Thursday 24 June 2010

A Recipe for a Good and Happy Life



Make up your mind to be happy. Learn to find pleasure in simple things.
Make the best of circumstances. No one has everything and everyone has something of sorrow.
Don't take yourself too seriously.
Don't let criticism worry you. You can't please everybody.
Don't let your neighbours set your standards; be yourself.
Do things you enjoy doing, but stay out of debt.
Don't borrow trouble. Imaginary things are harder to bear than actual ones.
Hate poisons the soul. Do not cherish enmities and grudges. Avoide people who make you unhappy.
Have a variety of interests. If you can't travel, read about different places.
Don't hold post-mortems, or spend time brooding over sorrows and mistakes.
Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.
Keep busy at something. A very busy person never has time to be unhappy.
~Robert Louis Stevenson

This sounds a delightful recipe that makes a lot of sense doesn't it? I think so at any rate!



I had somewhat of a discouraging visit to the college yesterday. I had gone to inquire about their Classroom Assistant course. When I was a great deal younger, I had thought about training to be a teacher, and I had been thinking lately that, whilst I was a bit over the hill to think about training as a teacher, perhaps training as a classroom assistant might be within the realms of possibility.

Whilst they didn't out and out tell me to get stuffed . . . I got the distinct impression that I was barking up the wrong tree. I felt like an old codger that has reached it's sell by date . . .
so what to do next . . .



Well, I am not going to do or think about anything now until I get back from my visit home to my family. Todd and I had a pleasant walk down to the college at any rate, and it was a bit of exercise and fresh air.

I was ever so pleased yesterday that the England Team won their latest football match. You could hear the roar of excitement go up in the pub down the end of the road when they scored their goal! Very exciting stuff! At last night's Primary Meeting though, it was obvious that most people don't hold up alot of hope in them going much further . . . their next match is against Germany I believe. I say, never say never . . . Germany might be good, but England might be better!!



In any case that old idom is true . . . it doesn't matter whether you win or lose, but only how you play the game. Not sure if this applies to World Cup Football matches though. Nevertheless I will enjoy the match for whatever it turns out to be! What is amazing to me is how quickly the streets empty when England is playing. The whole of Blacon seems like a Ghost town!! It's nice to see so many patriots amongst us!

Here's a delightfully tasty luncheon salad, which makes good use of leftovers. I often buy rotisserie chickens when they are on offer and strip the meat off the bones, which I then store in airtight packets and freeze. That way I always have some cooked chicken to use in casseroles. I know in America you can buy tinned cooked Chicken, but there's no such thing over here. This is very easy to make and quite, quite delicious. Of course you can charge it up a bit by adding a few things like dried cranberries, chopped toasted pecans and some chopped spring onions! You can also make it low fat by using low fat ingredients such as low fat mayo, cheese and potato chips!




*Hot Chicken Salad*
Serves 4 to 6
Printable Recipe

Simple and tasty. You can use low fat ingredients quite successfully.

1/2 cup of mayonnaise
2 TBS milk
2 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp onion powder
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
2 cups chopped fresh celery
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
1/2 cup grated medium cheddar cheese
1/2 cup crushed potato chips



Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Butter a shallow 2 1/2 quart casserole dish. Set aside.

Measure the mayonnaise, milk, lemon juice, salt, and onion powder into a bowl. Mix together well. Stir in the chicken, celery and almonds. Spread into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the cheese over top and then sprinkle the potato chips over all. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until heated through and lightly browned.



Over on The English Kitchen today, Fudge Brownie Pie. Nom Nom!!!



12 comments:

  1. Yes, World Cup excitement is everywhere, isn't it? Strangely, a World Cup conversation with a man leaving the local pub (he heard my accent & started filling me in on how well the US team is doing), led to him asking if I'm Mormon. Not the way I'd expected my run to Tesco to go.

    Now I just have to follow on of the steps in your recipe & not hold a post-mortem :)

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  2. I hope you don't give up on looking into teaching. I've often thought of doing the same thing once my children are older. I sure did like that quote by Robert Louis Stevenson and have read that before and it always is tremendously wise advice each time I read it. What a great recipe!! I am going to have to try that out!!! I just posted a chicken salad (cold) recipe on my blog... with mandarin oranges.
    Lisa in Kentucky

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  3. It's always fun to run into another "sister"! My husband and I lived in Byfield near Northants for a couple of years and was the Stake R.S. Pres, the Northhampton Stake. I cried when we left and miss every thing and everyone!!!!
    Love your blog!

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  4. Aww sorry things didn't turn out how you would have liked them to Marie.They don't know what they are missing.Yes it was fantastic England winning.I watched the match and I would have thought you might have heard my roar when they scored.I was sick when my boy Rooney's shot hit the post.Boo Hoo.Come on my boy (as I call him),I am shouting LOL!!We will win Germany don't give it a second thought pppppplease.Recipe as always lovely.Have a great day.Take Care God Bless Kath xx

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  5. HI MAJ!! I MISS YOU! JUST WANTED TO DROP IN AND SAY HI..NOW I AM WORKING FULL TIME AGAIN MY TIME TO COMMENT IS LIMITED!!

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  6. oh Marie, such beautiful words of wisdom you have shared today! thankyou!!! don't give up on your dreams of helping children, perhaps another path? I'm sure there must be organizations that would welcome your time volunteering, perhaps as a tutor :)

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  7. I am always amazed to read about what you do not have there that we have here. I have used canned chicken for some cooking, but you know the real thing tastes much better. Those kind of recipes I usually make when I've had roast chicken and have leftovers. I always have leftovers at my house. Sorry to hear of your discouraging college interview. I know of several here that have done that sort of thing. When one door closes another opens, just be on the look out for it. Sometimes the best of opportunities are right in front of us but we don't see them.

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  8. Oh it was so sad to read of the disheartening attitude to your college appointment today. consider yourself hugged.

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  9. Wonderful words of wisdom today, Marie! Very sorry about the Classroom Assistant enquiry didn't to so well... I am sure something will turn up later. Enjoy your trip coming up now--just enjoy! I was very happy to read about England doing so well in the World Cup--hooray! Your hot chicken salad is a great twist... It's chilly here today, almost feels more like autumn than summer! Happy Day, dear friend--LOVE YOU HEAPS!! OXOX ((BIG HUGS))

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  10. Hello Marie hope you are well, I've missed you over the past few weeks! Hold onto your teaching dream and please do let me know if you want any help with your CV or interview technique I would be more than happy to help as it's what I specialise in - Kitty x

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  11. Wasn't it Germany we beat in 1966? Could do it again if they try.

    Though I don't like footie or tennis, I'm afraid Wimbledon has just got the edge this year and I must say, that match that lasted 11 hour plus was a real feat of endurance.

    I was surprised to see that your opening quotation came from RLS. It sounded so contemporary it could have been written yesterday!

    If I can make laptop perform while we're away next week, I will drop by from time to time.

    Luvs ya
    Angie, xx

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  12. Wow, I give you an A+ on this post. The pictures are beautiful, the thoughts by Robert Lewis Stevenson are amazingly true, and the food looks delicious!

    I ma sorry that you got a bad feeling at the college. They should be delighted to see a wise and mature person being interested in being an assistant to a teacher. You would be a very valuable asset to any student.

    When are you off for Canada? I am so excited for you, Marie! But I am totally dreading you being gone after last time..it felt like forever and I missed you terribly. But I know you will be so happy to see your family and that is the best!

    Blessings and hugs to ya...Bon

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