Learning to fly on the wings of love . . .

Source: thelittlecorner.tumblr.com via Marie on Pinterest

When I was about 6 years old, I got my first and the only bicycle I ever had as a child. I had a little job cleaning telephone booths and saved up the money I made by doing so to buy it. Way back in the olden days not alot of people had telephones in their homes, so there were a lot more telephone booths scattered about. I guess there must have been 6 or 7 of them in our small sub division in Gimli, Manitoba, and each week I would go around to them all and clean them. I would wash the floor, pick up any garbage, etc. I got $1 a week and to a 6 year old that's plenty of moolah!

I started when I was 5 ( I know amazing eh? How many 5 year olds would do that today!) I saved and saved and finally I had enough money, not only to buy myself a Brownie uniform, but also a bicycle! A brand new CCM bicyle! It was blue, with a blue and white seat. Nothing spectacular by today's standards, but it was pretty special to me! I also had enough to buy myself a little red bicycle horn with a fantastic propeller on the front and a red wire basket to match!

Source: stumbleupon.com via Marie on Pinterest

My dad taught me to ride my new bicycle in the back garden of our small two bedroom house on Willow Drive. It had a lovely sloping grassed area with a nice big fence separating it from the train tracks, so it was pretty safe there . . . and well cushioned should I fall down.

My bicycle was a full sized bike . . . so it was quite a stretch for my little legs, but I perched myself up on it's seat and my dad ran along with me, holding onto the back of the seat, countless times. I sat there . . . my little face grinning, the wind blowing through my hair and adrenaline pumping through my veins. I knew I was safe, coz dad was holding on . . . I was flying!

He did this over and over again, and then finally, when he thought I could manage it on my own, and my confidence was built . . . he let go. I flew down the back garden straight as an arrow . . . the only wobble occuring when I realized he was no longer hanging on. But then . . . recovery . . . I could do it. I was riding my bike . . . all by myself!

Source: yama-bato.tumblr.com via Marie on Pinterest

That was only the beginning of many adventures! Before too long, I was cruising up and down the gravel roads and back lanes of Gimli with all the confidence of a well seasoned bicycle rider and new world adventurer explorer! I had a few spills from time to time . . . but nothing could keep me down for long. My job cleaning the telephone booths also got alot easier beacause I could now lug all my "tools" around in my little red basket. Going to the store for my mom became alot easier too!

That bicycle meant the world to me and I had it for a very long time . . . well into my teens. I'm not sure if the reason it was so special to me was because I had bought it for myself, with money I had earned, or if it was because of those golden memories of my dad running alongside of me, pushing me along. I suspect it was a little bit of both.

Source: hannasform.blogspot.com via Marie on Pinterest

My dad did that alot for me in my life . . . run along side of me . . . pushing me. Holding on when I needed him to and only letting go when the time was right. Encouraging me to succeed, and then applauding me when I did . . . commiserating with me when I didn't . . . but mostly loving me. He calls me the apple of his eye, and that is special to me. I'm sure he has pet names for my brother and sister as well . . . but I am the apple of his eye . . .

"Keep me as the apple of the eye , hide me under the shadow of thy wings.
~Psalm 17:8

That is what a good parent does. Thanks Dad.

Here's a nice quick lunch that, aside from the cheese . . . I like to think it a tiny bit healthy! It has lots of vegetables in it and is very tasty. It makes a change from a regular grilled cheese sandwich!



*Tortilla Veggie Melts*
Serves 2
Printable Recipe

This is a delicious way of getting your kids and husband to eat vegetables. You can use the vegetables as described or be inventive and use leftover cooked veg such as broccoli spears or sweet corn. Great as an accompaniment to soup, or on it’s own as a light lunch or snack. It’s real easy to increase the amounts and feed more people.

4 wheat flour tortillas
2 tsp olive oil
2 cups baby spinach leaves
1 medium carrot, peeled and shredded
1 small onion, chopped
6 cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 cup shredded strong cheddar cheese
¼ cup shredded gouda cheese
1 tsp garlic granules
1 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Pre-heat oven to 200*C/400*F/Gas mark 6. Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet and saute the onion and carrot for a few minutes, until the onion is tender. Toss in the cherry tomatoes and spinach and turn off the heat. Addthe garlic granules, Italian seasoning and Worcestershire sauce. Season to taste with the salt and pepper.

Place two tortillas on a large baking sheet. Divide the vegetable mixture in half and spread over the tortillas. Divide the cheese evenly between the two scattering on top of the vegetable mixture. Top each with another tortilla.

Bake in the pre-heated oven until the cheese is melted and oozing out and the top is lightly browned. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes before cutting into quarters to serve.




Over in The English Kitchen today, some delicious Pizza Puffs!

“The divine love of God turns ordinary acts into extraordinary service.”
― Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Only sort of . . .

Once a month, a special magazine drops through our letter box. It is called The Ensign. It is put out by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and we have always subscribed to it. It is filled with wonderfully uplifting articles, and loads of inspiration . . . messages from our church leaders, stories from individual members, etc. We love it and can't wait for it to arrive each month before we each devour it in turn.

It's not only relevant to church members though. I like to think that there are stories and articles in it that most people would find interesting, uplifting and inspiring. Of course, you can read it all online, if you wanted to . . . but we like to have a hard copy in our hands, and often refer to it during the month. We save each one, and they have become invaluable in helping us to teach lessons, or prepare talks. We refer to them often.



Each issue begins with a special message from one of the members of our church Presidency. This month it was President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, his message being entitled "Brother, I'm Committed." I love President Uchtdorf. I have always gotten a lot out of his messages, and this one was no different. I sat down to read it yesterday, as did Todd, and we both came away inspired.

He begins by relating a story of two brothers who want to jump into the waters of a beautiful lake from atop a cliff. As they stand there looking down, their courage begins to fade . . . and they begin to think that maybe next year would be a better time, until finally, one brother has enough momentum to actually jump. He yells "I'm Committed!", as he jumps and it is not long before the other brother follows suit. He then goes on to say that, committment is a little like diving into the water.

*Commitment is a little like diving into the water. Either you are committed or you are not. Either you are moving forward or you are standing still. There's no halfway. We all face moments of decision that change the rest of our lives. As members of the Church, we must ask ourselves, 'Will I dive in, or just stand at the edge? Will I step forward or merely test the temperature of the water with my toes?'"



This article, which you can read in full here, reached into both of our hearts yesterday and touched us both in the same way. We are Latter Day Saints, but . . . do we do all the things we should be doing with the comittment with which we should be doing them . . . after asking ourselves this question, and searching our hearts . . . we both realized that we could both be doing a LOT better.

Over this past year and some, we have really struggled with paying our tithing. Since losing my job last year, we have had to manage on a lot less money to live on, and costs keep going up and up. Some months, I admit that we have not paid it. We do catch up later when we can . . . but we need to just do it every month, no matter what. We can always find a few pounds to treat ourselves at McDonald's every now and then . . . so we should be able to committ ourselves to paying a full tithe on time, and not have to play catch up at the end of the year.



There are other areas we fall down on as well. We have become not so good at family prayer and scripture reading . . . we each do it on our own, but we rarely find the time to do it together. We need to make time. We make time to do other things that are not so important . . . we need to push ourselves to make time for these things that are much more important, not as individuals . . . but as a family. There is a tendancy to tell ourselves that, had we children, we would be more faithful in family prayer and scripture reading together, and I know that we would. Does the fact that we don't mean that we don't consider ourselves to be a family???? We are a family, even though there are only two of us . . . and we need to act like one.

Then, too . . . there is Temple Attendance. We should be going more often. The Temple where we live now, is alot further away then it was when we lived down South. The cost of petrol has gone up so much, and our income has gone down a lot. We tell ourselves each month we will go, and then . . . we don't. We need to go. The Temple is where we need to be, and often. In the past year, Todd has gone once . . . and I have not gone at all. The last time I was at the Temple was in July of last year. I am ashamed of that fact . . . truly. I love going to the Temple, I really do. I need to go more often.

We each do our Home and Visit Teaching each month . . . but it's not done in the way that it should be done. Todd grumbles each time his partner drags him out . . . and I fit it in at the last minute each month . . . when we both should be making it a priority in our lives. We both love it when our Home and Visiting Teachers come . . . so we should be having a better attitude towards doing our own. I do love it when I finally go out . . . but I just don't make it the priority it should be in my month.



Lately we have been skipping our Sunday School Classes. We go out and sit in the car, and spend an hour with each other talking. To be honest, I was not in Sunday School until just recently, having been in Primary all of last year . . . and Todd was not comfortable going into Sunday School without me, or that's been his excuse really . . . and once I left Primary to serve in Relief Society I have been going along with Todd, and we've both not been going to Sunday School, telling ourselves we don't get anything out of it. The truth is . . . if we don't put something in to it, we'll never get anything out of it, and sitting in the car is not an option.

"Those who are only "sort of" committed may expect to only "sort of "receive the blessings of testimony, joy and peace. The windows of heaven might only be sort of open to them. . . . There is a difference between intention and action. Those who oly intende to commit may find excuses at every turn. Those who truly commit face their challenges squarely and say to themselves, 'Yes, that would be a very good reason to delay, but I made covenants and so I will do what I have committed to do."

President Uchtdorf . . . consider our arses well and truly kicked!

"Promises are like the full moon. If they are not kept at once, they dimish day by day."

We have both vowed to do better from today, and to scream from the rooftops, with our own examples and lives, that we ARE committed, not just tipping our toes into the water. If we are not committed . . . . then, we are not only letting those around us down, and our Heavenly Father down . . . but we are letting ourselves down most of all.



It is supposed to be a fine day today and so we are going to take ourselves off to the Seaside. We're going to bring an elderly friend of ours and my reading pupil with us, so there will be four of us. They don't often get to go anywhere, she because she relys on him as her care giver to take her places, and he, because he can't read the road signs . . . we thought it would be nice to bring them along with us today and I'm really looking foward to it! I'll try to remember to bring my camera!

Here's a delicious light lunch that is not that hard to throw together. I often cook extra bacon if I am cooking bacon for breakfast and then I freeze it, wrapped in cling film, so that I have it to hand when I need a bit. Mind you, it's not really a problem to cook it up fresh for something as tasty as this is either. You can up the flavours by adding some sliced turkey, ham and/or cheese to this as well. T'would become a Club wrap then, I believe!



*BLT Wraps*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

Quick, easy and delicious! They make a nice light lunch.

Dressing:
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup of sour cream
2 tsp dry ranch salad dressing mix
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

To fill:
4 (8 inch) flour tortillas
2 cups of torn lettuce
1 cup of chopped tomatoes
4 slices of streaky bacon, cooked as you like it
(I like mine crisp, Todd likes his limp)

Combine all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.

Warm the tortillas according to the package directions. Lay each out and spread each one with 2 TBS of the dressing. Top each with 1/2 cup of lettuce, 1/4 cup of tomatoes and 1 slice of bacon. Fold over and secure closed with a toothpick. Serve.

Note: You can make this a club wrap by adding some sliced cooked turkey or ham, and some sliced cheddar cheese. (Cut each into match sticks.)



Cooking in The English Kitchen today, a delicious Hodge Podge . . . a dinner of new vegetables.

Friday Mish Mash and Redeeming Love . . .

I looked out the window
and what did I see?
Popcorn popping
on the apricot tree!
Spring had brought me
such a great surprise,
Popcorn popping
right before my eyes!
I can take an armful
and make a treat,
a popcorn ball
that would smell so sweet.
It wasn't really so,
but it seemed to be,
Popcorn popping
on the apricot tree!

One of my favourite Primary (Children's Sunday School) songs has always been popcorn popping. It's been running around and around in my head for days now as I look out my window at all the blossoming trees in the neighborhood. So beautiful. The kids at church always love this song. It's one of those songs that once you get it into your head, it's hard to get out, so I apologize in advance, but then again . . . maybe that's not a bad thing, to have a delightful little song like this running through your mind. Here's a version I found of a male choir doing it acapella that I thought was quite nice.



Then again, it is really lovely when you see the little ones enjoying it. They may struggle with the words, but one has to admire their enthusiasm and delight in their joy! I thought these two wee ones were absolutely adorable!



Mind you . . . it's not just the wee ones who enjoy it. Just look at these Elders (Missonaries) getting down to a reggae version of the song. This simple song seems to spread a joy about that's pandemic! It's quite hard not to catch it! I love it!



I'm afraid that Mitzie was in the dog house for most of yesterday. The little dear decided that she as going to chew up half of the bedding plants we had only planted the day before. It would appear that she's moved on from digging up Jerusalem Artichokes! She got a right good scolding twice!! And sent to her bed . . . twice!! She knew she had done wrong and so I am hoping that the lesson sticks and that she leaves them alone today! It is hard to stay annoyed with her for very long though . . . I mean . . . just look at that face!



So sweet and so innocent! I could just snuffle her to pieces and frequently do! One of her favourite games now is for me to lay down on the floor and hide my face beneath my arms. She then trys to snuffle my face out . . . it makes me laugh so much and her tail is just a wagging when she is doing it. I just love her so very much, even when she is being naughty, I cannot stay annoyed with her for very long. She is such a joy to us.

Today I will be reflecting on that great gift, the atonement of Jesus Christ. There are no words that I can speak, that can truly express how very grateful I am for what He did for us, so I will let an Apostle of the Lord speak them for me. As you go about your day today, I hope that you will be touched by them as I have been touched by them, and despite the sadness of what this day brings, you will be uplifted and filled with joy for this, the greatest gift ever given to us . . .



Easter Blessings to each and every one of you. May your cups truly runneth over during this, the most holiest of weekends during the Christian Calendar year. It's not only about the chocolate, and it is my wish that we can all feel and know that . . .

Here's a tasty sandwich that we love. You can use leftover roast beef or you can use deli sliced roast beef. I love the flavours from the mayonnaise mixture and the meaty pepperiness of the rocket. They both go so very well with the beef!



*Roast Beef Sandwich*
Makes 1
Printable Recipe

What makes this sandwich different than others? Rye bread, a tangy Dijon mustard mayonnaise spread, swiss cheese and rocket!

2 slices of dark rye bread
1/2 tsp creamed horseradish
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 TBS low fat mayonnaise
2 ounces of sliced roast beef
1 slice of swiss cheese
a small handful of rocket (arugula)

Stir together the horseradish, mustard and mayonnaise. Lay out the two slices of bread. Spread half of the mayonnaise mixture onto each slice. Lay the rocket, roast beef and cheese on top of the mayonnaise mixture on one side. Top with the other slice, mayonnaise mixture down. Press slightly. Cut in half diagonally to eat. (Note, you may also toast this if you like. Just spread the outsides with softened butter and grill on both sides in a hot skillet until browned and the cheese melts.)



Over in The English Kitchen today, a deliciously Sweet and Spicy Steak Sauce!

Wednesday ponderings . . .

Imagine you are standing upon a seashore, looking out to sea. Before you a large ship spreads out her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is a thing of great beauty and magnificence . . . strength.



You stand and watch her at length until she hangs like a speck of white cloud, where the sky and sea meet to mingle with each other . . . someone at your side says, "There, she is gone."



Gone where??? Gone from your sight, that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left the harbour, and just as able to bear her load of living weight to her place of destination.



Her dimished size exists nowhere, except in your memory . . . and just at that moment when someone at your side remarked on her being gone . . . there were other eyes watching her arrival and other voices to take up the glad shout, "There, she's coming!"



As I read this little story this morning, I realized that it was a good allegory for death . . . how like a ship sailing out of the harbour until it is a speck which finally disappears . . . that is what it seems like to our loved ones who have been left behind . . . but how joyous a reunion it is for our loved ones who await our arrival on the other side to greet us and call us home!!



I also have something really funny to tell you this morning. Last year we purchased something from Betterware called a "Cat Scare." Nothing mysterious really . . . it's quite simply a metal cat with glass bead eyes that you can put into the garden to help keep the birds and pests away. Todd "planted" it in the centre of the vegetable garden so that it might prevent any birds and pigeons from eating our seeds that we have planted. We never gave a second thought as to how it might upset the balance of things from a certain canine perspective!



Mitzie spent most of yesterday afternoon, alternately barking at it and then running away from it. She was not quite sure of what to make of it, although as the afternoon went on, she did get a bit braver and stand a bit closer. I have to admit it does look a bit eerie. It's eyes do glow and it is kind of freaky. Here's a little video that I took of her reaction to it. We did get a good laugh out of her afternoon antics. I wonder how she will be with it today? Oh, I do love her so!



Here's a tasty salad recipe that makes a great lunch or light supper. Healthy, quick and low in carbs, I quite enjoy it. I think you have to love raw vegetables like broccoli, carrots and cabbage though. It does have grapes in it which are kind of sweet and the tasty crunch of toasted flaked almonds. I quite like it!



*Turkey Broccoli Salad*
Serves 6
Printable Recipe

Healthy, delicious and low in fat and carbs. Quick and easy too. If you can't get the broccoli slaw, you can make your own using a mixture of shredded broccoli stems, carrot and red cabbage.

1/3 cup of white balsamic vinegar
2 TBS olive oil
2 tsp sugar
1/8 tsp salt

For the Salad:
1 (12 ounce) package of broccoli slaw mix
1 pound cooked turkey breast, shredded
1 1/2 cups of red seedless grapes, halved
1 cup of coarsely grated peeled carrot
1/4 cup of flaked almonds, toasted
freshly ground black pepper

Whisk together the vinegar, oil, sugar and salt for the vinaigrette. Set aside. Combine all the salad ingredients together in a bowl. Toss together with the vinaigrette. Serve immediately on chilled plates, or cover and chill for up to 24 hours, adding the nuts just prior to serving.



Now at the exreme opposite of the scale I bring you Golden Syrup Dumplings today in The English Kitchen.

Dancing in the rain . . .

Yesterday, cane or not, I had been promising myself that I was going to go for a long walk. Just as I opened the door to go though, I saw drops of rain on the ground and within a few moments the skies opened and it just bucketed down. It wasn't too long before all the pavements were wet and large puddles had started to form. So much for my walk.



I returned inside and stared through my front window at the rain falling, feeling more than a little disappointed. As I watched I noticed a little boy and his mother walking past the house. On the little boy's feet were shiny red wellington boots, and on his face he wore a smile so broad that it was obvious that he was quite enjoying his walk in the rain!



Watching him walk along, happily splashing away, it occurred to me that it had been a very long time since I had regarded walking in the rain as an activity to be enjoyed . . . and so, within a few minutes . . . this time armed with an umbrella and raincoat, I set off too. It is no surprise that I really enjoyed that walk. What a difference a change in attitude can make to circumstances we cannot alter!



Lura continues to improve, slowly and steadily. You can read about her journey here, with much thanks to her friend Sil, who is able to be with her at this time and leaves updates on Lura's Page daily. Lura is not out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination and your prayers are still so very much needed and appreciated. I am in awe of Lura's strength and fortitude and so inspired by her example and attitude. But then again . . . I always have been. Please continue to stop by and give her some love and encouragement. She could really use it.

I am off to the Dentist this morning for a check up and hopefully cleaning. I didn't get to my One Stop Program last Friday morning , except to stop in and let them know I was registered, but would have to leave early that day due to a clash with an emergency Dental Appointment. It was decided that I best leave it to start this Friday, so that is how that went. I've been watching Kirstie Allie's Big Life on the telly these past few nights . . . tuning in to how rich and famous people lose the weight. She seems quite motivated, but then again, she has the help of a personal trainer and all that staff around her motiviating her. She's also got a Chubby Buddy, but he was caught by an "in car" camera cheating and buyingand eating burgers at a fast food outlet. It seemed a shame that he has all those resources to help him as well, but he's out there still eating burgers. I should be so lucky. There won't be any personal trainers helping me out!!

Here's my absolute favourite way to do a grilled cheese sandwich. Won't be too many of these in my near future either.



*Rustic Grilled Cheese*
makes one serving, but is easily multiplied
Printable Recipe

This is my favourite way to make a grilled cheese sandwich.

2 slices multi-grain bread

1 tsp Honey Mustard

6 slices of shaved Chicken Breast sandwich meat

2 thin slices of tomato

1 slice of processed cheese

softened butter

Spread the mustard onto one slice of the bread. Top with the chicken, tomato and slice of cheese. Cover with the remaining slice of bread. Spread both outsides of the sandwich with softened butter. Heat a skillet large enough to hold the sandwich over medium heat. Add the sandwich. Cook until browned on one side, before turning over to brown on the other side. Remove from the pan and let sit for a few minutes before slicing in half to serve.




In The English Kitchen today, a delicious Slow Roasted Shoulder of Lamb.

Friday this and that . . .

There's a banner of green in the hedgerow now,
There's a flicker of Spring in the air;
There's a chatter of birds in the tree-top bough,
And the earth's waking up everywhere!
There's a smile in the sky, as a puffball cloud
Sails by on it's platter of blue . . .
There's a promise of hope, in the green shoots proud,
And there's Spring, in the first morning dew.
~Elizabeth Gozney

Spring, spring, spring! I know now why Todd loves Spring most of all. Over in Canada, Spring is quite different. There is usually still a ton of snow on the ground when it arrives . . . all dirty and yukky, and the ground gets so muddy. Here it's a quite different feeling, and I quite like it myself.



When I was a child at school, these few weeks before the official arrival of spring we would be busy colouring in pictures of frolicking sheep and daffodils to decorate the classroom walls, even though it would be weeks and weeks before we saw the daffodils and we never saw the sheep at all . . . unless you were lucky enough to live on or near a sheep farm! Here in the UK, already now, all the verges and traffic circles are filling up with blooming daffs and I can well imagine that up near Ullswater in the Lake District it is a riot of yellow bobbing blooms . . . that is where Wordsworth penned his famous poem about Daffodils . . .



I got a lovely package in the post a few days ago. My friend Cyndy told me that she had picked me up something yonks ago that reminded her of me and she had popped it into the post. Inside I found this lovely Kitchen Angel. I think it's just beautiful and not the least because it came from a friend! That makes it even more so!

And just what would spring be without a few sniffles? Well, I even have those! Not that I am rejoicing in them . . . I'm just sayin, is all . . . my own fault really. I went to the chapel one night last week for the second part of my Temple Recommend interview and the fella who interviewed me was coughing and sneezing, and told me he was just getting over a really bad cold. I had the distinct feeling as we shook hands at the end of it that I needed to go wash my hands right away . . . I didn't . . . so now I have the sniffles. C'est la vie!



Now that I have a grand daughter I have the opportunity to make a special doll and I think I will start one soon. This one will be the most special of all as it will be going to family. I also have a few sock monkey's to make. There is such a special feeling involved when you are creating something for a grandchild I think . . . my friend Lura, has created beautiful dresses for all of her grand daughters for their Baptism's, wonderful labours of love. I won't be able to do that, but I can certainly create for each of my much loved grandchildren something quite unique for only them . . . a special legacy as it were, tangible and huggable too!



Something else that arrived in the post this week. This adorable little puppy that I bought from an Esty seller, SendSunshine. She needlefelts the most beautiful little animals. Isn't this adorable. I feel a story coming on! All of her creations are so sweet and adorable. There's just so many talented people out in this world. We all have special and unique talents you know. They might not always be as obvious as this, but they are there all the same!

Well, I am just beginning to prattle now so I'll end this with the recipe that I have for you today. Delicious Panini sandwiches for your lunch today! Mmm . . . mmm . . . good!!



*Bacon and Mozarella Panini*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

I suppose you could skip the faff of baking the dough, and cutting it into squares and just make this into a pizza by plunking all the filling ingredients on top of the crust and baking it like a pizza, but really . . . do take the effort to make the sandwiches. They are oh-so-scrummy!

a refrigerated pizza crust dough
4 tsp basil pesto
1/4 cup Caesar salad dressing
8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, drained and
cut into 8 slices, or 8 slices of regular mozzarella cheese
freshly groudn black pepper
12 slices of cooked smoked streaky bacon
2 ripe plum tomatoes
8 large fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup of butter

Preheat oven to 190*C/375*F. Spray large cookie sheet with oil or cooking spray. Unroll the pizza crust dough onto cookie sheet, pressingg the dough into a 16x11-inch rectangle, pulling gently if necessary. Bake 9 to 16 minutes or until light brown. Cool about 15 minutes or until cool enough to handle.


Cut the cooled pizza crust in half lengthwise and crosswise to make 4 rectangles. Remove rectangles from cookie sheet, cutting each rectangle in half crosswise for a total of 8 squares.

On each of 4 crust squares, spread 1 teaspoon pesto and then set aside. On each of remaining 4 squares, spread 1 tablespoon Caesar dressing. Place 2 cheese slices on each, on top of the Caesar dressing. Top the cheese with a grating of pepper, 3 bacon slices, 2 tomato slices and 2 basil leaves. Top with remaining crust slices, pesto side down.

Heat 12-inch skillet over medium heat until hot. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in skillet. When the butter is foaming place 2 sandwiches in skillet. Place smaller skillet or saucepan on sandwiches to flatten slightly. Keep the weight on the sandwiches while cooking. Cook about 2 minutes on each side, or until the sandwiches are golden brown and crisp, and fillings are heated. Remove from skillet and cover with foil to keep warm while you make the remaining two sandwiches. Repeat using the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and sandwiches. Serve immediately.



Over in The English Kitchen today there's Clean Out The Fridge Soup!

Friday musings . . .

February may be the month of love . . . but it is also a month of uncertainties. One day the sun may be shining upon us like the face of God . . . and the next a ferociously cold wind will come roaring down from the North and the skies will lay heavy with the presage of snow . . .

Yesterday I stood in a patch of golden sunlight . . . looking down at one of Tennyson's "solitary firstlings", . . . and today it feels as cold and dull and I would not at all be surprised to find the little fairy bell dusted with frost . . .



The window next to our dining table frames a bleak and bitter scene. Branches bare, dried seed pods in pots . . . the hedge seemingly a pattern of wrought iron. It would seem that hope has been halted in her tracks . . .

but what is that I see . . . each bare branch tipped with a pale green bud, the slender leaves of the daffodils that we planted along the back garden hedge have pushed themselves up towards the sun . . . and the birds are once again singing brightly of a morn.



Oh . . . this is promise . . . and it is right around the corner!

A few of you asked how Mitzie fared with us having been gone the whole day on Wednesday. I would not have been at all surprised to get home and find her having made a big mess upon our return. We were gone for about 8 hours. We put her in the kitchen with her bed, some water and some toys before we left, putting the baby gate across and leaving the radio on so that she had some music to listen to (I know . . . what are we like?)



She was very, very glad to see us (of course) when we came in, and I was so pleased to find that she had not messed at all, nor chewed anything either. (And Todd had left the cereal cupboard open too!) She is a very grown up girl indeed! It is not something we would ever do very often . . . to leave her alone for that length of time, but it is nice to know that in the case of an emergency it can be done. I see a temple trip in our future for sure!

I made this delicious soup for our lunch yesterday. I love broccoli in any way shape or form. Todd, now . . . he's not so convinced it is a miracle vegetable, but that didn't stop him from chowing this down!



*Cream of Broccoli Soup*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

I love Broccoli and this is one of my favourite ways to eat it. Easy to make and so tasty! You can add about 2 ounces grated strong cheddar cheese or crumbled stilton cheese at the end and stir until it melts…it then becomes Cream of Broccoli Cheese soup!

1 ounce butter
2 medium potatoes, peel and finely chop
1 large onion, peel and finely chop
Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
1 bunch of broccoli, including the stalk
1 litre of hot chicken stock ( you can use vegetable stock
if you want a vegetarian version)(4 cups)
1 cup double cream

Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the potatoes and onion and season with salt and pepper. Cover with a piece of parchment paper and cook over low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to keep from sticking.

Cut off the broccoli florets. Peel the stalk and discard the tough bit. Chop the remainder into half inch pieces. Add the stalks to the onion and potato and cook for about five minutes longer.

Pour the hot stock over and add the broccoli florets. Bring to a boil and boil gently, uncovered, for about 5 minutes longer until the broccoli is tender. Remove from the heat and liquidize with a stick blender. (You can also do this very carefully in the blender or food processor, but I recommend investing in a stick blender. You won’t be sorry and you’ll find you use it a lot!) Stir in the cream and gently re-heat. Serve in heated bowls with crisp parmesan toasts.

*Parmesan Toasts*

8 slices of toasted plain ciabatta bread
Butter
About 3 ounces freshly grated parmesancheese

Lightly butter the toasted slices of bread. Sprinkle evenly with the grated cheese and place under a pre-heated grill until the cheese melts, about 2 minutes or so. Serve warm with the soup.



In The English Kitchen today, delicious Bread Machine Chelsea Buns!