The Simple Woman's Day Book . . .

FOR TODAY, January 12th, 2009 ...

Outside My Window...
It has gotten a bit milder, but it is still cold and the wind is blowing like crazy out there. I have no idea what the weather is going to do, but I do know that spring must be around the corner. It has to be because there are daffodils in bloom down in the village! I think it must be an early variety of daff, coz I remember them blooming around this time last year as well. It seems wonderfully crazy to be so cold and wintry, and then you look and see daffodils! Isn't nature wonderful at times?

I am thinking...
About how much I wanted to get done in this past month and about how little of it I actually got done!! Life is like that at times. We make great plans and everything starts off wonderfully and then somehow you get derailed along the way. Never mind, that's what tomorrow is for. Right?

I am thankful for...
My family. We don't always see eye to eye on things, and we don't always get along, but we always love each other no matter what. Sometimes it's really hard living so far away. They can't see your face and hear your voice when you write things down, and it's really easy to misinterpret things sometimes. I always try to look on the bright side and view their intentions as being pure, so even if I sometimes may feel a bit hurt by something, I know in my heart it wasn't meant to be so. I'm also thankful for my dear friends, who ofttimes seem like family to me. What do they say? Friends are family you get to pick for yourself.

From the kitchen...
We didn't have anything really exciting for supper yesterday. I didn't have time to put anything into the slow cooker before we left for church in the morning, and so I just heated up some hot dogs and a tin of beans and we had hot dogs and beans when we got home. It was pretty good though. Sometimes the simplest meals can be quite comforting and wonderful, don't you think? I did bake some cookies in the evening though . . .

I am wearing...
Pajamas. Grey bottoms with pink stars on them and a bright pink top with a woolly sheep on it saying baaa. I was thinking about why I love pajamas so much the other day. I think it's because they are so forgiving and comfortable. They fit no matter what you've overindulged in over the holidays. They just feel like a second skin to me.

I am creating...
My mother was telling me that when my son and daughter in law were over for Christmas, my daughter in law had said how sad she was that I didn't do many crafts anymore, and how nice it would be for Gabriel to have something that I had made, so I have got my thinking cap on and I am thinking that this year for their birthdays my grandsons are going to get something made by their grandma. Maybe sock monkeys or something like that. I'm really quite excited at the prospect!

I am going...
to be polishing copper at work today. There is a ton of it to do. Usually Todd comes along and helps me with the stuff that is high up. He hands it down and I polish it and hand it back up. I think I'll get all the stuff that is within my reach done this morning and he can come over and help me with the handing down stuff tomorrow. It sounds like a good plan anyways!

I am reading...
I'm still working on The Cranford Chronicles by Elizabeth Gaskell, but I am also reading an old book of mine at the same time. It is called Beauty, and is a modern re-telling of the story of Beauty and the Beast. The main character is a young woman who is an artist and has gone into the snowy woods of Vermont to paint the portrait of a recluse. Her family has always painted the portraits of this particular family down through the generations and it is now her turn. The twist is this man has a deformity, a disease which has caused his head, hands and feet to grow disproportionately to the rest of him and so he is disfigured. It's an unusual twist to a lovely story and a book I do enjoy reading again and again . . . I think inside every woman there is a secret part of her that longs to tame the beast, and show him he can be loved . . .

I am hoping...
that all my friends who are ill and suffering right now with colds and flu will be feeling much better soon. I think my friend Hazel is coming home from hospital today, so she has improved, but she still has a ways to go. Thank you so much for your continued prayers. They actually don't keep you very long in hospital these days, and in truth you probably aren't that safe in there either with all those viruses that you can pick up in there also. It's really kind of scary when you think about it! They are building a really big new hospital near to us now and it is supposed to be going to be one of the best in the country. We shall see!

I am hearing...
The wind is blowing the branches of the rosebushes against the house and I can hear them banging against the side and their branches are scratching on the windows. It feels good to be tucked up all warm and cosy inside. I have the electric fire going and it is blowing lovely warm air around my ankles and Jess is snoring away by my feet. I have my play list playing softly in the background and all is well, all is well . . .

Around the house...
I think we are going to get stuck in to painting the kitchen later this week. I want to paint the walls a pale yellow, barely there yellow . . . I think it will look quite nice and warm. Right now it is magnolia. The whole house is magnolia except for the spare bedroom which is a vibrant blue. Kind of odd I'd say that the whole house would be the one colour except for that one little room. We did think of re-painting it at one point, but it is so bright it will take buckets and buckets of paint to cover it up. For now it remains a delightful surprise tucked away behind it's magnolia door!

One of my favorite things...
is visiting all of my favourite blogs and reading about what all of you have been up lately. I often discover new blogs and friends as well. I am an easily distracted person I think. I often go to sort out a cupboard and end up doing something else completely. I will find something I haven't seen in a very long time and then I'm off on a different tangent! It is the same with blog reading . . . one link leads to another link, leads to another . . . and then I am lost! I may not always have time to comment, but I do always read.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
Thursday evening is Temple evening for our young men and women. They will be travelling up to do Baptisms. I hope to go but a lot depends on work. There is a going away party for some people in our ward as well, so I am hoping to get to that also. Then it is our turn to host the monthly scripture study group here at Oak Cottage so I have that to prepare for as well. Such a lot of goodness going on here this week! I also have a card order to get done and some cards to finish to put down in the village post office, plus I have to fit in work there as well. What's that you say??? There's no rest for the wicked ??? I must be really bad!!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



That lovely frost is all gone now and the temperature has risen a bit and look what I discovered under the trees in the garden!! Snow Drops!! Aren't they beautiful? I love how the seasons go and how they, each one of them, surprise with their little joys to be discovered.

I got around to baking the cookies from my Make Me Bake challenge yesterday afternoon. My goodness but they smelled heavenly when they were baking. My friend Miranda, A Duck In Her Pond , sent me this lovely little cooking booklet for a giveaway she had last autumn, called Hooray For Sweets by Family Living. It is chock full of wonderful cookie and square recipes!! Last week you all picked the Brown Sugar-Pecan Cookies for me to bake and I was sure glad that you did! I had been eyeballing that recipe for a couple of weeks now. Todd be mighty glad you picked them as well!



*Brown Sugar-Pecan Cookies*
Makes 5 dozen

These are wonderfully easy cookies, all buttery and brown sugary sweet and delightfully crunchy with pecans. The brown sugar icing is a wonderful topping. These are real winners on all counts! They actually put me in mind of butterscotch brownies, except they 're a cookie!

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup firmly packed soft light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
Brown Sugar Frosting (see below)
Toasted Pecan halves

Place the butter into a bowl and beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until creamy. Beat in the sugars gradually until well mixed in. Beat in the egg and vanilla.

Sift together the flour, soda and salt. Gradually add this mixture to the creamed mixture, mixing in well after each addition. Stir in the chopped pecans. Cover and chill for 3o minutes before proceeding.

Pre-heat the oven to 180*C/350*F. Shape the dough into 1 inch balls and place each, 2 inches apart from each other, onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on wire racks.

Once cooled spread with the frosting and top each with a pecan half.



*Brown Sugar Frosting*
Makes 1 1/3 cups

1 cup firmly packed soft light brown sugar
1/2 cup of half and half cream
1 TBS butter
1 1/2 to 1 2/3 cups sifted icing sugar

Combine the brown sugar and half and half in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to the boil. Allow to boil for 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter.

Beat in the icing sugar a bit at a time until you get a smooth and creamy icing, just thick enough to spread comfortably on top of the cookies. You may not need all of the icing sugar. If you accidentally add to much and your icing gets very thick, just place back over the heat and beat in a little milk to loosen it up a bit.

Don't forget to hop on over to the Simple Woman to check out the other day book entries!

A New Year Dawns . . .

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."
~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Ahh . . . here we are. January 1st, 2009. A brand new month. A brand new year. January, the month of new beginnings and a time to cherish memories. The month in which winter weaves her magically ponderous spell about us with it's cool and crisp days. This is the month where we will be glad of woolly scarves, warm mittens and log fires. We snuggle in with long dark evenings . . . comforting, savoury suppers, lively conversation, or even solitary joys, our only companions. The temperatures plummet and, if we are lucky, snow falls softly . . . all of nature is at peace and at rest. This is the perfect time for us to draw back and relax as well. All the hectic busyness of Christmas is past and a new year waits before us to be drawn upon like a new page. This is the month to dream and to look ahead . . .

Only dreams can give birth to change. Take some time today to quietly reflect on what your dreams are. What are your hopes for the future? What are the gentle yearnings of your heart? This is not a time for resolutions. Resolutions that only get broken , one by one as the year waxes on. This is the time for private aspirations and hope. What are the longings you have tucked away in your heart, waiting for just the right time? Have faith and trust that NOW is the time. Ask the questions that need to be asked of yourself, and then have confidence that the answers will come, and that you will see them, minute by minute . . . day by day. Trust that you will find a way to live them and then . . .

Take a leap of faith into the future! Let us begin this wondrous new year by believing. Believing in ourselves and our dreams, and, believing in the Great Master Creator . . . the sower of dreams and hope, who is just waiting for us to ask Him to help us make our dreams come true.

Today IS the first day 0f the rest of your life and how it goes is up to you and the choices you make. You may be called this year to do any number of things . . . some may be easy, some may be hard. Success at times may seem impossible, but I firmly believe if we call upon God for help and seek the Saviour's guidance, all things are possible. May this be a year when we can, each of us, seek His voice and have the heart to listen to His answers. May we, each one of us, have enough faith to move forward and walk in His steps, and to know that whatever, wherever, whenever . . . He IS there with us.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"
Philippians 4:13

Read the words . . . know them and take them into your heart . . . believe them and then move forward into the future, hand in hand with the Master. I am really looking forward to the journey over this next year and taking you along with me. Isn't it exciting!!




We had the missionaries over for supper last night. I didn't do a raclette after all. I had a big rib roast in the freezer that I had bought for another evening where sickness meant it was not needed, so I thought rather than let it sit in the freezer for months and months deteriorating I would take it out and cook it up. So we dined on Roast Beef, and potatoes, swede, carrots, Brussels sprouts and puffy Yorkshire puddings and for dessert we finished off the cheesecake and then had these . . .




*Cape Breton Pork Pies*

Makes about 24

Over here if someone is caught telling a *Porkie Pie* that is Cockney rhyming slang for telling a lie! I think these come very close to that, coz there's no oink within an inch of these delicious little *cookie* tarts! With a rich buttery shortbread base, a luscious date filling and a crown of delicious butter cream, these are pleasing on all levels. Impressive and yet easy, this is an old Nova Scotian recipe that you will find on many holiday trays around this time of year.

Shells:

1 cup butter

4 TBS icing sugar

2 cups flour

Filling:

2 cups chopped dates

1 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1 cup water

the juice of half a lemon

Topping:

2 1/4 cups sifted icing sugar

4 ounces softened butter

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 TBS milk



Pre-heat the oven to 425*C/205*C. You will need either two 12 cup mini muffin tins or one 24 cup.

Place the flour and icing sugar for the base into a food processor. Add the butter cut into chunks and then process it for about 3 minutes, until the butter is all cut in and the mixture starts to come together. Dump out and knead for a few minutes. Divide into 24 walnut size pieces and roll each into a ball. Place each ball in one of the muffin cups and press it out to line each one evenly. Bake in the heated oven for 10 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool.

In the meantime make the filling. Mix all the filling ingredients together in a saucepan. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes until smooth and thick. Set aside to cool.

To make the butter icing, sift the icing sugar into a bowl. Add the softened butter, vanilla and milk. Beat together on high until thick and creamy. You may need more or less milk. It all depends. I add it about half at a time. Sometimes I need the full amount, sometimes not.

Divide the date filling between each of the cookie cups. Dot each with a bit of the butter icing to finish, or use a piping bag to pipe some on top of each.




In all likelihood, you will end up with some date filling leftover. This is what I do with it . . . yumm, sandwiched between two oatmeal cookies and with a glass of milk, this is bliss . . . pure bliss.

Happy New Year Everyone!

And so a year ends . . .

Well, here I am sitting in my little cottage at this final day of the year, 2008. Year's end is a chance for us to reflect on all that has been good in the past year and all the ways we have grown . . . perhaps things we might be able to improve on in the coming year, happy memories made and the achievements, both big and small of the past year. It's a time to look forward with hope and a time to look back with nostalgia. I thought this morning I would do a review of my past year here at Oak Cottage and that I'd take you along with me . . .



January saw me enjoying a sunny day after weeks of rain and waxing on about Fairies . . .

"The sight of a fairy ring of toadstools on the mossy floor of a forest has always fueled my deepest imaginations, and indeed if you were to look across the rolling fields behind our cottage on a warm summer's day, the air will be filled with little fairy wings dancing in the soft breeze. Some would say seed pods on their airborne journey, but I say differently . . . "



In February, I did my first giveaway here at Oak Cottage, a Valentines one, discovered the Tuesdays With Dorie baking group, started my Make Me Bake feature and discovered snowdrops in the garden . . . a sure sign that spring was on it's way.

"As I walked home to the cottage on my afternoon break, I chanced to see some little snowdrops blooming at the edge of our soggy garden, their dainty little white heads dancing in the soft breeze that was blowing. They are hope to me, a promise that spring is just around the corner. Can the bluebells be very far behind? What a difference a day makes . . ."




March saw me relishing the spring time and taking a fairy on a walk around our garden. I did an Easter Giveaway, and took a bunny on a walk through the Orchard to greet her friend, her arms filled with a delicious basket containing a lovely cinnamon loaf. I baked cookies and Hot cross Scones and spoke of empty holes . . .

"I guess I am a kind of a fanciful person at heart. There is this big tree down at the edge of our property that has a hollow right at it's base. It's not just any hole though . . . it's a very intriguing hole . . . deep and dark, and full of lots of scraps of earth and leaves and rotting bark.

Every time I walk by it on my way to work, I look at the hole . . . just laying there empty and I long to fill it with something, with some piece of my heart. I want to take a big rock and paint it up like a fairy house and plant it right between the roots, tucked into the hollow heartbeat of the tree. Tis only lack of time, and the fear of someone stealing it that prevents me from doing just that. If I had my way, there would be little fairy houses tucked in here and there all throughout our cottage garden . . . "



April saw me baking Gingerbreads, enjoying the antics of the squirrels in my back garden, wondering about small and simple things, forgiveness and lessons learned in life, and vapour trails . . .

"Vapour trails often decorate the sky where we live and at any given time we are able to look up and see at least two or three, maybe even more, sometimes trailing behind the actual planes . . . but more often than not, just the tell tail white streak in the sky that lets me know they have been there, the residue simply being the evidence left behind which tells me they were here . . .

We are all a bit like planes in that respect. Everything we do in life leaves a trail behind it. The good things . . . the bad things . . . the special things . . . the ordinary things . . . We wander through life doing this and doing that, most of the time not really giving much thought to what we are leaving behind in our wake . . . every action producing a consequence, and leaving it behind, however big or small . . ."



During the month of May, the lovely month of May, I took stock of simple pleasures, and precious truths. I dug for diamonds and talked about making my life count, mothers, and finding contentment in who we are . . .

"I have come to the conclusion that I just cannot do everything, and do it all well. I can do some of the things I do really well, and some not so well, and that’s ok. I have learned to prioritize and decide which are the things in my life that are the most important and which really deserve my fullest attention. God and family come tops of my list and then comes my job, ( which is very important obviously, as I am the main breadwinner) and finally everything else. If some things don’t get done today, then I don’t panic. It’s not really all that important. I dress neatly and tidily, and I keep myself clean. I do wear a bit of makeup, but I don’t obsess on any of it. I have learned to be content with how I look and what I have. If Todd is happy, and I am happy, then nothing else matters, and that’s as it should be. I take great joy in the simple things of life and I have them in great abundance. I am a simple woman, and very content to be such . . ."



June brought me Sunday visitors and front porch days. The roses were all in bloom and we could sit in the back garden listening to the bees buzz about the lavender. We were busy enjoying the warmer days and the sunshine and stars . . .

" If we sit under the umbrella at the picnic table on the back patio, we can hear bumble bees humming as they go about their work gathering pollen from the lavender, which grows beneath my kitchen window. On a hot June evening, it's serene scent lulls us into lazy feelings and peaceful thoughts and quiet dreams . . ."



July was the month when I got to finally meet my dear friend Tracy from Pink Pearl in person for the first time! Oh what an exciting day that was. Although we also went on holidays up to Cumbria that month, meeting Tracy was the highlight of the month, and indeed year for me . . .

"On the computer Tracy has always seemed larger than life to me, but I was so surprised and thrilled to find that she was as tiny as a little doll when we met. I felt like the friendly giant next to her. I totally dwarfed her! This was proof that the best things come in small packages. We hugged and tears were shed, because . . . we are both a couple of softies and so very tender hearted. Spirit speaks to spirit, and our spirits had been speaking to each other for a long time. The opportunity to finally see each other in the flesh was just so overwhelmingly special . . . "



In August I shared the tale of my summer holiday with you all and discovered the Simple Woman's Day book. It was also my Birthday month and so I was able to celebrate along with each of you. We had ever so much rain last summer. It seemed that the sun hardly shone, and it rained the whole month through . . .

" What a nasty weekend we have had here at Oak Cottage weather wise. It had cleared yesterday morning and so we thought to go to the beach at Eastbourne for the day, but then the dark clouds rolled in again just as we went to leave and so we decided not to take a chance. Good thing too as it turned out to be a horrible day with rain and wind and everything that goes right along with it. It would not have been nice at the beach at all, and today is much the same! "



September brought me thoughts of artists and flowers, small and simple things, and Todd's 70th Birthday celebration. The wild flowers in the orchard surrounding us began to go to seed and the hedgerows filled up with blackberries and hips and haws. The apple pickers arrived and the children went back to school. The orchards around us rang with the sounds of laughter and children at play during their break . . .

"My mama always told me that any job worth doing, was worth doing well. I try to do my best at whatever I set my hands to, and I try hard to be pleasant when I am doing it. It's ever so much easier to get through the worst things in life, if you do them with a song in your heart . . ."



October brought about cooler days and cooler nights. The days were beginning to become noticeably shorter and I thought about making your days count, and every day epiphanies, having a humble home and my hands . . .

"As a very small child my mother taught me how to put my hands together, bow my head and pray, so they have been instrumental in helping me to commune with my Lord, and even now when I listen to a very spiritual piece of music that touches my heart I like to raise them in the air and somehow feel as if I am able to touch the hem of His garment. They have helped me throughout my life to feel closer to my God . . ."



November brought spectacular fall colours this past year, more spectacular than in years past. Todd and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary and I thought about things like love and magic and finding joy . . .

"It is easy to find joy in small things . . . a baby's sigh . . . a sunset . . . the feeling of warm sand between our toes. These are things that will never change, for joy is constant . . ."




December has been a lovely month, if ever so cold. I cannot recollect a December in my brief time over here that has been colder. It's been a wonderful time of getting ready for Christmas and enjoying the company of friends and reflection on all that is good about life and the blessings it brings us.

"I am so thankful for a heart that has passion enough and the will to take the time to soak it all in, the wonder of life and the joy that it brings, blessings both great and small . . . sometimes I think that the smallest joys are the greatest blessings of all . . ."

It is hard to believe that here we are at the end of the year. It has gone by ever so quickly. It seems it has hardly begun and now . . . it is over. What will the new year bring? Only God knows for sure. I know what I hope it brings, but we shall see. In any case, life is what you make of it and life is good . I look at the coming year as if looking at a clean new page in my notebook . . . what will I choose to write on it, how will the story come out. It's really up to me . I look forward to another year of the journey, and I hope you'll all enjoy coming along with me on it!

I cooked ever so many things over this past year and showed you a few hundred of them. I was trying to think this morning of which thing that I cooked over this past year that was my very favourite thing. It was really hard to come up with one but I think this is it . . . my chosen recipe of the year, 2008. It was the winner of my Make Me Bake Challenge during the second week of July. It was delicious!!



*Strawberry Toffee Tart*
Serves 6

A crispy, buttery and oaty crust covered with a tangy cream and a plethora of sliced strawberries, this is truly moreish. A final drizzle of toffee sauce is it's crowning glory. Easy, quick and pleasing on all levels this is a true winner!

6 ounces of hobnob biscuits (a buttery oatmeal cookie)
3 ounces of butter, melted
14 ounces of double cream
5 soft toffees (such as Werther's original soft toffees)
200g tub of Greek Yoghurt
icing sugar for dusting

Line an 8 inch tart tin with baking parchment. Crush the biscuits to fine crumbs either in your food processor, blender or by bashing them in a plastic bag with a rolling pin. Tip them into a bowl and mix together with the melted butter. Press this mixture evenly in the base of the tart tin. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or so until it feels firm. Once firm, remove the biscuit base from the tin and carefully slide it onto a flat serving plate.

Slice the strawberries and set aside.

Take 2 TBS of the cream and put it into a small bowl. Whip the rest of the cream until it holds soft peaks. Fold in the yoghurt and then spoon this mixture over the top of the biscuit base and cover with the sliced strawberries.

Add the toffees to the cream and place in the microwave. Cook on medium heat for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir until they form a sauce. Drizzle this sauce over the berries. Dust with icing sugar just before serving.



PS - I posted a new piece of art over on Blossom Time Creations. Pop on over and have a gander, and tell me what you think!

My Christmas Gift To You . . .

Christmas is a season
For gifts of every kind,
All the glittering, pretty things
That Christmas shoppers find,
Baubles, beads, and bangles
Of silver and of gold -
Anything and everything
That can be bought or sold
Is given at this season
To place beneath the tree
For Christmas is a special time
For giving lavishly,
But there's one rare and priceless gift
That can't be sold or bought,
It's something poor or rich can give
For it's a loving thought -
And loving thoughts are something
For which no one can pay
And only loving hearts can give
This priceless gift away.

~Helen Steiner Rice

This is my Christmas Gift to each of you. My loving thoughts for each of you to have a wonderful Christmas holiday. May all your lives be enriched beyond your wildest dreams with the things in life that really count . . . faith, love, friendship, family. . . For those of you who are spending it with loved ones dear, may the love that is shared be that little bit sweeter, that little bit more blessed. For those of you who may be on your own and a bit down, may the love of our Heavenly Father touch your hearts so that you can know that you are never truly alone, that there is always someone who cares. For those who are ill or hurting, may your lives be touched with special healing from above and may you know that God does see the little sparrow fall and as much as He loves the little things, He loves you even more.

Know too, that I love you, all my invisible friends . . . those ones of you who make yourselves known to me, and those of you who pop in for a quick read, and then just as quickly melt away without letting me know that you've been here. I Love you all and I wish you, each and every one of you, a very Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart.

Joyeux Noèl . . . Froehliche Weihnachten . . . Buon Natale . . . God Jul . . . Maligayang Pasko . . . Vrolijk Kerstfeest . . . Feliz Navidad . . . Wesolych Swiat . . . Kala Christouyenna . . . Shub Naya Bara . . . Nadolig Llawen . . . Nollaig Shona Dhuit . . . Nollaig Chridheil . . . Glædelig Jul . . . Veselé Vánoce . . . Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kuthu Olsun . . . Srozhdestvom Kristovym . . .

Merry Christmas one and all!!

Here's the Stuffing recipe from my make me Bake Challenge last week. I hope you all enjoy!



*Herb and Sausagemeat Stuffing*
Makes enough for 10 to 12 people

I had never really tried a stuffing made with meat before I came over here to the UK. My mom always made a bread and potato stuffing. I have come to love them both and they'll both be served with my holiday turkey tomorrow. You can use this to stuff the bird, shape into balls or press into a love tin and serve it in slices.

2 ounces of butter
2 onions, peeled and chopped
8 rashers of streaky bacon, chopped (if rinded, remove the rind)
12 ounces good quality sausage meat
9 ounces fresh soft white bread crumbs
a good handful of chopped parsley
2 TBS chopped fresh sage, or 2 tsp dried
3 TBS chopped fresh thyme, or 2 tsp dried
1 egg, beaten
1 bay leaf (optional)
salt and freshly ground black pepper to season



Melt the butter in a skillet. Add the onions and the bacon and cook for about 8 minutes until they are softened and golden brown. Set aside.

Put the sausage meat into a bowl with the breadcrumbs, the herbs (except the bay leaf if using) and the egg. Season well. Add the onion and bacon mixture. Mix it in well, then leave to cool completely.

To stuff the turkey, push half into the neck end, then shape the remainder into balls. half an hour before the end of the turkey cooking time, put the balls into the tin around the turkey, or cook them in a separate tin which has been greased. Alternatively, lay a pay leave in the bottom of a 2 pound loaf tin. Press the stuffing well in over top, turn out onto a lightly oiled baking sheet, then cook with the turkey for 30 minutes. Or you can just do like me and leave it to cook in the loaf tin and then cut in slices like a meatloaf to serve. Anyways you do it, it's delicious!



PS - I had a lovely card in the mail from my oldest daughter yesterday and I also spoke to her on the telephone and we received a little package from my oldest son, along with a lovely little note card. I am going to call them all at their dad's on Christmas day anyways, even if it is a bit uncomfortable at first. You've all given me the courage to just do it. I thank you all!

The Simple Women's Day Book . . .

FOR TODAY, December 8, 2008 ...

Outside My Window...
Because we are having the long winter days now it is pitch black, which is what you would expect at this early time of the day. It's funny . . . in the summertime the sun is coming up about now and the birds are starting their morning chorus, but now with winter on our doorstep all is still and quiet. The earth lays in it's mantle of frost and I expect the birds are all huddled together in their little nesting places trying to keep warm. That is a miracle to me. When I am out in the cold I shudder and shake with the cold, but these tiny little creatures puff themselves up and weather the cold . . . the rain . . . the wind . . . whatever nature throws their way.

I am thinking...
This morning I am thinking of my youngest son and daughter. It is my son Bruce's birthday today on the 8th, and my Amanda's birthday tommorrow. There is 9 years age difference between them. There is seven years between Bruce and my next oldest child, Douglas. Bruce came as a huge surprise to all of us. I didn't think I was able to have any more children and look what came along! He was a delightful surprise, and, whilst I really love and enjoyed my other children, I enjoyed Bruce in a different way. When the other four were small, there was four of them being small altogether, and my hands and hours were so busy and filled that sometimes there was not a lot of time to enjoy each one individually. With Bruce, there was no other small hands clutching at my apron strings or skirt tails, and so, I had a lot more time to spend with him one on one, and so many other eager hands willing and wanting to help out and play with him. The year he was born, I had planned a birthday party for Amanda, and for some reason decided to make the cake a couple of days ahead of the party and stick it into the freezer. Good thing too coz I ended up being in the hospital! We teased her that year and told her that Bruce was her birthday present! She was semi not impressed! (a part of her was thrilled to have a baby around to fuss over!)

I am thankful for...
All the lovely testimonies that were born in church yesterday. On the first Sunday of each month we have Fast and Testimony meeting for the sacrament service. We are all charged to fast for a time on that day, and donate whatever money we would have used to feed ourselves as a fast offering. This goes into the church welfare system to help people that need it. After the sacrament has been passed, we are each invited to take a turn to come up and share our testimonies with the rest of the congregation. Some might think that is a scary thing to do, but it's not. It's so beautiful and the spirit that rests with us during the next 40 minutes or so is so special and wonderful. If you can't speak of your love of the Gospel with your friends and loved ones, then who can you speak of it with? It's my favourite meeting of the month . . .

From the kitchen...
I've got some delicious bars sitting on a plate that I'll tell you about in just a little while. I am hoping to get some more Christmas baking done this week, perhaps a cherry loaf or two, maybe even some more cookies. Don't you just love Christmas? The smells and the hustle and the bustle and the food! We are so blessed to live in a country where we have the privilege of being able to celebrate this holiday season in such an abundant way. I shall never take it for granted.

I am wearing...
Well, you would be shocked if I said I was wearing any clothes so I won't shock you and say that, for you know full well, or should do by now that I am wearing pajamas! (and a warm sweater as it's quite cold in here this morning!)

I am creating...
I am still working on those felt ornaments, but mostly what I am trying to create is the feeling of love and joy in my holiday home this Christmas Season. We have not put our Christmas Tree up yet, but I am hoping to get it up sometime this week, or weekend. But Christmas is not about the tree, or the presents or the decorations . . . it's about the love and the joy that is felt from being near loved ones and good friends. It's about reaching outside your comfort zone and letting others know you care as well. That's where the real joy comes from. Peace on earth, good will to men . . .

I am going...
We decided rather than get each other Christmas Presents this year, we are going to take a day together in London. We'll go up by train and then spend the day walking about and looking at all the Christmas Decorations, have a little lunch and then go to the Victoria and Albert Museum. I have always wanted to go there and have not gone yet, in all the eight years I have lived over here. The best part will be doing it together! I promise to take lots of pictures!

I am reading...
I am now reading, "The Heretics Daughter", by Kathleen Kent. I just love historical novels. They are my favourite kinds of books to read. When I was at school I didn't like history very much, it was so dry and un-interesting, or so I thought! I discovered when I went to University and took Canadian History that it was anything but dull!!! That is when history really came alive for me and I discovered a great love for it. I still can't rattle off dates and such, but history is so much more than dates . . . it's about people and lives and the events and happenings that have brought us here, to today. I really do love it and find it all so fascinating. (I think the only date I actually remember is that in 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered the new world)

I am hoping...
I have not heard back yet from that third card company I sent my work to. I did send some out to another one at the weekend and am putting my portfolio together to send to Hallmark. They seem to have many styles of cards, and so perhaps they are a better bet. We shall see! I am not giving up.

I am hearing...
I have my Christmas Play list playing softly in the background. I love Christmas music. I often listen to it at other times of the year. It always makes me feel all warm and cozy inside. I love Christmas, and, it's not the presents and things that make me love it so, it's all that it stands for and that special feeling that is in the air at this time of year and no other. When I hear Christmas music, it invokes those special feelings in my heart. Sometimes it's nice to remind yourself of that in July or August, so if you happen to pass by my house in the summer months, and hear some carols ringing out, don't worry . . . I have not lost my head, I'm just feeding my heart!

Around the house...
I have 4 parcels to get ready to mail. They are all packaged up, but I have to put the mailing labels on them. The 10th is the last day that they guarantee anything will get to North America in time for Christmas so I really need to get them out today or tomorrow at the latest! I should have gotten it done last week!!!

One of my favorite things...
is sitting in my chair, with Jess at my feet letting me scratch her ears and rub her belly. They say that petting an animal is very therapeutic. I can well believe it. I could sit and do it for hours, and believe me, she could sit and let me do it for hours!!! She almost purrs. She makes these little grunts and rumbles in her throat, and you just know that she is enjoying every minute of it. She is such a loving animal and has such a gentle spirit. I love her so very much.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
It will be very busy at work this week. From Thanksgiving on we usually are quite busy up at the big house. I have a dinner party to do on Saturday night and I am really looking forward to it. I love doing the dinner parties. I get to cook more than ordinary food and I really enjoy the challenge of putting out six courses and doing it well. Mis en place. Everything sorted and organized. That is my secret to getting it all done properly. I make sure that I have all the elements of each recipe ready before I start and then when it comes time to actually start cooking it all comes together like a beautiful piece of music, with me as the conductor of the symphony. It's one of my favourite things to do! It's great to fall in bed at the end of a day and know you've done an honest day's work. Rest and sleep never feel better than at those times!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

This is my latest painting. I call it Bucket Full of Sunshine. I have had this sketched for several months now and have just now gotten around to painting it. I sat here yesterday evening at the kitchen table and painted my way through Cliff Richard, Corry Street and Take That singing on the telly. I just love her little face . . .

It's hard to see all the detail of her cute little face from the scan so here's a close up look!

That that's it for this week, the 8th of December! Make sure you check out some of the other Day Book entries on The Simple Woman . There are some real gems out there and you never know . . . you just might make a new friend or two and I don't know anyone who can't use some of those!

I did the Make Me Bake Challenge yesterday. These bars were so easy to make and smelled so wonderful when they were baking. I don't know why they are called a bar actually as they are more like a cake, but what a wonderful cake they are!



*Cappuchino Bars*
Makes 24

These are very moreish. Moist and covered in a white chocolate frosting, I bet you can't eat just one!

1 tsp cocoa powder, plus extra for dusting
(not hot chocolate powder)
2 rounded TBS coffee granules
8 ounces butter, softened
8 ounces sugar
4 large eggs
8 ounces self raising flour
1 tsp baking powder

White Chocolate Frosting:
4 ounces white chocolate, broken into pieces
2 ounces butter, softened
3 TBS milk
6 ounces icing sugar

Pre-heat the oven to 180*C/375*F. Butter and line the bottom of a shallow 11 by 7 inch oblong baking tin, or an 9 inch square one, with baking parchment or wax paper.

Mix the coffee granules and cocoa powder in a small bowl along with 2 TBS hot water until smooth. Put this mixture into a large bowl along with all of the other cake ingredients. Whisk with an electric mixer for about 2 minutes, until light and fluffy and well mixed together. Spoon the batter into the prepared tin and level off the top.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until risen and the top springs back when lightly touched. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tin for about 10 minutes then pull out of the tin and allow to finish cooling on a wire rack. Peel off the paper when cold.

To make the frosting, melt the chocolate, butter and milk together in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Once melted, remove and sift in the icing sugar. Beat all together until smooth. Spread evenly over top of the cake. Finish off with a light dusting of cocoa powder over top. Cut into slices to serve. Enjoy!

The Simple Woman's Day Book . . .

FOR TODAY, November 24, 2008 ...

Outside My Window...
All is quiet and calm and dark and cold . . . brrrr . . . winter seems to have come early this year. I have never known it to snow so early in the year here. Although it did not stay and was followed quite quickly by rain, for a few moments I got to feel the pure excitement of a child again, when the first snow flakes of the year begin to fall. Oh, how I used to long for the sight of those little white flakes. I knew it meant that Christmas could not be too awfully far behind and that Santa would have lots of snow for his sleigh. Mum always said too that a green Christmas meant a death in the family. An old wives tale . . . I know.


I am thinking...
I recently got back in touch with several old friends of mine from years back when my children were still young. It was so wonderful to hear from them and read what's been happening in their lives and sharing with them what has happened in mine. "Our lives can change in an instant", and the older I get the more the reality of that statement comes home to me. We never know really where we will be in our lives from one year to the next. It's a sobering thought and makes me ever more grateful for the blessings I so freely enjoy on this day, for I never know how long they will be mine to enjoy.

I am thankful for...
I am thankful that my Aunt Thelma is in pain no longer and whole again. I talked to my mum yesterday for a time, and she told me that my dear Aunt had asked last week for Heavenly Father to take her home. She didn't want to live any longer in the way she had had to live over these past weeks. In so much pain, and not able to see to read or do anything with her hands. Breathing had become such a struggle for her. Her heart was no longer strong enough to pump all the fluid from her lungs. I think that she was just tired of fighting. Heavenly Father answered her prayers. I expect she is up there sharing a cup of tea with Aunt Freda now and they are having a glorious reunion with each other, and with their mum and dad. I'm so thankful for the knowledge that families are forever.

From the kitchen...
Ohhh . . . I have my Tuesdays With Dorie pie cooling on the counter and some lovely bars that I am going to share with you in just a little bit. I have great plans for this week. It's Thanksgiving week in America as you know and we have been invited to share it with some American friends. I am really looking forward to that. I didn't get to celebrate my Canadian Thanksgiving due to work commitments and so am really looking forward to this one!!


I am wearing...
P-A-J-A-M-A-S!!! Lovely, comfy, warm jammies. I put them on right when we got home from church yesterday. (I know!!! What am I like???) It's my favourite way of relaxing. I figure if Sunday is the Lord's day and meant for rest, then the best way to do it, after church that is, is in my pajamas!

I am creating...
I sorted through all my art stuff at the weekend and got it all organized into the lovely file that Todd gave me for our anniversary. I am so happy now that I have a safe place to store my originals that will help to prevent them from becoming damaged in any way. I have a lot of sketches that I am wanting to get at. I also have some little Christmas bits in the way of crafts that I really need to get busy with. I have about 5 stocking fronts that I have had pieced together for a number of years now and every year I plan on finishing them and getting them quilted for my Grandsons. Soon there will be a third one to make one for. It's all very exciting. In the years before I had to go to work, I used to do a lot of crafts . . . now I have very little free time and so I have to really pick and choose what I am going to do in it. I guess I need to have a better plan so that I can get it all in!

I am going...
I'm really excited at the prospect of going to friend's to celebrate Thanksgiving day. She is cooking the turkey and the cranberry and I am doing all the side dishes. Ohhh, there will be lots of goodies . . . candied yams, and mashed potatoes not to mention a few other surprises! The best part will be feeling like a part of a huge family again. Holidays are very quiet here with just Todd and I, and while I am very grateful that I have a wonderful husband to share them with, I do miss all the noise and commotion of having a passel of kids and their spouses and the wee ones around! There will be no wee ones there on Thursday, but there will be a whole passel of people and hopefully lots of lovely noise!

I am reading...
I am still working on "The Almost Moon", by Alice Sebold. It's a very good read and not at all morbid. I know . . . it does take me a long time to get through a book! We had a literature appreciation night at Young Women's last week where we had invited the young women to bring in several of their favourite books and to be prepared to share why they were their favourites etc. We did have a fun evening and it was so interesting to see each of the girls' personalities coming out in the books that they choose to read!

I am hoping...
I still have not heard from that card company so am thinking that perhaps my work was not quite right for their requirements. I shall not give up though and keep trying. On the bright side all of the wonderful people who have purchased my cards have been so kind as to let me know that they were very happy with them. That makes me feel good. I am always a bit nervous when I send some of my work off to a new home. I would never want anyone to be disappointed in what I send them, and so I am on tenterhooks until it arrives and I know that they are satisfied.

I am hearing...
I have some quite music playing this morning. I love music, especially quiet music. I find it so calming. It's magic. Music is magic. I reckon I got my great love of music from my dad. He loves music too. I am able to appreciate all kinds of music, and I am so thankful for that blessing and the joy that it brings me in my life. Ohhh, the other day on my way up the lane to work I paused to listen to lovely sounds coming from the hedgerows . . . it was a bird that was singing it's pretty little heart out. I watched it fly from the hedgerow to a nearby tree where it continued it's song and my goodness but it made my heart sing. It was a little robin. They have a beautiful voice and then nearby I noticed a little Jenny Wren. I watched for several moments before having to break myself away and continue on up to work. I love these special little moments that God gifts me with each day. I am so thankful that I have a heart that is open to their magic and wonder.


Around the house...
Things are neat and tidy and I am working hard at keeping them that way. I am such a clutter bug, and I know it drives Todd up the wall! The side of my bed is still a mess though, with piles of books and magazines (neatly mind) stacked next to my side of the bed. I have a routine each night before I go to sleep. A few minutes with the Ensign and then a few minutes in a cookbook or cooking magazine and then a few minutes with whichever novel I am reading at the time. I have been reading the Ensign with the latest conference talks in them and really enjoying it. The cookbook I have been enjoying these last few nights is the "Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer" one and I am loving remembering all those lovely books I read as a child and the wonderful foods that I used to drool over in them and wish I could try!

One of my favorite things...
Is sitting down here each morning and penning my thoughts to you. It's like having a beautiful conversation with a close friend and I am grateful for that. Many thanks to you all for giving me that opportunity to share with you each day. I am so blessed . . .

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
I have lots to do for the Thanksgiving dinner, and then I have my December newsletter for the ladies at church to get out. I didn't get one done last month with all of the hassle going on here in the kitchen. I really missed doing it and I hope that they missed receiving it. I will make up for it this month. It's the Christmas one and my very favourite one to do of the year! I just love planning it and putting it together. Then on Saturday we are going to Heathfield to have lunch with some friends and Todd is going to show them how to use the new Family History program on the computer and get it all set up for them. It should be a good day! A day spent with friends is always a blessing and a heart warmer!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



Not a great picture of me and I really don't ever like pictures of me, but I love this one. It was taken a couple of years ago when Todd and I were visiting my mom two summers ago. That's my oldest grandson and we were having some fun down on the carpet. Oh, how I enjoyed that time together. I love my family so much. It makes me sad sometimes that they are so far away, but then I stop and think that they are never far away in my heart and I know that I am never far away in theirs. It makes the moments we DO get to spend together all the more special and precious. I shall never take them for granted.

Make sure you check out some of the other Day Book entries on The Simple Woman . I reckon it's a good way to bless your day and touch your heart in a very good way.

I thought I'd share the Make Me Bake Challenge with you this morning. I have been so slack with that lately, what with the kitchen re-fit and then our computer going down last week. I promise to be better at it from now on. MY goodness, but you guys chose a real winner with this last one! And judging from the way Todd has been enjoying them, he thinks so too! This is one for that Christmas baking tray of goodies for sure!



*Double Cherry Streusel Bars*
Makes 48

These are so yummy and buttery good. I love the slight tang of the dried cherries and the buttery shortness of the crust and crumble, not to mention the sweet cherry preserves. These are so yummy. I cut the recipe in half as there are only two of us and trust me when I say I do not to eat that many of them. These are so good I could easily have eaten the whole tray! (I forgot the chocolate drizzles too!)

2 cups boiling water
1 cup dried tart cherries, or dried cranberries
2 cups quick cooking oats
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups packed soft light brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup butter (8 ounces)
1/2 cup coarsely chopped slivered almonds (I used pecans)
1 12-ounce jars of cherry preserves
(I used morello cherry conserve)
1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate pieces
1 tsp vegetable shortening

Pre-heat the oven to 180*C/350*F. Put the dried fruit into a bowl and cover it with the boiling water. Set aside to stand for 10 minutes to soften and then drain well. Set aside.

Combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder and baking soda in a large bowl. Using a pastry cutter, or the tips of your fingers, blend in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Reserve one cup of the crumb mixture in a small bowl. Mix the chopped nuts into it, and set aside.

Take the remaining crumbs and press them into the bottom of a 15 X 10 X 1 inch baking pan that you have lined with lightly greased parchment paper. (or wax paper) Bake in the pre-heated oven for 12 minutes.

Meanwhile for the filling, stir together the plumped dried cherries, the cherry preserves and the lemon peel. Spread this evenly over the hot crust. Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture over top. Bake for a further 20 to 25 minutes until the top is golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack for at least two hours before proceeding.

In a small saucepan combine the chocolate bits and the shortening. Cook and stir over low heat until melted. Drizzle over top of the cooled mixture. Cut into bars. Store in a tightly covered container.

Some Weeks Are Just Like That!

"All negative thoughts I've
decided must go,
I'll try to say, "Yes" when I want to say, "No."
I won't say, "I can't," but, "I can only try."
And accept things that happen -- not keep
asking why.

I'll make time for hobbies and brighten my day,
And not let my problems affect what I say,
There are many folk homeless, sad, hungry,
in pain,
I am blessed with so much, I'll not grumble again.

Today will be good for I'm filled now with hope,
With God's love inside me, I know I can cope,
No moanings, or groanings, no sighing, no dread,
My positive thoughts are all there instead!"
~Chrissy Greenslade



What a week we have had at Oak Cottage!!! Late Tuesday afternoon our computer prompted us to do updates on our operating system, which is Windows Vista. I had just gotten my food processor out to do something, and found that it would not work, not at all. The knob to turn it on and off appeared to be broken. You know how that goes . . . quite often repairing something like that costs far more than it does to replace the whole machine. We'd had it for 8 years and so decided that it was time to get a new one. Just before we left to go look for one we started the updates on the computer. We thought it would be relatively painless, as we would be out anyways, and they would all be finished by the time we got back.

What's that they say???? You know, about the best laid plans of men and mice often going astray?



Well . . . here's where the fun begins. When we returned from the shops, the updates hadn't even started, and so we fiddled with it and they began. I started to play with my new toy. We had gotten a much better food processor than my old one, and for a really great price. We got a lovely Kenwood model that was regularly £99.99 (they always have to get those 99's in there, why not just say £100) for £49.99, half price virtually. It has twice the attachements, a much larger bowl and takes up half the space. Anyways, I was playing with it and making something, and then we realized that the computer seemed to be stuck on the 3rd upload pack at 46%. Hmmm . . . it had been several hours by then.

Todd thought it must have frozen and so decided to shut the computer down and re-boot it. When it came back up, guess what . . . the upload was still there, 3rd pack, 46%. Can you say grrrrr . . . ??? We tried this several more times, and got the same thing, again and again. Our computer would not let us go onto the desktop or anything. So we called the tecchie guys. They tried what they could over the phone, with no results . . . . can you say double grrrr . . . ??? We were finally told that we would have to take it to the shop at PC World the next day and they would retrieve and download any data that we had stored on the computer and put it onto a disc so that we wouldn't lose it, and then we would have to wipe the system and reset all the factory settings, which would mean that our computer would be just as it was when we first bought it home from the store last year . . . empty.



Sounds simple . . . as frustrating as it was, right? WRONG!

When is anything like that going to be simple??? Todd got to PC world the next morning, and because they had just spent a month shut, they had a backlog of computer repairs to do, so we were told that it would be at least 28 days before they could get to our machine. There was no way we could wait that long. My computer is my main way of communicating with my family back in Canada, and a lot of our work is done on the computer. We ended up having to take it to a guy who does computer repairs, and what should have been free and covered under our insurance plan with PC world, ended up costing us a nice £60 . . . but at least we are now back up and running, and from what we can see have not lost too much of anything, except for all the dates on our calendar such as birthdays and such and of course, all of our bookmarks. (They needed a good cleaning out anyways, as they had gotten quite out of control! )



I'm really sorry if any of you worried this week about me not being here. I really missed my blogging each morning, but as a result, I got all my Christmas presents wrapped and some handwritten letters written to put into some of my family's Christmas Cards, and all isnow pretty much ready to go. I had been procrastinating getting that done, and I am relieved that it is now all finished. Now I just have to mail them!

I apologize if I have not been able to visit your pages this past week and comment, and I have to admit that it will be highly unlikely that I will be able to catch up with each of you now. Too many days have passed, and there are so many of you that I love to visit. I'll just have to start from scratch again. I have lost a lot of my bookmarks as well, so if I am a regular visitor to your page, and if I haven't caught up with you soon, then let me know, as it will probably be because I can't quite find you!!

I can remember about 20 years ago, someone told me that one day everyone would have a personal computer in their homes. I thought at the time, not likely . . . what would anyone want one of those for? What possible use could they be? I'll never have one of those, I just can't be bothered. I cannot now imagine my life without one. I surely missed our little Bessie this week and being able to check my e-mails and catch up on all of your doings, not to mention being able to catch you all up on mine. I am so grateful that we were able to get it all sorted, and that I am back here penning these words to you all this morning! Whew!! It's been a bit of a pain, but then again . . . some weeks are just like that!



I did manage to get the raspberry short breads from the Make Me Bake Challenge baked this week. That's what I was doing that afternoon when the food processor stopped working and the computer crashed. I suppose having them here to munch on after all that hassle made the waiting just a little bit sweeter. I know my Todd has really been enjoying them!



*Raspberry Shortbread*
Makes 12 to 16 wedges

Picture sweet buttery melt in your mouth crunch, stogged full of delicious raspberry preserves and you have these delightful shortbread biscuits. These are a real favourite around here.

1 pound butter, at room temperature
4 large egg yolks
2 cups sugar
4 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup raspberry jam, at room temperature
1/2 cup icing sugar, sifted

Pre-heat the oven to 180*C/350*F. You will need a 10 inch tart pan with a removable bottom or you can just use a 9 by 13 inch baking pan.



Cream the butter until soft and fluffy with a hand mixer, or in the bowl of a food processor. Beat in the egg yolks. (alternately whiz them for a few seconds in the food processor until combined) Stir together the sugar, flour, baking powder and salt. Add to the butter/egg yolk mixture, mixing just until incorporated and the dough comes together. (Do the same in the food processor, blitzing it several times until a dough forms) Divide the dough in half.

Press one half of the dough evenly into the bottom of the tart tin, or the baking pan, pressing it down to compact it slightly.

With a spoon or spatula, spread the jam evenly over the surface to within 1/2 inch of the edge of the dough all the way around. Take the remaining half of the dough and crumble it evenly over top of the jam, covering it completely.

Bake in the heated oven until it is lightly golden brown. This should take between 30 and 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and dust with the icing sugar. Cool on a wire rack before removing the sides of the pan. Cut into wedges with a serrated knife to serve. (If you have used a baking pan, just cut into squares.) Store in a tightly covered container. This keeps very well.



PS - for those of you who asked, that is not my actual cottage in the header of this page. (I believe it is a peacock on the roof) I am not allowed to show you a picture of the actual cottage we live in, as my employer feels it would jeopardize their security, and I respect that. Let me just say though, that the cottage we live in is quite similar in a lot of ways, except it is totally detached and quite off the beaten path.

PPS - Several of you had handed me some awards just prior to this nasty mishap with the computer and I'm afraid I lost them all. If you could jog my memory I would really appreciate it! Thanks so much!