Two Years Old

February 25, 2011 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Fig Jam and Lime Cordial is two years old today!

We celebrated with a sourdough fruit bread based on Dan Lepard’s Raisin and Cinnamon Loaf (from The Handmade Loaf).

I ended up adding a little wholemeal spelt for good measure, and a mix of golden raisins, cranberries and currants…

I also made some bread muppets (aka cottage loaves)…

…and Big Boy picked winners for our Book Darts giveaway! Given he’s both a writer and the most widely read in our family, it seemed appropriate to ask him to choose.

Congratulations to…

Amanda of Lamb’s Ears and Honey
Suelle of Mainly Baking

A tin of our Fig Jam and Lime Cordial Book Darts will be in the mail to you shortly!

And because you’re all so wonderful, I asked Big Boy to pick two runners-up. He chose Sandy and Anne – I’ll be sending you both a little something in the mail as well!

Thank you all again for reading and supporting our blog. It’s been a wonderful two years, and we look forward to sharing many more with you!

PS. I’ve been playing with Wordle (thanks to a tip from the lovely Joanna), and created the graphic above. It’s a fun programme to while away some time on!

Posted in Food & Friends, Musings | 63 Comments

63 Responses

on February 25, 2011 at 12:37 am Rita

Happy blogoversary, Celia!!!
You must be proud of what you have achieved! Your blog is wonderful!! Thanks for sharing this day with us and enjoy your sourdough bread! :D
on February 25, 2011 at 12:47 am heidi

Happy TWO year birthday to Fig Jam and Lime Cordial!
Congrats to the winners!
AND I love your wordle!
on February 25, 2011 at 12:48 am Mariana

Happy second birthday!

I do like your ‘wordle’; seems like lots of fun. The raisin and cinnamon loaf appears to be a much better way of celebrating compared to the usual ‘cake’. Your standard of breadmaking is so high. I can’t believe how authentic it all looks. And the fruit is glistening. It’s quite late here and I sure could down a piece right now. As a recent newcomer to your blog I look forward to seeing you grow and prosper which is you so thoroughly deserve.

Mariana
on February 25, 2011 at 1:16 am Sally

Congratulations – it’s a great milestone and so many lovely posts. You seem to make so many fabulous breads from the Dan Lepard book it’s gone onto my wish list.
on February 25, 2011 at 1:38 am Suelle

Happy Blogiversary! The fruity bread ring looks delicious, and a worthy celebration bake.

Thanks for picking me out as one of your competiton winners; I’m really looking forward to seeing these little book darts. I’ll email you my postal address.
on February 25, 2011 at 1:43 am Carmen Maria

Love it!
on February 25, 2011 at 1:49 am Kavey

Love Wordle clouds!
Congrats again, Celia!
on February 25, 2011 at 2:23 am sallybr

Congratulations on number 2 of a looooong series of years ahead!

Somehow I thought bread would be the perfect way for you to celebrate the date!
on February 25, 2011 at 2:49 am sandy

Wow! Thank you very much.
Congratulations on your 2nd blog anniversary.
I love coming here for chocolate, breads, chooks and gardening updates. :)
on February 25, 2011 at 3:17 am Abby

Happy blogoversary! Or blogirthday? The bread looks delicious!!
on February 25, 2011 at 4:04 am Joanna @ Zeb Bakes

Congratulations on a superb loaf and a fantabulous blog – will everyone please pick up their chocolate brownie and wish Fig Jam and Lime Cordial many more happy blog posts!

Thanks for the link dearest! ;D
on February 25, 2011 at 4:09 am bagnidilucca

Congratulations on your 2nd birthday. I would sing, but you wouldn’t hear me anyway. Wordle looks like fun.
on February 25, 2011 at 4:31 am Sonia M.

Happy Blog-birthday!

Congrats to the winners and runners up!

Those loaves all look so delicious. I need a snack now.
on February 25, 2011 at 4:49 am Peter Bryenton

Happy seconds. Long may FJ&LC continue to delight us.
on February 25, 2011 at 6:22 am Roz

Well I just had to look to see what a muppet was
on February 25, 2011 at 6:33 am cityhippyfarmgirl

2 years Celia! Congratulations.
I made that same loaf yesterday too :-) (Raisin Cinnamon) My first dip into the book and that one was beckoning to me with it’s alluring bready arms.
on February 25, 2011 at 7:10 am Meaghan

Happy anniversary Celia! As a year-long follower I have to say that the work you put into the recipes that you post seems to exceed the testing put into some recipe books I’ve bought over the years. As an example of this I made the sourdough pancakes yesterday and they’re another keeper. They’re not the first sourdough pancakes I’ve made, but they’re definitely the best. Thanks and have a great day.
on February 25, 2011 at 7:59 am Kitchen Butterfly

Congratulations Celia……….and I am a big Wordle fan. I’ve been delighting colleagues with photo-wordle collages. I love the way it captures all your highlights…..sourdough and chocolate amongst others!
on February 25, 2011 at 8:08 am InTolerantChef

Wow, 2 years! Congratulations and Happy Blogaversary Celia! Thanks for putting so mych time, effort and delciciousness into it all for so many of us.
I feel richer for having you in my life, friend. Thanks.
I hope you have a lovely day today and celebrate accordingly.
Love to you all, xx
Ps. those bread muppets are incredible! My attempt at gfree was abysmal- guess it needs some work!
on February 25, 2011 at 8:22 am Manuela

Happy Anniversary! Congratulations to the winners.

The bread and muppets look great. The wordle looks like fun-a good way to wind down and relax?
on February 25, 2011 at 8:43 am Linda Woodrow

Happy Blogiversary! Now if we could figure out how to get two candles to stand up in the raisin and cinnamon loaf….
on February 25, 2011 at 9:11 am wallofcookbooks

Happy Birthday Celia! I have enjoyed reading about your food adventures and have learned a lot. Keep it up!
on February 25, 2011 at 9:13 am Michael - Moo

From small things big things grow….

Now all we have to do is convince you, a TV audience deserves you too.

Celia and your band of merry men, please take a bow,
we salute you :)
on February 25, 2011 at 9:19 am hopeeternal

A very happy 2nd Blogiversary, Celia and may there be many more! (Loving the look of that loaf, by the way.)
hopeeternal
‘Meanderings through my Cookbook’
on February 25, 2011 at 10:01 am Claire @ Claire K Creations

Happy Birthday Fig Jam and Lime Cordial!

You make the most amazing bread. I’m going to have to lift my game.

Thank you for all your fantastic recipes, kitchen tales and garden adventures. I can’t wait to see what the next year brings!

x
on February 25, 2011 at 10:10 am Claire @ Claire K Creations

Celia I blame you for all the time I just wasted on Wordle. So much fun! Interesting to see the words I use most. I really need to expand my vocabulary!
on February 25, 2011 at 10:26 am drfugawe

Congrats, Celia, on your anniversary – and thanks for keeping up with a really well done blog, and growing it all the while. And don’t forget to thank the chooks for their contributions.
on February 25, 2011 at 10:33 am Gillian

Happy 2nd! Thanks for the Wordle link – excellent!
on February 25, 2011 at 10:45 am Honey and Soy @honeyandsoy

Congratulations Celia! Welcome to the terrible twos.. hehe! We have loved every minute we’ve spent reading about your life and food philosophy, and trying out your recipes. Many times Soy has said to me “I want to be more like Celia- she makes everything and wastes nothing!” and I say, “Let’s keep working on moving to Sydney and next door to Celia, then!” Be very afraid for your supply of eggs, Celia! :) Here’s to many more years of cyberfriendship!
on February 25, 2011 at 11:29 am Ann Hall

Happy Anniversary!
I have been following your blog for some time now and it is the first thing I turn to when I start up the computer – followed swiftly by Zeb! I am so impressed by all your skills.
I also picked up the Wordle link from Jo and am having great fun with it.
I’m a fellow Aussie living in Perth and love baking – but it is so hot here just now that not much is being done.

!
- on February 25, 2011 at 8:09 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks for stopping by and saying hello, Ann! Love Perth, although I haven’t been there in years!
on February 25, 2011 at 11:41 am Amanda

Ooh, thanks Celia – what a timely treat, as I’ve just joined my third reading group! This one is a food book group where we meet at the local high school which runs a hospitality course for the students. They cook some of the food from the book and we all sit around and eat it and discuss the book. This month’s was “Pomegranate Soup” by Marsha Mehran so we enjoyed a Persian feast last night.
Well done you for remembering your birthday, too. I’m afraid my blog’s first birthday last month slipped past me without me really noticing!
on February 25, 2011 at 12:17 pm Soy

Happy 2 year anniversary! It’s been great reading about all the food you make from scratch!

I just realised the honey wrote a comment too 8) Nm, it’s your blog’s anniversary and I hope your household feels extra special today.

Just the other day, I saw some loaves in one of the Harry Potter movies and was salivating at them..Today, I know that they are called bread muppets aka cottage loaves.
on February 25, 2011 at 12:39 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Thank you all for your kind wishes, and for all your fabulous support over the past two years! I’ve had a wonderful time writing the blog, and getting to know all of you a bit better!

And my apologies to anyone now hooked on wordle like I am – it really is addictive isn’t it? :)
on February 25, 2011 at 12:56 pm Lucy @ Lucyeats

Happy 2 year! I love the loaf you made -it’s always satisfying when you can say “look I made this!” especially when you can include all your favourites!
on February 25, 2011 at 1:46 pm Christine

Happy blogirthday! Many happy returns :) What a marvelous reference you have created for yourself (and others!) with this blog. Thanks for sharing your kitchen adventures.
on February 25, 2011 at 2:31 pm thecompletecookbook

Happy 2nd Blogoversary Fig Jam and Lime Cordial. You remain an inspiration and I am looking forward to sharing the next year with you.
:-) Mandy
on February 25, 2011 at 2:47 pm Liz

Congratulation! I really enjoy Fig Jam and Lime Cordial–it’s moved to the top of my bookmarks. Thanks for posting the picture of the fruit loaf. I’ve got a couple of kilo of fruit dough rising and think I’ll try the ring shape.
- on February 25, 2011 at 6:49 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Liz, re the fruit loaf ring – Dan L mentions in his book that the traditional way to shape the loaf is to make a round boule, then work a hole into the middle – with an elbow! :)
  
  The loaf is then proved on a floured teatowel, with some of the towel drawn up through the hole to stop it closing over!
on February 25, 2011 at 5:18 pm MamaVix

Happy anniversary Celia! It has been an absolute pleasure. Here’s to many more years…
on February 25, 2011 at 5:57 pm Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

Your wordle pic looks great! I really like the one you made for me too! :D
on February 25, 2011 at 6:48 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Thank you for all reading along over the past couple of years! It’s made it all worthwhile and reading your comments and replies is a major highlight of my day! :)
on February 25, 2011 at 6:52 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

For all of you who are new to Wordle – best place to start is Joanna’s post where she goes through step by step how to generate and then save your wordgram!

http://zebbakes.com/2011/02/22/word-play/
on February 25, 2011 at 8:39 pm frances

Happy birthday! And talking of birth, who got the emailed link to the restaurant in London which now has breast milk ice-cream on the menu? They made it to promote breast feeding and the idea that breast milk is really yummy and your baby is missing out on a scrumptious treat if they don’t get it. Wonder if young Celia can make anything adult edible out of baby formula. Here is a challenge for you!
on February 25, 2011 at 8:49 pm Anna Johnston

Happy Bloggy Day Celia – you know everyone involved with The Hospitality Guru loves your blog & you’ve become an awesome part of our lives Lovely – my Mom loves your site too., so thankyou for taking the time to post your posts & share your knowledge & life with us all. We look forward to heaps more coming from Fig Jam & Lime Cordial :)
on February 25, 2011 at 8:52 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Frances, baby formula is pretty gross – I remember tasting it once when the kids were little! Interesting idea though, the breast milk icecream! Wonder who they got to donate the milk? :)

Anna, thanks darling – I’m very chuffed your mum reads the blog too! :)
on February 25, 2011 at 9:02 pm Dredgemeister's missus

Thank you for the Fig Jam and LIme Cordial in the virtual world and in full frontal 2.1 reality which is frankly better, Apologies to those who don’t live round the corner from Celia, but nyah nyah.
Thanks for sharing your passions and intensifying our interest in living and experiencing each day as fully as possible.
And hi to the chooks as well.
on February 25, 2011 at 9:41 pm Anne

Thank you Celia – I am thrilled to be a runner up, but I am more thrilled to have found your blog and shared the fantastic recipes and advice that you so generously give!
on February 25, 2011 at 9:44 pm Mrs Bok - The Bok Flock

Yay hooray happy birthday!!!! Sad I’ve missed nearly 2 years of you but so glad I found you! Your loaf looks amazing. Huuuuuuugs!!
on February 25, 2011 at 10:29 pm diana

Congratulations Celia on 2 wonderful years.
Even though I don’t often write on your blog, I do read and enjoy it. Your ideas and recipes are inspiring and you are an amazing and positive person. We love you and what you write about,
Diana
on February 26, 2011 at 10:09 am Alex

Conratulations Celia – can’t believe it’s been two years of having my laptop on the kitchen bench!
on February 26, 2011 at 11:20 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Thanks ladies, you’re all lovely! Thanks for reading along, it’s been great fun! Spending today in the kitchen baking bread – I think I’ve gotten carried away, as there’s five batches rising in the kitchen now! :)
on February 26, 2011 at 12:27 pm Ross Pearson

Love the blog. it’s saved my culinary life a few times and provided inspiration for classes and feasts for over a year for me… also, maybe you’d like to try The Lone Baker. One of my favourite websites for cupcakes and the like, run by an awesome Melbourne woman.
on February 26, 2011 at 4:53 pm Suz

Congratulation on two years Celia.

I just love visiting your blog, it’s the first thing I do when I get home from work. Lots of great ideas, information & inspiration……On that note, I read on one of your posts of Alain who delivers your bakers flour…. for the life of me I can’t find it. Could you please post the information again (:
- on February 26, 2011 at 6:04 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Suz! Sorry to say Alain has gone out of business, so I deleted the post…I’m now buying my flour from Harkola.
on February 26, 2011 at 8:29 pm Craig

Congratulations Celia, You have offerred us so much goodness. Thankyou!
Craig
on February 26, 2011 at 10:19 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Ross, Craig, thank you both! :)
on February 27, 2011 at 7:52 pm Shangri La

Congratulations Celia! I just adore your blog – I don’t know how you find time to make all these wonderful things AND write a blog. It is very inspiring!
on February 27, 2011 at 10:00 pm gina

Happy Birthday Fig Jam & Lime Cordial!
I love your inspiring blog and everything that is wonderfully conveyed to us by you either by means of food or by means of a happy feeling!
I wish you all the best my dear Celia! :)
on February 28, 2011 at 7:26 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Shangri La, Gina, thank you! It’s been great fun! :)
on February 28, 2011 at 12:30 pm Suz

Thank for the info Celia – I’ve been meaning to get across to Harkola, no excuses sourdough here I come!
on February 28, 2011 at 10:39 pm spiceandmore

Hip hip hooray!
I am glad to see that Chocolate featured prominently on your wordle picture. How appropriate! Did I see “bees” there too? Is this a sign of things to come? :) Don’t say ‘never’, look what happened to that never you said for chooks….
on March 3, 2011 at 9:17 am Choclette

Congratulations on your 2nd blogiversary Celia. You have such a fantastic blog and have given us all so much pleasure, information, inspiration and help. May you be inspired to keep it going for a long time to come. The bread looks fantastic. I was wondering where the chocolate had disappeared to though, then saw it on your wordle – phew, what a relief.