Greek Yogurt Mac n' Cheese

Just because you're older now doesn't mean you don't crave all the foods you used to eat when you were a kid. Admit it... sometimes you just want a good bowl of mac and cheese. 

Now you can have it without feeling like a kid, because this is homemade and healthier than what you get out of a box. Get some of your daily protein in with this greek yogurt based recipe! It's like the "grown up" version of mac and cheese.

This recipe was extremely easy... easier than I thought it would be, and the best part is that it only calls for one pot! One! Say goodbye to a messy kitchen and a sink full of dishes!

Now that we've covered how easy this is to cook, let's talk about how delicious it turns out with these ingredients. 

Greek Yogurt Mac n' Cheese

serves 4-6

• 8 oz. (about 2 cups) elbow pasta (may use whole wheat)
• 8 oz. (about 2 cups) shredded cheese (a medium cheddar is great)
• 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt 
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• salt & pepper, to taste
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• (For additional taste, 1/4 tsp. onion powder)

Cook the macaroni according to the package’s instructions (about 8-10 minutes), until al dente.

Place the spinach leaves in the bottom of a strainer, and pour the pasta over top to drain and wilt the spinach. Save about 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Return the cooked macaroni and wilted spinach to the pot.

Add about 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water to the pot, and stir in the cheese until melted. Stir in the greek yogurt, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, until smooth and creamy. Stir in the remaining pasta water to thin, if necessary. Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Progression: Become Converted

Have you ever felt like you haven't been progressing? Whether it is in a sport, a class, a work out program, or even spiritually. While trying to make this change and to see a difference, you have not been getting results. Why do you think that is?

Making a change in your lifestyle is a challenge. It causes you to step out of your comfort zone and to really take risks that will hopefully benefit you. You go through with these risks with faith that you will see results. However, by only doing a repetitive routine and going through the motions, you will see little results, and your faith will tremble. 

By creating a plan and sticking to it with our full intensions and an open mind and open ears to the spirit, we will feel our faith progress and our minds will grow. To get to this point, you must go through conversion. 

On LDS.org, conversion is defined as followed: 

     "Conversion includes a change in behavior, but it goes beyond behavior; it is a change in our very nature. It is such a significant change that the Lord and His prophets refer to it as a rebirth, a change of heart, and a baptism of fire."

We must strive to not only go through the motions, or behavior, but change our very nature. In Mosiah 27:25-26 of the Book of Mormon, it reads,

"And  the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God."

These verses are very clear, that our Heavenly Father wants us to come unto him and to be converted. To trust in him with faith and with all of our hearts is the best way that we can serve him. 

In this Mormon Message video, this young boy describes his conversion process. Listen to the way he describes how he feels, and see the vivd change that takes place in his countenance.

Ultimately, I challenge your to pray to your Heavenly Father with a sincere heart and to ask for guidance. Ask questions that you may have, and you shall feel his love. Begin your journey to become converted and to receive the eternal happiness that you have the chance to get. 

Roasted Broccoli and Cheddar Soup

"Broccoli and cheddar soup."

Did your mouth water too! Thinking about the taste just makes me hungry. The next thought that pops into my head is the calories. You know that cream base is on the back of your shoulders just taunting you!'

Relax, I've got this under control. I found this recipe for a broccoli cheddars soup that doesn't use a cream base at all. The taste was so flavorful and warm in my mouth, I didn't even think about the other cream base soup, because I wasn't missing out on anything. The roasted vegetables make the broth burst with flavor and let the spices ignite your taste buds.

It is super simple to make with only a few ingredients and instructions.

Check it out:

Roasted Broccoli and Cheddar Soup

A creamy broccoli and cheddar soup with the concentrated flavour of roasted broccoli.

Servings: makes 4 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 60 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 large bunch broccoli, cut into florets
• 1 tablespoon oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme, chopped
• 3 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth or chicken stock or ham broth
• 1 1/2 cups aged cheddar, shredded
• 1 cup milk (If you want a creamier base, use pureed white beans instead)
• 1 tablespoon grainy mustard (optional)
• salt and pepper to taste 
  

Directions

1. Toss the broccoli florets in the oil along with the salt and pepper, arrange them in a single layer on a large baking sheet and roast in a preheated 400F oven until lightly golden brown, about 20-30 minutes. 
   
2. Heat the oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat, add the onion and saute until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
3. Add the garlic and thyme and saute until fragrant, about a minute.
4. Add the broth and broccoli, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.
   
5. Mix in the milk, cheese and mustard, let the cheese melt and season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Puree the soup with a hand blender or in a food processor or blender and enjoy!
   
   
   
   Option: If you want to add some meat into your dish, begin by cooking 4 strips of bacon. Remove the bacon and chop it up, but stir your onions and garlic into the bacon grease rather than the oil. 

The Key to Success

Success. We all want it and we all strive for it. But what exactly is success? Do we all consider it the same thing? Sit back and think about it... What is your "success?"

To many, success may be having a nice job, a pretty wife, a big house, and a nice car. Of course, those things are wonderful and if you've got them then you have definitely worked for something. But to me, success is more than that. Success is when you have a clean slate with God on your side. If you are willing to let God protect you, He will.

In Jarom chapter 1:7-9 of the Book of Mormon, it describes how the Nephites were protected from the Lamanites because of their faith in God. How did God help them in this situation?

From chapter 1 of Jarom...

7: And it came to pass that they came many times against us, the Nephites, to battle. But our kings and our leaders were mighty men in the faith of the Lord; and they taught the people the ways of the Lord; wherefore, we withstood the Lamanites and swept them way out of our lands, and began to fortify our cities, or whatsoever place of our inheritance. 

The first thing Jarom says is how they were lead by faith. This faith blessed them with protection and guidance.

8: And we multiplied exceedingly, and spread upon the face of the land, and became exceedingly rich in gold, and in silver, and in precious things, and in find workmanship of wood, in buildings, and in machinery, and also in iron and copper, and brass and steel, making all manner of tools of every kind to till the ground, and weapons of war -- yea, the sharp pointed arrow, and the quiver, and the dart, and the javelin, and all preparations for war.

That's a lot of stuff you guys got there to protect you with that faith.

9: And thus being pre parted to meet the Lamanites, they did not prosper against us. But the word of the Lord was verified, which he spoke unto our fathers, saying that: Inasmuch as ye will keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land.

Because of their faith and obedience to the Lord, they were blessed with protection and they gained success from the Lamanites who lacked in faith.

So how do we gain success?

We gain success by being obedient to our Heavenly Father and his prophets. Under this direction, we will be blessed with guidance, happiness, and love.


Visit www.mormon.org for more details. 

1 millionth bottle = $1 million

CHEESY OLIVES

Cheesy Olives, LLC celebrates selling its 1 millionth bottle of Cheesy Olives™ by raising $1 million for undersized olives to live the good life.

A fundraiser of $1 million dollars will go towards the Olive Foundation in order to help with the undersized olives in southeast Idaho. 

SUGAR CITY, Idaho – March 6, 2015 – Cheesy Olives, LLC has just sold its 1 millionth bottle of Cheesy Olives™. This is a big victory for the company, considering it has only been in business for five years. The president of Cheesy Olives, LLC, Matt Eichner, stated his satisfaction with this big accomplishment.

“Ever since I hard of putting cheese in olives, I’ve dreamed of the day when Idaho olives and Idaho cheese rule the market. That day has come for Cheesy Olives,” Eichner said. “We couldn’t have done it without all of our customers. We hope that our customers will think about all those olives that aren’t big enough to bottle, and will contribute to the Wild Olive Preserve.”

A fundraiser has begun in celebration of selling their 1 millionth bottle to raise $1 million in charity for the Olive Foundation, which gives undersized olives the chance to live normal lives on the Wild Preserve in Southeast Idaho.

The Wild Olive Preserve director, Amy Olive, is greatly excited for this opportunity for her undersized olives.

“We can’t wait to be able to give more wild olives a chance for a happy life at the Wild Olive Preserve,” Olive says. “Thanks to Cheesy Olives and your donations, they will have a chance.”

The charity will take donations for the next six months. The person or organization that contributes the most to the charity will win a 3-night Carnival Cruise™ in the Gulf of Mexico.

Cheesy Olives™ come in two sizes, grand and jumbo. Cheesy Olives™ are low in fat, and are gluten free.

  

About Cheesy Olives, LLC:

Cheesy Olives™ are found in more than 5,000 grocery stores and delis around the nation. It is based not in sunny, olive-filled California, but in chilly Idaho. Cheesy Olives™ blends the natural tanginess of olives grown in Idaho, with the smoothness of creamy, Idaho cheese. Since its inception in 2009, Cheesy Olives, LLC has grown by 50% year over year. See our website, www.cheesyolives.com.

Contact Information:

Amanda Mecham

Email: news@cheesyolives.com

Phone: 208-100-1000

Cheesy Olives, LLC

109 Olive Dr.

Sugar City, ID

83448

Press Release

The Mircon Foundation grants $200,000 to Northwest Nazarene University to assist the university's new engineering program.

The $200,000 grant will go towards gaining accreditation and increasing the quality of the field of engineering in Idaho. 

_____________________________________________________________________________

NAMPA, Idaho – March 4, 2015 – Northwest Nazarene University will no longer be lacking in funds for their engineering program thanks to a $200,000 grant given by the Micron Foundation. This new grant will help the university’s program create new courses, hire new teachers, and raise the state of Idaho’s credibility in the technology industry. The executive director of the Micron Foundation, Dee Mooney, is supportive in this generous grant in order to help the state of Idaho’s science education excel.  

“The Micron Foundation supports NNU’s efforts to strengthen its engineering program which supports the State of Idaho’s goal of boosting education in science, technology, engineering and math, “ said Mooney.

The university’s new engineering program is a new bachelor of science major that began in fall 2010 with only 12 students. Its first graduating class has grown to serve 62 students for the year of 2014. The university is actively recruiting faculty, staff and students to the program, but is looking for high-caliber applicants. Dr. Stephen Parke, NNU’s Engineering Program Director expressed his gratitude to the Micron Foundation for this grant.

“The Micron Foundation grant to our engineering program is greatly appreciated. It provides leadership in our on-going fundraising efforts to put in place the faculty, lab equipment, and facilities required to build a high-quality engineering program and achieve ABET accreditation in the shortest possible time.”

The grant will help build the credibility of the program in order to gain accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET). ABET is the organization that accredits engineering programs nationwide to ensure graduates are obtaining a high quality, professional education.  ABET accreditation is essential for graduates to pursue professional engineering licensure and graduate education.

High-tech jobs are growing nearly four times faster than national average, and there are not enough graduates from Idaho universities in engineering fields to keep up with the demand. One of the grant’s goals is to help pursue the field of engineering and to hamper the growth in the technology industry in Idaho. David Alexander, the president of Northwest Nazarene University, gladly accepted this offer from the Micron Foundation in order to help his university excel in this program.

“We are grateful to the Micron Foundation for their investment in the future of NNU’s engineering students. This grant affirms the caliber and promise of our emerging engineering program. We look forward to leveraging these funds to attract stellar faculty to this growing program and in so doing, serving the engineering needs of the Treasure Valley and beyond.”

In order to begin this process, two new professors and a laboratory manager will be hired, totaling a number of six faculty in electrical, mechanical, and engineering physics. This needs to be completed before the accreditation review in 2014.

___________________________________________________________________________

About the organizations:

·      Northwest Nazarene University, a comprehensive Christian university, offers more than 60 areas of study, 19 master's degrees in seven different disciplines and one doctoral degree. In addition to its 85-acre campus located in Nampa, Idaho, the University also offers programs online as well as in Boise, Idaho Falls, McCall, Twin Falls, and in cooperation with programs in 10 countries. Founded in 1913, the university now serves over 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students, more than 6,000 continuing education student and 2,300 high school students through the concurrent credit program.

·      The Micron Technology Foundation, Inc., a private, non-profit organization established in 1999 with a gift from Micron Technology, Inc., is engaged in funding educational efforts and charitable activities. To learn more about the Micron Technology Foundation, visit its web site at www.micron.com/foundation.

Contact Information:

Amanda Mecham, Director

Marketing and Media

mediarelations@nnu.edu

Office: (208) 467-8531

FAX: (208) 467-8775

Give More and Receive More

The number one fire that burns in every human being is the desire to feel satisfied. In order to do that, many people struggle to succeed because they are doing it the wrong way! By trying to make yourself happy, you must be selfless. It sounds ironic, but I promise it makes sense. Let me explain.

Think of a time that you felt totally lost in your life. To find guidance, you probably studied your  options, thought it out for a while, and maybe even some of you prayed. This was a difficult time for you wasn't it? While all of those things are good to do, there is one missing piece that will help tie your solution together: service. 

On LDS.org, if you type in "service" in the search box, the very first paragraph describes service in a way that resembles our Savior Jesus Christ. 

"Service to others is an important characteristic of a disciple of Jesus Christ. A disciple is willing to bear other people’s burdens and to comfort those who need comfort. Often Heavenly Father will meet the needs of others through you." 

It is important that we are thoughtful unto others in order to serve not only them, but Heavenly Father as well. 

While doing acts of service unto others on a regular basis,  you will grow yourself of happiness and gratitude. You will learn to be thankful for what you have and you will understand more about the lives of others rather than your own. If you don't focus on only yourself, I promise that you will receive more answers and guidance in your life. God will bless you. 

I was searching through YouTube and found a video project of a small boy waiting at a cold bus station for his ride. This boy had no jacket, and there was a hidden camera to see how many people would offer this boy their jacket. It is truly a touching video to watch and it makes you wonder if you would have done the same. 

 Click Here to Watch the Full Video

In 2 Nephi 28:13 of the Book of Mormon, it talks about greed.

"They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries; they rob the poor because of their fine clothing; and they persecute the meek and the poor in heart, because in their pride they are puffed up."

Learn to be selfless, and give to others. Through being selfless and compassionate to everyone around us, we will be better guided and we will not only benefit others and God, but ourselves. We will be blessed and of service to our Heavenly Father. I promise these things because I have felt this myself and I know that through service we can be closer to our Heavenly Father. I testify these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.