Lord when I get to the end of my rope . . .

I love finding quotes and collecting them. I find them very inspiring and helpful from time to time, especially the ones about coping with the difficulties of life, coz . . . let's face it, we all have to cope with them from time to time! Here are some that I found just recently that I really enjoyed.

"I find difficulties and problems attractive. It is only by coming to grips with difficulty that I can realize my potentialities."
~General Charles DeGaulle



"I do not pray for an easy life, I pray to be a stronger man; I do not pray for tasks equal to my powers, but pay for powers equal to my tasks."
~Bishop Philip Brooks



"If possible it shall be done, and if impossible . . . it must be done."
~John Mason Neale (writer of Good King Wenceslas and Good Christian Men Rejoice.)



"Lord, when I get to the end of my tether, tie a knot for me to hold on to!"
~unknown

That last one is really familiar to me. I have felt like I've been hanging on to the end of the rope for months now . . . and today I have come to recognize the knot at the end . . . it's called hope . . .

Where would any of us be without it???



hmmm . . . somebody chewed up Todd's magazine . . . I wonder who that somebody could be? How could you get angry with a face like that? We couldn't! We just resolve to put the magazines up higher from now on!

I do try to cook healthy from time to time. This is an old favourite that I recently did over, exchanging ground turkey for the minced beef that it originally called for. I like to buy really lean ground turkey, one that is mainly ground turkey breast. This is very delicious and if you use the low fat cream soup and cheese, it's not all that bad for you. Turkey is one of the superfoods too!




*Turkey In A Haystack*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

I like to think that this is a bit healthier than the beef version of this tasty dish. Layers of rice, a delicious turkey and gravy combo and baby peas, all covered with some cheese. Scrumdiddlyumptious!

3 cups hot cooked rice (I like basamati)
1 pound of ground turkey
1 (10 3/4 ounce) tin of condensed cream of chicken soup
2 TBS milk
1/2 tsp summer savoury
garlic powder to taste
sea salt and white pepper to taste
1 cup cooked baby peas
shredded cheddar cheese for topping (I like to use strong)



Cook the turky in a large skillet which you have sprayed with nonstick baking spray. Cook, stirring until begining to brown and cooked thoroughly. Add the soup, milk and seasonings. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and cook for about 5 minutes or so until creamy and bubbling all the way through.

To serve, divide the rice equally amongst 4 plates. Divide the meat mixture equally as well, spooning it on top of the rice. Top each with an equal amount of peas and then sprinkle on the cheddar. If your peas are hot enough the cheese should melt. If not, pop into the microwave for about 30 seconds or so. Serve immediately.



These may well be the best cookies you have ever tasted! Blueberry Almond Cookies. Check them out today over in The English Kitchen.

Laughter is the best medicine . . .

Laughter is the sun that drives the winter from the human face.
~Victor Hugo

Making time in our lives to laugh and play is one of the best things we can do for ourselves. Many studies have been done on the positive properties of laughter and experts have discovered that laughter increases our endorphins, strengthens the imune system and sends extra oxygen racing through your veins. Laughter is as good as a mild work out it seems!

Laughing for ten to fifteen minutes raises energy levels, increases the heart rate and burns calories! (Up to about 40!) Whilst it can never replace full blown exercise and laughing your way through a Big Mac can never burn all the calories you're ingesting . . . every little does help and a good dose of laughter each day can translate into a few pounds a year, so laugh away ladies! It may not replace Weight Watchers, but you know . . .



Laughing helps to increase the positive endorphins and reduces stress. It strengthens the immune system, Even the anticipation of something funny helps to increase anti-viral and anti-tumour defences, and it's benefits can last up to 24 hours. Perhaps that is why we do say that "Laughter is the best Medicine."

Humour in the work place provides a pleasant environment to work in and helps to increase productivity and overall performance. When employees can laugh together it helps to improve their communication skills. It helps people to bond together and work better cohesively. It's all win/win! A happy employee is a satisfied employee!



Being able to laugh helps to increase hope and self worth. Laughing helps to alleviate worries about health or career . . . to replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts. A sense of humour can help to get us through even the worst of situations. It helps us to feel better about ourselves and overcoming obstacles doesn't seem so hard when we can approach them with a bit of a chuckle in our hearts. It cannot make our problems disappear . . . but it sure can help us to look at them with a different perspective and outlook.

Research studies suggest that a good sense of humour helps ward off heart attacks. Not so surprising really. Laughter dilates blood vessels so that blood flows more freely. Other studies have shown that laughing helps to reduce the cholesterol build up and fat in the coronary arteries. I guess that old addage about laughter being the best medicine is true when it comes to protecting the heart.



Laughter helps to make us more inclusive of others. It helps us to see the bigger picture better. Being able to laugh can help to slash bias and bring people together . . . strengthen homes, family relationships, work and school environments . . . it's all good it seems.

I think it's good to be able to laugh at ourselves from time to time . . . to laugh at life . . . to laugh with others . . . to feel the relief that comes from being able to just sit and laugh at whatever comes our way . . . it sure beats the heck out of the alternative! I hope that you are able to find something to laugh about today. It is a good thing and the best medicine ever for whatever ails you!



Here's a little something that might put a smile on your faces! I managed to do a small video of Mitzie playing in the garden yesteday. She got ahold of an old flower basket that Todd had left and she was carrying it around and playing with it. I know I sure got a lot of pleasure out of watching her. She is a little dear and has brought a wonderful light into our happy home.



Often when Todd and I go to MacDonalds we will order the Chicken Tenders, which is probably not the healthiest of things, but somehow eating chicken seems to be healthier than eating a burger. Making these tasty chicken stix at home is probably a lot better for you though. When I do make them I like to serve them with a nice salad on the side. Children love them as well. If you choose a low fat dip for them, it can't be bad can it?




*Tasty Chicken Stix*
Serves 14 (makes 14 to 16)
Printable Recipe

Quick to do and children love them, both the young and the old! Lovely served with dips such as ranch dressing or barbeque sauce. For adults break out the sweet chili sauce! Delish!

1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 cup plain flour
1 tsp sea salt, rubbed in your fingers until fine
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 large free range eggs
1 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs (if you can't find these, use plain dry bread crumbs to which you have added some garlic powder, dried parsley flakes, dried basil and dried oregano)
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan Cheese
unsalted butter
good olive oil

Put the chicken breasts on a cutting board and cut through each, diagonally, into four or five large strips.

Take three shallow bowls. In the first one combine the flour, salt and pepper. In the second one beat the eggs together with 1 TBS water. In the third one combine the bread crumbs and the Parmesan cheese. Take your chicken pieces and, working with one at a time, dredge them into the flour mixture, then into the beaten egg and then finally roll them in the breadcrumb mixture to coat. Place them on a plate without touching until they are all coated. (Your fingers will get all clumped up with doughy squidge, but that’s ok. Fingers are easily cleaned off!) Let them sit for about 15 minutes.

Heat 1 TBS of butter along with 1 TBS of olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. When the butter is foaming, turn the heat down to medium low, and cook the chicken strips in the hot fat for about 3 minutes on each side, just until they are cooked through. Don’t crowd the pan or they will steam instead of fry. Add more butter and oil and cook the rest. Serve warm with a dipping sauce. We like the sweet hot chilli sauce, but honey mustard is also really good, as is ranch dressing and even just plain runny honey!



Over in The English Kitchen today I'm cooking Scarborough Fair Egg and Chips! Delicious!

The Simple Woman's Day book

FOR TODAY, August 24th, 2010...

Outside My Window...
It is light outside but still far too early to tell if we are going to have a sunny day today or not. We have had a lot of rain lately, too much but the hose pipe ban has been lifted so that's a good thing!!

I am thinking...
We had the most lovely evening yesterday. We have started a small Scripture Study/Family Home Evening group here in our Ward. It is basically just us and two other couples who are empty nesters and so each Monday we are getting together in the evening for a time of fellowship, refreshment and digging into the Word of God. Last night we were at Corine and Remy's place. They run a B&B here in Chester, which is just beautiful. You can have a look at their page HERE. They used to have a restaurant in Bordeaux, over in France, but moved here to the UK to be closer to their daughters. Corine is a fabulous cook and also a photographer extraodinaire! (Once Miztie gets a little older I want her to do a family portrait for us, of myself, Todd and little Mitzie! ) I do hope you will go look at their page and if you are ever in the Chester area give them a call for an excellent place to stay and eat!

I am thankful for...
Where do I begin??? I have so many blessings in my life. It is good to dwell on them instead of anything negative. We are still not completely through that dark tunnel, but we begin to see the light so that is good. I knew it was there all along . . . tis what has kept me going and putting one foot in front of the other.

From the kitchen...
There is lemon cake and some golden syrup biscuits. I discovered that Hotel Chocolate has a store in Chester city last week. That's a bad thing . . . a very bad thing . . . I picked up a small box of truffles when I was in the city one day last week. Oh my . . . scrummy yummy! There oughta be a law against it!

I am wearing...
A white cotton nightie and my bathrobe. It is still very chilly after last night! I just love white nighties. I feel like someone from a Jane Austin novel in them, very romantic I think! Forget pretty in pink!! I feel pretty in white!!

I am creating...
I did get one painting done last week and I so enjoyed it. It felt so good to put my brush to paper again. I need to get cracking on my art course! I also have a few dolls to make for several people. I have somewhat of a SALE going on right now in my Etsy shop. I have marked down all of my dolls and prints etc.

I am going...
There is a Relief Society Enrichment Evening tonight that I am going to. I am going to be demonstrating some dips etc. Tomorrow night I have a Primary Presidency meeting. I think our little friend Pauline is coming to visit us for a few days later this week. I say little but she's not so little anymore. She's 16 now. She started coming to ours when she was 9! She has grown up a lot since then. She's not a little girl anymore! I have her room all ready for her. It will be good to see and spend time with her.

I am reading...


Women, Food and God, by Geneen Roth

As you all probably know I have a weight problem that I have been trying to deal with for about 22 years now, ever since I quit smoking and had my tubes tied. I say that, but , in truth it's probably been my whole life really, even though the weight didn't start to really pile on until then. I had hypnotherapy a year and a half ago and that really helped a lot. I lost 3 stone. I think I have put at least a stone back on since all of the upheaval in our lives in these recent months. I need to get a handle on it again. I saw this book on the Oprah show when I was at my mom's in July. In this book, Ms. Roth offers up her own unique version of mindfulness training as a way to not only help her readers regain control over their disordered eating patterns, but also by understanding why they eat the way they do, regain control over the thoughts, feelings and preconceptions that led them to overeating in the first place. Every little helps!! So far so good!

I am hoping...
That I will soon see the scales going down again. I think about it every day, several times a day. I want to be where my weight issues don't control my life.

I am hearing...
Clock ticking, keys tapping . . . Mitzie snuffling next to me here on the sofa. Classical FM is on the telly, playing softly in the background. Life is good

Around the house...
Are you ready for the big reveal??? Here goes. Do you remember this???



This was the lounge in our house, specifically the fireplace area. Although it was somewhat pretty, I had always felt it to be too busy and bright. This is it now, after we did a bit of painting and redecorating:



I just love it myself! I love the green paint and the word decal I got for over the mantel and my little white cherubs. It is a much cleaner look and more elegant don't you think?? Be honest now!




One of my favorite things...
Is talking to you all each morning. It is such an important part of my day. I've been doing it for about 3 years now, here on Blogger and for another two years before that on AOL Journals. That's a long time to be blogging isn't it! I just love it and I just love all of you! Thanks so much for your love and and friendship. It means the world to me!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
Not a lot really, other than the RS activity and my meeting. It is funny how it goes though. I hardly ever get everything done in a day that I am wanting to do . . . the days just somehow slip away! Is it like that for everyone???

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



Isn't this magic? Just look at all those wishes and all that promise!! Those little fairie dresses twirling about . . . when I was a little girl I imagined that each little seed pod was a fairie dress . . . and I loved to send them off on their magic journies. I still believe in fairies, don't you???

And just as a closing thought for today . . .

Never fear shadows . . . they simply mean that there's a light shining somewhere nearby.

And there you have it . . . my day book for the first week in June. Don't forget to hop on over to the Simple Woman to check out the other day book entries! (Or better yet, do a simple day book entry yourself! It's not that hard and I am betting you would enjoy it!)




*Peach, Ham and Cheese Salad*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

Fruit and ham go so very well together. They are the perfect combination and when you combine that with some cheese and a honey mustard dressing, you've got something quite delicious indeed!

1 Cos lettuce, trimmed and roughly torn (Romaine)
1 carton of mustard cress, trimmed
2 ripe peaches, stoned and cut into thin wedges
4 ounces of Dutch Edam cheese, rind removed and cut into think sticks
4 ounces of thick sliced ham, cut into sticks

For the dressing:
3 TBS olive oil
1 TBS white balsamic vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
2 TBS mayonnaise
1 tsp runny honey

To serve:
Warm crusty bread (optional)

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Toss all the salad ingredients together in a large bowl. Whisk together the ingredients for the dressing, or place them into a small jar with a lid and give them a good shake. Divide the salad amongst 4 chilled salad plates and then drizzle with the dressing. Warm crusty bread goes very well with this!



There's a lovely dessert today on The English Kitchen, a delicious Apple Custard.

Bliss

Bliss -noun
supreme happiness; utter joy or contentment: wedded bliss.
Theology . the joy of heaven.heaven; paradise: the road to eternal bliss.
Archaic . a cause of great joy or happiness.



A loving husband who does all that he can for me every day of my life . . . and who I can do the same for in return. There is great joy to be found in serving others . . . and especially when you serve the ones you love. It is not found in grandiose gestures . . . but in the small and simple things you do that may often go overlooked, or even taken for granted from time to time. Bliss comes . . .



Just as a bird feathers her nest . . . creating a warm and comfortable home, tweaking it here and there, making it a place of safety . . . a haven from the outside world . . . a refuge . . . a place filled with love and acceptance . . . small and everyday chores, small labours of love . . . with mop and broom and feather duster . . . with spoon and skillet . . . Bliss comes



A lesson taught . . . a lesson learned. Tears brushed away, hugs given . . . sharing all of the joy and all of the sorrow . . . the promise of bright tomorrows . . . amidst the darkness of yesterday . . growing together . . . unconditionally loving . . . unmade beds and socks on the floor . . . soft small heads . . . little arms that hold you close . . . small whispers of I love yous . . . dandelion bouquets . . . Bliss comes . . .



Tears and laughter . . . decisions made . . . letters written . . . homework done . . . hands held together . . . prayers of thanksgiving . . . bread broken . . . the celebrations of life . . . holidays shared . . . family . . . friends . . . Bliss comes . . .



High days and low days . . . the smell of baking bread and cakes . . . a hundred million dinners cooked, all labours of love . . . a thousand cups of tea . . . cookies baked together . . . laughter over suds . . . the squeak of clean glass . . . milk spilled . . . and then wiped up together . . . early morning radio shows . . . singing . . . home . . . Bliss comes . . .



Wags and licks . . . cuddles and nips . . . little whimpers of joy and then . . . whimpers of sadness . . . a warm welcome home . . . unconditional acceptance and love . . . no matter what . . . no matter when . . . laughter . . . memories built . . . little milestones passed . . . sniffles and snuffles . . . snorts and yelps . . . sit and stay . . . run and play . . . Bliss comes . . .



Atonement and forgiveness . . . covenants made and kept . . . a Saviour's undenying love . . . A Father's acceptance . . . learning . . . growing . . . finding our way home . . . togetherness . . . a place of solace . . . acceptance . . . love . . .always love . . . families forever . . . joy . . . peace . . . rest . . . Bliss comes . . .



It comes in many guises . . . in many shapes and sizes . . . in the familiar and in the unexpected . . . and when you're not even looking for it . . . here, and there, and everywhere . . . in the familiar . . . and in the not so familiar . . . it is all around us, beneath us . . . above us . . . it is here today and was here yesterday . . . will be here tomorrow . . . it shrinks . . . it grows . . . it is . . . Bliss comes . . . where is your bliss? Will you find it today? I hope so . . .



*Beefy Rigatoni Bake*
Serves 4 to 6
Printable Recipe

Meaty and delicious, kind of like a loose lasagna. Your family will love this. Make sure you have plenty of crusty bread to help mop up all of that lovely sauce!!

For the meat sauce:
500g (1 pound) extra lean minced beef
1 TBS olive oil
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
1 red chili, deseeded and finely chopped (optional)
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped
2 TBS dried basil
3 TBS tomato puree
2 (400g) tins of chopped tomatoes in juice
2 TBS Balsamic vinegar
2 TBS Worcestershire Sauce
1 TBS sugar
salt and black pepper to taste

You will also need:
300g of rigatoni or other tubular pasta, cooked and drained
(about 2 cups dried)
600g of low fat cottage cheese, drained (about 2 cups)
100g of Parmesan cheese, finely grated (1 cup)
125g ball of Mozarella Cheese, sliced (1/4 pound)
2 aubergines, sliced into 1/2 inch slices (eggplants)
salt and black pepper
2 TBS olive oil



Put the sliced aubergine into a colander and sprinkle generously with salt. Set aside to drain.

Heat the olive oil for the meat sauce in a skillet. Add the onion, chili and garlic, Cook and stir until softened. Add the minced beef. Cook and stir until the meat is browned all over and is no longer pink. Add the tomato puree, tinned tomatoes, Worcestershire Sauce, Balsamic Vinegar, sugar and basil. Bring to the boil and then simmer for about 20 minutes on low. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary, adding salt and pepper if needed.

Rinse the aubergine slices and pat dry with some kitchen toweling. Heat the remaining oil in a large skillet and lightly brown them on both sides, working in batches.

Lightly butter a lasagna dish. Lay 1/3 of the browned aubergine slices in the bottom of the dish. Top with half of the pasta, half of the cottage cheese, half of the meat sauce and 1/3 of the Parmesan, in that order. Repeat the layers making sure you finish with the remainder of the aubergine slices and the Parmesan. Arrange the sliced Mozarella evenly over top. Bake in a preheated 190*C/375*F/ Gas mark 5 oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until browned and bubbling around the edges. Serve hot.



And in The English Kitchen today, Spiced Golden Syrup Jumbles. The perfect snack. They're blissful too . . . of course!

Marie's Sunday Six

My goodness but the weeks do seem to whip around fast! It seems like it was just Sunday yesterday, and here it is Sunday all over again! I just love Sunday. It is one of my most favourite of all days of the week. I get to go to church and renew my covenants with my Heavenly Father. I get to call my mom. I get to write down some of the blessings of my past week for you to read, my Sunday Smile Makers post! Yayy!!




Getting to meet Carolyn and Dave on Monday was one of the highlights of my week, my summer, my year! Carolyn and I met on the web several years ago, through our mutual love of food and blogging, and it was so fun to finally cement the friendship that developed by getting to meet in person finally! What a lovely couple of people they both are. We spent a few hours together having dinner on Monday evening at the Mollington Banastre Hotel here on the outskirts of Chester and then they came back here to the house afterwards so we could spend another few hours together. The time went far too quickly and it was time to say farewell all too soon, but then again . . . that is always the way with much loved and cherished friends! Carolyn and Dave, I hope that we get to meet with you again sometime soon, for you surely made us both smile!



You just knew that she would get in here somewhere didn't you, so we might as well get the inevitable over with early on! Yes, this little lady brought us many, many smiles throughout this past week! Mitzie is such a little charmer and we are enjoying her so very much! I know she is my doggie but I think she is just the sweetest, most charming, smartest puppy ever! We have had her just a little over a week now and she knows her name and comes when called. I have trained her to sit and to lay down, and the last two nights have seen her staying dry in her crate all night! Yesterday we had NO accidents in the house at all. She is laying next to me on the sofa while I type this . . . when I look down at her my heart just melts with love for her. She has been a very big source of light and love to us after this really bad spell we have been through this past year. Mitzie makes my heart and soul sing with joy, in a very big way.



Feeding the Missionaries this week made me smile. I just love to have the Missionaries over for any reason and getting to feed them always brings me such pleasure. They bring such a lovely spirit into our home and are always more than happy to share a meal with us. I just love having them in our home. One of them, Elder Holloway from Idaho, (on the left in this photo) was leaving the day after we had them over, so we were really thankful that we had this extra special time to say farewell to him and thank him for all that he had done while he was in Chester. Such a lovely young man. I don't think he has much longer to go on his mission actually, so all you young women in Idaho listen up! He will be a great catch, however . . . in the meantime, he is a fantastic Missionary, and a wonderful credit to the Church and to his parents who brought him up and to His Heavenly Father. I wish I could tell you the other Elder's name. He is a super young man as well, from Spain! I can only tell you his name starts with two L's and is pronounced with a Y sound.



Meet Me in St Louis always makes me smile, no matter how many times I see it. We felt like watching a musical last evening and so we dug this old much treasured video out. I just adore it. Margaret O Brien is a real little charmer in it . . . in fact all of the characters are quite charming and I just love singing along to the music! It has to be one of my all time favourite films! Clang, clang, clang went the trolly!



Our Vegetable Garden makes me smile. We are really enjoying a great harvest now . . . cabbages, zucchini, beans, beetroot, lettuces, tomatoes, rhubarb . . . there is no end to the goodness that we are enjoying at the moment! Can anything on earth taste better than vegetables and fruits that you have grown yourself??? I think not!!




Our garden is also filled to the brim at the moment with beautifully blooming hydrangea. I just love these pretty blooms. They fill my heart with joy. We have white and pink and blue ones, in a variety . . . for some reason though a few of them are not blooming at all this year, but they do have beautiful leaves. I wonder why that is. Perhaps one of you could enlighten me?? In any case they do make me smile . . . blooms and leaves and all!



He will probably want to kill me for putting this on here, but this picture of my son Doug with my two grandsons Jon and Josh makes me smile in a very big way! I just love my son and his two little boys. (I love all of my children and grandchildren!) Doug and his wife struggle so much financially, much like we all did when our children were young and we were not long married I guess! The struggles do not take their joy away though, and they are such a sweet little family. This picture made me smile in a very big way. The sight of my son being such a good dad and his two happy little boys just makes me feel so very good in my heart. I think this was the biggest smile maker of all!

And there you have it, my Sunday Smile makers for this almost last week in August! (This month has surely flown!) I hope that they made you smile too!

Here is a really tasty sandwich which makes a lovely light supper when you serve it along with some soup. Ham, fruit and cheese are like the holy trinity of sandwichdom!! Enjoy!





*Grilled Ham, Cheese and Chutney Toastie*
Serves 1
Printable Recipe

This is one very tasty sandwich. I have given quantities for one, but it is very easily multiplied to feed more! Your family will love these!

two thick slices of square white sandwich bread
1 TBS softened butter
2 slices of baked ham
1 TBS good quality mango chutney (I use Sharwoods)
1 1/2 ounces of really good quality, mild to medium strength cheddar cheese, cut into thin slices


Take your slices of breadand butter them on one side of each slice. Take a non stick skillet and heat it over medium heat. Place one slice of the bread into the pan buttered side down. Cover with the chutney, spreading it on as best as you can. Top this with the slices of ham and finally the slices of cheese. Top with the other slice of bread, buttered side up.

Toast the sandwich in the heated pan until completely brown on the underside, then very carefully flip over and toast the other side until that is brown as well, and the cheese is ooozingly melted inside. Remove from the pan, cut in half and serve.



And over in The English Kitchen this morning, there is a delicious Lemon Pound Cake with Blueberry Sauce baking! Scrummy yummy!!