The Simple Woman's Daybook, Monday, September 26, 2016, and Gardein Meatless Chicken

For today...Monday, September 26, 2016


Outside my window... it is a beautiful day, sunshiny and cool, just the way I like fall days!

I am thinking... that it's been a long time since I wrote a Daybook.

I am thankful... for God's mercy. He is so patient with us.

From the kitchen... frozen diced potatoes and Gardein crispy "meatless chicken" tenders - yummy! This is my favorite meal lately. We've been eating plant-based foods with no added oil and occasional vegan items that do contain some oil. Gardein also makes wonderful meatless meatballs (great for spaghetti meals and meatball subs!) and ground meatless 'meat' that is just right for tacos, taco salad, and sloppy joes. :)

I am wearing... a red t-shirt and denim shorts.

I am creating... this blog post. :)

I am going to... get up right now and turn on the oven so I can make lunch before it gets any later!

I am wondering... what birthday presents we will choose for our grandsons. They will turn 6 and 10 in early October. :)

I am hoping... and praying that my husband is chosen for the math teacher job he went on his second interview for this morning.

I am hearing... the banging of the workers on our apartment building roof as they replace it before winter.

I am looking forward to... possibly seeing our grandchildren for our grandsons' birthday party in October.

Around the house... it's quiet with just me in the house. Our youngest has returned to her job as an elementary school teacher, and my husband has been going on interviews and to job fairs quite often lately. I'm glad he has, since we are eager to see him get a full-time job. We're also thanking God for the part-time job he has had all these months that has helped a great deal.

A favorite quote for today...

One of my favorite things... is having a quiet, peaceful evening at home. 

A few plans for the rest of the week...we'll be going with our youngest to the car dealership when she picks up her brand-new car! Thanking God everything worked out for her to get her car before the car we leased for her to use goes back later in October.

A picture thought I am sharing...

A Rose of Sharon bush - I found the photo on the internet.
The church we attend has a beautiful Rose of Sharon bush,
more the size of a tree!
It has lovely blooms, even this late in September!

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

To read more Daybooks or to participate,
visit
The Simple Woman's Daybook.

The Simple Woman's Daybook, Monday, December 28, 2015, and Quorn Turk'y Roast

For today...Monday, December 28, 2015


Outside my window... the sky is getting lighter as dawn nears.

I am thinking... that I'm glad I remembered to do this Daybook! I like writing them and reading other people's Daybooks.

I am thankful... for God's mercy. He loves us more than I could ever imagine, and I'm grateful.

From the kitchen... leftover Christmas pies. :)

I am wearing... a pink shirt and denim shorts.

I am creating... this blog post. :)

I am going to... get some rest this week before our trip on Friday to see our oldest daughter and our four beautiful grandchildren! We haven't seen them for a long time, and we're very, very excited!

I am wondering... what kind of new job my husband will get. He's working now but wants to find something else.

I am hoping... we continue to recover from this 'bug' that's been going around.

I am hearing... the morning network news program.

I am looking forward to... seeing those precious grandchildren this weekend!

Around the house... it's very quiet. I like quiet. :)

A favorite quote for today... "Happy is the man who finds a true friend, and far happier is he who finds that true friend in his wife." -- Franz Schubert

One of my favorite things... is having something very easy for lunch or dinner. I don't like to cook, so an easy meal is great, like leftover pie for breakfast! :)

A few plans for the rest of the week... washing the dishes, making an important phone call, going to a follow-up doctor's appointment, doing laundry, and getting things together for the trip. Thanking God even now that the weather forecasts for here and there look great - no snow, ice, or freezing rain!

A picture thought I am sharing...

Our family tried a Quorn Turk'y Roast for Thanksgiving this year
and really liked it, so we had it again for Christmas!
It's meat-free and gluten-free. Easy to cook and
paired well with stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, and potatoes.
You can learn more about Quorn products here.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

To read more Daybooks or to participate,
visit
The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Two easy Christmas fudge recipes!

  Free printable here

I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed Christmas! I know a lot of people are rushing around shopping and getting ready for all the cooking to come. That's why I especially wanted to share with you two very easy fudge recipes that we have made as holiday traditions for years! You won't need a candy thermometer for either recipe. Photos below are from the linked websites. Enjoy these delicious, easy to make treats!

                                                    Chocolate Fantasy Fudge here
                                        (the classic, made with marshmallow creme)
                                                         from Christmas-cookies

 

Creamy Peanut Butter Fudge here

from Taste of Home

The Simple Woman's Daybook, Monday, March 9, 2015

For today...Monday, March 9, 2015


Outside my window...it is a gorgeous, sunny afternoon with the temperature around fifty degrees. There is still snow on the ground, but it's melting fast! I love the mild winter we had since we moved over 800 miles south!

I am thinking...that it's hard to believe that we moved here at the end of July and it's close to the middle of March! We've been in this apartment since just before Thanksgiving. I haven't unpacked everything yet!

I am thankful...for God's mercy. He loves us more than I could ever imagine, and I'm grateful.

From the kitchen...leftover Italian sub sandwich. :)

I am wearing...a short-sleeved yellow top and a pair of denim shorts.

I am creating...this blog post. :)

I am going to...hopefully get some rest this week before our trip out of state on Friday for our middle daughter's wedding on Saturday!

I am wondering...what kind of new job my husband will get. He's working part-time now and looking for a full-time job. I wish I could work, but I can't right now due to fibromyalgia.

I am hoping...I remember to bring everything on the trip for the wedding.

I am hearing...a home renovation show on cable tv.

I am looking forward to...the wedding and the reception!

Around the house...it's very quiet. I like quiet. :)

A favorite quote for today..."The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month." Henry Van Dyke. This was very true where we moved from, but I'm confident that the first spring day will be much closer to the first day of spring here.

One of my favorite things...is having something very easy for lunch or dinner. I don't like to cook, so an easy meal is great!

A few plans for the rest of the week...my focus is getting things together for the trip. Thanking God even now that the weather forecasts for here and there look great - no snow, ice, or freezing rain!

A picture thought I am sharing...

My middle daughter's wedding cake topper! I love it!

 You can see the original posting here.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

To read more Daybooks or to participate,
visit
The Simple Woman's Daybook. 

Four Seasons :: Thirty Days (Spring) Day 3 of 30

It looks more like spring today with the bright sunshine! Lots of wind, though, so it feels very cold. We didn't get very much snow at all. Some of it blew into our open entryway.

[The blog link no longer works.] 

 

Four Seasons :: Thirty Days (Spring) Day 2 of 30

Spring feels more like winter today with an expectation of four to eight inches of snow and winds that may gust up to 50 m.p.h.! Not feeling well, so I'm home from work. It's me, the laptop, and the recliner. Hope your spring day is going well!

[The blog link no longer works.] 

 

Four Seasons :: Thirty Days (Spring) Day 1 of 30

This morning, spring feels very cold!

[The blog link no longer works.]

 

The Simple Woman's Daybook, Monday, March 24, 2014

For today...Monday, March 24, 2014


Outside my window...it is dark and cold tonight!

I am thinking...that it's going to be April soon. Time goes by so quickly!

I am thankful...for my sweet granddaughter, who turned 5 years old today! :) We live too far away to visit often, but I am thankful for the phone call we had.

From the kitchen...for dinner -- vegetarian 'chicken' patty and french fries.

I am wearing...a casual outfit.

I am creating...this blog post. :)

I am going...to work on my daughters' tax forms this week.

I am wondering...how much snow we're going to get from Wednesday's snowstorm. We've had so much snow lately!

I am hoping...it warms up soon and stays that way!

I am hearing...our older cat playing with a toy.

I am looking forward to...the spring photo challenge by Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook. I am planning to post a photo each weekday for a total of 30 spring photos. :)

Around the house...it's quiet.

A favorite quote for today...'March -- in like a lion, out like a lamb.' I certainly hope so!

One of my favorite things...is that time in spring when you know there won't be any more snow! Looking forward to that time coming soon!

A few plans for the rest of the week...work and a regular week.

A picture thought I am sharing...

 

 

I hope you have a wonderful week!

To read more Daybooks or to participate,
visit The Simple Woman's Daybook.

 

Four Seasons :: Thirty Days (Spring Photo Challenge)

I'm signing up for a photo challenge! Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook has suggested that we share spring! So each weekday, starting tomorrow, I will post a photo of what spring looks like, tastes like, smells like, or feels like through my eyes. :)

[The blog link no longer works.]

Recipe - The Best Healthy Vegan Chili Cheese Fries

I love poutine - a French Canadian dish of french fries covered with cheese and a spicy beef (or chicken) gravy (see a Pinterest pin here). Love it!

This vegan recipe isn't poutine, but it is looking good!

The Best Healthy Vegan Chili Cheese Fries

I am going to try these! If you'd like to try them, too, you'll find the recipe here and the Pinterest pin here. Mmmm, yummy!

Recipe - Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars - WFMW

This is a seriously easy recipe to make and looks absolutely delicious! Take a look at this:

 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

I could even make these!  :)

Definitely a pin to add to your Pinterest recipes board! The original recipe can be found here.

And since easy to make, warm, peanut butter-y, melty chocolate cookie bars work for me, I'm also linking this post to



Visit WFMW for some great tips. You can add yours, too!

Recipe - Stir Fried Quinoa with Tofu - WFMW

After some starts and stops over the last couple of years, my husband and I are regularly eating vegan, plant-based, whole foods meals. I'm not someone who likes to make new recipes, so this has been a challenge for me. My daughters have supplied me with some great recipes, but I don't usually see much online that I'd actually like to make. Then along comes this recipe!

Stir Fried Quinoa with Tofu

The recipe is posted here, and to share the Pinterest pin, click here.

This dish looks good and sounds easy to make. That makes my life easier! Since that kind of recipe works for me, I'm also linking this post to



Visit WFMW for some great tips. You can add yours, too!

Recipe - Vegan Gluten Free Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies - WFMW

With Valentine's Day coming up, what could be a better vegan treat than something that's as chocolate-y and peanut butter-y as this:

And they're gluten free!

You'll find the recipe here at Minimalist Baker, and here is the Pinterest pin you'll want to share!

These brownies look like they would work for me, so I'm also linking this post to



Visit WFMW for some great tips. You can add yours, too!

Recipe - Best Vegan Chocolate Cake

This, my friends, is how a chocolate cake should look...delicious, and what's more - it's vegan!

Best Vegan Chocolate Cake

You can find the recipe here and the Pinterest pin here.

I'm definitely going to try out this recipe! Yum! :)

Recipe - Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches - WFMW

I gotta admit, this recipe makes me long for these sandwiches!

 Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches

This simple, tasty lunch or dinner is just waiting to be made! You'll find the recipe here, and you can share on Pinterest with this pin.

Having these waiting for me after a cold winter's day out and about would work for me, so I'm also linking this post to



Visit WFMW for some great tips. You can add yours, too!

Recipe - Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you're looking for a vegan, gluten free cookie that looks as good as this...you've come to the right place!

Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Here is the recipe, and here is the Pinterest pin to share. :)

Recipe - Spaghetti with Garlic and Spinach - Vegan

This vegan recipe is quick to whip up and only uses a handful of ingredients. It smells wonderful when it's cooking and tastes wonderful, too! (I've eaten it!)

Spaghetti with Garlic and Spinach

You can make this gluten free by using gluten free pasta.

The recipe is here on my youngest daughter's blog. :) Enjoy!

Things I Love - Delicious Dishes Made in a Crockpot - WFMW

Now here are some things you'll want to know! Pull out your crockpot (or slow cooker), and get ready to make some fabulous dishes you never knew you could make in a crockpot!

Whether you're looking for a recipe for main meals, breakfasts, or desserts, you'll find great information here at Lifehacker. Happy cooking!


Cooking awesome foods for my family works for me, so I'm also linking this post to




Visit WFMW for some great tips. You can add yours, too!

Things I Love - Crockpot Time Conversion Chart - WFMW

I love the convenience of using a crockpot (you might call it a slow cooker), but sometimes the hours I have to work with don't agree with the hours the dish needs to be cooked. I might need to speed it up or slow it down, depending on my day.

I was very happy to see this pin on Pinterest that showed me just how to convert the recipe's time in the crockpot from a High setting to a Low one or vice versa. This chart will definitely come in handy for me, and it could be for you, too!

Because this great conversion chart works for me, I'm also linking this post to


Visit WFMW for some great tips. You can add yours, too!

Recipe - Black Beans and Rice - WFMW

Here is a classic, simple recipe for black beans and rice. You can make it vegan/plant-based by using water or vegetable broth in place of the olive oil and by using vegetable broth in place of the chicken broth. Easy substitutions!

Doesn't this look good? That would hit the spot on this cold, cold winter day!

 Black Beans and Rice

You can find Mel's Kitchen Cafe on pinterest here.

Having a tasty vegan recipe at my fingertips works for me! I'm also linking this post to


Visit WFMW for some great tips. You can add yours, too!