Thursday This and That . . .

The Ten Commandments of the Modern Woman

• To be as true and clear as a drop of dew.
• To be as strong as a thread of silk, which may be stretched, but will not break.
• To be as upright as a palm tree in the fields.
• To be as simple as the lark, which has only one song.
• To have an ideal which will be a shield.
• To be as active and hard working as the bee.
• To be as generous as a ray of sunshine.
• To accept life with serenity and joy.
• To rise above the bitterness of unhappy hours.
• Not to fear sorrow.

It might surprise you to know that these words above, came from a Church Girls paper back in 1927. They could have been written today! These words are as applicable in these modern times, as they were almost a hundred years ago. I reckon that is because truth does not change. What is true yesterday, is true today and will still be true tomorrow.



We had a bit of a day off yesterday and took ourselves off into town on the bus. It will be nice when Todd's bus pass comes through as we will safe a lot on the fares. It used to be £2 for both of us to go in return, but now it is £2 a piece return! We had great plans of course, but the weather quickly turned, and so we ended up not doing much of anything, but walk around a bit, pick up a few odds and sodds at Wilkensons and have some lunch. I do so love Chester City. It is alive and bustling, but in a good way, every day of the week. There were a few buskers singing and making music, which always adds something special to the mix. It is a beautiful city with old Tudor buildings and cobbled streets in the town centre, just teeming with history and life! There were loads of groups of tourists walking the streets, with their tour guides . . . school groups being lead about by Roman Soldiers . . . the curious and the familiar, all together in one happy mix.



I also got to call my good friend Hazel last evening to see how she was doing after her hip replacement surgery. She seemed to be in very good spirits and, although she is still in pain, she is recovering well, even taking herself up and down stairs! I am going to the Doctors today to see about mine, and she gave me great hope. My but it was good to hear her voice, and to talk for a time together. Hazel is one of those friends you call eternal friends . . . you know the kind I mean . . . you just feel as if you have always known and loved each other and you always will. Very special indeed.



I don't know what has happened to May, but it hasn't been a very nice month weatherwise so far at all!!! There's been a cold wind most days, that just blows right through you, and it seems to have been making up for all the dry days and sunshine we had in April, with lots of showers. I think somebody got the months' backwards there!! I heard on the telly that the other night was the coldest May night on record in 15 years!!! I can well believe it! We are still having to use our heat from time to time!

I also got three dolls almost completed yesterday as well, and some other plans sorted. I didn't get around to my painting yet . . . but that will come I am sure! It was just nice to have a day with nothing to do but whatever I wanted to do!



I even had time to roast a delicious chicken yesterday. You just can't beat roast chicken for a tasty meal. I think a chicken is good economy. You get all the pleasure of eating the roast chicken on the day, and then . . . depending on the size of your bird, you can get sandwiches out of it the next day, and if you are really thrifty, a nice pot of soup from the bones and scraps on the day after that!!



*Roasted Lemon Chicken with Croutons*
Serves 3 to 4
Printable Recipe

A simple chicken, stuffed with lemon and roasted, then sliced onto a bed of warm and crunchy croutons. Delicious!

1 (2/5kg) roasting chicken
1 large onion, sliced
olive oil
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 unwaxed lemons, quartered
about 4 cloves of garlic, bruised
2 TBS butter, softened
6 cups of bread cubes, 3/4 inch in size (1 baguette or round boule. I have even
used a cubed olive ciabatta loaf, it's all good!)

Preheat the oven to 200*C/400*F/Gas mark 6. Toss the onion with a little olive oil in a small roasting pan. Wash your chicken and remove any excess fat and pinfeathers. Dry well. Season inside with some salt and black pepper. Stuff with the lemon quarters and the garlic, giving the lemons a little squeeze before you put it in. The last quarter, I squeese all over the surface of the chicken before I put it inside. Rub the outside of the chicken all over with the softened butter. Season with some more salt and pepper and place it on top of the onions in the roasting pan.

Roast for 1 1/4 to 1 1/3 hours, or until the juices run clear when you pierce between the breast and the thigh. Cover with foil and allow to sit while you deal with the bread cubes.

Heat about 2 TBS of olive oil in a large saute pan. Once hot, lower the heat and add the bread cubes. Saute, stirring frequently, until nicely browned. This should take about 10 minutes. Just before they are done, I stir in a knob of butter and sprinkle them with a bit of salt and pepper.

Place the hot croutons on a serving platter and slice the chicken on top. allowing any juices from the chicken to be absorbed by the bread. Strain any juices from the pan, discarding the onion, and spoon over all. Serve warm.



Over on The English Kitchen today? A delicious Courgette and Carrot Gratin!