The Simple Woman's Day book . . .

FOR TODAY, February 14th, 2012...

Outside My Window...
It is cool and the sky is just beginning to turn light. They say it will be clear, but cool today. Perfect for Valentines Day. I would not want it to be raining. All the world seems a better place when the sun shines don't you think?

I am thinking...
How did I get so lucky??? I have a lovely comfortable home. A husband who loves the socks off me. A beautiful pup who does likewise. The Gospel in my life. Enough to eat, warm clothes to wear and to keep me dry. More friends than I can shake a stick at. I want for nothing. I have my relative health. I have lovely children . . . beautiful grandchildren. What more could anybody want?? Not much , I dare say! Life is good and I am happy.

I am thankful for...
A Heavenly Father who KNOWS and who LOVES ME! As Angie would say . . . warts-n-arl.

From the kitchen...
All is in preparation for tonight's festive celebratory Valentines Dinner. An intimate Dinner a Deux. Thai Fish Cakes served on a bed of salad with a Thai Dressing to begin. (We love Thai Fish Cakes.) For the main, Seared Steaks with a Cognac and Pepper Sauce. (Man food) On the side, a mixture of freshly prepared vegetables and some boulangere potatoes. (My man is a meat and potatoes kind of a guy.) and for afters . . . well, you'll just have to take a peek at The English Kitchen to find out! You WON'T be disappointed! (Or course you could just scroll down to the bottom of this page to see the photo. Duh!)

I am wearing...
Turquoise nightie, black and white jim jam bottoms, slippers and my robe. Layering for warmth.

I am creating...
Oh, I have been very busy! First there are the two samples I have done for the cookie decals.


She wanted something symbolic of Enid Blyton's The Faraway Magic Tree, and so I did Silky and then a lovely toadstool with a fairy slipper . . .


I have not heard back from the lady to show her though, so I don't know. In any case I had fun doing them.

Then yesterday I was so inspired by my Daughter In Law's comments that I did these . . .



Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.



Twinkle Twinkle Little Moon.

I'll be winging some copies over to my Grandsons, pronto! I hope that they like them. I think I will be putting them into my Etsy Shop as well, to be sold as a pair. What do you think?? I may do a set of girls' as well. We shall see.

I am going...
I have the daily reading lessons of course, and then Todd and I are going out to teach with the missionaries tomorrow afternoon. Thursday there is a pot luck luncheon at a friends and that is basically all the plans for this week thus far. Oh, I forgot. There is a Stake Relief Society Day on Saturday and also my RS Presidency Meetings tomorrow night. Whew! It's a good thing I remembered!

I am reading...



Say When, by Elizabeth Berg

'He felt his stomach tighten, his heart begin to race. The coffeemaker beeped, signalling its readiness, and Ellen got up and poured two mugs. She set one in front of Griffin, one in front of herself. Griffin watched the steam rise up and curl back on itself, then dissipate. He said quietly, "I'm not going anywhere." "Pardon?" "I said, I'm not going anywhere. I'm not moving." She nodded. "I see. Well, I can't. I have to be here to take care of Zoe." Griffin pictured his daughter, a redheaded beauty who would knock the stuffing out of any man who crossed her. "All right, you can stay, too," he told Ellen. "Griffin. One of us has to go."

In Say When, Elizabeth Berg negotiates perfectly the fine balance between humour and poignancy as she charts the days and nights of a family whose normal life has been shattered. Told from the point of view of a man who goes overnight from being a husband to becoming his wife's roommate, this is a gripping and heartfelt story. I have only just begun to read it over the past few nights and I am really enjoying it. But then . . . I love everything Elizabeth Berg writes! The language that the husband leaves a bit much to be desired at times . . . which is sort of disappointing, but then I guess she is writing it from a man's perspective and also a worldly one. Just coz I don't swear doesn't mean nobody else does! I just skip over those words.

I am hoping...
That Todd loves the card I made him for Valentines Day. I do love my sweetie pie.

I am hearing...
Nothing much. Mitzie is snoring away on the sofa. The keys are tapping. All is quiet outside . . . the birds are waking up so a bit of chirping and the odd car that drives by. A very normal, ordinary, everyday start to the day.

Around the house...

Source: lovely-little-things.blogspot.com via Marie on Pinterest

I just love this wall decal . . . and this bed. The bed is beautiful and I love the words on the decal . . . what woman did not dream of being a princess when she was a little girl. Really it is two single beds pushed together, which is how they do things on the continent, especially in Germany and Austria. I love that. You each get your own bed, but you are still close enough together to canoodle if you want. Nobody can steal your covers during the night, but you can just reach out and touch the other's arm if you wish. I don't know how Todd would like this idea though . . . I mean the princess words and the green beds . . . I did order some new pillow cases the other day . . .

Source: achica.com via Marie on Pinterest

Aren't they pretty!!! They have white organza ruffles on the edges and white daisy embroidery trim. I do so love pretty things . . .

If I could change one thing it would be...
That my ex husband's wife's heart would soften and I would be able to be with my daughter on the morning of her wedding in July. I would love to be able to help her put on her dress and share some tender thoughts with her. It is really breaking my heart that she has banned me from doing so . . . I don't understand it. Would she not want to be with her daughter in the same situation?? Her daughter got married several years ago and I am sure it was a very special time for them on the morning. I was not able to get home to my other daughter's wedding at all, and I really can't afford to be going this time, but after having missed our Amanda's wedding I decided that I could not afford to miss any more weddings . . . and so we are going no matter how much it costs . . . I just wish things were a bit different. I am looking foward to my baby girl finally being able to marry her one true love . . . but I am not looking forward to the rest of it and being made to feel like an interloper . . . that part I could very easily give up.

I am looking forward to ...
I see each day as a gift just waiting for me to unwrap it. I wonder what I will find beneath the wrappings today??? Something good for sure. There is good in every day if you have the eyes and heart to look for it.

One of my favourite things...
Is sharing my love of the Gospel with people who want to listen. I just love my Heavenly Father and my Saviour. I want to share that love with the world.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
A bit of work . . . a bit of play . . . and everything in between!! Not a heck of a lot really.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Source: tineye.com via Julie on Pinterest

I breathed a song iinto the air,
It fell to earth . . . I know not where,
For who has sight so keen and strong,
That it can follow the flight of song . . .
The song from beginning to end,
I found again in . . . the heart of a friend.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

We must treasure our friends. I like to think of them as family we get to pick for ourselves. I love this picture thought. That is a friend indeed. Real friends enjoy looking silly together.

As a closing thought I would like to leave you with this:

"Duty makes us do things well, but love makes us do them beautifully."
~Rev. Phillip Brooks

I just love this . . . it is so true.

And there you have it . . . my day book for this week. 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!

Here's a little something you can make your sweetie pies for breakfast on this Valentines Day! I just know they will love them. Who wouldn't! You can use refrigerated crescent roll dough if you really want to be quick about it, but I have chosen to use homemade biscuit dough simply because homemade is always better in my books.



*Cheery Cherry Breakfast Buns*
Makes 12 rolls
Printable Recipe

Quick, easy and delicious. You can vary the flavour if you wish, using a different jam such as seedless raspberry or apricot, blueberry, strawberry, etc.

1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened and cut into bits
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp almond extract
1 free range egg yolk
1 recipe of biscuit dough
1/4 cup of cherry preserves
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 tsp water

Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5. Spray a regular sized muffin tin with cooking spray. Set aside.

Place the granulated sugar and almonds into a food processer. Blitz for about 30 seconds, until the almonds are finely ground. Add the cream cheese, vanilla, almond and egg yolk. Process for several seconds until well blended.

On a lightly floured surface pat or roll the biscuit dough into a 12 by 9 inch rectangle. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the dough evenly, then carefully roll into a log, beginning from the long side. Wrap and chill for 15 minutes. Take out from the refrigerator and cut with a sharp knife into 12 slices. Place each slice, cut side up into one of the prepared muffin cups.

Bake for about 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until light golden brown. Remove from the oven. Using the handle of a wooden spoon, make an indentation into the centre of each. Fill with 1 tsp of cherry preserves. Return the pan to the oven and bake for about 5 minutes longer, or until golden brown. Run a knife around the edge of each muffin cup to loosen. Remove from the cups and place on a wire rack to cool somewhat.

Whisk together the powdered sugar and water together until smooth. Drizzle this over top of the warm buns. Serve warm or cool. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator.



Cooking in The English Kitchen today some delicious Baby Berry Custard Cakes, just in time for Valentines Day!

And so it goes . . .

Sorry for my absence yesterday morning. I was not feeling very well, and I am still not feeling very well this morning. This is me with about two hours of broken sleep. I could not stop coughing all night . . . and it is a deep tight cough that wracks my whole body from my head down to my toes. I almost choke each time.

I guess I will have to try to get in to see the Doctor today . . . I hate wasting a Doctor's time though . . . Our Doctor's practice has a sign on the wall telling patients that there is no cure for the common cold, and that they can do nothing for you.



I think I was ill with this same thing last year about this same time! It took me a long time to shake it. I would be still lolly gagging in bed but for the fact but the woman from the disability place is stopping by on her way to work this morning to show us the plans for the wet room the council will be putting in at some time over the next year. It's all go!

Our fridge concked out at the weekend. We've had it for almost 11 years now. It was still keeping things cold, but the freezer part was not working properly. As we had no plan for servicing it we decided it would probably be about the same cost to buy a new one as it would to have the repair people come out. So we went looking. We found one we liked at Curry's and at a reasonable price. They didn't have it in stock though and said that it was the end of the line and they would not be getting any more in, but that there were 4 just like it over in their discount shop. This is where things that have been damaged in transit etc. go to live. They might have a huge dent in them , or just a tiny scratch. We went to look and found a beautiful fridge that had hardly anything wrong with it . . . only a tiny dent at the back.



We spent most of yesterday morning taking everything out of the old fridge in preparation for the new fridge's arrival . . . Todd had our friend Billy come over to help put the old fridge in the garden to take it away. The fridge men came . . . but it didn't even make it off the truck. The guy took one look at the space it was going and said that it wasn't going to fit. A few measurements later and it was fact. It wasn't going to fit. So they had to take it back. We had to get Billy back over to put the fridge back in the house. We had to put everything back into it and then we had to go and get a refund from the store and look for another one. Happily we found another one, and for half the price so it's all good. That one will be delivered on Friday.

I spent the rest of the day laying on the sofa in my jim jams under a blanket though. It tired me right out. I couldn't go to my meeting last night and I won't be going to the Temple today. I definitely won't be visit teaching tomorrow. If I am slow to visit around please do forgive me. I'll be round once I begin to feel better.

I'll be resting up and trying to get well, and drinking lots of this . . . with lemon. It's great for colds and such.



*Ginger Syrup*
Makes about 1 1/2 cups
Printable Recipe

Ginger Syrup is easy to make and versatile in use. You can mix it into club soda or seltzer and serve it cold as Gingerale, or serve it hot as tea. Makes a wonderful drink when you have the sniffles or can feel them coming on.

1 cup of white sugar
1 cup of water
1/2 cup of peeled fresh gingerroot, thinly sliced
2 TBS lemon juice

First make a simple syrup by mixing the sugar and the water in a sauce pan. Bring it to a boil. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Add the fresh ginger. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool, then add 2 Tablespoons of lemon juice. Strain into a container and refrigerate until ready to use.

*Note - you can use the ginger left in the pan to make a gingercake if you wish. Just blitz it in a food processor until it is finely chopped and stir it into your favourite gingercake batter.



In The English Kitchen today, some delicious Maple and Toasted Pecan Muffins.

The Simple Woman's Day book

FOR TODAY, August 3rd, 2010...

Outside My Window...
It is dull and grey still . . . we have had a lot of dull, grey days lately. I am wishing we could see some sunshine! We do get to see the sun from time to time, but . . . only in short spurts!!

I am thinking...
I am still thinking about forgiveness. It is funny how life goes sometimes. You can be a really good person for your whole life . . . kind, loving, thoughtful, helpful . . . but then, you can make one mistake . . . one error in judgement . . . and that is all you will be remembered for. It's not quite fair is it.

I am thankful for...
Special friends who are there for you no matter what, no matter when, no matter how far. You know who you are. ☺

From the kitchen...
There is not a lot of baking around. I need to rectify that! I don't seem to bake as much down here. I think it's because my stove is too small and there is not a lot of counter space in the kitchen. Not much I can do about that I don't think!

I am wearing...
A very pretty white cotton nightie. It is covered with little white dots that are raised, kind of like Swiss Dot fabric, but the dots are larger. I love it. I am partial to white nighties. I always feel a bit like a Princess when I wear one. Ok, so it's a very old and . . . umm . . . fluffy . . . Princess, but a Princess all the same!

I am creating...
Nothing to show you just yet!

I am going...
We are thinking about going to the Lake District tomorrow for the day. It is only a few hours away. It will be a long day, but I am really looking forward to it. I want to see Beatrix Potter's home. We didn't see it the last time we were there as it was too busy and we could not get in, so am hoping to see it this time.

I am reading...




Nineteen Minutes, by Jodi Picoult

In nineteen minutes, you can mow the front lawn; color your
hair; watch a third of a hockey game. In nineteen minutes,
you can bake scones or get a tooth filled by a dentist; you
can fold laundry for a family of five.
Nineteen minutes is how long it took the Tennessee
Titans to sell out of tickets to the playoffs. It’s
the amount of time it takes to listen to the Yes song Close
to the Edge. It’s the length of a sitcom, minus the
commercials. It’s the driving distance from the
Vermont border to the town of Sterling, NH.
In nineteen minutes, you can order a pizza and get
it delivered. You can read a story to a child or have
your oil changed. You can walk two miles. You can sew
a hem.
In nineteen minutes, you can stop the world; or you
can just jump off it.
In nineteen minutes, you can get revenge.

Yes, I am still reading this same book. It's a very thick book. (and a very GOOD book!)

In this emotionally charged novel, Jodi Picoult delves beneath the surface of a small town to explore what it means to be different in our society.

In Sterling, New Hampshire, 17-year-old high school student Peter Houghton has endured years of verbal and physical abuse at the hands of classmates. His best friend, Josie Cormier, succumbed to peer pressure and now hangs out with the popular crowd that often instigates the harassment. One final incident of bullying sends Peter over the edge and leads him to commit an act of violence that forever changes the lives of Sterling’s residents.

Rich with psychological and social insight, Nineteen Minutes is a riveting, poignant, and thought-provoking novel that has at its center a haunting question. Do we ever really know someone?


I am hoping...
No results from my scan yet. I wonder how long I will have to wait. Not too long I hope. I also hope that it is good news.

I am hearing...
Clock ticking, keys tapping . . . the birds eating seeds from the on window feeder next to the dining room table. They sure make a lot of noise when they do that! We also hung our beaded curtain outside the back door last weekend. It is on the outside and supposedly helps to keep out flies. Every once in a while the wind stirs it and it scrapes against the door. It's kind of spooky.

Around the house...
I have a basket full of ironing to do, and general tidying up. Not a lot really. With just the two of us here most of the time, things don't really get all that dirty or messy. What I wouldn't give to have children around to mess things up sometimes. Then again . . . there are times when I am very happy that I don't!

One of my favorite things...
I used to write a lot of poetry. I found some of it when I was home this past summer. It wasn't all that bad actually. I need to write more poetry. I always loved writing it and it can be very healing.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
The biggie is the puppy that is arriving on Friday. Everything has been readied. The latter part of the back garden has been fenced off so that there is no danger of it getting near the pond, or the rhubarb! The house has been puppy proofed also. I can't wait! We don't have any special plans for my birthday other than the puppy. I think that's enough to look foward to!!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



I found this amongst my pictures on the computer. I just love it. I am so very grateful for all the diamonds I have in my life. Thankfully I have been a great collector of them and I hold them very close to my heart!

And just as a closing thought for today . . .

Wishing God's sweet blessings
Not in droplets but a shower,
To fall on you throughout this day
And brighten every hour.
~Helen Steiner Rice

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!)

Today I am sharing my recipe for strawberry jam. I am almost too late making it this year as I was away all of July, which is when I normally make it. Thankfully Strawberry season lasts a bit longer over here than it does back home!



*Classic Strawberry Jam*
Makes 6 pints
Printable Recipe

Simple and delicious, this jam recipe doesn't use any pectin to help it jell. Instead you must rely on your own talents for judging when it is done. Don't worry though, it's not really all that hard to do!

9 cups of fresh strawberries, washed and hulled
4 cups white sugar
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 TBS unsalted butter (optional)

Put the strawberries into a large saucepan. Bring them to a simmer over medium low heat, mashing them roughly with a potato masher or the back of a large flat spoon. Stir in the sugar and the lemon juice. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 2 minutes. Add the butter, if using, and then bring it to a vigorous boil, stirring often. Cook for ten to twenty minutes, measuring the viscosity of the jam periodically by dropping a spoonful onto a glass plate and tipping the plate. Once the jam slows it's drip down the plate and no longer runs like a syrup, it is done. Remove the jam from the heat and skim off any foam that rises to the top carefully with a metal spoon.

Make sure you have six pint jars waiting that have been washed in clean soapy water and rinsed very well. I like to sterilize mine in a hot oven by placing the jars on a baking tray and popping them into a moderate oven for about 10 minutes. Fill the jars with the hot jam to within 1/4 inch of the top. Make sure the edges of the jars are clean from any jam, wiping them clean if needed, with a clean damp cloth. Place lids on the jars and close tightly. Place the jars in a large pot, on top of a trivet so that they are not touching the bottom of the pan. Cover with boiling water making sure that they are completely submerged. Boil for 15 minutes. Remove the jars with tongs and cool upright on a wire rack. Check for secure seals on the jars (The lid should not spring when touched) and store in a cool place away from light for up to a year. Any jars that do not seal should be refrigerated and used up first.



There is a long time favourite posted over on The English Kitchen today, Cauliflower Cheese!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY, December 1st, 2009 ...

Outside My Window...
It is dark and very, very still, which makes a change. We have had such rainy and windy weather lately. I am getting a bit fed up with the rain. I am craving sunshine and clear skys, even if it does mean that it will be a lot colder. This rain really gets on my nerves after a time, and another way of putting it Bon . . . is . . . it's really getting on my wick!

I am thinking...
About the lovely testimony meeting we had in church yesterday. I know, testimony meeting is always lovely, but yesterday was one of those days when people seemed to be racing up to bear their testimonies and the air was just filled with the spirit. I wanted to bear mine, but was not quick enough and before we knew it . . . the meeting was over. I did bear it in Relief Society though, so all was not lost. I just love being able to bear my testimony. I am so grateful to have one and to know the things that I know to be true . . . to be true. There is a difference between having a knowledge of the truth, and KNOWING the truth, and I am grateful to know the difference. If that makes any sense, and I hope that it does!!

And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation.
~Isaiah 33:6


I am thankful for...
Prayer. Where would I be without it. It uplifts, sustains and helps to carry me forward. I have always been a praying person. I am thankful for that. The scriptures tell us to pray unceasingly. I have a running conversation going on with my Heavenly Father in my head all the time . . . a continuous prayer. It helps to keep me sane and grounded.

Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou has holden me by my right hand.
Psalm 73:23

I do love the Psalms.

From the kitchen...
Ohh, there's some yummy goodies. There's still some fairy cakes leftover from the weekend, and some delicious Christmas Chutney. (see below) I have a Christmas Cake to decorate at some point and other goodies to create. I got a nice set of Star Christmas Cookie Cutters at the weekend and have it in my mind to bake a bunch of Gingerbread stars to hang in all my windows and on my tree. Finger's crossed I get it all done!!!

I am wearing...
Mismatched Jim Jams. I could not find a matching top and bottom and so I have on the bottoms of one and the tops of another. I need to get some new PJ's actually as mine are all getting too big. (Love saying that by the way!!!) I have been looking for some cotton flannel nighties but to no avail. I don't think perhaps that they make them over here. I shall have to wait til I go home next summer and hopefully will be able to pick up a few then. I do love a cotton flannel nightie in the winter.

I am creating...
I thought I would share a few more photos of the doll I made for Margaret. Thankfully she was well pleased with it. I sure hope her grand daughter likes it.



I tried to make her really playable for a little girl. I would have loved to get a doll like this when I was a girl. I was a real doll lover. Not all little girls are doll lovers. My two girls were like chalk and cheese in this area.



My eldest daughter loved her dolls and her dolls always looked well loved, loved to pieces. My youngest daughter could have taken or left a doll. Her dolls always looked brand new as they were never played with. Me . . . I love dolls and will just have to make myself one of these one day soon.



I have fallen in love with her painted legs and shoes. What do you think?



I think I need me one too. I also think I will perhaps make a few more in a similar vein to pass along to loving and willing hearts.

I am going...
I have another busy week in front of me. Work today and tomorrow, and then another all night excursion on Tuesday night and then I don't think that I have an evening free until next week some time. There is the Relief Society Christmas do on Wednesday night. Normally I work on Wednesday nights, but since I will have been up all Tuesday night I shall have it off for a change and I am looking forward to going. I just hope I can stay awake for it! Then on Thursday I have Seminary and after that there is a Christmas Craft class for the ladies at the church. We are going to learn how to make five small Christmas Gifts for a fiver. Friday night is our Christmas Scripture Study Group get-together. I have promised to make some finger food for that. I think I'll make my olive poppers and possibly my hot pepper jelly cheese cookies. Then Saturday we are driving up to Romford to visit Todd's brother and wife, needing to be back here for early evening as our Ward Christmas Party is Saturday evening. Church on Sunday and then there is a Youth Fireside which we are combining with the Seminary Christmas get together as all of our youth are involved in Seminary. We are going to watch the Book of Mormon movie and have pizza! Oh yes, I have my therapist tomorrow afternoon as well! No rest for the wicked!! That's me!

I am reading...



Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult. Jodi Picoult is one of my favourite authors. I always find her books to be page turning and quite entertaining. This one is no different. It's the story of a murderer on death row who decides that he wants to donate his heart, which is a perfect match, to the eleven year old sister of one of his victim's who is in need of a transplant. At the time he killed her sister, he also killed the father. What do you do as a mother and widow . . . do you put all your feelings aside, and allow the heart of your one child's murderer become the saviour of your other child???? What a dilema!! Fascinating and thought provoking as always.

I am hoping...
That I can get everything done this week that I need to get done and that I can get all my Christmas Cards written and into the post as well! Each year I say I am going to do them early and then each year I end up doing them at the last minute again . . . I want to put a letter into each, but am afraid that once again, I don't have the time! Nevermind . . . my heart is in the right place and that's what counts!

I am hearing...
I am hearing nothing but the ticking of the clock, the humming of the refrigerator, the clicking of my keys and Jess's gentle snores from over in the corner. It is so very quiet in here. I have the fire going as it is very chilly in here this morning, and as per ususual . . . Jess is stretched out in front of it!!!

Around the house...
I need to get things organized and ready to put up the Christmas tree and decorations. I usually wait to do that til after my employers are gone for Christmas. That's when my Christmas really starts and I can get the things done that I need to do for the holidays. I am really lucky that I get to take a bit of a breather at Christmas . . . a chance to re-charge my batteries for the coming year ahead. I work really hard most of the time and so this is a real bonus for me. I know, tis a blessing as well.


One of my favorite things...
Is collecting quotes and poems. I just love them. I used to fancy being a poet when I was younger and used to write quite a few poems. I wish I had kept them, but they are lost in space somewhere.


A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
I don't even want to think about it!!!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



My son's locker at bootcamp. I have waited his lifetime to see his drawers looking so neat and tidy! It is quite clear to me that the whole time he was growing up I shoulda been yelling louder and been a little meaner!! Look at the results I would have gotten at the thought and fear of his having to drop down and give me 25!!! Seriously though. I am very proud of him.



He seems to have found his niche and is doing well. I hope that I am not making you tired of seeing photos of him in his uniform!!! I just can't get enough of them. I think he's so handsome . . . I know . . . I'm his mother and so I am biased!

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!)

As promised here is my delicious recipe for a Christmas Chutney! I really hope that you will make this. It's absolutely fabulous and goes so well with Ham, Turkey or Chicken! It also makes a wonderful last minute gift for those on your special list of friends! We just can't get enough of it in our house and I know you will love it too!




*Christmas Chutney*
Makes 4 cups
Printable Recipe

This lovely chutney makes a wonderful gift and is such a lovely change from the usual cranberry sauce. It goes beautifully with turkey, ham or chicken. We just love it.

3 cups fresh cranberries
1 cup sultanas
1/2 cup chopped candied peel
1/2 cup chopped peeled onion
3 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
1 cup white sugar
1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tsp salt
2 whole cloves
2 tsp celery seed
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp dried chilies



Place the vinegar, water, both sugars, lemon juice and salt into a heavy non-reactive saucepan. Bring to the boil, stirring to help dissolve the sugar. Once the sugar has dissolved add the cranberries, sultanas, candied peel, onions, garlic, cloves, celery seed, ginger and chilies. Simmer gently, stirring often, uncovered for 45 minutes. Pour into hot sterilized jars and seal. Process in a hot water bath for 15 minutes. This will keep for up to a year. You can, of course, just put it into jars for giving away and immediate use, but if you do want to keep it longer, you really must process it in the water bath. Enjoy!



Over in The English Kitchen today, I'm cooking up a lovely steak with a Bearnaise Sauce!

Summer Sunshine

Well, these past few days have seen us making up for all the recent rain and having glorious sunshine to enjoy, although to be honest, the mornings have still been quite chilly! I have noticed a fresh crop of wasps making their presence known around the gardens and yesterday, up at work in the big kitchen, I killed no less than three of the little monsters that were threatening my safety and trying to get at my fresh Banana Loaf! We have a big problem with wasps here as we are surrounded by fruit orchards. I guess it's a small price to pay for having all those lovely drops to pick up in the autumn!

Hot August days always meant one thing when I was bringing up my family. Preserving time! Every year I put up jars and jars of pickles, jams, jelly's and preserves. Those days my kitchen would be full of the smells of vinegar and spice and the sweet delicious smell of boiling fruits. Now that there is just Todd and I, there is not the requirement for all those lovely pickles and relishes. Not only do I not have the storage space, but we would never get through them in a million years, ahhhhh ... but I do miss them.

We can use up a bit of this jam though, and so yesterday I made some fresh strawberry preserves. I know we are still trying to use up the raspberry ones I made last year, but with the price of berries so low in the stores right now, I just couldn't resist! It was especially lovely last evening, spread onto two halves of a freshly baked scone ... a dab of clotted cream on top, it's delicious finishing touch!




*Classic Strawberry Jam*
Makes 6 pints

Simple and delicious, this jam recipe doesn’t use any pectin to help it jell. Instead, you must rely on your own talents for judging when it is done. Don’t worry, it’s not really that hard to do!

9 cups fresh strawberries, washed and hulled
4 cups white sugar
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 TBS unsalted butter (optional)

Put the strawberries into a large saucepan. Bring them to a simmer over medium low heat, mashing them roughly with a potato masher or the back of a large flat spoon. Stir in the sugar and the lemon juice. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 2 minutes. Add the butter, if using, and then bring it to a vigorous boil, stirring often. Cook for ten to twenty minutes, measuring the viscosity of the jam periodically by dropping a spoonful onto a glass plate and tipping the plate. Once the jam slows it’s drip down the plate and no longer runs like a syrup it is done.
Remove the jam from the heat and skim off any foam that rises to the top carefully with a metal spoon.

Make sure you have six pint jars waiting that have been washed in good clean soapy water and rinsed really well. I like to sterilize mine in a hot oven by placing the jars on a baking tray and popping them into a moderate oven for about 10 minutes. Fill the jars with the hot jam to within ¼ inch of the top. Make sure the edges of the jars are clean from any jam, wiping them clean if needed, with a clean damp cloth. Place lids on the jars and close tightly.

Place the jars in a pot large enough to hold them, and cover with boiling water, making sure the jars are completely submerged. Boil for 15 minutes. Remove jars with tongs and cool upright on a wire rack. Check for secure seals on jars (lid should not spring when touched) and store in a cool place away from light for up to a year. Any jars that do not seal should be refrigerated and used up first.

Early Summer Muses

We have really had some lovely weather here recently. Our garden is full to bursting with colour and scent and sound. The other day I saw a hawk down on the grass by the feeder. I believe it had caught a mouse. Two magpies were settled very nearby just waiting for him to slip up and their chance to steal his prize. We have had jackdaws come calling recently along with a pair of crows and the other night I perchanced to look out the window and saw a the lovely sight of an adult woodpecker feeding it's baby on the top of our shed roof. I don't imagine it is often one gets to share a sight like that.

I heard a bit of a fuss a few nights ago and looked out to see a fox in the garden, which might explain why the two baby bunnies we had been enjoying nightly have suddenly dissappeared.

As Todd and I are getting ready to go on Holidays tommorrow and I had a bunch of lemons I needed to use up I thought this week I would make some lovely Lemon Curd. Lemon Curd is something I have always loved and I could just dig in and eat it with a spoon as a pudding all by itself. The wonderful thing about Lemon Curd though, is it's versatility and ability to go with other things, my favourite flavour to pair it up with being ginger and so, without further adieu I bring to you my Lemon Curd Culinary Creations.

*Lemon Curd*
Makes 3 cups

This freshly made lemon curd is delicious and I use it a lot! It’s wonderfully delicious spread on bread, scones or muffins. Use it to fill lovely little tart shells, or sandwich it between the layers of a wonderful Victorian sponge. It’s so versatile I don’t think you’ll have any problems at all using it all up! (I could eat it by the spoonful)

1 TBS finely grated lemon zest plus
2 tsp finely grated lemon zest
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/3 cups sugar
4 large eggs
¾ cup unsalted sweet butter, plus
2 TBS unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Whisk the zest, lemon juice, sugar, eggs and a pinch of salt together in a medium sized, heavy bottomed saucepan.
Add the butter all at once and cook over moderately low heat, whisking constantly. Cook only until the curd is thick enough to hold the marks of the whisk when you pass it through and the first bubbles appear on it’s surface. This will take from ten to fifteen minutes.
Immediately pour the curd through a fine meshed sieve into a bowl. Cover the surface with plastic wrap, pressing the plastic wrap directly onto it so that a skin doesn’t form. Chill, covered in the fridge until you are ready to use it. This keeps, covered and refrigerated for at least one week.

Here’s another delicious idea for using up some of it up.

*Little Ginger Lemon Cakes*
Serves 4

I love these little cakes. Crisp and spicy ginger cookies sandwiched together with the tart and mellow flavour of a lemon curd flavoured whipped cream, these little babies are a delight both to make and to eat! I have put quantities here for four, but it is easily multiplied and divided. It's a quick way to put a lovely dessert on the table for a whole crowd of people!

1 cup of double cream
¼ cup of lemon curd
1 package of thin crisp ginger biscuits, such as Anna’s (my personal favourite)
Powdered sugar for garnish

Whisk the double cream until it holds soft peaks and then gently fold in the lemon curd.
Place one ginger biscuit on each of four plates. Spread with some of the whipped cream and lemon mixture. Top with another ginger biscuit and repeat at least 2 more times. Dust the tops with powdered sugar and serve.
PS - My good friend Nic has a lovely recipe for Lemon Curd Biscuits on her page here: Cherrapeno (they look good enough to eat!)

and we have cake!

*Blueberry Gingerbread*
Serves 12

This is an unusual version of gingerbread in that it is studded with lovely pockets of blueberry. Who knew the two things would go together so well! This is really moist and delicious and only gets better every day!

½ cup sunflower or canola oil
1 cup sugar (caster* or granulated)
½ tsp salt
3 TBS mild molasses (or equal parts of golden syrup and dark treacle)
1 large egg
2 cups plain flour
½ tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp freshly ground nutmeg
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1 cup buttermilk
2 TBS Demerara sugar for sprinkling on top

Pre-heat the oven to 180*C/350*C. Lightly grease and flour a deep 9 inch cake tin and set aside.
Beat together the oil, 1 cup of sugar, salt and molasses with an electric mixer. Beat in the egg, mixing it in well.
Sift together the flour, spices, and baking soda. Remove 2 TBS of the mixture and dredge the berries in this.
Add the remaining flour to the beaten mixture, alternately with the buttermilk, beating well after each addition. Fold in the blueberries and remaining flour.
Spread in the prepared pan. Smooth the top and sprinkle the Demerara sugar evenly over top.
Bake for approximately 50 to 60 minutes, or until well risen and the top springs back when gently touched with your fingertips. a toothpick inserted in the centre should come out fairly clean.
Set on a rack to cool. Cut into wedges to serve, either warm with butter of with some whipped cream on top. OR…you can do like I do and split the slices in half and dollop some lovely lemon curd in the middle and then put them back together.
*I use caster sugar most of the time in my baking because it seems to cream a lot easier and blend in better. You don’t get any granular texture. It’s not necessary to use caster but I think, personally, that it is better.