Chicken Noodle Soup

1 cup chicken broth
1 cup cut up carrot
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 chopped onion

Mix together and cook until vegetables are tender.
Add:

1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup cooked, cut up chicken

Add:

2 cups cooked noodles.

Missionary Clothing Advice from Returned Sisters

What should future sister missionaries know about clothing and what advice would you have for them on dress and appearance?

Russia Rostov-na-Dony Mission, Katie Gividen

“You are on the Lord’s errand and you should represent Him. Being a missionary we need to portray to the world the message that God is sending, and in a big way we say a lot by how we take care of ourselves and dress. You should dress appropriately for the area that you are in. I needed to wear clothing that I could walk in and get around in. I couldn’t wear straight skirts unless it was to a zone conference or meetings that would last all day. There are reasons that you want your legs to be able to breath and not be restricted. Just make sure that you have both types of skirts and not just straight skirts. It will help a lot in medical areas.”

New York Utica Mission, Kristin Wardle Sokol

“I passionately feel that it is of the utmost importance for Sister Missionaries to look classy, current and fashionable. This absolutely can be done with practicality. Being frumpy and old-fashioned turns off people who otherwise might be interested in hearing the message. No one wants to talk to an unattractive woman, where generally it is more acceptable for men to be unkempt. Like or not that’s the way the world is. How you look speaks volumes about who you are and what you represent. People can’t help but judge. If you don’t care about the way you look. Others may not care about what you have to say. Bring an adequate amount of make-up and other beauty supplies to keep you looking your best through the entire 18 months. Make looking your best everyday a priority.”

Temple Square Visitors Center Mission, Patti Rokus

Let go of pride. Don’t be afraid to dress less than spectacular. Keep is super simple and easy to care for, so you don’t have to spend as much time carrying it around, and carefully cleaning it and ironing it.”

Arizona Tucson Mission, Jessica Rex

“Thankfully the Brethren have approved a new dress and grooming standard for sister missionaries – no nylon requirement, colors and prints are encouraged, and skirts must cover the knee when sitting down. Beyond that, you should be assured that what you are wearing, and the message that you are sending through your clothing is a message of being a representative of Jesus Christ.”

Argentina Neuquen Mission, Laura Daniels

“I guess it depends on where you go. My mission was in the southern part of South America so it was very cold. We tried to look nice but mostly we just bundled up over our skirts. We also walked everywhere and most roads weren’t paved so we wore comfortable, durable shoes that got muddy a lot. (At night we would take them off by the door and wash the dirt and rocks off in the sink the next morning.) I wish I had brought a few nicer outfits with nice shoes for mission conferences and baptisms, but for the most part those weren’t needed in my mission. We were definitely encouraged to wear make-up and look the best we could though.”

Texas, Houston East Spanish Speaking Mission, JoLynn Hansen

“Be comfortable but not sloppy. Our mission President reminded us that we shouldn’t look likecollege student even though most of us carried back packs, but to dress as representatives of Christ. Wear long johns under clothes in the winter, and wear breathable COTTON garmentsin the summer. Especially in humid areas. Otherwise you will have a female problem… Wear good shoes. Washcloths and or handkerchiefs were used to wipe away sweat from thehumidity.”

Montana Billings Mission, Wendi Condie

“Keep it simple. When I served, the Church sent out a list, with pictures and all, of what was acceptable/required. I don’t know how much has changed since then, and each mission will have a little bit different circumstances. I was in an extremely rural, so some of our clothing was more rugged and sturdy than it would be in some other areas. Dress shoes were for Sundays and meetings only–the rest of the time was “work/walking” shoes. I was also in an area where it was very cold. Warmth often won out over appearance of clothing. Don’t get too fancy. Follow the instructions in your call, and from your mission specifically. You don’t want to spend hours getting ready, but you do want to be clean and look nice. Plan to wear out your clothes and shoes. If you are working hard, your clothing will reflect it. Make sure you like what you are wearing, and that it is comfortable. Again, each mission will be a little different, but it is important to be dressed appropriately for your activity.”

Arizona Tucson Mission, Emily Craghead

“From what I understand the mission standards have changed a little bit from when I was a missionary. It’s really important to remember that you are a representative of the Lord. That doesn’t mean you have to look bland and boring, but tasteful and classy. Also, where you’re serving is important– your mission president will most likely send you a packet of information concerning your mission clothes standards.”

Found at Mormon Mission Prep

Having a Positive Attitude

Having and maintaining a positive attitude, even in the face of setbacks and rejection, is a vital trait for becoming an effective missionary. The Mormon mission experience has rightly been called the best two years. But, in a lot of ways, it is also the hardest two years. And perhaps it is because it is so hard at times that it causes missionaries to grow and develop and have experiences that shapes their lives and make it a formative, best two years.

On your mission, there will be days (perhaps even weeks or months) where you feel like everyone is rejecting your message. You may feel like you are working so hard, and striving to be worthy, and trying to do the Lord’s will, yet you may not be seeing the fruits of your labor.  That can certainly be discouraging. But the missionaries who are able to maintain a positive attitude throughout those trials are certain to bounce back quicker, be happier, and be more successful instruments in the hands of the Lord.

Swimmer Matt Biondi’s Optimism

Matt Biondi is one of the most decorated swimmers in US Olympic history. He swam in the 1984, 1988, and 1992 Summer Olympics, and won a total of 11 medals, 8 of them gold. But Biondi was also involved in a couple of the most notable defeats of any of the swimmers in the 1988 summer games.

Coming into the 1988 Olympics in Seoul Korea, Biondi was touted as having a good chance at 7 gold medals. His first race was the 100 meter butterfly, which he was favored to win. Biondi made it to the finals and had the lead in the race, when he chose to glide the last few feet to the finish line, rather than taking another stroke, and was beat out for the gold.

Biondi’s next race, the 200-meter freestyle, was another one he was favored to win. But he ended up coming in a disappointing third place. Many people wondered how Biondi would react, and if he would be able to bounce back from these discouraging setbacks. But a University of Pennsylvania psychologist named Martin Seligman didn’t wonder.

Seligman had a theory that how people respond to setbacks—optimistically or pessimistically—is a fairly accurate indicator of how well they will succeed in sports and other kinds of work. Seligman tested his theory on Biondi and others of the U.S. Olympic swim team prior to the 1988 games.

In the test, the coaches would tell the athletes that they had swum the event worse than they actually had. For example Matt Biondi swam the 100 fly in 50.2 seconds, but was told he swam it in 51.7. Disappointed, he swam it again a few minutes later, and swam it in 50.0 seconds. He got faster than his initial, seemingly disappointing, swim. Overall, the test showed that optimists either maintained or improved performance after a disappointment initial try. Pessimists, on the other hand, on average deteriorated by 2 seconds in a 100-yard event—generally the difference between first place and dead last.

So in those 1988 Olympic Games, when Matt Biondi had major setbacks in his first two races, those who knew of his positive attitude and ability to bounce back with an even better performance were not surprised when he won the gold in his next five events.*

*See http://bookoutlines.pbworks.com/Learned-Optimism, andhttp://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,983520-2,00.html.

Opposition in All Things

When you are involved in the work of the Lord and the building of God’s Kingdom, as missionaries are, you can expect opposition from the devil. The Book of Mormon prophet Lehi, in Second Nephi 2: 11 and 15, taught that opposition is to be expect, and that it is even necessary.

“For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so… righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad…it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter.”

Our Savior Jesus Christ, in Matt. 5: 10-11, taught us that we who are his followers can expect trials and persecution. “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” If the Lord says that we are blessed for being persecuted, then I believe it. Having that attitude certainly help me stay positive in the face of rejections during my mission, and it will do the same for you.

Faith and Hope are the Opposite of Despair

The choices we make and the attitudes we have in the face of trials and opposition determine what kind of missionary we are going to be. When a door is slammed in your face, when someone gives you a fake address (this happened all the time in Argentina), when you feel like nothing is going right, how will you react? Will you put a smile on your face, and keep moving forward with faith and hope in Christ?

“Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity….And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity.” (Moroni 10: 20, 22) If you ever find yourself in despair, which means to have no hope, remember that it is the Adversary, Satan, that wants you to get discouraged. So don’t let him do that to you!

If you have charity, the pure love of Jesus Christ, in your heart, and if you truly feel that love for the people in your mission, you will have hope, and faith, and you will maintain a positive attitude, and you will be more successful.

How to Get a Positive Attitude

So if you find yourself with a bad attitude on the mission, what do you do? Elder Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, admonished us to study the scriptures and the words of the prophets in such instances. “True doctrine, understood,changes attitudes and behavior.” (Ensign, Nov. 1986)

I’ll conclude with a couple of passages from the Preach My Gospel manual: “The attitude you have toward your mission experience is a reflection of your love toward your Heavenly Father and His Son and your respect for the priesthood.” (PMG p. 151) “Hope is an abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises to you. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance. It is believing and expecting that something will occur. When you have hope, you work through trials and difficulties with the confidence and assurance that all things will work together for your good. Hope helps you conquer discouragement.” (PMG p. 117)

So remember what Dory, from the movie Finding Nemo, said, “You know what you gotta do when life gets you down? Just keep swimming!”

This article came from Jimmy at Mormon Mission Prep

Instant Mug o’ Mac & Cheese in the Microwave

From Babble

1/3 cup pasta

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup 1% milk

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Combine the pasta and water in a large mug or bowl. Microwave on high for two minutes, then stir. A lot of times the water will overflow while it heats up. It is OK if this happens. If you don’t want it to overflow just make this in a very large microwaveable bowl. Repeat this for at least 2 to 4 more minutes, stirring at each 2-minute interval. The water should absorb completely and the pasta will be cooked through. If the pasta needs another minute it is okay to add one more teaspoon of water and microwave for another minute. My pasta cooked through in 4 minutes every time, but my microwaves tends to be very powerful.

Remove it from the microwave and stir in the milk and cheese. Microwave for another minute. Stir the cheese thoroughly into the pasta and eat up!

Meat Loaf in a Mug

From Taste of Home

Prep Time:15 Minutes        Yields:1 serving

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons 2% milk
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 2 tablespoons quick-cooking oats
• 1 teaspoon onion soup mix
• 1/4 pound lean ground beef
• Additional ketchup, optional

Directions

• In a small bowl, combine the milk, ketchup, oats and soup mix. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Pat into a microwave-safe mug or custard cup coated with cooking spray.
• Cover and microwave on high for 3 minutes or until meat is no longer pink and a thermometer reads 160°; drain.
• Let stand for 3 minutes. Serve with additional ketchup if desired. Yield: 1 serving.

Editor's Note: This recipe was tested in a 1,100-watt microwave.

Nutritional Facts1 serving (calculated without additional ketchup) equals 248 calories, 10 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 72 mg cholesterol, 440 mg sodium, 14 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 24 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 starch.

Mug Chilaquiles

A mug is the perfect vessel for a quick meal such as chilaquiles.

Yield: 1 serving

1 egg

1 tablespoon milk

Salt

Ground black pepper

1 tablespoon sharp cheddar cheese

5 tortilla chips, divided

1 tablespoon salsa

Sour cream

Queso fresco (optional)

Chopped green onion (optional)

1. Beat egg and milk with a fork in a coffee cup, adding salt and pepper to taste. Add cheddar; stir to coat. Break 3 or 4 tortilla chips into small pieces to fit in the cup; stir into the mixture. Add salsa.

2. Microwave on high until done, about 1 minute, 10 seconds. Garnish with remaining tortilla chips, sour cream, queso fresco and green onion.

Per serving: 180 calories; 11g fat; 4g saturated fat; 195mg cholesterol; 10g protein; 11g carbohydrate; 1.5g sugar; 1g fiber; 315mg sodium; 95mg calcium.

Minute Microwave Cheesecake

From Your Lighter Side

Some things to consider before you start microwaving:

• You can substitute high-fat cream cheese and sour cream for a lower-fat product. Just be sure to check those nutritional values; reduced-fat products typically contain added sugar.
• You can use egg white in place of the entire egg if you need to further cut the fat.
• If you have no sour cream, you can use greek yogurt, as long as you are aware that yogurt is not induction friendly.
• I made my cheesecake in a small, one-cup casserole dish.
• If the eggs scramble and separate slightly, don’t panic. They should integrate into the dish.
• I added fresh, whipped heavy white cream, fresh blueberries, and nut meal as finishing touches (here, only the fresh-whipped cream is induction friendly).
• This recipe is Induction Friendly, ovo-lacto vegetarian friendly, sugar-free, gluten-free, and only 2.5 net carbs per ample, cup serving.

The ingredients coming together in the bowl before microwaving.

Minute Microwave Cheesecake

2 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 Tbsp sour cream
1 egg
½ tsp lemon juice
¼ tsp vanilla
2-4 Tbsp sugar (taste as you go)

Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a microwave-safe bowl. Cook on high heat for 90 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds incorporating all ingredients. Refrigerate until serving.

Optional: Top with fresh fruit, whipped cream and nut meal.

Makes one, one-cup serving.

Nutritional Information per serving: Calories: 299, Carbohydrates: 2.5 g, Fiber: 0 g, Net Carbohydrates: 2.5 g, Protein: 11 g, Fat: 27.6 g.