Feature Sister

Sister Davies

Current Calling - Primary Worker

Carol was born in San Francisco and grew up in San Francisco and Pacifica. She has one daughter and is not married. Carol's favorite food is steak, french fries and salad. She loves to play computer games after work and her favorite color is purple. Carol's favorite flower is a gardenia and really likes dark chocolate and New York Cheesecake. Ever since she was little she wanted to be a working woman, and she currently works at her dream job, where she manages a medical practice in Burlingame. Carol was born into the church (a 7th generation Mormon) and was baptized in the Sunset Building.

Carol's favorite movie star is Charlton Heston and loves to watch such shows as Law & Order and CSI. Her most favorite church hymn is 'How Great Thou Art' and believes that all of the callings she has had have all been her favorite and have all been very special. Carol feels her biggest achievement so far in her life has been her reactivation in the church and states that her biggest dream is to be with Heavenly Father again.

Yummy in the tummy ...

The Only Marinade You'll Ever Need

(From Barbecue Bible, Sauces, Rubs and Marinades)

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon hot pepper flakes

1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper

1/2 teaspoon coarse salt (kosher or sea) or to taste

4 strips of lemon zest

3 cloves garlic, crushed with the side of a cleaver or minced

1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley

1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil, cilantro, dill, oregano, or a mix of all four

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Combine the lemon juice, hot pepper flakes, cracked pepper, and salt in a nonreactive (glass, ceramic, stainless steel) bowl and whisk until the salt crystals are dissolved.  Add the lemon zest, garlic, parsley, and basil.  Stir or whisk in the olive oil.  The virtue of this marinade is its freshness.  Use it within 1 -2 hours of making.  Stir again before using.  Makes 1 cup.

NEWS ALERT!!

Great News! Kendall & Lisa Allred are new to the ward. They have a little boy, almost 4 and an 11-week old baby girl. Kendall is doing a four year medical residency at UCSF hospital. Look for them on Sunday!

Yummy in the tummy ...

Chocolate Candy Bar Dessert

(from "The Magic of Jello")

Prep Time: 20 minutes Chill Time: 2 hours

2 cups chocolate wafer crumbs

1/2 cup butter, melted

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup granulated sugar

4 cups thawed Cool Whip whipped topping

1 cup chopped chocolate-covered crisp butter toffee bars (about 5 bars)

3 cups cold milk

2 pkgs (4 serving size) Jell-O Chocolate Instant Pudding & Pie Filling

1. Combine crumbs with butter. Press firmly onto bottom of 13 x 9 inch baking pan. Chill.
2. Mix cream cheese and sugar in a bowl with mixer until smooth. Gently stir in 1/2 of the whipped topping. Spread evenly over crust. Sprinkle chopped candy bars over cream cheese layer.
3. Pour milk into a large bowl. Add pudding mixes. Beat with mixer for 2 minutes. Pour over chopped candy bar layer. Let stand for 5 minutes or until thickened.
4. Spread remaining whipped topping over pudding layer.
5. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm. Garnish with additional chopped candy bars, if desired. Cut into squares. Store leftover dessert in refrigerator.

Makes 15 to 18 servings.

Feature Sister

Amy Anderson Benning

 

I was born April 1^st 1974 (yes, that’s April Fool’s Day) in Murray , UT. I grew up in Sandy , UT and loved it! Since I grew up in the church, I was baptized at age 8. I remember wearing white socks that had a little strawberry printed on the side and was concerned that my baptism might not work since they weren’t all white. But I’m pretty confident that it “took”.

 

I attended the original Jordan High School in Sandy (very historic school with lots of tradition – our mascot was the beetdigger) and then went on to BYU where I spent 6 years changing majors from English to Conservation Biology to Public Relations. The last one stuck and I graduated in  April 1998 in Communications. From there, I moved out to San Francisco for work, met a cute, tall guy in our stake’s YSA ward and the rest is history.

 

Consequently, I am married, even though you see me sitting alone in sacrament meeting… but not everyone gets to make faces at their husband as he sits on the stand. My husband is Michael Benning (a.k.a. Bishop) and we’ll be celebrating our 10^th wedding anniversary this July.

 

We have one child – Austin, who is 8 months and growing… to date, he is my biggest achievement. Being a stay-at-home-mom is my most ideal job (though my boss can be quite demanding at times). Despite working days, nights, swing-shift, weekends and holidays, the perks are great… I can’t get enough of Austin ’s rosy chub cheeks. My second-favorite job was working for the Pacifica Police Department as the chief’s assistant – law enforcement is very interesting, the people I worked with were wonderful and I got to wear a nifty uniform.

 

My favorite calling has to be the one where I was the most stretched but also the most rewarded – Young Women President. After being released and relieving some of the stress, I can now look back on that time and really see the Lord’s hand in guiding me as I worked with my girls. It was awesome to be a part of their lives during such an exciting and crucial point. And just when you thought they hadn’t heard a thing you taught them, they turn around and do something that does your heart proud!

 

I collect Pez candy dispensers, I dig paper crafts, I’m into taking/editing/publishing digital picture/video (I’m a first-time mom… go figure :) and as of late have been trying to visit as many National Parks/Monuments as possible

 

My favorite food is cheese – any kind of cheese. If I had to give up chocolate so I could still eat cheese, I would do it in a heartbeat. When it comes to candy, I do love and respect all chocolate varieties, but have a soft spot in my heart for all the fruity-tart candy I grew up with: Fun Dip, Pixie Stix, Jolly Ranchers, SweeTarts, Bottle Caps, Runts, Nerds, Gobstoppers and so on. For dessert, I’ll take a pie over a cake any day but also like a nice root beer float as well.

 

I grew up laughing uncontrollably during parts of the original Peter Sellers Pink Panther movies and have been a fan ever since (I’ve got the complete collection if anyone ever wants to do a Pink-Panther-a-thon with me – and yes, I do have the Pink Panther Pez collection :). I am also fond of the Lord of the Rings series. I also love “I Love Lucy” and “The Muppet Show” – old school, I know…

 

My dream vacation would be to visit Tahiti , other cool Caribbean islands and New Zealand (perhaps a little LOTR tour, no?).

 

As far as music goes, I’m very good at listening to it - my favorite hymns include “Come, Come Ye Saints,” “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “Be Still My Soul” and the Christmas Songs. I really like retro Latin jazz and campy stuff from the 50s & 60s. I’m also a big Ella Fitzgerald fan. And given my 80s upbringing, I can’t help but enjoy some good 80s tunes. Though I try to stay current, I have to say that I haven’t listened to much radio over the last 8 months… And despite my mother’s attempts at making me take piano lessons when I was young, about the only instrument I can play are the castanets.

Yummy in the Tummy!

Cheese-Sandwich Casserole

(From Deseret Recipes - serves 6)

12 slices of bread
6 slices of cheese (1/8" thick)
2 eggs, beaten
2 1/2 cups of milk
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard (optional)

Directions: Layer in greased baking dish 6 slices of bread, 6 slices of cheese on top of each slice of bread, and then the other 6 slices of bread on top of the slices of cheese. Mix together in a separate bowl the eggs, milk, salt, pepper and dry mustard and then pour over the cheese sandwiches in the baking dish. Chill in the refrigerator so milk mixture will soften the bread. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Feature Sister

Candice Lee

Name: Candice Lee

Where were you born? Salt Lake City

Where did you grow up? Utah

Any Children? 3 children, ages 3, 2 and 8 weeks.

Favorite Food: Thai, BBQ Tofu

Hobbies and Interests: Gardening, reading, Health & Wellness, cooking

Married? Yes, to Brian Lee married August 2004

Tell us about your schooling: I am finishing my degree from BYU in Business Management (Dec 2009)

Favorite Flower: Roses and wildflowers

Favorite Color: Green

Did you serve a mission? No

When were you baptized? In 1991, and no, I am not a convert.

Favorite Dessert: Chocolate cake with raspberry topping

Favorite Movie Star: Gregory Peck

Favorite Movie/TV Show: Planet Earth

Favorite Church Hymn: Love One Another

Favorite calling you have had: Sunday School Teacher

Do you play a musical instrument? Piano (sort of)

What is your dream vacation? Something that involves no packing, traveling or children!

What is your biggest dream? Not biggest, but I'd like to publish my cookbook.

What is your biggest achievement? Natural delivery of my son!! Wow! So Hard!

Do you work? All day long at home.

What is your ideal job or the most favorite job you have had? What I am doing, being a mom. Teaching is my favorite part of motherhood, but I like cooking as well.

As a child what did you want to be when you grew up? Teacher, wildlife photographer, search and rescue - funny, I do all these things, I just didn't think I'd be rescuing Teddy Bears, binkies and pink underpants!

Yummy in the Tummy ...

White Brownies

1 pound cake mix

1 stick butter (1/4 lb)

4 eggs

1 (8oz.) package of cream cheese

4 cups powdered sugar

Directions: Do not follow the directions on the cake mix box. Place pound cake mix, 2 eggs and 1 stick softened butter in mixing bowl and beat with electric beaters until well blended. Spread mix in bottom of 13 x 9-inch pan. Place softened cream cheese and 2 eggs in bowl and mix well until well blended. Slowly add 4 cups of powdered sugar, mixing until well blended. Pour cream cheese mixture over cake in pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Cool; cut into desired pieces. Store uncovered. Conventional bake at 325 degrees for 35 - 40 minutes.

Happy Mother's Day!

THE MAMA TEST

I was out walking with my 4-year-old daughter.

She picked up something off of the ground and started to put it in her mouth.

 I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that.

'Why?' my daughter asked..

'Because it's been on the ground; you don't know where it's been, it's dirty, and probably has germs,' I replied.

At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and asked, 'Mama, how do you know all this stuff? You are so smart.'

I was thinking quickly and replied, 'All moms know this stuff. It's on the Mama Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a Mama.'

We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes,

but she was evidently pondering this new information.

'Oh....I get it!' she beamed,

 

'So if you don't pass the test you have to be the dad.'

'Exactly,' I replied with a big smile on my face. 

Feature Sister

Rebekah (Becky) Engel

What is your current calling?  SSF Ward Relief Society President

Where were you born?  San Francisco

Where did you grow up?  San Francisco

Do you have any children?  Ages?  I have 3 children.  All are grown with families … don’t know if they want me to give out their ages.  I have 9 grandchildren ages 1 -21.

Favorite Food:  Chinese Fried Rice

Hobby/Interests or favorite pastime?  I love to be outside.  I love to swim in the ocean but don’t get to very often.  I enjoy walking at the beach, reading (outside when I can), sewing, some crafts, and being with my grandchildren when possible.

Are you married?  Divorced about 100 years ago.

Tell us about your schooling and education:  Graduated from the University of Texas; BA in Psychology with Teaching Certification.

Favorite Flower:  Carnation

Favorite Color:  Yellow

Did you serve a mission?  Yes, 22 years raising my kids!!

When were you baptized?  Baptized at age 8 by my father, confirmed by my grandfather.

Favorite Candy:  Black Licorice (has to be the right kind)

Favorite Dessert:  Vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup

Favorite Movie Star:  John Wayne

Favorite Movie:  Out of Africa

Favorite Church Hymn:  The Morning Breaks

Favorite calling you have had:  Stake Relief Society President

Do you play a musical instrument?  Piano, organ, violin (a long time ago)

What is your DREAM vacation?  I think I have been on it already.  Safari in West Africa although I’d like to go again.

What is your biggest dream?  To grow old with good health in the company of my family and live long enough to see all my grandchildren married and sealed in the temple.

What is your biggest achievement?  Having my children all married and sealed in the temple.

Do you work?  Yes, full-time.  I’m CFO/Office Manager for a group of corporations in the skateboard industry.  That psychology degree comes in handy!

What is your ideal job or the most favorite job you have had?  I like most being a full-time mom.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?  A mommy, more than anything else in the world!