The Departure

It's here! I get set apart in an hour and 40 minutes! It's been quite a journey and I can't believe I have finally made it to this moment. Really quickly before I forget, the last thing I compiled for missionaries is a list of 53 quick easy recipes that don't need very many ingredients. Here they are.

Mac ‘n Cheese (Stovetop Version) 1½ lbs elbow macaroni 1 lb medium cheddar cheese (shredded) 1 lb Monterey jack cheese (shredded)   3 tbs butter 3 tbs flour 2 c milk Cook pasta thoroughly. Drain. While pasta is in strainer, melt butter, add flour and whisk. When thoroughly combined, add milk and whisk until smooth and slightly thickened. Add cheese and mix to combine. Add macaroni to cheese mixture, heat through. (If you have 2 large pans, you can cook pasta while you are making cheese sauce.)

Baked Potato Toppings Cook Hamburger and Onion- mix with salsa or sour cream or both Cheese topping: ¼ lb butter, softened 2 c grated cheddar cheese 1 c sour cream Mix together

English Muffin Pizzas 1 can Pizza/Spaghetti Sauce Ham/Cooked Hamburger Cheese Other toppings Top English Muffins with ingredients. Bake in 450 degree oven for 10 minutes.

Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo ½ c milk 8 oz fettuccini- cooked and drained   8 oz cream cheese-cut into bits ¾ c Parmesan cheese-shredded 1½ c butter In large saucepan combine cream cheese, parmesan, butter and milk, stirring constantly - until smooth. Toss pasta lightly with sauce, coating well. Best 1st day, if reheating, add a little milk before microwaving.

Pizza Dough Recipe 1 tsp sugar 2 Tbl oil 1 c warm water   2-3 cups flour 1 Tbl yeast 1 tsp salt Mix dry ingredients well (using only 2 cups of flour). Add oil and water and mix well. Knead for five minutes, adding enough flour to mak a soft dough. Roll out on a greased pizza pan (or cookie sheet etc.). Add sauce, cheese, and desired toppings. Bake at 425 degrees F for 12 - 18 minutes, depending on the thickness of the crust.

Croque-Monsieur 1 slice toasted bread 1 slice ham 1 slice cheese You take a slice of bread (French bread, or any other bread or bun) lightly toasted. Then add a slice of ham (or pastrami or any other cold cut). Some of our kids also like to add a slice of tomato (optional). Top with a slice of cheese (my favorite is swiss, but any kind of cheese will do). Boil for a minute or two until the cheese has melted.

Tater-Tot Casserole 2 cans cream of chicken soup   1 lb ground meat 1 small onion, chopped 1 pkg tater tots In skillet cook onion, add ground meat and brown thoroughly. Add cream of chicken soup. Heat through. Put in 11X13 baking dish. Put tater tots on top. Bake at 350 until tater tots are browned and crispy.

Banana Boats 1 banana per person 1/8 c chocolate chips per banana 1/8 c marshmallows per banana Split banana all the way down, but don't cut it in two. Ease banana open and place chocolate chips and marshmallows inside. Wrap in foil and heat until warm.

Orange Chicken and Rice 2-3 chicken breasts 1 c rice 2 c orange juice In a frying pan, brown the chicken. Add rice and orange juice. Cover and let it cook til the juice is all absorbed by the rice. The rice will have little indents. It takes about 15-20 minutes. You can substitute other sauces for the orange juice for a variety of flavors. Just make sure you have two cups of liquid. For example, sesame dressing, BBQ sauce or Italian dressing diluted with some water.

Italian Fried Chicken 1/3 c milk oil   4 chicken breast halves 1 c flour 1 (.7 oz) package Italian salad dressing mix (dry) Combine flour and salad dressing mix until blended. Dip chicken in milk and coat completely with flour mixture. In deep skillet pour in oil to a depth of 1 inch. Heat oil then add chicken and brown over medium heat. Continue cooking, turning several times until chicken is done, about 20 minutes. Makes four servings.

Spaghetti Spaghetti Noodles   1½ lb ground beef 1 can tomato sauce 1 pkg spaghetti seasoning mix Brown hamburger and add seasoning mix and sauce. Let simmer for a few minutes while you cook some spaghetti noodles. Get a pan of water boiling then add the spaghetti. Cook until tender. Drain and serve with sauce.

French Toasted Cheese Sandwich 1½ c milk 1 slice cheese/sandwich   1 slice bacon/sandwich 2 slices bread/sandwich 1 egg Mix egg into milk and stir until well mixed. Add 1 tsp of sugar. Cook bacon, then dip one side of bread in milk and egg mixture and place on top of bacon. Put cheese and then put other slice of cheese with the outside dipped in egg mixture. Cook then turn on other side. Serve with jam or syrup.

Tex-Mex Chops Salt and pepper to taste   2 boneless Pork Chops 1 Tbl vegetable oil 1 c salsa Season pork chops with salt and pepper. In Skillet brown both sides or pork chops in oil. Add salsa and lower heat. Simmer for 30 minutes or until chops are completely cooked through.

Hot Dog Stew 1 pkg hot dogs cut into 1½ inch pieces 3 medium potatoes, peeled and dices 1½ c water   2 Tbl flour Brown hot dogs in ungreased skillet. Add diced potatoes. Mix flour and water until smooth. Pour over hot dog and potatoes. Salt and pepper to taste. Cover and simmer. Serves 4.

Hawaiin Pork Chops 4 slices pineapple canned (reserve 1/3 c juice)   4 loin pork chops ¼ c flour 2 Tbl oil Cover pork chops in flour. Brown in skillet with oil. Top each chop with a ring of pineapple. Add pineapple juice. Cover and cook slowly. Remove meat and pineapple to platter. Pour the remaining juice over chops. Serves 4

Ants on a Log Peanut Butter Celery Raisons Wash celery and pat dry. Add peanut butter in the middle and then place the ants or raisons down the center.

Weiner Ramen 1 pkg any flavor ramen noodles A couple hot dogs Cook noodles and drain, Add seasoning packet. Cook hot dogs (boil) Add noodles.

Omelets with Ramen 1½ c ham chopped ¼ c onion chopped ¼ c green peppers, chopped   1 pkg ramen noodles 1 Tbl margarine 3 eggs beaten Cook noodles and drain. Add seasoning packet. Melt margarine in skillet and add beaten eggs. Fold in other ingredients. Cook until lightly browned.

Bacon Cheddar Ramen 1 pkg ramen noodles 1 c cheddar cheese, shredded ¼ c bacon, chopped Cook noodles and drain. Add cheddar cheese and bacon while still hot.

Favorite Sausage Rolls 3 c bisquick 1 lb hot sausage 10 oz shar cheddar cheese grated Mix all 3 ingredients together and roll into 1 inch balls. Place on cookie sheet and Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes until brown.

Cookies the Way You Like ‘Em 1 18.25 oz box cake mix 2 eggs ½ c vegetable oil Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine cake mix, eggs and oil. Mix well, then add the optional ingredients and blend in. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 9 to 12 minutes. Mix or match following additional ingredients: 6 oz mini chocolate chips, 6 oz butterscotch chips, 6 oz peanut butter chips

Fruit Filled Oatmeal Bars ¼ tsp baking soda 1½ c butter 1 10oz jar of jam   1 c flour 1 c quick cooking rolled oats 2/3 c brown sugar In a mixing bowl combine flour, oats, brown sugar and baking soda. Cut in margarine or butter till mixture resembles course crumbs. Reserve 1 1/2 cup of flour mixture. Press remaining flour mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 9x9x2 baking pan. Spread with desired filled. Sprinkle with reserved flour mixture. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden. Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Makes 25

Breakfast Bake 6 eggs 1 lb shredded cheddar cheese 1½ c milk 1 can cheddar soup   8 slices white bread 1 lb sausage browned 1 tsp salt ¾ tsp dry mustard 2¼ c milk Cube bread. Line greased 9x13 glass dish with bread cubes, then cheese, then sausage. Beat eggs, milk, salt, mustard, together and pour over bread. Let stand over night in refrigerator, covered. Next day, before baking mix soup and 1 1/2 cup milk together and pour over dish. Bake uncovered for 325 for one hour.

German Waffles Pinch of salt ½ cube butter   6 eggs 1 c flour 1 c milk Melt butter in 9 x 12 pan in 400 degree oven. Meanwhile mix first four ingredients together with a wire whisk till well blended. When butter is melted pour egg mixture in pan and place back in oven. Cook 20 minutes. Mixture will puff up and then fall back down after it is taken out of the over. Serve with syrup or powdered sugar.

Buttermilk Syrup 2 c sugar 1 c buttermilk 2 cube butter 2 Tbl light corn syrup Bring to boil for 1 minute then add: 1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp baking soda

Fresh Lemonade 6 c cold water ¾ c sugar 1 Tbl grated lemon peel ½ c lemon juice

Chex Muddy Buddies ¼ c butter 1 tsp vanilla Powder Sugar   9 c Chex 1 c chocolate chips ½ c peanut butter Melt chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter on high for 1 ½ minutes. Stir in vanilla. Pour over chex mix. Put mix into plastic baggie and shake in powder sugar.

I think that's everything! I will say goodbye for now. My mom will be putting up my weekly emails on this site so that you guys can continue to hear about my amazing journey, but this is it for me! 
I will end with one final thing. It's worth it. I promise that nothing in this life can compare to going on a mission and fulfilling the purpose that the Lord has for you. I could not be more terrified at this moment, but deep down, I am completely at peace. I know that I am on the path that the Savior wants me to be. I know that He loves me and that I am in His Hands. He will keep me safe. 
I know that this church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. It is the one church on this earth that has the fullness of Christ's teachings, untwisted from centuries of retelling. It was restored by Joseph Smith Jr who was a prophet. He was led by an angel, even Moroni, to find the plates and, by the will and power of God, he translated that ancient Egyptian into what we now call the Book of Mormon. It is a true book. It teaches how to return to Christ and how to become like Him. It teaches truth. I know that this church is a continuation of Christ's and that President Thomas S. Monson runs in His place today. He speaks under His power and also only wants our happiness. I know that all of this and so much more is true. I challenge you to, if you have not, read the Book of Mormon. If you will put forth the effort to read it and honestly give it a chance and then get down on your knees and sincerely ask if it is true, your loving Heavenly Father will answer you. He will speak to your heart that it is true. He loves you. I say these things in the name of my Lord and Savior, even Jesus Christ, Amen.