4 Charities in Utah County will Benefit from Orem #LightTheWorld Giving Machines

My husband and I with the Atkinsons

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we serve in a variety of ways in our church.  Typically an invitation to serve in a specific capacity (often referred to as a calling) is extended by a bishop or stake president.  During the fires on the south end of Utah County in 2018, my husband and I were invited by Elder Blake Roney to serve on the Utah County Communication Council for the church.  Our area stretches from Orem on the north all the way to Delta on the south. We are invisible helpers assisting 109 stake presidents, 6 area seventies, and our 5 Utah County Welfare and Self Reliance Service managers with communication needs.

First, I need to share how much I love our calling.  We have met and worked with amazing government, education, nonprofit, and interfaith leaders over the last year.  I love catching glimpses of all the good things going on within the church, in other churches, among nonprofits in our area, and in our schools and universities. I am inspired daily by those with whom I come in contact.

One of the perks of this calling is that you sometimes get exciting information before the public does.  Mid-September I was asked to attend a special meeting with the heads of 4 charities in our area and management from the University Place Mall in Orem where we learned details about an announcement which would be made at the beginning of November.  There would be 10 #LightTheWorld giving machine locations around the world, and Orem would be one of the new locations.

Giving Machine locations and their opening dates are:

• Manila, Philippines—November 8 (TriNoma Mall)
• Las Vegas, Nevada—November 14 (Downtown Summerlin)
• Laie, Oahu, Hawaii—November 20 (Polynesian Cultural Center)
• Gilbert, Arizona—November 20 (Water Tower Plaza)
• Salt Lake City, Utah—November 26 (Joseph Smith Memorial Building)
• Orem, Utah—November 26 (University Place Mall)
• Denver, Colorado—November 26 (Writer Square)
• San Jose, California—November 29 (Christmas in the Park)
• New York, New York—December 3 (Manhattan New York Temple)
• London, England—December 3 (Hyde Park Visitors’ Centre)

The Orem mission president and UVU/Young Single Adult leaders have been busy coordinating the volunteers that will help staff and stock the machines as needed.  I have been busy sharing about the machines coming to Orem on Social Media and planning an Opening Event. We are all excited about the Giving Machines and the blessing that they will be to those who need help in our area and around the globe.

Our machines in Orem will benefit two global charities and 4 local charities- the United Way of Utah County, Community Action Services and Food Bank, Family Support & Treatment Center, and the Center for Women and Children in Crisis.  The church is covering the administrative costs, so 100% of what you donate will go to those items purchased.  The video below depicts the mission and how the machines work.

Here are some of the things that you can purchase at the Orem Giving Machines for the 6 charities to distribute to people in need. 

We would love to have you come visit the Giving Machines at the University Place Mall during the malls hours open from November 26th- January 1st.  If you google map Los Hermanos in Orem, it will take you right to the entrance of the mall (outside Los Hermanos) which leads you directly to the giving machines.  I will be in and out helping as needed, so you might catch me there during the Christmas season. Help us #LightTheWorld this Christmas season!

Great Grandma's Spudnuts are NOT from Great Grandma

 We use a plastic cup to cut the donuts into perfect circles.

Our daughter has been working hard to earn her Young Woman Medallion necklace from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before the program ends in December and she starts the church's new goal setting program in January. One of her 10 hour projects is to learn how to make some of her favorite recipes. This far she has learned how to make dad's crepes and Great Grandma's Spudnuts from my 101 Things to do with a Potato cookbook along with the basics of macaroni and cheese, grilled cheese, and more. Go Emma!

Spudnuts always bring smiles to faces.

As we were making the spudnuts, we wondered which great grandmother had created the recipe.  We assumed it was the potato farming great grandmother.  We decided to call my husband's mom who had shared the original recipe with the family to verify.  She said that the recipe was titled Grandma's Spudnuts and was given to her by a friend after they were married with a young family.  She had tweaked the recipe slightly and is now great grandma to many, so I guess the title of the recipe can remain as is for the generations of Ashcrafts to come in the future. To whoever's great grandmother created the original recipe, we thank you!

Dipping and filling the donuts with pudding is the funnest part.

We love pudding filled spudnuts.  Banana or Chocolate pudding are our favorite flavors to use.  We use our Easy Accent Decorator that I have owned for years from Pampered Chef to fill the donuts.  Instead of using frosting and the flavorings, we dipped the hot fried donuts in powdered sugar or pumpkin spice sugar.  Sometimes we use cinnamon and sugar for dipping spudnuts. 

These donuts are so soft and fluffy. After trying these, store bought donuts won't even look tempting. Invite friends over, because the recipe makes more than an average family can ever consume.  We took extras to two neighboring families. Happy cooking and enjoy the recipe!


Great Grandma's Spudnuts (Idaho Donuts)

2 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast,
1 cup mashed potatoes, unseasoned
2 cups warm water
1/2 cup shortening (I use butter instead.)
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
6 cups flour
vegetable oil, for frying
1 container (16 ounces) white frosting
chocolate syrup, maple flavor, to taste

Mix yeast, water, potatoes, and milk together.  In a separate bowl, combine shortening, sugar, eggs, and salt.  Stir mashed potato mixture into bowl with egg and shortening mixture.  Stir in flour one cup at a time. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and allow dough to rise 45 minutes.

Roll out dough to 3/4-inch thickness and cut with donut cutter (or a cup as seen above). Fry dough in hot oil.  Turn once, making sure donut is golden brown on both sides.

Divide frosting into three small bowls.  Add chocolate syrup to one and maple flavor to another. Dip hot donuts into flavored frostings. For more variety, dip some into a mixture of cinnamon and sugar or powdered sugar.  Makes 12-15 servings.

A Colicky Baby and an Answer to Prayer led to a New York Times Best Seller

Twenty two years ago an answer to prayer followed by the birth of a colicky baby opened up doors of opportunity that I could have never imagined.  After praying about whether or not I should go to work or stay at home with our soon to be born baby, I knew that I needed to say no to the offered dream job. I didn’t know how things would work out financially, but I had the faith that if I followed the revelation that I had received that Heavenly Father would provide a way for my husband to finish his education.  Watch the video to hear more of the story.

The little known story behind the New York Times Best Selling cookbook, 101 Things Do With a Cake Mix. Faith precedes the miracle. Please share the miracles you have experienced after exercising faith in the comments. Follow Stephanie Ashcraft on Facebook or Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/101things/ https://twitter.com/101books Find more information about her books on her Amazon author page: shorturl.at/buNZ4