Wednesday, 8 September 2010

Keeping it Real



Do not be anxious, said our Lord,

Have peace from day to day . . .
The lilies neither toil nor spin,
Yet none are clothed as they.
The meadowlark with sweetest song
Fears not for bread or nest
Because he trusts our Father's love
And God knows what is best.
~Helen Steiner Rice

I wanted to share with you some of the burdens of my heart today. It would be very remiss of me to allow you to all think that everything in my life is goodness and light, and that I never get down or sad.

Life is not like that for anyone . . . even those whom we see as having everything. Into each life some rain does and must fall from time to time . . . that is how we grow and how we learn.



As most of you know I lost my job about six months ago now. With it went our home and we found ourselves scrambling to find a new (affordable) place to live, which, in a country with such a huge population as England has, is not an easy thing to do. God is good though and we were able to find another place rather quickly . . . and then, just as we were getting ready to move, disaster struck again and we lost our beloved companion Jess. I was beginning to feel a bit like Job from the bible and wondering when the boils and sores were going to break out on my body!!

It was a pretty devastating time for us. We went from what we thought was absolute security into a very uncertain and scary future. Todd also lost his job. He had been the paid custodian of our chapel in Tunbridge Wells and having to move meant that job would also disappear. And then there were our friends. We faced leaving people that had come to mean a great deal to us over the seven years we had been living there . . . we both felt pretty broken and afraid . . . sometimes it is hard to have faith when everything seems to be spiraling down into the abyss.



So here I sit, six months on from all that loss . . . and, whilst things are not perfect, they are certainly not horribly wrong either. We love our new home and are very grateful for God's blessing in providing it for us. I have the odd day where I could just sit down and cry, but thankfully those are few and far between . . .

We have little Mitzie now, who is quickly carving a very big place in our hearts. I still cry over Jess from time to time and I miss her deeply, I probably always will . . . but Mitzie is bringing light into our world and that is a good thing . . .

I have not been able to find a job. We are going through some very hard times employment wise in this country at the moment. Jobs are very scarce and getting scarcer. Things are tough . . . and when you are a 55 year old woman . . . and a 72 year old man . . . they are even tougher. Young people are infinitely more employable it would seem. I had hoped that I would have been able to do better selling my artwork etc., but even that has not done as well as I had hoped. Some days I feel really down about it . . . and I start to doubt my talents . . . and then I kick myself in the arse and I think to myself . . . do you create as a means to an end, or as an end to a means? I create because it is as much a part of me as breathing is . . . and so I go on creating, even if most days it seems that nobody appreciates it half as much as I do myself! I dream and I hope . . . for what is life without dreams or hope????



Things are fairly bleak financially, but we have enough for our needs, and you can't ask for more than that. We are so blessed that we are not living back in the 1800's or we would be headed for debtor's prison I am sure . . . we are blessed to be living in a time and age where we will not starve and we will always have a roof over our heads and clothes on our backs. There are many in this world for whom those things that we so take for granted are only a dream . . . and so I count my blessings where I find them.

We are slowly finding our feet here . . . making new friends, building a new life for ourselves . . . creating a home that is comfortable and serene. We have each other, we have our health, and we have our faith. Anything else is just the icing on the cake. Lessons have been learned . . . we have both grown. Life is good. We begin to see light at the end of the tunnel . . .



I did another video of Mitzie yesterday as she played in the garden with Todd. Oh what a joy she is. She had been having such a fun time chasing the ball with Todd and I wanted to film it. Unfortunately I came in at about the end of her burst of energy. Puppies tire very quickly and so you don't get to see much of her boisterous energy but you can get some sense of just what a little treasure she is!

Now if I could only lose some weight! It's cert that I won't be if I don't stop making these delicious things to eat . . . perhaps I just need to find a healthier way to do them. Oh well, in the meantime here's a delicious Canadian treat!



*Poutine*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

Gravy, French Fries, and cheese curds! This is a once in a blue moon treat that is oh so good. You can make it a lot less fattening of course, by using low fat frozen oven fries and low fat cheese and gravy. I often do, but I am giving the full fat version here today! This is truly a Canadian treat!

1 quart of vegetable oil for frying
1 can of beef gravy (or homemade if you have it, it's so much better!)
5 large potatoes, peeled and cut into chips
2 cups cheese curds (If cheese curds are not available you can use a mixture of shredded mozzarella and strong cheddar cheeses)

Heat oil in a deep fryer or deep heavy skillet to 120*C/250*F. Put the gravy into a saucepan and heat to boiling hot. Set aside and keep warm while you make the chips.

The secret to perfect chips is to double fry them. This results in a chip with a soft moist centre and a lovely crunchy outer skin. A great potato for making chips over here is the Maris Piper or King Edward. You want a nice floury potato. One that is good for making mash or baked potatoes. New potatoes are not good at all. You want to use old potatoes. Peel and cut the potatoes into big chunky chips or fries as they are known in North America. Wash them to remove some of the starch and then dry them VERY well on kitchen paper towels.

Place the chips in the heated oil and cook for approximately 10 minutes. Remove them from the oil and let them sit for about 15 minutes or so in the basket, draining. This first cooking process, or blanching as it is called, draws the starches to the outside of the chip and seals in the moisture - essential for that soft moist centre. (In this par cooked state you can actually store them for up to a day ahead of time if you wish.)

Increase the temperature of the oil to 175* - 185* C/ about 350*F - 375*F. Cook the chips again. (This is the secret to getting hot crispy chips with a nice brown surface and tender insides.) Place the chips (fries) into the hot oil and cook until light brown, about 5 minutes longer. Remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain.

Place the hot fries on a heated serving platter and sprinkle the cheese, or drop the curds over top. Ladle on the hot gravy, covering the fries and cheese. Serve immediately!



To celebrate Todd's Birthday yesterday I baked him a Buttermilk Spice Cake. You can check it out over in The English Kitchen!

Just as a note of interest as well, I am being featured as Wednesday's Woman over on Not Quite June Cleaver. I'm honored that she is doing this, as I have been a long time fan of her page for several years now. Not sure I deserve all the accolade, but I'm very grateful for it. Hop on over and check it out!

Tuesday, 7 September 2010

The Simple Woman's Day book



FOR TODAY, September 7th, 2010...

Outside My Window...

It is light outside. It rained quite heavily through the night, but that seems to have cleared now. Here's hoping it is a nice day today! Hope does spring eternal!


I am thinking...
About the wonderful time we had at the Lee's last night at our Scripture Study/Family Home Evening. There are six of us that get together each Monday evening. It is nice to be able to fellowship with each other and to study the scriptures together. Last night we also watched an interesting little film about a young man, Helmuth Hubener, who had formed a small resistance group against the Germans in WW2. You can read more about him here. I had never heard of this brave young man and we all really enjoyed this film. I do hope you'll take a look at the link.

I am thankful for...
The love of good friends and family. They all mean the world to me.

From the kitchen...
There are some of those dangerous Double Chocolate Chunk Blondies. Oh my but they are tooooo good!

I am wearing...
Pink and white check pajamas and my robe. I will soon have to pack all my summer pj's away. The nights are getting decidedly cooler! I'm happy for that!

I am creating...



I painted another painting yesterday. I am really happy with how she turned out.
You can go and see her in all of her splendour here. It's called 'Nobody Can Be Uncheered With a Balloon.'



I also made a china teacup and saucer pin cushion the other day. You can see it in more detail in my Etsy Shop. I think it turned out quite lovely.

I am going...
I have my Primary Presidency meeting tomorrow night and then on Saturday we are having a Ward Activity. A Hoedown! It should be fun! I haven't been to a hoedown in years. I am supposed to bring a slow cooker entree with me, so I think I'll do a Cabbage Roll Casserole in the slowcooker. Everyone always loves that.

I am reading...



Eat Pray Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert

American writer Elizabeth Gilbert begins her memoir, Eat Pray Love with a vivid description of her crying alone on the bathroom floor. She is married to the wrong man (who is asleep next door in their bedroom), has found herself on the repressive suburban baby track and is living a seemingly perfect life that she doesn’t want.

With that image of a terribly private moment, the author captured the attention of a huge female book-buying audience. I think we can all relate, and have been there at one time or another. Gilbert, a journalist and author based in New York, is 34 at the time the book is set.

As her crisis plays out, she appeals to God (“It was all I could do to stop myself from saying, 'I’ve always been a big fan of your work’,” she writes), divorces her husband, has a doomed affair and leaves for a year of self-discovery and healing. “I wanted to explore the art of pleasure in Italy, the art of devotion in India and, in Indonesia, the art of balancing the two,” she writes. All in all, a very good read!

I am hoping...
Today is Todd's Birthday. It is hard to believe that he is turning 72 today. I hope that I can give him the best day ever. It is also the anniversary of our having met in person for the first time! Our lives both changed forever and for the better on that day!

I am hearing...
Clock ticking, keys tapping . . . Mitzie snuffling next to me here on the sofa. Classical FM is on the telly, playing softly in the background. Life is good

Around the house...
I am sure that there is an unwritten law somewhere that says . . . "The ironing you will always have with you." Not that I mind. I love ironing. It's that mindless kind of chore that gives you some thinking time . . . some dreaming time . . . some meditation time. It's all good.

One of my favorite things...
Is creating. A cake . . . a crafty project . . . a painting . . . some words . . . I love it all. It has ever been so. I used to draw out and colour my own game boards and clothes for my paper dolls when I was a girl. I also loved writing poems and stories. I wish I still had some of them . . .

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
A little this . . . a little that! The weeks seem to fly by so quickly. Is it just me, or is it like that for everyone???

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



Somebody wants us to play!! What a dynamic little lady this is! She has such a delightful personality. The other day Todd came in from having been out and he didn't give her a belly rub right away or pay much attention to her. She stood in front of him and gave him what for in a very strong telling off! She then slumped down in front of him with her head between her paws, with a big sniff and it was just like she was pouting! She is a treasure!

And just as a closing thought for today . . .

I never see any home cooking. All I get is fancy stuff!
~Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburg (some people are never happy!!)

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!)

Here's a delicious salad that is food for the eyes as well as the tummy. I just love avocado. I also love bacon and tomatoes. Put the three together, and well . . . I'm in heaven!



*Avocado, Bacon and Tomato Salad*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

You will want to keep your vegetables fairly chunky in this for the best presentation. It has lovely flavours, colours and textures. Try to let it sit for at least an hour before eating, preferably two. This really helpt the flavours to fully develop.

6 slices of smoked streaky bacon
2 TBS extra virgin olive oil
1 TBS white wine vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
3 drops Tabasco sauce
2 medium, fully ripe avocados
2 medium ripe tomatoes
1 small onion, peeled and chopped
2 TBS chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

Fry the bacon until crisp. Drain well on paper towelling and then crumble. Set aside.

In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and hot sauce. Peel and chop the avocado in one inch chunks and drop them into the dressing, gently stirring to coat them thoroughly. Chop the tomatoes into half inch pieces and gently fold them in as well, along with the chopped onion, crumbled bacon and the chopped parsley.

Cover and refrigerate for two hours before serving. Serve on lettuce leaves, if desired.



And in The English Kitchen today, a delicious and hearty Savoury Chicken Hot Pot!


Monday, 6 September 2010

A lovely little story . . .



One of the things I love most about the very early morning, is spending a few quiet moments in the garden listening to the birds as they wake up and begin their day . . . their music is so beautiful, and never more so than in the springtime. Oh what a lovely song they sing then . . . I think the Blackbird and the Robin have the most beautiful songs . . . but then when I am within range of a Song Thrush . . . I am enthralled with it's voice as well . . . I think I just love all bird song if I am being honest!

This time of year it slows down a bit . . . but if you listen, you can still hear some pretty melodies. I find it all very charming . . .



An ornithologist would tell you that birds sing to attract a mate, and that is probably true Who am I to argue with an ornithologist! I have heard another explanation however, that is sweeter and dearer to my heart.

There is an ancient Jewish legend which says that, after creating the world and before creating man . . . God took a little break. He gathered all of His angels around, and asked them what they thought of His work thus far.

All agreed that the Earth was indeed a masterpiece.



And then . . . one solitary angel dared to suggest that it lacked a little something. The other angels all dropped their jaws in disbelief . . . none could figure out just what this one solitary angel was talking about . . .

He took a long look around the crowd, held his head up, his wings straight and proud . . . and then he explained that the world was lacking only in the sound of praise for it's Creator.



ahhh . . . an audible sigh of recognition wove it's way throughout the crowd . . . wings fluttering in acknowledgment . . . this was indeed true.

It was then that God created birdsong . . .

And mankind has been enjoying it ever since. I do think it's a lovely legend, don't you?



I heard a nasty rumour that all that lovely weather we have been enjoying for the past few days is due to come to an end. That is is going to get cold and windy and rainy . . . sigh . . . oh well. I guess we need days like that as well, or else how would we appreciate a sunny warm day for the gift that it is. I do hate having to walk about in the wind and rain though. I expect most people do! So far all we have is the wind and cooler temperatures. Dare I hope that the rain will hold off until we are done what we have to do? Fingers crossed!

Here's a recipe for a delicious cake that's very easy to make and quite impressive. I have chosen to make it with blueberries here as that is what I had in my fridge, but I am thinking it would be equally as impressive and tasty when made with blackberries or raspberries! Cake for breakfast is good don't you think? Besides this one has fruit in it . . . so I'm ok!



*Lemon Glazed Blueberry Bundt Cake*
Serves 12

I fell in love with this cake the very first time I made it. It is deliciously moist and studded with sweet blueberries. The Lemon Glaze is perfect on top, giving it just a bit of a tang, which only helps to enhance the flavour of the blueberries. Raspberries and Blackberries would also work very well.

2 1/2 cups flour, plus 1 tsp to dust berried with
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter, at room temperature
1 cup soft light brown sugar, packed
1 cup white sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup dairy sour cream
2 cups fresh blueberries
2 TBS finely grated lemon zest

For the Lemon Glaze:
the juice of 2 lemons
2 to 3 cups of icing sugar, sifted

Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Butter and flour a 12 cup bundt or tube pan. Set aside.

Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl. Set aside.

In another bowl, cream together the butter and two sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating until thoroughly combined. Beat in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the sour cream, beginning and ending with the flour. Gently toss the blueberries and lemon zest with the 2 tsp of flour. Fold them into the batter.

Spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake on the bottom rack of the oven for 60 to 70 minutes, or until the cake tests done when a toothpick is inserted and it springs back lightly when the top is gently touched.

Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for about 20 minutes before removing and inverting on a wire rack to finish cooling completely. Place on a plate.

Make the glaze by combining the lemon juice and the sifted icing sugar, whisking until the desired consistency has been reached and the mixture is smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the cake. Enjoy!



Why not pop over to The English Kitchen this morning. I baked Double Chocolate Chunk Blondies!