Home made granola and Etsy shop!

Hi everyone!
 My Etsy shop is officially up and running!! Etsy.com/shop/MyPinkStilettos

I'm so excited, I've put on there the headbands I've made, the rick rack flower earrings, the hand knit embroidery floss earrings, the rick rack flower pendants, pen and ink art work, and princess tutus. There is so much more to come, but it's been exciting to have so many things online!

Another favorite of mine to make is granola!

I use: almonds, oats, pumpkin seeds, shelled sunflower seeds, agave nectar, butter, brown sugar, coconut, and chocolate chips.

My stomach has a hard time breaking down nuts, so I put all the nuts in my ninja mini chopper and get the seeds and nuts to small chunks. This also makes it easier for my kids to digest as well, and provides a lot of healthy fats and protein at the same time.

Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Chop up any seeds or nuts, pour into large bowl.

2. Brown coconut in sauce pan using 1/4 cup butter, and 1/2 cup brown sugar.

3. Pour browned coconut into the large bowl.

4. Add about 2/3 cup agave nectar and mix ingredients. The granola mixture should be fully coated with the agave nectar, if you need to add more, do so about 1 tablespoon at a time.

5. Melt 1/4 cup butter and pour over mixture. Mix until everything is coated and sticky.

6. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray. Pour mixture onto cookie sheet and spread to a thin layer, reaching all the corners.

The top is done, the bottom one is how it looks when you first put it in the oven. ( I burnt the bottom one because I didn't use a small enough pan and fill it to the corners.)

7. Press any kind of chocolate chips into the granola on the pan. I use white and semi sweet chocolate, but butterscotch or peanut butter chips would taste great too.

8. Bake in the over until granola has turned to a dark golden brown. (About 15-20 min)

9. Let cool. Once completely cool, cut up into desired bar shapes and wrap in wax paper. Store in air tight container. These will go quickly so I've never had a problem worrying how long they will last ;)

We couldn't wait to cut them into bars ;)

Ingredients:
Oven 350 degrees
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup coconut
2 cups almonds
2 cups sunflower seeds
2 cups pumpkin seeds
3-4 cups oats
2/3 cups + extra as needed
1/2 cup butter
your choice chocolate chips

Back 15-20 minutes until dark golden brown

Enjoy!!! And don't forget to check out my new Etsy shop to see what beautiful creations I have made in the craft department!

Why I stand up for traditional marriage

With everything going on this past week with the Supreme Court ruling that gay marriage should be allowed, I would like to share my beliefs. I know that Jesus Christ is our true Savior, that He has felt our pain and suffering, and walks with us in all our trials.

          “There is no physical pain, no spiritual wound, no anguish of soul or heartache, no infirmity or weakness you or I ever confront in mortality that the Savior did not experience first. In a moment of weakness we may cry out, ‘No one knows what it is like. No one understands.’ But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He has felt and borne our individual burdens.”

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

 

      I have several friends who are gay. I love them very much. Just because I do not believe in gay marriage does not mean I do not love these people. It does not mean I wish the any unhappiness, it just means I believe differently than they do. And this is why: The Lord has created a Plan of Happiness so that we may all return to live with our Father in Heaven again, and as eternal families. In order for this amazing plan of happiness to work, we must rely on the Savior and His atonement, and understand how critical the family is in that plan.

 

 

 

I am an advocate for fair housing, jobs, medical care, living conditions for those who believe differently than I do. But marriage is an institution established by God, and no one can change what the Lord has set as His Gospel and truth by making a new law. Our Prophet and the 12 Apostles issues this Proclamation to the World back in 1995. I believe it wholeheartedly, and know that the Lord's Plan of Salvation or Plan of Happiness is for our benefit and for us to return to live with Him again. Dear friends who are gay, I love you, I will always love you, and please know that I will always try and be a good friend to you and a support system for you, but that marriage is sacred and an eternal principle to me and a fundamental principle of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ that I will not change my mind about, because it is not what I think, it is what I believe.

 

 

The Family

---

A Proclamation to the World

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.


I believe and stand behind each and every word in this Proclamation to the World. No one is perfect, but through repentance and utilizing the atonement to not only repent but walk through our trials and sorrows with the Savior we can have a happy and glorious life. As many of you know I cannot have children, and so my husband and I will adopt children, then go to the Temple and our child will be sealed to us for Time and All Eternity and we will live as a forever family with our Father in Heaven one day if we keep the commandments and continually repent and strive to be our best selves.

I believe these words are true. I believe Jesus is the Christ. I believe that we have a living Prophet on the Earth today who is the Lord's mouthpiece and gives us commandments and revelation to help us return to live with our Father in Heaven again. I believe in marriage between a husband and wife. I believe in the scriptures, the Bible, The Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. I believe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true Church of Christ. And I love all my friends, no matter their beliefs or religion. But I think it is important to know that I believe in the family designed by the Lord. I love you all. Love, Rachel