FREE Downloads

Amazon has tons of FREE MP3 Downloads available! There are some great Christmas samplers including the Veggie Tales one pictured above. You can click HERE to see all of the selections available.

FOLLOW THE RECIPE FHE Lesson

PURPOSE
To help family members better understand the importance of following the Lord’s ‘recipe’ for happiness
MATERIALS
 Ingredients for cookies (or a cake)  A recipe for cookies (or a cake)  Pre-baked cookies (or cake)  A set of scriptures
SONG SUGGESTIONS
 “Choose the Right Way” page 160 in the Children’s Songbook  “I Will Follow God’s Plan” page 164 in the Children’s Songbook
LESSON IDEAS
1. Explain that the family will have the opportunity to make cookies (or a cake). Explain that no one will be allowed to use a recipe. (Mom might give a few hints, but avoid helping them be too successful!)
2. Begin making the cookies. Allow family members to:
a. Decide on needed ingredients and add them to a bowl
b. Determine a temperature for baking and set the temperature
c. Pick an amount of time for cooking and set the timer
d. Put the cookies in the oven

3. While the cookies are baking, you may want to discuss the following:
a. How hard was it not to have a recipe?
b. Did everyone agree on the ingredients, the baking temperature, the baking time?

4. Bring out the pre-baked cookies.
a. Hold up the recipe.
b. Tell them how easy it was to make when you used the recipe.

5. Explain that in life there is something much more important than making cookies. It is finding true happiness!
a. Help family members understand that many people struggle in finding happiness because they don’t have the ‘recipe’.
b. Ask, “Where can we find Heavenly Father’s recipe for happiness?”
c. Hold up a set of scriptures

6. Testify to your family that Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to be happy so He put the recipe for happiness in the scriptures. You may want to share the following quote:
a. President Gordon B. Hinckley: “The way of the Lord is the way of happiness. >Wickedness never was happiness= [Alma 41:10]. Transgression never was happiness. Sin never was happiness. Disobedience never was happiness. The way of happiness is following the way of the Lord. I believe this with all my heart” (Ensign, Aug. 1997, 3).
b. Testify that happiness is easy when we follow the instructions He has given us.

7. When the baking is finished allow families members to taste the difference between the cookies!

ACTIVITY IDEAS
.  Explain to your family that part of the recipe for happiness is service. Plan a
service project for someone in the neighborhood or community. Encourage your family members to observe how they feel when they are serving others.

Printable Coupons

click on the Store you are interested in and it will take you to the site for the coupons

Aeropostale – 30% off purchase 11/21
Banana Republic – 20% off $125+ purchase when you use your VISA Card Exp 12/24
Bath & Body Works – $10 off $30 Exp 11/21
Bath & Body Works – Free Travel Size Signature Travel Collection Item With Any Purchase Exp 12/1
Bed Bath & Beyond – Sign up for email newsletter and get 20% off coupon
Coldwater Creek – $30 off $100 Exp 11/30
The Container Store – Organized Teacher’s Program 15% off each purchase
Dress Barn – 20% off purchase Exp 11/21
ESPRIT – 20% off purchase
Express – Sign up for their Email Newsletter and get 15% off your next purchase.
Family Christian – 25% off purchase Exp 11/21
Fashion Bug – Sign up for their Email Newsletter and get 15% off your next purchase.
Gap Outlet – 15% off first purchase when you sign up for their email newsletter.

Hobby Lobby – 40% off regular priced item Exp 11/20
JC Penney – $10 off $50 / $15 off $75 Valid 11/26 Only 3 – 11 pm
K-Mart – 25% off all Dora Puppy Toys Exp 11/24
Kohl’s – $5 off any purchase
Macy’s – 10% – 15% off purchase Valid 11/19 – 11/20
Michael’s – 40% off regular priced purchase Exp 11/20
New York & Co – $50 off $100 Exp 11/21
New York & Co - $25 off $75 for signing up for their Email Newsletter
Office Depot – $10 off $20 Exp 11/20
Office Max – Black Friday Coupons Valid 11/26 – 11/27
Old Navy – Barker’s Bones Coupon Hunt on Facebook – Updated every Thursday night
Payless Shoe Source – 15% off next purchase for signing up for their Email Newsletter
PETCO – 10% off cat food Exp 11/30
Pier 1 Imports – $10 off $50 Exp 12/24
P.S. from Aeropostale – 30% off purchase Exp 11/21
Shoe Carnival – $5 off when you sign up for their Email Newsletter
Sunglass Hut – $20 off non-prescription sunwear Exp 12/31
Tanger Outlet Mall – Coupon Booklet
Target – Coupons for Select Products
Walgreens – Various Coupons in the November Coupon Book (found in-store).
World Market – 25% off all furniture Exp 11/25
World Market – $10 off $30 Exp 11/20
Yankee Candle – $10 off $25 Exp 12/4
Yankee Candle – Buy 2 Get 2 Free Exp 11/28

Ok all the Thanksgiving Items you need are on sale click on each store below and it will take you to the link

Bashas's

Food City

Fresh and Easy

Fry's

Sprouts

Circular Shopping Deals

More Recipes for Thanksgiving

Apple Bacon Stuffing Muffins
(2) 10oz bags seasoned stuffing cubes
1/4 c chopped parsley
1/4 c chopped sage
1 pound thick cut bacon chopped
3 T butter
1 large onion chopped small
2 c diced celery
2 Granny Smith apples peeled and diced
2 cans chicken broth
1 c apple cider

Preheat oven to 350. Grease muffins tins. Put stuffing, parsley and sage in a large bowl. Heat skillet and cook bacon pieces until crispy. Add to bowl. Drain fat. Melt butter and sauté onion then celery, then apple adding to bowl after each is done. Add broth and cider to skillet and scrape bits off bottom. Add to bowl and toss all gently. Scoop into muffins tins molding gently and cover loosely with foil. Bake 15 minutes then remove foil and bake until lightly browned.

Sweet Potato Casserole
4 cups cooked mashed sweet potatoes
1/2 c granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
1/3 c milk
1/4 c melted butter
Topping
2/3 c packed brown sugar
1/3 c all purpose flour
1/3 c butter
1/2-1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 t cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 2 quart baking dish. In large bowl combine potatoes, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk and butter. Beat with mixer until smooth and spoon into prepared dish.

For topping: Combine brown sugar, flour, butter and pecans and combine with pastry blender or two knives until resembles coarse corn meal. You can add a little extra flour if needed. Sprinkle over casserole. Bake for 30 minutes until top is browned.

Vitamin D Deficiency and Moods

Having low vitamin D levels or Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to four mood disorders. Premenstrual syndrome, seasonal affective disorder (also known as winter blues), non-specified mood disorder, and major depressive disorder are all related to low vitamin D. Symptoms of a Vitamin D deficiency are muscle pain, weak bones, low energy, fatigue, lowered immunity, and symptoms of depression; moods swings, and sleep irregularities.

Vitamin D can increase the levels of serotonin, which controls your moods in your brain. Your vitamin D receptors are located in bone, skeletal muscle, immune cells, and several body tissues like the brain, prostate, breast and colon.

Premenstrual syndrome is when emotional and physical disturbances occur after a woman ovulates and usually ends with menstruation. The most common symptoms are irritability, crying, depression, over sensitivity, and mood swings.

Seasonal affective disorder, or winter blues, is a mood disorder that affects people in the winter months. They have normal mental health throughout most of the year but experience depressive symptoms in the winter. This usually happens year after year. A person with seasonal affective disorder may sleep too much, have no energy, and crave starchy foods and sweets.

Major depressive disorder is when you have low self-esteem, and loss of interest in things that once pleased you.

Vitamin D can be found in food, but only a few foods are a good source of it. Because only a few foods have a good amount, some people should take vitamin D supplements if they are not exposed to sunlight on their skin on a regular basis. You can find vitamin D in the following foods: pure cod oil (check the label because some companies removed the vitamin), salmon, mackerel, canned tuna fish in oil, canned sardines in oil, milk (non fat, reduced fat, whole and vitamin d fortified), margarine, pudding (if it is prepared from mix using vitamin d fortified milk), some ready to eat cereals, eggs (vitamin d is found in the yolk), beef liver, and Swiss cheese.

Another source of vitamin D is sunlight. Sunlight is far more likely to provide you with your daily vitamin D requirement than your food intake will. It only takes about ten to fifteen minutes of sunlight for your body to take in the vitamin. After this time you should apply a sunscreen of at least and SPF of 15 to protect your skin. You want to expose your face, hands, arms, or back at least two times a week to the sunlight without sunscreen to get the adequate amount of vitamin D.

To make sure you do not get a vitamin D deficiency; allow yourself limited, unprotected exposure to the sun, eat a diet that’s rich in whole foods, take a multivitamin everyday to make sure you are filling in any gaps of vitamins you may not be getting enough of, and take a vitamin D supplement on a daily basis. You can also see your health care provider to get tested to see if you are vitamin D deprived and come up with a plan to get you on the right track.

The US Recommended Daily Allowance for Vitamin D is:

*Infants, children and adults up to 50 years of age - 200 IU of Vitamin D per day
*Pregnant and lactating women of all ages, 200 IU of Vitamin D per day
*Adults 51 to 70 years old, 400 IU of Vitamin D per day
*Adults above 70 years old, 600 IU of Vitamin D per day

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Pumpkin pie is the classic Thanksgiving dessert. But you can riff off the traditional recipe and make Pumpkin Cheesecake instead. I like this recipe from Martha Stewart, although I prefer to substitute gingersnap cookies for graham crackers in the crust -- it just adds a little bright spice.

Sure, you might hate yourself in the morning given the calorie content of this heavenly dessert, but isn't that what Thanksgiving is all about?

Crust:

1 1/4 cups gingersnap cookies (crushed into crumbs)
1/4 cup melted butter
Combine crushed cookies and melted butter. Press into bottom and up sides of 9" springform pan. Bake at 350 minutes until golden -- about 10-12 minutes.

Filling:

4 (8-oz) packages softened cream cheese
1 1/4 cups sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs
The secret to keeping your cheesecake from cracking is not to over-mix the filling. Also, resist the urge to open the door and peek inside the oven while it's cooking (something I'm totally guilty of!).

Beat cream cheese and sugar with mixer on low speed until smooth; mix in flour. Add pumpkin puree, pie spice, vanilla, and salt; mix until smooth. Add eggs one at a time.

Place springform pan on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour filling into springform, and gently smooth top. Bake 45 minutes at 300 degrees.

Turn off oven; let cheesecake stay in oven 2 hours more (without opening). Remove from oven; cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate until firm -- at least 4 hours.