Brocolily: something GOOD to share!

Food is really important for Hispanics. In our countries, people might be very poor, but they will find a way to feed their families and others. We show our love with food. If someone comes to visit, we make sure that we can feed them with the best we have. Perhaps that is the reason why I love to share food with people too, and Sundays are often the best days to do it. Sharing food makes my Sundays a better day, and these are some of the reasons:

1. 

   Peruvian homemade chocolates.
   Those from my ward loved it!

   "Reward" for those who come to church or to activities. Is not always easy for everyone to come to church;  for some, it requires a lot of efforts. So getting food is always appreciated, specially when they didn't have time to eat before. I've done that often for choir practices because I knew that many didn't really wanted or had time to be there, but they came. I used to make breakfast for my seminary students every morning (this wasn't on Sundays, but it was also a "physical" reward for doing the effort to come to an spiritual activity). I know that people should not come to church for food... but it's always good to have a little physical "reward" as a tender mercy for coming to church or activities. 
   
   
2. Encouragement for those who faithfully fulfill their callings. I got callings and responsibilities that required me to leave home early to fulfill them, having meetings, visiting members, helping the missionaries. That often meant that I couldn't eat a real meal all day. I learn to survive to my Sundays without food, but it felt good when I could have a little something to eat. That's why I will sometimes make food to give to people I see sacrificing their time to serve others or fulfill their callings, as attending early meetings, giving rides to others or home teaching. Church callings and responsibilities can take a lot of time, so giving them food is a way for me to encourage those faithful members in their efforts.
3. The pleasure to share. It is the greatest reason to bring food to church! It makes me so happy when I see the smile on the eyes of those who get that food. I don't cook to impress, but because of the pleasure to share. And because of that desire to share and feed others, I try improve my cooking skill and I love to try new recipes, that I may be able to show my love and appreciation to others... with a good taste! :)

Beijinhos and brigaderios, a dessert from Brazil
that I tried I shared with those in my ward.

When we share, we bring happiness to others... and to ourselves! Sundays must be the best day of the week, and with so many responsibilities that leaders have, or so many sacrifices that some members have to do to attend church meetings or participate in choirs or other activities, why not bring them a little something to make their day a little more glorious? I know how much joy the gospel brings to my life, but I know that is not that easy for everyone.

"Because I have been given much I too must give" are some words from a hymn that I really like and that reminds me that, having been blessed with a deep love for the gospel, I need to share that love with others, and to help them and encourage them to live the gospel and to find happiness on it as I have learned to do it. Sharing food to me is a way to tell them: "I know this is not a lot, but I just wanted to let you know that I am happy to see you here; I recognize your efforts, I am grateful for the good you are doing in the life of those you are serving, I am glad to see your participation in choir or in this meeting, I am glad that you came to church. You are important to the Lord, and I want to make you feel a little part of his love for you through this food. If you keep doing those efforts, he will bless you with so much more than cookies, or chocolates, or cakes, or other food."

Here is a video of that song that I really like! :) 

This is the reason why I love to cook and bring treats to my friends and leaders on Sundays: to make their Sunday a better day! If a random person in their ward like me notice their efforts and is so happy to see them there, doing good, that she brings food for them, how much more the Lord, who knows everything and sees everything, recognize their efforts, and will give them eternal blessings!

A cake I made for my friend Diana's first anniversary
of baptism.

In Mosiah 18:8-9, we learn about the baptismal covenant and the things we promise, and part of it is to bear one another's burdens. Sharing, to me, is part of that. It's a way to help my brothers and sisters with their burdens that attending church, attending choir, attending meetings, home teaching, teaching lessons, sacrificing their other activities, and any other burdens they could feel on Sundays. 

We all can share! We all can give! We all have talents! We all have gifts! And Sundays are the perfect day for that (remember, things that we do on Sundays can be good to do on other days of the week too, so we can share every day). I love this song that my mother taught me in my childhood from which I learned the importance to give, and I want to share that same principle to my children. We are never to little to give and share! We don't have idea how the little things we do for others can become great blessings to the recipients of our service, as this hymn teaches:

So, you don't have any cooking skills or are already too busy to find time to cook for the members of your ward? That's ok, there are so many other ways to share! Here are some suggestions:

• You have a hand? Great! shake the hands of those you see (and if you are like me and the Hispanic or French culture, hug them too!) And guys, use also those hands to open the doors or help to carry stuff for the ladies or elderly members; it's always appreciated.
• You can talk? Perfect! Talk to the members of your ward. Ask them about their week. Greet those who are new. Participate in lessons (that encourages a lot those who are teaching).
• You know how to smile? Awesome! Greet the members with a big and sincere smile!
• You read the Sunday school lesson during the week or something from your scripture study of the week is related to the lessons? Interesting... share what you learn, if appropriate, during the class.
• You have a testimony? Wonderful! If it's testimony meeting, go and share it with others!
• You hold the priesthood? What a privilege! Do all you can to be worthy of it, and accept the opportunity to prepare, bless or pass the bread and water during sacrament, or to give blessings to those who need it.
• You have a calling? Amazing! Serve those you have the responsibility on. Give your 110%.
• You have a voice? Formidable! Attend choir! Even if you don't sing well yet, go, and your musical skills will improve, and with your choir director, the other members of the choir and the Spirit, you will discover your potential to sing better than you ever thought!
• You have musical skills? That's fascinating! Play the piano, conduct the music, prepare a special musical number. Music brings a unique Spirit!
• You know how to pray? Sweet! Volunteer to say the prayer!
• You own a car? Oh yeah! People like me would need a ride to church! Offer them rides!
• You have many friends? Cool! Introduce them to those who are new or who don't know many people yet.
• You love children and have patience with them? Fabulous! Sit with a mother who could need help.
• Do you feel the presence of the Spirit in your life? What a glorious feeling! Help others to feel it too with the way you treat them, with the things you share in your lessons, by serving them, or just by showing through the light in your eyes the happiness it brings to your life.
• You have the gospel? Excellent! Talk to investigators! Invite your friends to come with you! Share it!

Brocolily - healthy cookies made for a pot luck in Montreal.

There are so many other ways to share and to give on Sundays. These are just a few simple suggestions! You know yourself, you know your strengths and gifts, I'm sure you can find many other ideas to share, give and to bear the burdens of the members of your ward. The Lord is our example, and he gave freely to us all, even his life! Shouldn't we follow him and give to others? 

I testify that sharing and serving others brings magnificent feelings that can't be described! It definitely is a cherry on the top of my Sundays! As we serve others, we are serving God, and that is a great blessing, to be his hands!

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Now, to finish, I want to share the recipe of something I made that many people liked: Brocolily... or Broccoli cookies!! Yes, broccoli and cookies can be compatible! Cookies are often good, and as one of my friends said, the gospel is like cookies: because they are good, we need to share them! So imagine when the cookies are not only good, but also HEALTHY! I loved it!  As Lehi with the fruit of the tree, those cookies are good, that I have to share them!

So here is the recipe. It was created by a lady from Quebec, where I grew up. In their website, Création Les Gumes, they have many other good and healthy dessert recipes with veggies (all in French), and I will try some others and share it, so if you want them, let me know, and I can translate it for you! :)

Brocolily (about 24 cookies)

Ingredients:

Broccoli and sweet potato purees for the brocolily cookies

- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp of peanut butter
- 1/4 cup of sweet potatoes puree
- 1/4 cup of broccoli puree
- 1/4 cup of brown sugar
- 1/2 c. tsp of vanilla
- 1 tbsp of granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp of baking soda
- 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp of whole wheat flour
- 1/4  cup of white chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup of dark chocolate chips


Preparation:

Brocolily ready for the oven!

• Preheat the oven to 375°C 
• Mix the egg and peanut butter. 
• Cook sweet potatoes and mash them (I did it with a fork). 
• Steam the broccoli until tender. When it's cold, blend it to make a puree (the first time I made those cookies I couldn't find the blender, so I smash it with a fork when it was still hot... we could see some pieces of broccoli on some cookies, but with the blender, we can't notice it). 
• Add the puree and sugar. Mix.
• Add vanilla, white sugar, baking soda and flour. Mix. 
• Add chocolate. Mix. 
• Make small balls, about 1 inch. 
• Bake for 10-12 minutes at 375°C
• When it's golden on the top, it's ready.

*Because of the purees, the texture might be a little different that what you are use too, but is good!

Brocolily dough -
Taste it! Is good! Who would
believe there is broccoli on it?

You can also see the video (in French) of the recipe on this link, if you want to have an idea how it is... but if you don't know French, you won't understand to much from it...

Enjoy it! Now, instead of telling the children: eat your veggies if you want a dessert, you can say: eat your dessert if you want your veggies! ;) And don't forget to share... the cookies... and your talents and gifts, to uplift and support others, on Sundays... and every day of the week!