The Simple Woman's Daybook . . .

FOR TODAY, February 22nd, 2010...

Outside My Window...
All is dark and the rain is pitter pattering against my window panes . . . yes it is another wet and windy winter's day. Oh how I begin to long for spring . . .

I am thinking...
About the talks in church yesterday. They were about doing your family history. Geneology is something that I have always been really fascinated with. My late Aunt Freda was the same. We used to spend many hours talking about it together and sharing the things we had discovered with each other. Along with a great many old photographs we also have been able to find some really interesting stories about our ancestors. It's all so very interesting!

I am thankful for...
I am so very thankful that I am indoors this morning!! It sounds miserable out there. I feel sorry for the birds and wild creatures that must live out there in all of this nasty weather!! It will be bad enough when I have to go out to work a bit later on!

From the kitchen...
There's a tasty Lemon Drizzle Cake and the leftovers of the Apple Cake that I made on Saturday. Todd is really enjoying that Apple Cake. He's had a big wedge of it with custard several times since I baked it. He does love apple anything and he's one of those lucky people that can eat as much of whatever they want to eat and not gain an ounce! I know!! Tis not fair!!

I am wearing...
I am wearing my red nightie again. Oh how I love it . . . my son and daughter in law gave me the perfect present when they gave me this!! Last night I was thinking about Baby Doll Pajamas. Does anyone even make them anymore??? I used to love them when I was younger. They were so cute and comfy!

I am creating...



I have four dolls sitting here in various stages of completion and the clothes for my paper doll just waiting to be painted. It's all so very exciting! One doll is for the Giveaway I hosted on my Art Blog, and the other three will be for sale.

I am going...
I have the usual this week . . . a bit of work, a bit of play . . . I have my chiropadist tomorrow as I had to cancel my appointment last week. Then there is Seminary on Thursday evening. I am really enjoying studying the Book of Mormon. It's very interesting and I am learning so much. I have such a strong testimony of this book having been inspired. It would have been impossible for any man to write this book in the time it was written from off of the top of his head. You would have had to be a theological genius in order to have written it in twice the amount of time that it took and even then I am not sure it could be done. Joseph Smith took only a few months to translate it from the plates and he was no theological genius. In fact he was a very uneducated man, having only had a grade school education. To those who say the book was inspired by Satan, I have only one question to ask. Why would Satan inspire a book that does nothing but support the Bible and speak of the Divinity and goodness of Jesus Christ?

I am reading...




Range of Motion, by Elizabeth Berg

'I can tell you how it happened. It's easy to say how it happened. He walked past a building, and a huge chunk of ice fell off the roof, and it hit him in the head. This is Chaplinesque, right? People start to laugh when I tell them...'

As Jay Berman lingers in a coma, his young wife, Lainey, is the only one who believes he will recover. While he lies motionless, she hopes to reach him by offering reminders of the ordinary life they shared - sweet-smelling flowers, his softly textured shirt, spices from their kitchen. And throughout her ordeal, Lainey is sustained by her relationship with two very special women, each of whom teaches her about the enduring bond of friendship and the genuine power of hope.

I am really enjoying Elizabeth Berg as a writer. I think this is about the fourth book of hers that I have read. Each one has been a fantastic read and this is no exception. It too, is fantastic, a real can't-put-downer!!

I am hoping...

Too late for trees and tinsel,
Too soon for lambs at play,
These dreary New Year doldrums
Have got me in their sway.
I long to hear the cuckoo,
Or smell a blossomed breeze,
But if I open the windows
I know I'll surely freeze.
So stoke the fire still higher
Til Winter's fury thaws
I know Spring can't be too long
Til then, I'll wait indoors!!
~Margaret Ingall

I know that spring is just around the corner. The snowdrops and crocus are blooming and the daffodils are beginning to poke their leaves up through the ground. Can be Spring and the cuckoo be very far behind??? I hope not! Only a little over a month now, and it will officially be here!

I am hearing...
It is silent in here, save the ticking of the clock and the tap tapping of my fingers on the keyboard. I love the silence of early morning. It inspires thought and reflection.

Around the house...
All is in order. Todd does love an orderly house. He hates it when I get messy. I expect that is his army training from his days of National Service coming to the forefront!

One of my favorite things...
Is reading the scriptures. It always amazes me how you can read the same portion of scripture several times and then one day, you can be reading the same words yet again, and the meaning of them will leap out at you as never before. God always speaks to you in exactly the way you need to be spoken to, and His word is amazing in how it touches your heart in wonderful ways exactly when and where you need it to be touched!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
Work, Scripture study, chiropody, cooking and baking. I expect there will be more than a little play scattered throughout my days as well! Life is like that . . . work and play in a joyful balance.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



This is one of my favourite pictures that I took in the gardens at Hever Castle (the childhood home of Anne Boleyn). I just love Hever Castle. There is so much to do and see there. It is well worth the price of admission. One of my favourite parts is the doll house display . . . a series of miniature scenes of English life throughout the various stages of it's history. My favourite one is the Georgian display. Oh how very beautiful it is. You feel a bit like a Giant looking into a lilliputian existance and almost expect each display to suddenly come to life, and would not be at all surprised should it do so!!


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!)

Cold and stormy days call for hot soup, and no soup is more nourishing and tastier than a nice hot bowl of Chicken soup. Nectar for the Gods. My mom makes the best chicken soup ever. This is how she does it.




*Chicken with Rice Soup*
Makes about 6 servings
Printable Recipe

There is nothing nicer on a cold and windy day, than a lovely pot of hot soup. I save all my chicken carcasses (That's what is leftover after you have eaten all that you are going to eat from off a roast chicken) in bags in the freezer, and then, whenever I want a nice pot of soup, I just haul one out and within an hour or two I have a lovely meal, fit for a king, and very good for you as well. They don't call this Jewish Penicillin for nothing!

Leftover bones from a roast chicken, hopefully with
some meat still clinging to them!
(If it's not real meaty you can throw in a small package of chicken wings)
1 large carrot, peeled and cut in half
1 medium onion, peeled and cut in half
1 celery stalk, complete with the leaves
a bay leaf
a few peppercorns
several springs of fresh thyme
2 tsp salt

To finish:
1 carrot, peeled and grated
1 parsnip, peeled and grated
1 piece of swede, peeled and grated
1/2 cup of long grain rice
frozen peas and corn as desired
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
a small handful of fresh flat leaf parsley, finely chopped

Put the bones from the chicken, and the wings (if using) into a large saucepan and cover with cold water until completely submerged. Add the carrot, onion, celery, bay leaf, peppercorns, thyme and salt. Bring to the boil over high heat, skimming off any foam that may appear and discarding it. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer, slighly cover and then allow to simmer for about an hour and a half. At the end of that time you should have a well flavoured stock.

Strain the soup through a large colander into another large saucepan, and cool the bones. Set them aside for the moment. Add the grated vegetables to the strained stock, and place over the heat again, and once more bring it to the boil. Add the rice, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook for an addional 15 to 20 minutes, until all is tender and the rice is cooked. Pick any meat you can find off of the bones and add them to the soup along with the chopped parsley. Taste and adjust the seasonings are required. Serve hot with crackers or crusty bread. Enjoy!

Note - This freezes very well!!



I'm tempting everyone over at The English Kitchen today with my delicious homemade Lemon Curd!!

Marie's Sunday Six Smilemakers . . .

Welcome to my Sunday Six Smile Makers post. This is the day of the week that I love the most. Not only do I get to go to church and take the Sacrament, and praise my Heavenly Father, but I get to reflect on all that is good in my life in a very special way. I am the type of person that likes to take note of my blessings on a daily basis anyways, both the large and the small, but it is also good to set aside a special time just to reflect on all the things in our lives that are good and that make us happy. I have a cup in life that truly runneth over . . . yes, I am very blessed.






I have a lovely home to live in. No, it may not be mine for always, and in reality I have no idea of knowing how long it will be my home, but I love it for while it is mine and I am grateful to have it. Home is where you hang your heart . . . and whether it be a beautiful cottage in the English Countryside, or a dinky little one bedroom flat . . . if your heart resides there . . . it is home and where you need to be. Having a home filled with love and a place where I feel safe and comfortable is a blessing.



My family is a special blessing to me. My husband, my children, my grandchildren, my mother and father, my siblings and the many generations that have walked before me, and the ones that will follow. Family is the most important thing we can have in our lives, next to our faith and the two really go hand in hand. Ordained of God and a part of His eternal plan for each of us, the family is a fundamental part of society and I am ever grateful for mine.



Being loved and being able to love back. This makes me smile. We all need love. We all need to be able to give love. In my life I am surrounded by love. The love of a husband, the love of our Jess, the love of my family, the love of friends and most importantly the love of my Heavenly Father. What more could a gal ask for?




Speaking of friends, I am grateful and happy to have the friends I have. They mean the world to me. Friends both near and far. I keep them in my heart and they make me smile, with all their wierd and wonderful ways. Friends are family you get to pick for yourself, and I just have the best ones ever!!



My faith is the anchor that keeps my boat in my safe harbour. All that I am and all that I have hinges on this. It is the cornerstone of my life. It is the foundation of my home and my very being. I am a daughter of a Heavenly Father who loves me very much. All that I am and all that I will ever be, I owe to His grace and love for me. Things may not always run as smoothly as I would like them to . . . and I may stumble from time to time and fall, but He is always there to pick me up and set me back upon firm ground. He carries my hind feet into high places. To walk hand in hand with the Lord is everything . . .



I have my health and all those that I care about have their health as well. When you are young, your good health is something that you take for granted, but as you get older you begin to realize that your health is very important indeed . . . what is the good of being wealthy or talented if you are ill . . . I thank God every day for two legs that walk, two arms that can carry, two eyes that can see, two ears that can hear and a heart that beats strongly and that feels. Good health is a blessing we should never take for granted.





Whether it be sewing a new doll, or painting a new picture, developing a new recipe or baking a delicious cake, writing a letter or story, keeping my home comfortable and clean . . . and orderly . . . being able to create, in whichever way I can . . . makes me smile, and I am very grateful for the many talents I may have. I know where they come from and I am truly blessed.

"The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create. That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny in the life to come. Sisters, trust and rely on the Spirit. As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you."
~President Dieter F. Uchtdorf , Second counselor in the LDS Church Presidency

So these are a few of the many blessings I have experienced in my life this week and some of the many blessings I experience every day of my life. These are all a part of the fabric that makes me who I am and they are things that make me very happy. These are the treasures of my life and all that I cherish. These are my every day smilemakers . . .

I made a delicious casserole for our supper last night. I love casseroles. They are easy to make, most of the time, and they cook themselves for the most part, leaving your hands free to do something else. This casserole is a combination of several other casseroles that I have loved. I took the best parts of each and put them together into one. Hearty, tasty and a real family pleaser. All you need to complete your meal is a tossed salad on the side, and if you are so inclined . . . a dessert.



*Mexican Tater Tot Casserole*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

A delicious casserole that you can bake in either one large dish, or in four individual casseroles. This is a combination of several recipes that I liked . . .
it's like tacos and tater tots all together under one tasty blanket of cheese!

1 pound ground steak
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
1 clove of garlic, peeled and minced
1 (1.25 ounce) packet of taco seasoning mix
1 (16 ounce) tin of chili beans, undrained
8 ounces of tomato sauce
1 small tin of corn, drained or thawed frozen corn, about 1/2 cup
1 packet of frozen tater tots
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese mix



Preheat the oven to 200*C/400*F. Have a large casserole dish ready, or 4 smaller ones.

Brown the ground steak, along with the onion and garlic in a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook and stir until the beef crumbles and is no longer pink, and the onion is nicely softened. Drain well. Return to the skillet and add the taco seasoning mix, chili beans, corn and tomato sauce. Cook and simmer over medium low heat until heated through. Pour into the casserole dish, smoothing it out into an even layer. (Or divide equally amongst the four dishes) Cover the top evenly with tater tots. Divide the cheese up and sprinkle it evenly over top of the tater tots.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the casserole is bubbling and the tatertots are browned and the cheese is melted and lightly browned as well. Remove from the oven and allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving. Delicious!!



Cooking today over on The English Kitchen, a delicious Irish Apple Cake!

Saturday morning thoughts . . .

I was thinking yesterday. Oak Cottage is the one place in my life that I have lived the longest. As a child of a military man, I moved several times when I was growing up, and as the wife of a military man, it was pretty much the same story. I may have spent long periods of time in one province, but always in several different locations. I suppose that makes me somewhat of a gypsy at heart . . .

Back in the early days of my marriage to my ex, we had occasion to visit a place that I had lived in for quite a long time as a child (5 years) called Gimli, a few hours north of Winnipeg in Manitoba. It had been about ten years since I had lived there and I can remember being very excited when I knew that I was going to be able to go back and see it.



I ended up being quite disappointed though . . . Everything that had seemed so large when I was a child, seemed to be so small when revisited . . . Gone were the familiar haunts and buildings of my childhood memories . . . everything had changed so very much. It was no longer the place that I had visited ofttimes in my mind . . . the place of all those golden reminiscence's . . . it was almost depressing . . .

I suppose that's a bit like life. Life is filled with constant changes . . . changes that we sometimes feel ill at ease with, things that may depress us from time to time, things that challenge our inner selves and our families . . .



But isn't it nice to know that each one of have a constant in our lives, something very special that never changes. God and His son Jesus Christ do not change. They are the same today as yesterday and will be the same tomorrow. They encourage us to face up to the changes we all have to experience . . . They give us the strength to cope with all the slings and arrows life throws at us from time to time . . . and They help to carry us when we can no longer carry ourselves. Their love is the same as it has always been . . . and will remain constant . . . forever.

What a wonderful comfort in an ever changing world.



I baked Todd a tasty crumb cake the other day. I can't tell you how many times I have baked this cake in my lifetime. It is a recipe that I got from a wonderful old friend many years ago, when I was a young bride and mum, and she a great mentor and help, and support to me as a young woman far away from family and my own mum. She was quite a bit older than myself and I always looked up to her in a great many ways. She was a great cook and shared a lot of her delicious recipes with me and her hints and tips as well. I hope to have a chance to visit with her, if only for a short, next summer when I go home to Canada on my holidays.

This is a really tasty cake. Simple and easy, and quite delicious! You can have it as a dessert, with some ice cream or whipped cream . . . or you can have it as a brunch or coffee cake along with your favourite hot beverage. It's also the perfect thing to share with a friend.



*Leona's Crumb Cake*
Makes one 9 inch square cake
Printable Recipe

Delicious cake that is fabulous as a dessert, served warm with some ice cream on the side, or as a great brunchtime coffee cake!

2 cups light brown sugar (packed)
2 cups sifted all purpose flour
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup of sour milk or buttermilk
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
cinnamon



Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F. Butter and flour a 9 inch square baking pan. Set aside.

Combine the brown sugar, flour and butter in a large bowl, rubbing in the butter until the mixture is crumbly. Remove 1 cup of the crumbs and set aside for later.

Beat the eg lightly and add to the remaining crumbs. Dissolve the soda in the milk and then add along with the salt, and vanilla. Beat the mixture only until smooth. Spread into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle the reserved crumbs evenly over top. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.

Cool in pan on a rack. Cut into squares to serve.



Chicken Cacciatore is on the menu over on The English Kitchen today.

Back in December, I popped some hyacinth bulbs into a bowl of compost and then shoved them away in a dark cupboard, promptly forgetting about them. Occasionally I would give them a little water, but . . . for the most part they have lain there forgotten and almost totally neglected.

Imagine my surprise when I finally remembered them, and went to have a look in early January . . . the impossible had happened. There they lay . . . the compost in the china bowl, pierced by several green tips.



I am always a bit sceptical when planting indoor bulbs. I have tried growing avocado pits into trees . . . lemon and orange pips into trees . . . and I must have the blackest thumb in the world, because nothing ever happens. Bulbs look like such dark, dry, unpromising things that it is hard to imagine them bursting out into a blaze of colour . . .

But they do, and they did . . . what a surprise! A holy mystery, inspiring me to take the bowl and plant it on our kitchen window sill.



Miracles my friends . . . inspire reverence, and this . . . was a miracle.

"Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascent up into heaven, Thou are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.
~Psalm 139:7-10

Thou art even in highly neglected muddy bowls of seemingly dried up hyacinth bulbs . . .



I found a cake mix in my cupboard with a date set to shortly expire the other day . . . and I just happened to run across this really delicious looking recipe in The Gathering of Friends cookbook, volume one. These are great cookbooks, created by a couple of ladies in Utah, just chocker block full of delicious and tempting recipes and party ideas. Anyways, this pumpkin dessert caught my eye and it happened to use a cake mix so I went with it.

What a delicious decision I made! It's quite similar to a recipe I posted late last year, but slightly different at the same time. This has a lovely pumpkin custard on the bottom, and a moreishly crunchy layer at the top. It is some good!



*Pumpkin Surprise*
Serves 6 to 8
Printable Recipe

Delicious sweet pumpkin custard baked beneath a sweet crunchy topping. Serve warm or cold, cut into squared and topped with some spiced whipped cream topping.

2 cups canned pumpkin
1/2 tsp salt
1 can sweetened, condensed milk
1 cup white sugar
3 large eggs, beaten
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 white or yellow two layer cake mix
3/4 cup of cold butter
Spiced Whipped Cream:
1 pint whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg (to sprinkle on top)



Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F. Butter a 9 by 13 inch baking dish. Set aside.

Whisk together the pumpkin, salt, milk, sugar, eggs and pumpkin pie spice. Make sure it is well combined. Pour this mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over top. Slice the cold butter and lay this evenly over top of the dry cake mix.

Bake for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a time before serving. It should be served warm or cold.

Whip the cream for the topping until stiff. Fold in the sugar and vanilla.

Cut the dessert into squares to serve. Top each serving with some of the whipped cream and garnish with a bit of freshly grated nutmeg.



It's Cheesy Rigatoni Bake over on The English Kitchen today!

Finding Joy in the Journey . . .

Life, believe, is not a dream
So dark, as sages say.
Oft a little morning rain
Foretells a pleasant day.
~Charlotte Bronte, "Life," 1846

I am sure you have often heard the phrase said that, "If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all!" If you are like me, you have probably even said it on occasion! Sometimes life really does seem like that. It moves along like the ocean beating it's waves against the shore, with ebbs and flows . . . sometimes the waves crashing in tumultuously . . . and at others, gently lapping against the edge of the sand.



It's a lot like climbing up Mount Everest, only to be knocked down to the bottom again, after reaching the top . . . and then having to climb up it all over again. This can be discouraging . . . the monotonous pattern of taking three steps forward and two steps back . . .



I guess though . . . it's all in how you look at it. If you make the destination the whole journey, then . . . of course . . . we will always sadly be lacking. If, however, you make the fun in the climbing, well then . . . you've given the journey a whole new outlook.

It doesn't really matter then if we reach the top of the mountain or not . . . or even if we fall back down again once we get there . . . it only matters that we keep trying and that we enjoy ourselves along the way.



For every mountain we climb . . . there is always another one, just waiting for us to conquer it too. We must always remember to stop and smell the flowers, and to enjoy the sunshine on our faces along the way. That is the way to find joy in the journey . . .



I finally finished my painting yesterday. I think she turned out really sweet. Todd just loved it at any rate. I fell in love with the quote. I saw it on Julie's page the other day, and it struck a chord with me. Of course, as always, you can see the whole painting over HERE. Let me know what you think!

I made us a delicious and simple soup for our dinner yesterday. I love this soup. It uses the simplest of ingredients, and yet always tastes just wonderful. Just goes to show you that food doesn't have to be complicated to taste really good!!



*A Simple Soup of Onions*
Serves 3 to 4
Printable Recipe

This very simple, yet very tasty soup is one that I make often in the winter months. It's quick, easy, delicious and I always have the ingredients on hand. Don't let the simplicity of it fool you into thinking that it can't be very good. This soup is a real winner.

1 1/2 cups chopped, or sliced, onions (peel first)
2 cups boiling salted water
2 cups whole milk
2 TBS butter
1 cup grated strong cheddar cheese
salt and black pepper to taste
4 slices of buttered toast

Put the onions in a saucepan and cover with the boiling water. Bring back to the boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook until the onions are very tender.

Once the onions are tender, add the milk and simmer the mixture for at least another ten minutes, without boiling. Add the butter and freshly ground black pepper to taste. You probably won't need more salt, but taste just to make sure and adjust as necessary.

Put a slice of buttered toast in each of four heated soup bowls. Heap grated cheese on top of the toast and then ladle the hot soup over top. Serve hot.



Over on The English Kitchen today, a delicious Grilled Steak with Bearnaise Butter.