Stephanie Bradshaw’s Really Easy Chocolate Peppermint Treats

2 twelve-ounce bags of milk chocolate chips
2 twelve-ounce bags of white chocolate chips
about 10 candy canes

Cover a cookie sheet with wax paper. Melt both bags of milk chocolate chips together over the stove (stir constantly until melted so they don’t burn). Pour melted chocolate into the cookie sheet on top of the wax paper. Smooth with a spoon. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer until the chocolate hardens. Unwrap the candy canes and put them in a ziplock bag. Use a rolling pin to break them into small pieces. Melt both bags of the white chocolate and pour it into the cookie sheet on top of the milk chocolate layer, smoothing with a spoon. Sprinkle the candy cane pieces evenly over the top of the white chocolate before it hardens. Freeze until hard. Remove from the cookie sheet and break into small pieces. Enjoy!

December Enrichment Night

December 16th, 6:30pm (please note the date change)

• The 2nd Annual Cookie/Christmas Treat Exchange
• Fun Games
• Tasters Table with Demonstrations
• Last night to donate to the “Good Samaritan Project” for the homeless – needed are socks, coats/jackets, gloves/mittens, scarves, hats, outerwear pants (warm-up pants, snow pants, or any pants that can be used for layering) for all ages and genders.
• Last night to donate new children's books for the Book Club drive.

On December l6th, we will have our 2nd Annual Christmas Cookie and Treat Exchange. There will be a light dinner, some fun games, demo of Marva’s pumpkin roll (m-m-m-m good!) and then the exchange. If possible we are asked to bring a Christmas cookie or treat to share with others. If it is a new recipe, please bring a copy of the recipe so we can print it for all. Last year this event was very successful, and we all enjoyed ourselves, so put it on your calendar and come and join us.

Ward Christmas Brunch

West Valley 4th Ward wishes to extend an invitation to you, your family, and your friends to join in a Christmas celebration.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
From 10 am to 12 pm
A brunch will be served with music by the primary and congregation.

Faun Chidester's Date Bars

Filling: Cook until thickened:
1 C ground or chopped dates (raisins may be substituted). Sprinkle sugar from filling recipe over dates to keep them from sticking together.
1 C chopped walnuts
1/2 C water
1/2 C sugar
1 Tbs lemon juice

Crust:
1 C brown sugar
1 C shortening
2 eggs, beaten
2 C oat meal
1 Tbs vanilla
2 C flour
1 tsp soda
1 tsp salt

Mix together. Divide in half. Pat half of dough into an 8" square pan. Pour the date mixture over dough in pan. Pat out remainder of dough into an 8" square. Place on date mixture. Bake 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Cool. Cut into squares. Serve.

Dorene Lynch’s Easy Caramel Bars

1 Betty Crocker German Chocolate Cake Mix
1/3 cup evaporated milk
7 Tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup soft caramel (apple caramel dip) or Kraft caramel bits
1 cup milk chocolate chips (semi-sweet if preferred)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix cake mix, melted butter, and evaporated milk. Spread half of dough into brownie pan, bake for 7 minutes. Pull out of oven; spread caramel sauce, sprinkle chocolate chips, then crumble the rest of the dough over chocolate chips. Return to oven, bake 15-18 minutes. Note: For dripper 9x13 pan, double recipe.

Julie Manning's Bread Maker Rolls

2 eggs
1 cube of butter or margarine, melted
1 1/2 cups warm water
5 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar or honey
1 tablespoon yeast (I found SAF Instant 2 1/2 teaspoons salt works the best)
2 tablespoons powdered milk

Set bread machine to dough setting. Place first 6 ingredients in pan then add flour. Make indentation in flour and add yeast. Start machine. I do help machine by using a rubber scraper and mixing the flour with the wet ingredients. Add more flour if needed. Dough should be a smooth ball. If making bread you can cut the sugar or honey in half. Start dough setting. (It will take 1 1/2 hrs). When finished, preheat oven to 350. Roll dough into balls and place on greased cookie sheet. Let rise for 45 minutes. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Rub top of rolls with stick of butter or margarine.

New Heber Valley Retreat Photos

Here is a new slideshow of the Heber Valley Retreat photos collected from several different sisters who attended. Enjoy!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Trip to the Cannery

A new provident living group is being started and we are going to organize a monthly trip to different canneries in the area. The first of these will be on Saturday, November 22nd at 8:00am. We will be carpooling from the church at 7:30am. Please contact Jeneal Atkinson for a cannery price list or if you would like to sign up to go on the 22nd.

How to Leave a Comment on the Blog

Some of you had mentioned that you were having trouble leaving comments on the blog, so I thought I’d explain how that works. Under each new blog post, there is a link that says “Comments” with a number next to it. This is where you can read any comments left by others and you can also leave your own comments. If you click on “Comments,” a box will appear that says “Leave Your Comment.” Type your comment into this box, then below the comment it says “Choose an Identity.” This is where you sign in so that people can see who left the comment. If you have a Google or Gmail account, you can use that password and username to sign in here.

If you do not have a Google account yet, it is free, safe, and only takes a minute to sign up. Just click on “Sign Up Here,” and it will ask you to enter in your e-mail address, create a password, enter your name, type in the verification word that it gives you, check the box to accept the terms, and then click on “Continue” at the bottom. Make sure that you remember your password and username for later. After you sign up the first time, you will not have to go through these steps again – you will just need your name and password.

We decided to make it so that people could not leave anonymous comments for security reasons. So, sorry to make one extra step with signing in, but this will make it so we can all see who left the comments on the blog. We have also set it up so that each time someone leaves a comment on the blog it will automatically send an e-mail to me so that I can review the comments before they are posted – this will prevent strangers from leaving any inappropriate comments.

Enrichment Night November 11th at 6:30pm

Here is what we are planning for Enrichment Night:

• Family Home Evening Idea Packet (This will just be a handout – no discussion)

• Loom & Yarn (Come and find out how to make a scarf, stocking, etc.)

• Basic Computer Skills, or “Don't Be Afraid of that Mouse in your House” – The class will include the introduction of our New and Exciting West Valley 4th Ward Relief Society Blog and handouts of how to maneuver around some great LDS web sites

• Christmas Ideas Handout (Thoughtful Christmas gift ideas for friends and neighbors – cheap & inexpensive too)

• Free DVD of the Heber Valley Retreat Photos

Missionary Contact Information

Elder Joseph C. McManama
eldermcmanama@myldsmail.net
Birthday: January 24th
Mexico, Mexico City West Mission
PO Box 30150
Salt Lake City, Utah 84130-0150

Elder Scott Bowen
Family History Library
Church Offices
Salt Lake City, Utah