c sour cream
2 eggs
1 c chocolate chips

Combine flour, sugar, soda and salt; set aside. In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt together butter, cocoa and water; bring to a low boil. Pour into flour mixture and stir to combine. Beat in sour cream and eggs. When mixture has cooled sufficiently, stir in chocolate chips. Pour into greased 9 x 13 x 2 pan and bake at 350 for 35-38 min. Cool for 5 min.

Frosting:

1/4 c butter
3 Tbsp milk
2 Tbsp baking cocoa
2 c powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

While cake is cooling, combine butter, milk and cocoa in saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and powdered sugar, mixing until smooth. Pour over warm cake.

Hard Things are Good Things, too

So, a few weeks ago in RS we had a lesson on gratitude. Our teacher took it a step further, asking us to find good in our trials, even gratitude for our afflictions. Upon considering my teacher's remarks, I can honestly say, looking back, that I am extremely grateful for some of the ugliest trials I have suffered through, because they have strengthened me, changed me, and helped me to know how to empathize with others who have suffered or do suffer as well. Even the trials I have brought upon myself by my own poor choices, although it would have been better to avoid them altogether, have given me a greater appreciation for the infinite blessings of the Savior's Atonement. I'm working also to look for good in trials as I am suffering them, which seems to be the most difficult for me to do.
Here is a quote from Elder Richard G. Scott's talk "The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace and Happiness":
"The Lord is intent on your personal growth and development. Your progress is accelerated when you willingly allow Him to lead you through every growth experience you encounter, whether you welcome the experience or not. Trust in the Lord. Ask to be led by the Spirit to know His will. Be willing to accept it. You will then qualify for the greatest happiness and the heights of attainment from this mortal experience."
The most important thing I've learned about the relationship between gratitude and affliction is that the more grateful I am, the less afflicted I feel, and the more afflicted I think I am, the less grateful I am able to be. The Savior is the source of all light and joy and peace; I know I am eternally indebted to Him for every breath I take, every smile I enjoy from my baby, every warm touch I am blessed to give or to receive. It is up to me to receive that Light.