The Simple Woman's Day book . . .

FOR TODAY, January 24th, 2012...

Outside My Window...
All is calm, and dark, and very wet. The calm makes a change from all the wind we have had lately. Our fence along the side of our front garden blew down yet again. Whoever put it up, all those years ago, never put in cement posts or anything, so all the wood that was put into the ground has rotted away, making it very unstable. Something for the Landlord to take care of when he returns from Ireland in March.

I am thinking...
I do so enjoy writing on my blog each morning. It is such an integral part of each day for me. It helps me to gather my thoughts for the day, or work out things that are preying on my mind. On the first Sunday in February I am teaching in Relief Society. The lesson is supposed to be on all the resources we have as Latter Day Saints to help us when we perhaps have to give a Sacrament Talk, or a lesson, or are troubled etc. I am really struggling with it. I know all the resources, but it is finding a way to get it across to the class in an interesting manner, which will involve my students that I am struggling with. Nobody wants to just sit there and listen. A good lesson is one which invites participation . . . and I feel a bit like I am banging my head against the wall with this one! Any suggestions???

I am thankful for...
My knees are beginning to act up again. Grrr . . . I think it is time for some more cortizone shots. I am thankful though that they have behaved for as long as they have. That has been a real blessing to me over these past 6 months.

From the kitchen...
There are leftover muffins and cookies. I need to give some away. Anybody want some? Would that I could!

I am wearing...
Pink jim jams and my robe. I am beginning to realize that I have a LOT of pink in my wardrobe. I never thought I was a pink girl much, but it seems that I am!

I am creating...
I have nothing on the table at the moment. Most unsual for me, but I have been working hard to get ready for our Relief Society Extra Meeting which will be on this Thursday and then the one for February which follows close on January's heels! I have been making little gift bags for January one, which is entitled Chicken Soup for the Soul. I also have to make a big pot of chicken soup on Thursday, plus a vegetable one for any vegetarians. The February one is going to be based on Love and so I have been researching some Valentine themed crafts and such. There are some really amazing ideas out there . . .

Source: flickr.com via Marie on Pinterest

Things like Valentine Cake Pops! Aren't they pretty???

Source: howaboutorange.blogspot.com via Marie on Pinterest

Lovely Heart Garlands for decorations!

Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via Marie on Pinterest

Beautiful wreaths to decorate and more treats and cards etc. than you can shake a stick at! The hard part will be on deciding what I am going to use!!

I am going...
I have an appointment for a haircut this afternoon, plus I have to cut Todd's hair. I have my daily reading lessons of course, and then on Thursday morning I am going Visit Teaching, then there is the RS Activity on Thursday night and we are taking Mitzie to be groomed on Friday morning. We had tried a different groomer last time, one that was closer to where we live. We'd been taking her to her breeder since we began taking her to be groomed, but it is rather far away in Neston. The one we took her to here in Chester before Christmas made a real mess of it. I don't think she was used to doing Cocker Spaniels at all. So now we are going back to Neston with our tail between our legs. I am dreading it . . . they have a lot to fix up.

I am reading...



Once Upon A Time There Was You, by Elizabeth Berg

Even on their wedding day, John and Irene sensed that they were about to make a mistake. Years later, divorced, dating other people, and living in different parts of the country, they seem to have nothing in common—nothing except the most important person in each of their lives: Sadie, their spirited eighteen-year-old daughter. Feeling smothered by Irene and distanced from John, Sadie is growing more and more attached to her new boyfriend, Ron. When tragedy strikes, Irene and John come together to support the daughter they love so dearly. What takes longer is to remember how they really feel about each other. Elizabeth Berg’s immense talent shines in this unforgettable novel about the power of love, the unshakeable bonds of family, and the beauty of second chances.

As you know I am a real fan of Elizabeth Berg. I just love all of her books and this one is no exception. I am loving this one too!!

I am hoping...
We went to the shops yesterday to buy groceries. Everything seems to be getting more and more expensive. For instance I remember buying a certain brand of tinned vegetables only last week and they were on offer for 2/£1. This week the same ones were on offer at 2/£1.29!! That's an increase of 29 pence in one week! Outrageous! I am hoping that the Government can soon get a handle on this economy and that things will improve, although . . . as we all know . . . once stores and shops get away with charging a higher price for things, they never ever go back down again to what they were . . .

I am hearing...
Nothing much. Mitzie is eating her breakfast in the kitchen. 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 start to the day.

Around the house...

Source: nuit-artdecor.blogspot.com via Marie on Pinterest

Don't you just love this idea??? Although I am not fond of the colour, isn't this just the most fabulous idea for a Kitchen Island/Baking Station, etc.!!!! Of course my home is too small for one of these. You can barely turn around in the kitchen for hitting something or knocking something over, but a gal can dream can she not???

I am looking forward to ...
Thursday evening. It is always a lot of fun to get together with the ladies from church!

If I could change one thing it would be ...
That someone would invent self cleaning, self ironing, self putting away clothes! lol Don't think that is going to happen for some reason!

One of my favourite things...
Is cuddling with Mitzie. She is so loving and affectionate. Of course we just adore her. I can never get enough of cuddling her.



I know she does look rather a bit like a snob . . . but she's not. She's a little softie with a HUGE heart and would love to lick you to pieces, given the chance!

A few plans for the rest of the week...
A bit of work . . . a bit of play . . . and everything in between!! There is NO rest for the wicked!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Source: bravegirlsclub.com via Marie on Pinterest

The greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions, and not on our circumstances. We carry the seeds of the one or othe other about with us in our minds wherever we go.
~Martha Washington (1731-1802)

I am a firm believer in miracles which are brought about from faith and positive thought. Miracles happen every day . . . and not just for the chosen few, but for anyone who has the eyes and the heart to recognize them and seek them out.

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

“Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities, and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk.”
― Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I just love all the words of President Uchtdorf, don't you? I can never get enough of them.

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!

I have a recipe here today from my Marie's Muses archive. I remember baking this same cobbler for the nephew of the people I worked for down South. He was on his travels and had stopped by for a few days to wash some clothes, rest and visit with family. I remember thinking he was such a nice young man. I know my boss was not overly fond of him, but I did like him. He was nice and most appreciative of anything anyone did for him. He got lost picking blackberries in the hedgerows one night and Todd had to get his flashlight and go rescue him one night while he was there. I baked him this lovely Blackberry Cobbler with his pickings and he really enjoyed it. You know . . . it doesn't take a lot to make people happy . . . you only need to show that you care.



*Blackberry Cobbler*
Serves 9 - 12
Printable Recipe

This wonderful version of blackberry cobbler is quite unusual in that you make a batter first for the blackberries to sit on. They don’t. They sink down into it and make a luscious and delicious filling that will have you coming back for seconds. The yummy streusel topping is chock full of crunchy nuts. This truly is the best!

½ cup of butter, melted
1 ½ cups caster sugar
1 ¾ cups plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup milk
24 ounces blackberries (fresh or frozen)
1 ¼ cups granulated sugar

TOPPING:
1 ¾ cup light brown sugar
¾ cup chopped toasted walnuts or pecans
1 cup plain flour
1/3 cup butter, melted

Pre-heat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Place the first amount of melted butter in a 9 X 13 inch glass dish and set aside.

Mix together the 1 ½ cup caster sugar, flour and baking powder. Add the milk and whisk lightly together until smooth. Pour over the melted butter in the baking dish.

Put the blackberries and the 1 ¼ cups of the granulated sugar into a saucepan and heat over medium heat until the mixture begins to boil. Pour over the top of the batter in the baking dish and place in the pre-heated oven. Bake for about 30 minutes or so until the batter begins to brown.

In the meantime make the topping. Whisk together the brown sugar and flour. Stir in the chopped nuts and the melted butter, mixing until crumbly.

Once the batter has begun to brown, remove from the oven. Sprinkle the topping over top and return to the oven to bake for a further 15 to 20 minutes or until it is nice and bubbly and the topping is nicely browned.

Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Serve warm with some vanilla ice cream if desired. Custard and pouring cream also go very well with this, or nothing at all, which is how Todd likes it.



Over in The English Kitchen today, a delicious batch of Popina Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Sunday morning thoughts . . .

Source: flickr.com via Marie on Pinterest

Just imagine for a moment that you are a Princess living in a Fairy-Tale world. The beauty of birdsong wakes you up every morning. As you sit up and stretch . . . you notice beautiful clothes have already been set out for you to wear and are just waiting to adorn your beautiful Princess-like body. There is a song on your lips and your very own Fairy Godmother awaits your every instruction so that she can make all your dreams come true . . .

Contrast that with the real world . . . where each day is a struggle to keep your dreams alive . . . because the reality is . . . life is hard in this not-so-fairy-tale world, and hope is a comodity which is not easy to cling to.

But . . . think about it. Are either of those worlds really real? Before you settle for either one of the two extremes . . . let faith show you another place . . . a new place, an invisible place which can only be seen with the eyes of the heart.

Source: padgetthoke.blogspot.com via Marie on Pinterest

It's a place where those small glimpses of all the goodness of a fairy-tale-world can fit into the reality of an every-day-world . . . perhaps a view of the world that is a bit different. It's where the realities of the so-called real world become framed in such a way that darkness is lightened and any bitterness or mistrust you may be feeling is removed.

In this new reality you can discover that unseen dreams to come are bigger and much more powerful than any small ones you may have held on to in the past . . . filled with hope that is far stronger than any despair you may be feeling now.

Source: flickr.com via Marie on Pinterest

This is the Father's kingdom . . . and you are His Daughter. Imagine . . . a beautiful daughter of God, created in His image and for His purpose. You have value beyond compare, and worth beyond measure. You have a beautiful and wonderful reason for being here . . . and you are not alone. He has promised to help you to get through this life, and given you all that you need in order to do so . . . protection and guidance on a journey towards a Divine Inheritance which awaits your return. All you need to do is to reach out your hand, and allow the Saviour to take it in His. He will guide you home and protect you along the way, and along the journey??? Well . . . you will experience more beauty, more hope, and more joy than you could ever have imagined possible. I know this to be true.

"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
~Jesus, Luke 12:32

Just my thoughts this morning . . .

I finally managed to get another painting done yesterday afternoon. I don't know where my days disappear to, but they seem to pass by in a flash!



I thought it quite sweet and I love the sentiment on it. As always it can be yours if you want, as a print or a card, and it would make a lovely gift for someone you care about who perhaps needs a bit of inspiration.

It's very cold and windy out there this morning. Brrrr . . . if you need to go out, wrap up warm and stay safe. We'll be going to church of course, and I'm going to make sure I put my woolies on before I go out that door!

Here's a delicious way to prepare chicken. Poached in the microwave, it stays beautifully tender and moist. Served with a simple sauce which is also cooked in the microwave means you can have a delicious and simple supper on the table in the time it takes you to cook some rice or pasta to have along with it. Easy peasy, lemon squeasy!



*Dill Sauced Poached Chicken*
Serves 4Printable Recipe

Moist and tender Chicken Breasts topped with a lucious dill sauce! Cooked in the microwave, so very quick!

For the poached Chicken:
4 Chicken Breast halves, skin removed
1/2 tsp seasoned salt
paprika
Pepper

For the Sauce:
2 TBS butter
4 tsp flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 cup milk
1 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 tsp dried dill weed

First prepare the chicken breasts. Place the chicken breast halves into a microwave baking dish (12 by 8 inch). Place the thickest portions towards the outside edge of the dish. LIghtly sprinkle each breast with the seasoned salt, paprika and pepper. Cover with waxed paper or greaseproof paper. Microwave on high for 12 to 14 minutes or until the chicken is fork tender and the juices run clear, turning the chicken halfway through cooking. Keep warm while you make the sauce.

Place the butter in a 4 cup microwaveable safe measuring cup. Microwave on high for 30 to 40 seconds until melted. Whisk in the fl, salt, pepper and mustard until smooth. Whisk in the milk, gradually blending it in. Microwave on high for 3 to 5 minutes, whisking it once or twice during the cooking time. The mixture should thicken and boil. Stir in the cheese and dill, stirring until the cheese is melted.

Remove the chicken breasts from the bone. Place on a serving plate and spoon sauce over top. If desired serve with hot rice or cooked pasta.



Over in The English Kitchen today some delicious Fruited Scones!

Poetry Saturday . . . A Mile With Me

Source: arikaanne.blogspot.com via Marie on Pinterest

O who will walk a mile with me
Along life's merry way?
A comrade blithe and full of glee,
Who dares to laugh out loud and free,
And let his frolic fancy play,
Like a happy child, through the flowers gay
That fill the field and fringe the way
Where he walks a mile with me.

Source: simplypix.tumblr.com via Marie on Pinterest

And who will walk a mile with me
Along life's weary way?
A friend whose heart has eyes to see
The stars shine out o'er the darkening lea,
And the quiet rest at the end o' the day . . .
A friend who knows, and dares to say,
The brave, sweet words that cheer the way
Where he walks a mile with me.

Source: eu.art.com via Marie on Pinterest

With such a comrade, such a friend,
I fain would walk til journey's end,
Through summer sunshine, winter rain,
And then?
Farewell, we shall meet again.
~Henry Van Dyke



I love, love, LOVE this poem! To me it is a gentle reminder that we never walk alone if we have a friend. Be it our bestie mate or the Saviour. Troubles and burdens are always lighter when someone walks by your side . . . and maybe they can't make them go away . . . but they can help you to carry them, if only for a mile . . .

I am up way late this morning. I have had a lot of trouble falling asleep nights lately and it has played havoc with my schedule! Must dash, but not before I show you this delicious storecupboard soup recipe!! Proof positive that you are never without a tasty meal if you keep a stocked cupboard ready at the draw!




*Tomato and Bean Soup*
Serves 6Printable Recipe

A delicious and hearty storecupboard supper. A tasty grilled cheese sandwich goes very well with this!

2 sliced streaky bacon
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 (28-oz) tin of whole tomatoes, cut up
1 (10 3/4-oz) tin of condensed tomato soup
1 (15.5-oz) tin of red kidney beans, drained
1 (11-oz) tin of sweet corn, undrained
1/2 cup water
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp dried thyme leaves, rubbed between your fingers
salt and black pepper to taste

Cook the bacon in a large saucepan or Dutch oven until crisp. Remove the bacon. Reserve 1 TBS of the drippings. Crumble the bacon and set aside. Reheat the drippings over medium heat until sizzling. Add the onin and celery. Cook, stirring, until tender. Stir in the remaining ingredients and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer 10 to 15 minutes or until thoroughly heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning using salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into heated bowls and serve garnished with the crumbled bacon.



Over in The English Kitchen today a delicious Blueberry and Almond Breakfast Bake.

Every life has its dark and cheerful hours. Happiness comes from choosing which to remember.

Have a great Saturday everyone!

How to Hug a Porcupine

Source: browndresswithwhitedots.tumblr.com via Marie on Pinterest

“An aged grandmother, who never attended school, once gave her grand daughter a slip of paper with all the advice she would ever need to lead a good life. What she wrote is valuable for all of us: Wash what is dirty. Water what is dry. Heal what it wounded. Warm what is cold. Guide what goes off the road. And, love people who are the least loveable, because they need it the most.”

Very sound advice indeed. For an uneducated woman it is very profound and full of great insight. Especially the last bit. I would say that loving the unlovable is pretty much akin to hugging a porcupine, difficult to do, but not entirely impossible.

I once had a friend, (and am glad to say still do) who was a very difficult person to be friends with, let alone to love. It didn’t matter what you did, she was always bristling and full of complaints. Not only that . . . she was very demanding and hard to get along with.

Source: basketbike.tumblr.com via Marie on Pinterest

One day she would be as sweet as pie and the next . . . as cantankerous as the day was long. It was almost as if she would push you away the minute you started to get close to her, and she was constantly wanting you to prove that you were her friend by being so very difficult to get along with. Not many people stuck around her for long and indeed, I was asked many times how on earth did I put up with her.

Many of her friends came and went . . . hardly any stayed for long, but . . . every once in a while I would catch a glimpse of the person she could have been had she only let herself be that person. I just could not find it in myself to abandon her, no matter how many times I felt like doing just that!

Source: etsy.com via Marie on Pinterest

I never gave up on her. I persevered on the strength of that person I caught occasional glimpses of. I just shrugged it off when she was difficult or insulting, and I enjoyed the moments that she wasn’t. Through it all though, I prayed for her . . . daily.

Even after we moved away and I wasn’t living in the same location as her anymore . . . and never got to see her, I prayed for her. And I wrote her letters. Little chatty letters filled up with the things I was doing, and little stories of faith. I rarely, if ever, heard back, but it didn’t matter to me. I just always wanted her to know that, no matter what, I loved her. I kept hugging her, although distant, and letting her know that I was hugging her.

One day though, I did get a reply, and one cannot imagine the joy I felt to read her words. She had been diagnosed with a mental illness and was finally on the medication she had needed for a very long time. She was finally living the life she was meant to live . . . finally able to be the person that she was meant to be. She thanked me very much for all the support and love and the prayers I had given her through the years, and told me how much it had meant to her that I had been one of the few who had never given up on her. We remain good friends to this day, and she is a true gem in my life. Gold, pure gold.

Source: google.com via Marie on Pinterest

I was so glad when I read her words that day. Glad that I had persevered and never given up on her. Glad that she had been able to get the help she had so obviously needed for so very long, and grateful for a friendship that had spanned several decades and grown and developed into something that was most precious to me.

I had hugged a porcupine and gained a priceless friend. Luke 6:28 says “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” I have a testimony that these words are very true, and I testify that it is quite impossible not to love someone for whom you are praying. In fact . . . I highly recommend it!

Off into town today to pay a bill and then a friend is coming over this afternoon for a visit. We had a wonderful time feeding the missionaries yesterday. I made them a big pot of Beef and Vegetable Stew and some Buttermilk Mashed Spuds, with a salad, rolls and for dessert my Apple Pie Roll Ups with Custard. I think they were quite happy with the meal. It's a win/win situation really, because I am sure that I probably get every bit as much, if not more pleasure out of cooking it than they could ever get out of eating it all.

Here is one of my favourite ways to prepare fish that is not only easy, but quite healthy. You get all the crunch of breaded fish without frying. I like to use a well flavoured crouton. You can get baked croutons, which is what I use.



*Light and Crispy Fish FIllets*Serves 4
Printable Recipe

Mom always said fish was brain food. This is a great way to prepare it giving your fish that is moist and flaky with a beautifully crisp coating that is baked, not fried.

3/4 cup of crushed seasoned croutons
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tsp dried parsley flakes
1/4 tsp paprika
salt and black pepper to taste
1 large free range egg
1 TBS water
1 TBS lemon juice
1 pound fresh or frozen fish fillets (thawed)
(I like cod or haddock)

Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/gas mark 4. Lightly spray a baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

Combine the crushed croutons, cheese, parsley and paprika in a shallow bowl. Set aside. Beat the egg, water and lemon juice together in another shallow bowl. Set aside.

Cut the fish into 2 1/2 to 3 iinch pieces. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Dip the pieces first in the egg mixture, and then into the crumb mixture, coating well. Tuck any thin ends of fish under to form pieces of uniform thickness and place onto the prepared baking dish.

Bake for 10 to 15 minutes until the fish flakes easily with a fork.



Baking in The English Kitchen today, delicious Breakfast Oatmeal Muffins, made from leftover cooked oatmeal. Very tasty indeed!

“Love is spelt T.I.M.E.”
― Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Bloom where you are planted . . .

Source: sundayinbed.tumblr.com via Meredith on Pinterest

“And the day came when the risk (it took) to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
~Anais Nin

For years I resisted change because I was afraid that growth was always a painful process. I guess it had seemed that most of the lessons I had learned in life, and my opportunities to grow had always been accompanied with a lot of pain and misery. It has occurred to me this morning though that, in resisting change and growth, I was also wasting a lot of time, creative energy and emotion. Things that could be far better spent on other things.

Why does change come with such difficulty? Why do we allow ourselves to become stuck in ruts? I think the greatest stumbling block to freeing ourselves from these chains is fear. Fear of change, fear of stepping out into the unknown, fear of judgement, fear of failure . . .

Source: imgfave.com via Marie on Pinterest

In giving in to our fears, I think we fail ourselves. I think we prevent ourselves from becoming and from being the very best that we can be. The whole reason for our presence here on earth is to grow and stretch, and to become the best that we can be. We cannot do that without expanding our boundaries and embracing change. If we think we "never can" . . . we truly "never will."

There is a scripture that says that in our weaknesses we are made strong. Who has not heard the story of the old man and the butterfly. An old man was once watching a butterfly struggle to emerge from it’s cocoon. As he watched it struggle frantically in it’s cocoon to free itself, he began to feel sorry for it. It was working so hard, and seemingly getting nowhere. He thought to help it a bit by taking a pair of scissors and cutting it free. When he was done . . . the butterfly lay there limp and unable to fly. In his eagerness to help, the man had missed the great secret to a butterfly’s strength . . . for it is in the struggle to free itself from the cocoon that the butterfly strengthens it’s wings enough to be able to actually fly.

Source: tumblr.com via Marie on Pinterest

And so it is with life. It is through the struggles and the agonies we suffer that we too are made strong and beautiful. It is in the growth that we learn and evolve and become what we were truly sent here to become, that we can fulfil the measure of our creation. Change is not always bad. We need to exercise our wings and break free from our cocoons. It truly is a good thing.

I know it is really late in the year, but, if you can, try to find one perfect rosebud in your garden or at a flower shop if need be. Pick it and place it in a small vase on your desk or night table. Watch it bloom. “Each blade of grass has it’s Angel that bends over it and whispers, “Grow, grow.”’ We are likewise blessed. Let us listen to it’s voice and bloom where we are planted.

I am very late this morning. We got home quite late from our church meetings last night and so went to bed late and I didn't wake up until 7:30 this morning, so I must dash. I hope I'll be able to take a look at some blogs later today. We shall see how it all unfolds. Now I must get ready for my reading student and get things started on our supper tonight as the missionaries are coming and you know how very much I love to spoil them! Have a wonderful day everyone!

Here's a lovely dish to make when you have leftover chicken from a roast dinner and you are wanting a tasty way to use some of it up!



*Deep Dish Chicken Pie*
Serves 6
Printable Recipe

A family favourite gleaned from a supermarket recipe booklet many moons ago.

1 single crust refrigerated pie crust

For the filling:
2 TBS butter
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 (10 3/4-oz) tin of condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp summer savoury
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
4 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 (1 pound) package of frozen mixed vegetables thawed and drained
(I like the one with broccoli, cauliflower and carrots)

Preheat the oven to 200*C/400*F/ gas mark 6. Have ready a 2 quart casserole or 10 inch quiche pan.

Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the celery and onion. Cook, stirring, until softened. Stir in the soup, milk, poultry seasoning, savoury, salt and pepper. Heat through, then taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. Gently stir in the chicken and thawed vegetables. Pour this mixture into your dish.

Place the crust (which should be rolled out large enough to completely cover the dish) over top of the chicken mixture. Roll up edges to fit the top of the casserole and flute. Cut slits in several places to vent.

Bake for 40 to 50 minutes until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.



Cooking over in The English Kitchen this morning delicious Vanilla Spiced Breakfast Oatmeal.