The merits of Toast . . .

One day while Todd and I were on one of our many walks through the neighborhood . . . the smell of toast suddenly lingered in the air . . . no doubt someone's breakfast. It was a lovely smell and filled my mind with thoughts and memories and dreams and wonder.

You know the smell I am talking about I am sure . . . it's at once warm and yeasty with undertones of smoky charcoal . . . a comforting and homey smell.

 

 My much beloved Aunt Freda always said that there was nothing more beautiful on this earth than watching my mother eat a piece of toast. Apparently she made it look like she was eating the most delicious food ever produced, and so I watched her one day . . . and it was quite true. She did make it look very, very , very good.

When you think about it really, one has to admit that toast can be food for the Gods indeed! Crunchy with crisp edges . . . warm butter melting in to all it's crags and crannies . . . toast is the perfect food! I am quite sure it is the world’s first comfort food, and and I know it is one of life's most enduring simple pleasures . . . one of those perfect foods that will never go out of style . 

 

 Warm, crunchy and golden brown . . . buttered or not . . . what is a cup of tomato soup when un-accompanied with toast? Just a pale imitation of the joys that could be yours but for a simple effort . . .

A slice or two with some weak ginger tea is good medicine when you are ailing and when you get home really late at night . . . starving . . . but too lazy to do much else, nothing fills that gap better than a thick golden slice of toast, with cold peanut butter from the fridge, meltingly, deliciously spread over all. If you really want to gild the lily, try a slice or two of crisp bacon on top . . . nectar of the God's indeed!

One of the most comforting, simple moments you can have is to make yourself a slice of toast for breakfast or for a midday snack. The scent of bread caramelizing in the toaster is wonderfully ethereal, and always makes me hungry. 

 

When I first moved over here to the UK, Todd used to take me to a little cafe in the Chester market and we would have toast . . . beautifully thick slices of caramelized bread with great lashings of butter melted over top. Oh, it was so good. Why does toast taste so much better when someone else makes it??? You can't deny it. It's true!

Let's not forget that great and comforting British supper . . . Beans on Toast, (I always melt cheese on the toast before I spoon on the beans) Then, too . . . there are toast soldiers, standing at attention to dip into your egg in the morning. How about that toasted delicacy . . . Welsh Rarebit, a savoury upscale version of cheese on toast.

Another personal favorite of mine is two slices of toast spread thickly with peanut butter and stuck together with a huge goop of strawberry jam. It drives Todd crazy, but I just love it. Nom! Nom! You get the nutty melting peanut butter, the cold sweetness of the jam . . . all encased in crusty golden buttered warm bread. That's a taste that's pretty hard to beat in my books. 

  

All this talk of toast this morning has made me hungry.  We had a wonderful time with our friends Tina and Tony yesterday. I am sure going to miss them while they are away to Oz.  Their daughter is getting married, so I guess they have a good enough reason to be absent, lol.  I forgive them.  We played scrabble after our dinner and I won for a change!  Tony usually wins.  I beat him by four points, so not a huge gain but still I will take it!  

We watched the very last episode of George Gently last night on DVD and I cried.  I won't spoil it for anyone. I have enjoyed this series very much, all 8 seasons of it, spanning ten years in time.  I won't spoil it for anyone, but you North Americans out there, if you ever have the chance to watch Inspector George Gently (on Acorn TV I believe) watch it. You will love it!  You might find the Northumberland accents a bit dodgy to follow at first, but you will soon cotton on to them!  (use subtitles until you do.) 

Nobody does crime drama better than the British.

End of.

And with that I will leave you with a thought for the day. My toast is calling to me . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.°Grief I've learned is really just love,

Its all the love you want to give, but cannot.

All that unspent love gathers up

in the corners of your eyes . . . 

the lump in your throat, and in that 

hollow place in your chest.

Grief is just love with no place to go.

~Jamie Anderson    •。★★ 。* 。 

Spiritual Enlightenment 

 

 

BOOK OF MORMON CORNER - Today's Reading - 1 Nephi 21:22-22:10 

Question - What have you learnt from the reading today? When have you had the chance to be an everyday missionary? 

 

What I learnt - As Israel is gathered in the last days, through making and keep sacred covenants they are adopted (or grafted in), to the house of Israel and receive all the promises that were made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The Lord will do a marvelous work by restoring the everlasting gospel via the gentiles (western civilisation). Through the restoration and missionary work, the gospel will spread throughout the world and teach every nation, kindred and tongue. What impresses me is that my effort makes a difference. I am the widow's might in value, when comparing my contribution in this work, because I have my own fears. But I know any weakness can be turned to a strength through the Lord's grace. 

 

 The 'nursing' referred to in these verses means 'bringing back to spiritual health'. And when I think of it this way I love the imagery of us as children of Heavenly Father . . . nursing each other, bringing each other, carrying each other to spiritual health. I've been thinking today of times when others have reached out to me when I've been low in spirit.  They have been my earthly angels.  And other times,  when someone struggling has been placed in my path, giving me the opportunity to minister to them.
These experiences, whether I'm the receiver or the giver, feel a very sacred thing to be a part of because they bring me and others closer to Christ. I like what Elder Eyering says in this quote 'the ideal of doing for each other what the Lord would have us do, which follows naturally from taking His name upon us, can take us to a spiritual level which is a touch of heaven on earth.' 

 

Tomorrow's Reading (Day 34) - 1 Nephi 22:11-31 

Question - What have you learnt from the reading today? What are some things you are looking forward to during the second coming and the millennium? 

 

  

 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Sage & Onion Stuffing.  This is my favourite stuffing, with the exception of my mother's.  I can never make mine taste as good as the memory of hers does.  Funny that! 

 

Have a fabulous Wednesday!  We are going to visit Doreen today and also our friends the Toogoods this evening.  Whatever you get up to, don't forget!

 

 ═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════

And I do too!