The Simple Woman's Day Book

FOR TODAY, May 3rd, 2010...

Outside My Window...
The sun is up and the birds are singing. I can't tell if it is going to be a fine day yet or not . . . the night was clear last night so it probably will. The weather people had predicted a widespread frost last night, but I don't think we got any here, thank goodness!!

I am thinking...
Our lesson in Relief Society this past Sunday was about Mending Marriages. It was a good lesson. The teacher gave out several real life scenarios of marital problems and we read them and then discussed them. The thought came to me that my children were hurt far more by the divorce of their father and myself, than they were of the problems that my ex husband and I had together. To this day I have one daughter who will not speak to me and a son that is rapidly pulling away. That could be his age, but then again, he is very close to the daughter that has nothing to do with me, so I suspect it is something more. Things could have been so different had we been able to share the Gospel with each other . . . alas, we did not. The lesson ended with this quote by our late church President, Gordon B Hinckley. There is a great deal of wisdom in his words.

"There may be now and then a legitimate cause for divorce. I am not one to say that it is never justified. But I say without hesitation that this plague among us, which seems to be growing everywhere, is not of God, but rather is the work of the adversary of righteousness and peace and truth."

I am thankful for...
My husband and all that we have together. There are many days when I wish that we could have met each other sooner and had a family together, but that was not to be for whatever reasons . . . I am thankful that we did find each other at all and for the blessings that we are in each other's lives. When I think of the people that I worked for down South, and all that they had in the way of money and belongings, I know that they did not even have a fraction of what Todd and I have together. Money cannot buy happiness, or love and mutual respect.

From the kitchen...
Not a lot really! A couple of muffins and several cupcakes. I may bake cookies today if I have the time. I have not baked cookies in a very long time! They have a habit of getting in my mouth and I'm not sure I want that to happen!! ☺

I am wearing...
My white flannel jim jams with the pink teddy bears all over them, and my robe. It was rather chilly last night and I don't think the boiler is working this morning. I couldn't get any hot water at any rate. As old as they are, these jammies are keeping me warm and comfy. You can't ask for more than that! (They are practically falling off me, so I think I am going to have to take them in. I don't want to lose them, they are one of my favourite pairs!)

I am creating...
I have a teddy bear sitting her in various stages of construction. She is going to be really cute and I have a few dolls traced out and waiting for me to start on them. I also was able to get a few sketches done at the weekend. I am at a crossroads with my artwork I think . . . I am feeling a little bit disheartened about it. I have always had such dreams for it, and I don't really paint because of what I think will happen with it, or where I think it will take me, but it does get me a bit down sometimes when I think that nobody likes it much. Do all artists feel this way from time to time??? I don't know . . .

I am going...
The spare bed arrived but we haven't put it together yet. I think Todd is wore out from all that other furniture we put together! I still wish we had been able to get bunkbeds, but this will have to do for now.

Tomorrow I have an appointment with the nurse, both to have some blood tests done and to have my blood pressure checked. I sure hope that it has gone down.

I am reading...





His Return, Prophecy, Destiny and Hope, by Richard N Skousen

I know this is a bit of a departure from my usual reading material. Todd borrowed this book from our friend June and I am getting stuck into it at as well. As the liquidity of some of the largest banks in the world has teetered on the edge of collapse, we may wonder what the future has in store for us. And as we see the daily erosion of Constitutional values and watch as the United States and Great Britain stand helpless and alone to face political turmoil and unrest in the world, we might wonder what has happened to our once great nations. Using the scriptures and the words from modern prophets, Brother Richard Skousen explains the sequence of events that will occur prior to the Savior's Second Coming. This book offers a wonderful message of hope for the righteous and answers many important questions about His Return. I am finding it quite fascinating and totally relevant to the signs that we are seeing around us daily. I highly recommend.

I am hoping...
That it warms up a bit today. It was bitterly cold yesterday. We were walking around the town and my hands were so cold. I should have worn my mittens! That's too cold for May! Nevermind . . . the sun was shining and so that was a blessing. It would have been so much worse had it been raining as well! One must always look on the bright side of things!

I am hearing...
A ticking clock, the tapping of my fingertips on the computer keys, birds singing in the garden . . . I do miss my early morning companion . . . I think of her often . . . our lovely Jess. We watched that film Marley and Me on Saturday evening. I had taped it off the telly. About halfway through it I thought to myself, watching this is a mistake, it's too soon. Nevertheless we carried on and watched it through to the end and I was a mess by the end of it. It was far too soon to be watching a film like this, as good as it was.

Around the house...
I had my craft room all sorted out and then Todd began organizing the spare bedroom. Needless to ssay the craft room has been unsorted! Hopefully one of these days we will have them both organized and sorted!

One of my favorite things...
is being able to create . . . I don't know how I would ever cope if I lost my creative mojo! It is such an inherant part of who I am. President Ushtdorf has told us

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul."

I believe this to be true. It is where I find my deepest satisfaction and also great joy. It does not matter if I am creating a new doll or a painting, or weaving some magic with my words . . . baking a cake or cookies, or writing a letter. When I am using my hands and mind to do something, to make something . . . no matter what it is . . . I am at my happiest.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
I have a bit of work to do with Todd and of course the teddy bear to finish and some dolls to create. I do hope that I can get some painting done at some point! My fingers are itching to get my brushes out and begin again. I also need to get started back on my Art Course before it is too late!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



Every morning when I wake up and then look out my window at the day that stands before me, I marvel at it all. I do not know what the future holds for me. Nobody does, but I do know my Heavenly Father and I know that He has a plan for me, and indeed for everyone, and I trust in that. I know that He is in control and that He loves me and that He loves you. No matter how bad things may seem at any given time or where you are at this moment in your lives . . . no matter how unhappy, or how sad, or how lonely . . . or how hurt . . . there is always hope. Things do get better, hearts are mended, tears are replaced with smiles. We must learn to let go, and let God, and then trust in His promises. That is the magic of this moment . . . that is the promise of every today and every tomorrow. He cares.

And there you have it, my Simple Woman's Day Book for today. 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!)

I love savoury muffins. They are the ideal thing to serve with soups and stews, or even on their own, served up warm with some butter to spread on them. They go great in picnic hampers, either alone or split and filled with whatever filling you wish to fill them with. These lovely cheese ones I have here today are fantastic split and filled with ham and mustard, or chutney and cheese, or ham and chutney and cheese! We had them yesterday with hot bowls of soup and they were fabulous. Todd had two himself, and then I took some over to our friend!




*Cheesy Muffins*
Makes about 9
Printable Recipe

Deliciously moist muffins stogged full of cheddar cheese. You used to be able to get a similar muffin at Tim Horton's, but I haven't seen them in years now.

1 cup milk, room temperature
3 TBS unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg, room temperature
healthy pinch of cayenne pepper
1 3/4 cups flour
1 TBS baking powder
1 TBS white sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup of grated strong white cheddar cheese, divided



Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/Gas mark 4. Line a muffin tin with paper liners. Set aside.

Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and cayenne pepper into a bowl. Whisk in the sugar. In a separate measure, beat together the milk, egg and melted butter. Stir this all at once into the dry ingredients, and mix in, mixing in only to moisten. The batter should be a bit lumpy. Fold in 3/4 of the cheese. Spoon into the prepared muffin cups, dividing the mixture equally amongst them and filling them about 2/3 full. Top with the remaining quarter cup of cheddar cheese, sprinkling it evenly over top.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until well risen and golden brown. A toothpick inserted in the centre of one should come out clean.



There's a delicious Spicy Parsnip Soup to go along with those muffins showing today over on The English Kitchen.

It's Lilac Time!!

He had no worldly treasures.
No fortune he possessed . . .
To leave unto his children,
But this was his bequest.
He left them all the beauties
Of earth and skies and seas . . .
The marvels of creation;
The brooks, the birds, the trees . . .
The salt wind on the marshes,
The primrose in the lane.
The green and golden meadows . . .
The sun, the stars, the rain.
The heather on the moorlands.
The swallows on the wing.
The snowdrops in the winter . . .
The lilacs in the spring.
~author unknown

We were sitting here last night watching the telly and I looked out the window and across the road behind a tall fence I saw lilacs in bloom and swaying in the wind.

Oh how I do love lilacs . . . they hold a special place in my heart. Their pretty purple and white flowers are so very beautiful and the scent . . .



why . . . the scent is pure heavenly bliss.

when I was a young bride, our first apartment had a drive lined by a lilac hedge and in the springtime it was a riot of bloom and scent. Oh how very wonderful it was to behold and to smell. I would bring armfull's of them into the house and set them out in vases . . . the perfume of the blooms working magic that nothing from a can ever could.



Down at the Manor where I worked there were several lovely lilac bushes, quite large in size, both a purple and a white. I could see them from where I worked in the kitchen and often admired them as I was washing up or puttering away.

We don't have a lilac bush here, but I may ask Todd if we can plant one. It would be so lovely out in the garden, taking over once the rhododendron finished it's springtime dance . . . and then we would have the lovely green of it's leaves throughout the summer . . .



Oh, it does sound a grand idea!

Wherever you are today I hope you have something pretty to look at and to smell. It is good medicine for whatever ails you!!

Here is some more good medicine for what ails you in the form of a lovely and simple Rhubarb Tart. I think Rhubarb has to be one of my favourite fruits and none is nicer than the early spring cuttings . . . so pink and tender. My mother used to give us sticks of rhubarb and bowls of sugar. We would dip the cut end of the rhubarb into the sugar and bite the ends off, doing this until we had eaten the whole stick. Oh how lovely it was . . . our cheeks would ache with the tartness of it all, but it was so good and such a rare treat!




*A Simple Rhubarb Tart*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

It's no secret that Rhubarb is one of my favourite fruits. Especially Rhubarb Pie, this is for when you get that craving, but haven't the time to make a whole pie. Quick, easy and scrumptious!

4 cups of rhubarb slices (about 1/2 inch in length)
Brown sugar
1 sheet of Puff pastry (either fresh or frozen)
milk to glaze the edges of the tart
a bit of demerara sugar to glaze the edges of the tart (In North America Turbinado sugar)
4 heaped tablespoons of vanilla pudding or custard
4 heaped tablespoons of mascarpone cheese



Prepare the rhubarb first. Preheat your oven to 205*C/425*F/Gas mark 7. Lay your rhubarb out in a single layer in a large baking dish with sides. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over top of it. (As much or as little as you want, it all depends on how tart you like your fruit) Bang it into the heated oven and roast the rhubarb for about 15 minutes, until softened but still holding it's shape. Remove from the oven and allow to cool, while you prepare the base. Keep the oven on.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Spray it with a bit of nonstick cooking spray. Unroll your puff pastry, and place it onto the baking sheet. Knock up the edges all the way around, creating a raised edge. Crimp with your fingertips. Prick the middle of the pastry all over and then brush the edges with some milk and sprinkle with the demerara sugar. Place into the heated oven and bake for 15 minutes or so until nicely browned and crisp. Remove from the oven and knock the middle back down with the bottom of a spoon. Allow to cool completely.

Mix together the vanilla pudding (custard) and the mascarpone cheese. Spoon this mixture into the centre of the tart, spreading it to fill the base. Take your rhubarb and spoon it over top of the pudding mixture, covering it and only adding as much of the juices as you desire. Serve immediatly, cut into squares. You can have an additional topping of sweetened whipped cream if you desire.

Note - This tart is not a keeper so must be eaten on the day and soon after preparation. If you don't want a big tart as that, bake your puff pastry into individual tart shapes and only fill and top as many as you need at one time.



Over on The English Kitchen today, more sweets to tempt your sweet tooth. Chai Cupcakes!

If you could spare a few Happy Thoughts for my good friend Hazel, it would be much appreciated. She is going into hospital for a hip replacement operation tomorrow and I hope it all goes well. Thanks!!

Marie's Sunday Six

This has been an incredibly busy week. I now know what people are talking about when they say that they don't know how they got all the things done that they did before they were retired because they don't have enough time to do all the things that they need to do when they are retired!!! I have not accomplished near what I had expected to since we moved up here. The hours just seem to be flying by as do the weeks!! Is it just me or has time sped up??? I thought it would be fun to show you six induldgences that make me smile this week.

It is fast and testimony Sunday, the first Sunday of the month where we fast and pray with intent, and any money that we would normally have spent on those two meals which we have given up, gets put into a fast offering, which then gets put into the church's welfare program. We also have the opportunity to bear our testimonies at our Sacrament Meeting. It's a good thing I think! We get the extra blessings from fasting and prayer, and of course giving our testimonies should we choose to share them . . . and people in need get the help that they need. It's win/win all around! (It does mean that we are a but hungry and thinking about food somewhat by the time the late afternoon rolls around!)



Green and Blacks Organic Milk Chocolate. I just love this chocolate. It's like milk chocolate kicked up a notch, coz it's dark and filled with flavour. You can get the normal milk chocolate by Green and Blacks as well now, but I like the dark one. It's almost dangerous to have around! A naughty once in a blue moon indulgence for sure!



Bassetts Allsorts Licorace. It has to be Bassetts. I have tried other kinds and they don't come up to scratch. I've even done blind taste tests on Todd, having him compare them, and other brands still don't come up to scratch! I just love Licorace! I really do. When I was a child it was a real treat to buy a licorace pipe at the shops! I love the taste and the texture of real licorace! (Do they even make licorace pipes anymore??) When I eat the layered Bassetts, I eat each layer separately. Likewise the coconut rounds . . . all the coconut gets eaten, and then the middle! And those black covered fondant cylinders? I eat the coating first. I know <=== I'm wierd!! (And they never put enough of those little pink and blue nonpariel covered jellies in them do they!!)




I just adore these little cheese and cracker Handi Snacks that Kraft makes! Oh, I could eat them by the oodles and oodles. It's probably a good thing that they don't make them over here and we can't get them isn't it!! I have to wait for my tri-annual trip home to sneak this indulgence in! There is something special about that lovely buttery cracker spread with that tangy Kraft cheese spread that just does it for me!! I don't care that I have to spread it on with a useless little red plastic wand . . . it doesn't matter! Just give me them snacks!! (I know, I'm very naughty!) I can't wait until July. Sure it will be wonderful seeing my family and I am really looking forward to that, but I am also looking foward to getting my paws on some of these tasty little babies!!





Oh I am sooooo bad. I love this stuff too! When I was growing up if my mom made us sandwiches out of this for our lunch, I was thrilled beyond measure! It's still a real treat for me today! I just love it spread between two slices of cheap white bread. Ok, so I'm a redneck and proud of it! I love the creaminess and tang of it. I love the little bits of crunch! I just love, Love, LOVE Heinz Sandwich Spread!!! (Oh no, now my tummy's grumbling, and no breakfast for me on Fast Sunday!)





I just adore anise seeds. It is probably because they have that faint taste of licorace about them. I often just take a couple and eat them. They taste soooo good and I am sure there's not a lot of calories in them. They're just an herb after all!! I pop them into my spaghetti and pizza sauces too. They add just a faint hint of flavour. Everyone who tastes my sauces say that they are gorgeous and wonder what my secret ingredient is. Well, it's a secret no longer coz I'm putting up my hand and admitting it . . . I add anise seed. (Just a pinch!)

And now I have time for just one last more and it's going to be my recipe for today. I love, Love, LOVE, LOVE potatoes! They are my favourite vegetable on earth! I must have one every day if I can! It doesn't matter how it's cooked . . . baked, boiled, mashed, fried . . . as long as it's a potato I LOVE it!! I don't even have to have anything to go along with it! I could just eat a plate of potatoes and that's all! When we were kids my mom used to make panfries . . . little slivers of cold leftover potatoes, fried in butter until brown and sprinkled with salt and pepper . . . oh my but they were a rare treat! We could have kept her at that stove frying them forever if she'd let us! This recipe today is something that Todd and I often have for our suppers late in the afternoon on Fast Sunday . . . quick and easy, cheap (which is nice) and oh so comfortably filling. It's something we both love . . . it's fried potatoes kicked up just a notch and with a lovely fried egg . . . you tear the fried egg open . . . those chunks of fried potato just taste like little nuggets of gold soaked up into it's tasty yolkiness!!

I hope that you don't mind that I've indulged myself a bit this morning . . . I'm now starving, but that's ok. Those potatoes and eggs will taste all the better later on today!



*Crispy Fried Potatoes With Eggs*
Serves 2
Printable Recipe

Simply decadent and satisfying, this is one of my favourite suppers. How can one fail to enjoy the crispy edged potatoes doused in the richness of the golden yolk of the egg . . . ahhh . . . heavenly bliss . . . You can leave the egg out and just fry potatoes if you want, doubling the amount and adding an extra spoonful of oil, but I wouldn’t . . . the eggs are what really make this dish!

500g (1 lb. 2 oz) potatoes, peeled and cut into approximately 1 inch chunks
2 TBS olive oil
A large knob of butter (about 20g)
2 garlic cloves, peeled but left whole and smashed
3 sage sprigs
2 eggs

Boil the potato chunks in salted boiling water until just tender, about 8 minutes. Drain very well then throw immediately into a 12 inch non-stick skillet that you have been heating the butter, oil, garlic and sage in. (I put this pan on just when the potatoes are about ready and heat it until the butter starts to sizzle) Start them off on high heat and cook until they start to look golden brown, then lower the heat slightly and continue to cook them until they get really crusty, tossing them about carefully from time to time. Be very careful not to mush them, although mushing them a little bit is good as it gives you more crispy edges and bits to enjoy. Try not to let the garlic or the sage burn. If it looks as if they are getting too done, lift them onto the top of the potatoes.

Once you have the potatoes all golden and crispy it’s time to cook the eggs. Move the potatoes over in the pan , making two big spaces for the eggs. Drop another bit of butter into the empty spot and crack in two eggs. Sprinkle a bit of sea salt over all and continue to cook over medium low heat, until the egg whites set and the yolk is as done as you like it. If you like you can pop a lid briefly over top, but try not to leave it there for very long as you don’t want the potato to get soggy. Serve up immediately, trying hard not to break the egg yolks. They go meltingly nice with the crispy potatoes.



Over on The English Kitchen this morning, a decadent delight, good old fashioned Hollygog Pudding! How could you not love something with a name like that!!

Thoughts about rain . . .

I set off for the Dentist yesterday morning under a sky that was definitely overcast and threatening of rain. I didn't mind though. I had my trusty umbrella with me.

It can't be sunny every day as much as we think we would like it to be. As I walked I thought about all the things that I like about rain. It's good to look at the positive side of things . . .



Jumping in puddles. It's fun to jump in puddles . . . to watch the water splash up and to feel like a child again, if only for a moment . . .



Tasting rain and letting it fall off the end of your tongue . . . your eyes closed and face upturned . . . again, feeling like a child . . . innocent and free of care and woe . . .




A carefree dance of abandon . . .what's the worst that can happen . . . let yourself go . . . let God . . . enjoy . . . even the rain.



It's one of life's smallest pleasures, or can be if you let it be . . .



And after the rain . . . comes always the sun . . .



And maybe even . . . a rainbow!



Life after all isn't as much about waiting for the storms to pass . . . as it is about learning to dance in the rain . . .

While I'm here . . . I shall dance, no matter what.

Good news at the Dentist by the way. I have no cavities! I made us some tasty Fish Tacos for our supper last night, just to make a change, and with them I served this really delicious Corn Salad. I used tinned corn for it, but you can use fresh corn if you have some really good fresh corn. It's quick and easy and very tasty!



*Corn Salad*
Makes about 2 cups
Printable Recipe

If you can get really good fresh sweetcorn, by all means use it. Just scrape the kernels from the cob and blanch in boiling water for several minutes. This is a delicious corn salad that is best served at room temperature. Easy and quick and very popular around here!

1 tin of sweetcorn niblets, drained or an equivalent amount (340g)
of frozen corn niblets, blanched
1/2 of a medium red onion, peeled and finely diced
3 TBS cider vinegar
3 TBS extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
pinch of hot chili powder
1 TBS freeze dried basil leaves (or you can use about 1/2 cup chiffonade cut
fresh basil leaves)
1 TBS caster sugar



Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and allow to macerate for at least half an hour before serving. Delicious!



To see what I served with it, check out the Fish Tacos today on The English Kitchen!

A walk in the woods . . .

A walk in the woods is a rare afternoon treat on a mild and sunny spring day. It stands silent and immobile before you . . .

but it is a living silence, filled with breath and rustlings and movement.



You walk on and the wind stirs . . . the newly budded leaves on the trees rustle . . . a sigh amongst the sentient trees.



Suddenly the air is filled with the sound of a thousand wings, which flutter as disturbed birds take to the skies, ripping the quiet and making you start.



You continue on . . . and then you hear the muffled whisperings of startled leaves . . . someone heard you coming and decided to take shelter from your footfalls . . .



You hear the distant crack of a shot . . . which only serves to emphasise the peace which it disturbs. It is a shock, and yet at the same time, not entirely unexpected . . .



A bird trills and sets up a soft ripple along the surface of the stillness of the woodland . . . the sobbing of doves beating like a hidden pulse at the heart of the silence.



Oh how it thrills your heart to be tucked in the soul of the woodland . . . to be wrapped in it's strong and silent arms.



Can anywhere on earth be closer to the presence of God . . . perhaps . . .



but right at this moment, you think . . . not . . .

Just my thoughts on a quiet Friday morning . . .

We are potato people in this house. We both love them and never tire of them. I could eat them three times a day every day and still be enthused! Here is an easy and very tasty way to prepare them. On their own they make a very scrumptious lunch, but they are also great as a side dish to grilled or roasted meats and poultry. I hope you'll give them a try!


*Dusty Oven Baked Wedges*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

We love potatoes in any way shape or form, and these tastey little oven baked wedges are a real favourite of ours! Infinitely better than any that you might buy frozen from the shops. These are delicious served with a bowl of sour cream to dip them in, but they really go well with many things. Chutney, catsup, ranch dressing . . . pick your own poison! Your family will really enjoy these!

4 large baking potatoes
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
2 TBS chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

Preheat the oven to 205*C/425*F/gas mark 7. Lightly grease a large shallow baking tray and set aside.

Wash the potatoes very well and then dry them very well with a kitchen towel. Cut them lengthwise into 2 inch wide wedges with a sharp knife. Put them into a large bowl. Sprinkle them with the olive oil. Add the salt, pepper, paprika, garlic and onion powders. Give them a good toss and a stir, making sure they are well coated with the oil and that the seasonings are well distributed. Scatter them over the baking sheet.

Bake in the heated oven for 30 minutes, until nicely browned and tender inside. Stir them every ten minutes or so to make sure that they brown evenly.

Remove them from the oven and dump them into a paper bag. Add the cheese and parsley to the bag and give them a good shake to coat. Divide amongst four heated plates and serve along with your favourite dipping sauce! Delicious!!



Over on The English Kitchen today I'm cooking a delicious pasta dish with sausage, caramelized onions, and cabbage in a tasty mustard sauce! A dish to die for!