Mormon Life - Contest tag

{Food Dish} Best Dessert Bar Contest: 2nd Runner-up + Recipe

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: We're getting close to revealing the winner of our contest, but let's not forget about the delicious dessert that came in as the third favorite: Butterscotch Nutella Bars.

Two finalists down (see our other favorite dessert bar recipes so far); three more finger-licking recipes to go.

This week, meet our voters' third most favorite recipe from the 30+ that we received: Butterscotch Nutella Bars, by Sharon Leigh Painter of Aloha, Oregon.

Nutella. Need we say more? Combined with the slightly nutty flavor of butterscotch and fluff of marshmallow, these were irresistably sweet. The texture was also perfectly flakey. It's no wonder they were so close to receiving the top honor.

Butterscotch Nutella Bars

Crust Ingredients
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
2 eggs

Filling Ingredients
½ cup Nutella
1 cup mini marshmallow over Nutella
1/3 cup butterscotch chips

Crust:
Using a spoon, mix sugar, flour, salt, and baking powder. Using a pastry blender add butter. When well mixed add eggs. Stir with spoon and then mix with hands until well incorporated. Reserve 2 cups (loosely packed) of this mixture for topping. Press the remainder in a sprayed 9 X 13 glass dish. Bake at 350 for 10-13 minutes until lightly golden on edges (do not over bake).

Filling:
While the crust is still hot, spoon on Nutella. Sprinkle marshmallows over that, and then sprinkle butterscotch chips. Finish by sprinkling reserved 2 cups of dough. Bake for 10-13 minutes until marshmallow and crust are lightly browned.

Enjoy warm or cooled.

Other winning recipes from this contest:

Fourth Runner-up: Strawberry Limeade Bars

Third Runner-up: Chocolate Orange Bars

{Food Dish} Best Dessert Bar Contest: 3rd Runner-up + Recipe

Thu, 17 May 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: We continue to unveil the most delicious dessert bars of all today with another winning recipe: Chocolate Orange Bars, which received the fourth most votes.

Do you think you can handle the deliciousness?

Last week we started to announce the best recipes we came across during our recent Best Dessert Bar Contest with our fourth runner-up: Strawberry Limeade Bars (click here for the recipe).

Now it's time to get the delicious details on the third runner-up: Chocolate Orange Bars, by Barbara Lee Parsons of Huntsville, Alabama.

We loved the perfectly chewy texture of these bars (just what a bar should be) paired with the perfect balance of sweet chocolate to citrusy orange. The flavors were just a great combination; we couldn't get enough!

Chocolate Orange Bars
(Welcome to the Neighborhood Treats)

Layer #1
1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature

Layer #2
3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 eggs
1 (6-ounce) package of chocolate chips
1/4 cup coconut, flaked style
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

Orange Frosting:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 Tbsp butter
1 tsp grated orange rind
2 T orange juice

Layer #1: Cream the butter and the sifted flour and salt and mix thoroughly. Line an 8-inch square pan with wax paper and spread the mixture into pan and press down with a spoon. Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees F.

Layer #2: Blend together the sugar and eggs and stir in 3/4 cup of the chocolate chips. Add coconut and vanilla. Mix in the flour and salt Mix well and spread over first layer that previously you baked. Bake again for 15 minutes in a 375 degree F oven. Remove from oven, cool and then remove from pan.

Frosting: Cream butter and gradually add the sugar. Blend thoroughly. Add orange rind and orange juice. Frost the bars with orange frosting. Melt the remaining chocolate chips and drizzle on top of orange frosting.

Other winning recipes from this contest:

Fourth Runner-up: Strawberry Limeade Bars

{LDSL Blog} Best of: Stories of the Week, May 5-11

Sat, 12 May 2012 00:04:00 -0600

by LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Check out which stories made up the best of LDS Living for the week of May 5 through 11, 2012.

We all love a good story. And what better way to find out the best of the best than seeing what people found most interesting? For the week of May 5 through May 11, 2012, these are LDS Living’s top online stories:

Top 5 LDS Living Stories:

1. Jon Stewart defends Mormonism on 'The Daily Show' {LDS Living}

2. {Food Dish} Best Dessert Bar: 4th Runner-up + Recipe {LDS Living}

3. {Lifestyle} Ultimate Guide: Modest Swimsuits 2012 {Kate Ensign-Lewis}

4. Photo Gallery: The Artwork of President Packer {LDS Living}

5. Blending Families {Jonathan Swinton}

Top 5 Mormon Report Articles:

1. LDS Church buys historical sites from Community of Christ {Deseret News}

2. A look at Connecticut Mormon temple plans {Farmington Patch}

3. Mitt Romney, Mormons brace for a mean political season {Deseret News}

4. Two writers use Book of Mormon to score political points {Deseret News}

5. Race, religion collide in presidential campaign {Associated Press}

Top Video:

'Have I Done Any Good?' Official Music Video ft. Alex Boye & Carmen Rasmusen Herbert {YouTube}

{Food Dish} Best Dessert Bar Contest: 4th Runner-up + Recipe

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Choosing our favorite dessert bars was hard – there were so many delicious options! But we did what had to be done, and now it's time to start meeting the winners. Today: Strawberry Limeade Bars, which received the fifth most votes.

A couple weeks ago, we held our dessert bar competition here at corporate headquarters. We had quite the task in front of us, since we received so many recipes (and all of these sounded delicious). We enlisted the help of co-workers, family members, and friends, and finally came up with a list of our favorites.

Because your submissions were just so tasty, we're publishing more than the usual three recipes online. So, today, meet our 5th favorite recipe: Strawberry Limeade Bars, by Julie Egan of Flower Mound, Texas.

We loved the refreshing, slightly tropical twist of these bars. They taste just like the drink!

Strawberry Limeade Bars

Crust:
1 strawberry cake mix
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
2 tablespoons lime zest

Topping:
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup lime juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix crust ingredients and press into 9x13 pan. Bake for 15 minutes.

Mix together topping ingredients and pour over crust. Bake for an additional 25 minutes, until set.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar while warm. Cool. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Check out the links below for other finalists from the dessert bar contest:

3rd Runner-up: Chocolate Orange Bars

Church History Museum's youth art contest deadline is June 1

Thu, 03 May 2012 09:32:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

The deadline for the LDS Church History Museum's International Art Competition for Youth is June 1.

Win a chance to conduct the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Thu, 03 May 2012 09:30:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: What an opportunity! Don't forget to enter. The winner of the Conduct the Choir Facebook Contest will get a chance to stand at the front of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir during one of its rehearsals.

To enter the contest, go to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MormonTabernacleChoir, click on the Choir Video Contest tab and download the audio clip of "Ode to Joy" from the choir's latest album, "Glory!" Then record a 30- to 60-second video conducting the choir. Then enter the competition by posting it on YouTube and following the other entry guidelines posted on the contest page. The deadline is May 25.

An Awesome FHE Idea + A Huge GIVEAWAY: $100 & $50 Visa Giftcard(s)

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:36:00 -0600

source: mormonmommyblogs.blogspot.com

Mormon Life says: Awesome! Who doesn't need some cold hard cash right now?

I know my TEENAGERS do, so I am having them enter this little contest that Family Search is sponsoring right now.

You and your teenagers can enter to win, too.

Family Search is giving away ONE $100 Visa Gift Card and TWO $50 Visa Gift Cards!

{Food Dish} Contest: Best Dessert Bar Recipe

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:04:00 -0700

by LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Send us your best dessert bar recipes for the chance to win LDS Living's Best Dessert Bar Contest, a $100 gift certificate, and be published in an upcoming issue of LDS Living!

Remember our cookie contest? The winner (Lemon Crinkle Cookies) continues to be one of LDS Living's most popular online posts every week. Since it seems people enjoy desserts the most, our new "best" will appeal to your sweet tooth, taking its inspiration from equal parts cookie and cake: dessert bars.

Here are the rules (you must abide by each for your recipe to be considered):

1) Recipes must be original. As delicious as you find Paula Deen's Five-Layer Bars recipe, we can't consider it. And don’t simply change the name—just as you wouldn’t want someone else to claim work that is yours, please do not claim someone else’s as your own. (If you found a recipe and tweaked it beyond recognition, you can submit that as your own. Family recipes are also acceptable.)

2) Submit the recipe with your full name, e-mail address, home city and state, and a valid daytime phone number by Friday, April 20, 2012. (LDS Living will use this information only to get a hold of you in the event that you win; we will not use it for marketing or other purposes.)

If you have a photo of the dessert bar, please submit it, but photos are not required.

E-mail recipes to editor[at]ldsliving[dot]com. (E-mail the editor.)

We will be testing the recipes after we receive them. The winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to Deseret Book and will be announced along with two runners-up throughout May, starting on May 10, and the winning recipes will also be given at that time. In addition, our winner and runners-up will be featured in the recipe section of an upcoming issue of LDS Living magazine!

You responded to our challenge the first time with gusto. Have you got what it takes to be crowned victor and join the august ranks of LDS Living best chefs? We're excited find out.

Bonne chance!

Gladys Knight joins 'Dancing With the Stars' this season

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:19:00 -0700

source: sltrib.com

Mormon Life says: How very cool! We Mormons like to root for each other. The Associated Press is reporting that the new cast of "Dancing With the Stars" has been announced, including famous LDS singer Gladys Knight:

"Family Matters" actor Jaleel White, singer Gladys Knight and National Football League player Donald Driver will be among the 12 celebrity contestants on the next season of the ABC dancing competition.

LDS sushi chef Jonas Otsuji a contestant on newest 'Survivor'

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:14:00 -0700

source: MormonTimes.com

Mormon Life says: Watch the season premiere tonight! Looking out the window this time of year at Utah's brown-gray landscape could inspire feelings of gloom, particularly for someone who's recently been in, say, Samoa.

It did for Jonas Otsuji, who recently finished participating as a contestant on CBS's "Survivor: One World," and said returning home was "a little depressing" at first.

"It was honestly great to see my family, but I went to the Lehi library like a couple days after and I was sitting in there and I was just like… 'What am I doing? I'm sitting in the Lehi library. What's the purpose of my life?'" he said with a laugh.

2011 Whitney Awards Finalists Announced!

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:23:00 -0700

source: segullah.org/blog/

It’s awards season. The Grammy are tonight, the Oscars a few weeks from now, and at my house, everyone’s getting ready for a couple months of eating Mac and Cheese from a box while Mom reads for the Whitneys. The Whitneys are an annual set of awards for novels by LDS authors, and the finalists were announced last week. There are 35 finalists in seven categories, and here at Segullah, we’re busy reading.

Blog will host 'blitz' of Mormon literature

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:26:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

From Feb. 15 to 29, Mormon Artist magazine will be posting one short story, poem or personal essay a day (except for Sundays) as part of Mormon Lit Blitz on mormonartist.net. At the end of the blitz, readers are encouraged to vote for the entry they liked the best; the winning author will be awarded a Kindle loaded with works of Mormon literature.

{Food Dish} LDS Living Casserole Competition: WINNER + Recipe

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:05:00 -0700

by LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: And finally, we'd like to announce the winner of our Best Casserole Contest: Verde Chicken Mexican Lasagna. Prepare to have your casserole socks knocked off.

We hope you've enjoyed creating, cooking, and sharing your recipes, and we especially hope you enjoy our three winners! Note: now that our "casseroles" chapter has closed, get geared up for our Best Dessert Bar Contest, starting March 1.

Without further ado, our winner is . . . Verde Chicken Mexican Lasagna by Celeste Pearson of Lakewood, Washington. We loved the combination of textures and Southwest spices in this cassrole.

Congratulations! (You can also view her cooking blog at girlsinaprons.blogspot.com.)

Pin It

Verde Chicken Mexican Lasagna

1 pound chicken, cooked and shredded
1 (16-ounce) container sour cream
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 ½ cups green salsa
1 ½ cups frozen corn, thawed and drained
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup chopped cilantro (plus additional for garnishing)
12 soft taco size flour tortillas
1 (8-ounce) package shredded Mexican blend cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.   Mix chicken, sour cream, black beans, salsa, corn, cilantro and spices in a large bowl. Taste and adjust

seasonings to your preference. Cut tortillas in half with kitchen shears.   In a 9x13 dish, scoop 1/3 of the chicken mixture into bottom of pan. Spread evenly. Place one layer of cut tortillas (about 4 tortillas) on chicken mixture to cover. Top with 1/3 of the amount of shredded cheese. Repeat with chicken mixture, tortillas, shredded cheese two more times. There should be three layers total.   Bake in oven for 20 – 25 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and casserole is warmed through. Serve with sour cream and additional chopped cilantro.

Click on the links below to see the Runners-up in our casserole contest:

1st runner-up: Panini Caprese Strata with Roasted Bell Pepper Cream

2nd runner-up: Chicken Cordon Bleu Florentine Casserole

Church announces video contest for members as part of new initiative

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:04:00 -0700

by Alexa Justesen - LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: We all know how talented some Church members are in photography, video, original music, and the written word (just check out the other story we're running today for an example). Now the Church is asking for them to share their talents as part of the initiative Create - and they're hoping it can help share the gospel message.

Ever watched a Mormon Messages video and thought, “Hey, I can create something like that,” or seen a photo of the Hong Kong temple and said to yourself, “I live near that temple and I can take a great photo of it, too”? Well, you’re in luck, because The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wants to see, and utilize, your talent.

Create, launched in May 2011, is one of the Church’s newest ventures to find talented members around the globe and incorporate their work to help further the gospel. Photos, videos, music and radio content are just a few of the mediums the Church is looking for, with writing and design coming soon.

“There is a great need for photos, music and videos to fulfill the many media projects the Church is undertaking,” said Anthony Park, associate producer for the Church’s Media Services Department. “Involving members from around the world gives them a chance to participate as well as fill that need for media content. Our members have great talent, and they can contribute photos and video content from their parts of the world. This shows that we are a global, worldwide Church.”

Currently the site is hosting a video contest from January 30 through February 20. Members are encouraged to make a short, 20-60 second video introducing the purpose of Create. Contest submissions have creative leeway. Entrants can use people, music, text, or anything else they would like in their video, as long as it successfully explains the theme of Create.

The winning video will be posted on Create’s homepage, and the maker of the video will receive the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square’s CD Heavensong. Up to five finalists will also be posted on a page on Create.

So why did the Church decide to open this contest up to members, rather than creating a video themselves? Said Park, “Utilizing the members and their creativity is a resource the Church has never tried before. By opening this contest to members, it allows them to feel a part of this growing media society, and also a part of the Church . . . we’re hoping to launch more contests using all the mediums to give members an opportunity to participate.”

And when he said all mediums, he meant it. The site already has calls for several types of media, and it is continuing to expand.

Photography. As far as photos go, Park said they are looking for professional-quality photos that can be posted on Church websites, in magazines, and in manuals for the purpose of spreading the gospel. This means that photos of families participating in Family Home Evening, temples, or regular, daily occurrences are encouraged. “Our designers have been surprised at the quality of photos our members have contributed, and they have started to use these photos more and more,” he said. A list of specific needs can be found on the Create page.

Video. Video submissions can allow for a bit more creativity, as long as they remain high-quality. “If members have the talent to create their own Mormon Message we welcome that. We would also like to receive very short videos of people bearing their testimonies or teaching a gospel principle,” said Park. These videos can be a wonderful visual way to share the teachings of the gospel with others, and like the photos, will appear on Church websites.

Compositions. Professional-grade original music and arrangements of public domain hymns and children’s songs will be used wherever the Church has a need for beautiful music. Create is accepting instrumental compositions, original songs, and even music performed by choirs or singing groups. A list of public domain hymns can be found on the Create page.

Written word. While not yet ready, the Church will soon call for original essays, scripts and even news stories from members around the world. “In some areas of the world it’s hard for us to get news,” said Park. “If we have members who want to write about something that happened and take a few photos, it helps the Church spread the word about something going on in a different continent.”

The Church hopes that Create will remind its members that everyone, from California to Siberia, is a part of this Church. Its influence spreads everywhere, and by helping to produce good, clean, positive media, the gospel will reach even farther.

“This is a consecration effort,” Park said. “It’s a way for members to contribute the talents that they have and help further the gospel efforts around the world. Everything is going online, whether it be books, photos, or videos, even sharing the gospel. Members getting online to share their talents is the main purpose of Create.”

For more information about the contest and how you can submit your work, visit create.lds.org or visit Create’s Facebook page, titled Create LDS Media.

BYU students erect, destroy world record cardboard castle

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:09:00 -0700

source: news.byu.edu

Mormon Life says: How fun! BYU students sure do love setting world records. About 50 students at Brigham Young University pitched in to help build a world record cardboard box castle designed by civil engineering majors on Monday and then happily destroyed it the same day.

Mormon Media Studies Symposium call for papers, panels, presenters

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:54:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Organizers of the Mormon Media Studies Symposium 2012 have issued a call for conference papers, panels and presentations for the event Nov. 8-9 at Brigham Young University. The symposium will focus on the interdisciplinary academic study of all aspects of Mormons and the media — including print, electronic, books, film, etc. — in the present as well as the past.

{Food Dish} LDS Living Casserole Competition: 1st Runner-up + Recipe

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:05:00 -0700

by LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: We received lots of great recipes from our readers, but a few stood out above the rest when we held our casserole competition last week. Here’s the recipe for Panini Caprese Strata with Roasted Red Pepper Cream, which got the second most votes.

A couple weeks ago, we held our Corporate Casserole Day to assemble a delicious collection of food and a large body of people to vote on the best flavors. And last week, we announced our second-runner up, Chicken Cordon Bleu Florentine Casserole (click here to see the recipe). Next week, we will announce the grand prize winner, who will receive a $100 gift certificate to Deseret Book, so stay tuned! (To see pictures from the cook-off, click here.)

Our first runner up was . . . Panini Caprese Strata with Roasted Red Pepper Cream from Beth Jane Taylor of Quincy, California. We enjoyed all the fresh ingredients and the tangy cream sauce on top. Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe!

Pin It

Panini Caprese Strata with Roasted Red Pepper Cream

Red pepper cream:
½ cup jarred roasted red peppers
1 pint sour cream

Strata:
6 large eggs
3 cups milk
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 large loaf French bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 cup prepared basil pesto
8 ounces prosciutto, sliced into thin strips
8 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into ½ inch cubes
2 large tomatoes, diced
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
½ cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped

Roasted red pepper cream:
In a blender or food processor, blend peppers and sour cream together for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Set aside in refrigerator.

Strata:
In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, milk, salt and pepper until it is creamy and smooth. Set aside. In a greased 9x13 pan, place half the bread cubes on bottom and spread evenly. Dollop pesto in small chunks on top of bread cubes over entire surface. Sprinkle prosciutto over entire surface. Evenly distribute mozzarella over bread cubes. Now evenly distribute tomatoes over entire surface. Cover dish with remaining bread cubes. Pour egg mixture evenly over entire surface. Sprinkle parmesan cheese and parsley on top, cover with tin foil and let it chill for 1 hour or up to one day.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cover and bake for 30 minutes, take foil off and let bake until center of strata is set and top is slightly browned, about 20-30 more minutes. Let it stand for 10 minutes, cut into squares and pour desired amount of Roasted red pepper cream over squares.

Click on the links below to see the other finalists in our casserole contest:

Winner: Verde Chicken Mexican Lasagna

2nd runner-up: Chicken Cordon Bleu Florentine Casserole

'Biblical Poetics' panel divides audience at LDS Film Fest

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:32:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

“Divisive” is probably not a word most people would use to describe the LDS Film Festival.

Independently established in 2001 as a way to showcase the work of LDS filmmakers for appreciative audiences, the Orem-based festival has for obvious reasons never courted controversy like its more prestigious counterparts Sundance or Slamdance — all three of which run concurrently during Utah’s thriving festival season each January.

However, a panel discussion held last Saturday elicited a surprisingly hostile response from several of the audience members in attendance.

LDS Film Festival 2012: Day 4

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:14:00 -0700

source: motleyvision.org/ldscinema/

Notes from Day 4 of the 2012 LDS Film Festival:

Unicorn City
Written / Directed by: Adrian & Brian Lefler
Described as “Monty Python & The Holy Grail” meets “Napoleon Dynamite”, Unicorn City is a film made by gamer geeks for gamer geeks. However, even if the terms LARP, D&D, WOW, or MMORPG don’t mean anything to you, don’t let that scare you away — Unicorn City is creative, funny, and accessible to all, and easily my favorite film of the LDS Film Festival.

LDS Film Festival 2012: Day 3

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:21:00 -0700

source: motleyvision.org/ldscinema/

The Last Eagle Scout

Written/Directed by: Kels Goodman

The Last Eagle Scout is the pet project for director Kels Goodman, who wrote (with Danna Tanner), produced, edited, and financed (with his dad) this film over the last eight years. Set in an “alternate reality” US in 2012, Cliff Elliot (Nick Whitaker) is one of the few remaining Boy Scouts in the US, and is hurriedly working for his Eagle.