MARIE'S MUSES

I walk the misty meadow

In the early glow of dawn

And hear the birds awakening

To sing their morning song.

A shim’ring rain of dewdrops

Falls so gently to the ground,

And brightly blossomed flowers wave

Their sleepy heads around.

The path that lies before me

Wanders freely to and fro;

And gentle breezes pass me by

With whispers as they go.

With wings of gold, the butterflies

Dance freely in the air.

The dapple fawn looks startled

And lifts his head to stare.

I sit down by the brooklet

To daydream of life sublime;

How blessed to experience

The meadow in her prime.

~Margaret Ellen Jacob Rice

Oh how I have always longed to have a home of my own that I can call “Misty Meadows.“ Then I could be, Marie of Misty Meadows. We are waking up to a very cool and frosty morning here in Kent. It doesn’t seem to matter to the birds though, as I am sitting here listening to them singing their little hearts out. What a beautiful sound! On mornings like this, butterflies in meadows and summer seem so far away, but it does a heart good to think about the promise of a summer that is to come which is held in these lengthening days and shorter nights, and in the strengthening sun. Spring is here and summer cannot be far off.

Just a short entry this morning as I have lingered in bed a bit longer. I will be working all night tonight so must be a bit more rested up than usual. I shan’t be on early tomorrow morning either as I will be in bed sleeping! (hopefully) So if you don’t see me tomorrow, won’t worry. Nothing’s up. I’m just lazing under the covers!!

I have this really old cookbook that my momgave me years ago. (Probably because she was sick of me mooning over it and wearing out it’s pages every time I came home to visit!) It’s full of good, wholesome old fashioned recipes. I made one of them for Todd for his tea last night. (He’s kind of an old fashioned guy) He really enjoyed it! (And, if I’m being honest, I did too!)

Serves 4

Sweet potatoes make a change from regular potatoes. It may sound like an unusual combination to put together sweet potatoes, onions and apples, but trust me when I say they go together beautifully!!! The original recipe was called Sausage and Sweet Potato Casserole, but I changed it to Heaven and Earth, because to me it epitomizes all the best of both . . . the apples from the tops of heavily laden apple trees, and the sweet potatoes and onions from the earth, and everything in between . . .

1 pound of pork chipolata sausages (I used Cumberland)

3 cups peeled and thinly sliced raw sweet potatoes

½ cup peeled and sliced onion

1 tsp salt

¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

2 peeled and thinly sliced apples

1 TBS packed brown sugar

¼ cup chicken stock

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Preheat the oven to 200*C/400*F. Lightly grease a casserole dish and set it aside. Start browning the sausages in a heavy skillet over medium low heat.

Begin layering the vegetables in the prepared casserole dish. Start with some sweet potatoes and the apples. Sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper. Then layer on some onion. Repeat the layers until all are used up, ending with a final layer of sweet potatoes. Pour the ¼ cup of stock over all, sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over top, and then put on the lid. Bake in the heated oven for 30 minutes.

Remove from the oven. Top with the sausages and scatter the cheese evenly over top. Bake for another 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and beginning to turn golden brown.

Remove from the oven and let sit for a few minutes before serving. Delicious!