I’ve been really busy of late – it’s that time of year when everything gets a little frantic. I haven’t had time to write full posts for all the things I’ve been making, but wanted to share them with you nonetheless…
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I made a double batch of our very easy almond florentines…
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A chick pea, potato and purple kale curry, using a curry gravy base made according to The Curry Guy’s recipe…
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I’ve been experimenting with a tamarind chutney recipe. It’s not quite right yet, but the failures have all been very tasty…
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I combined the very moreish Darling Mills cornichons that we bought at Eveleigh Markets with mixed olives from the Cheese Shop. When we were much younger, Darling Mills was our favourite restaurant, and the complimentary olives and cornichons were always the first item on the table…
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Finally, we made and parbaked eight pizza bases for our neighbours Bernie and Jane. Making these at home is a doddle and sooo much cheaper than buying ready made – the bases work out at about 20c each, and freeze perfectly…
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Hope you’re all having a fabulous week! Please excuse me if I haven’t dropped by your blog for a visit recently – hopefully we’ll come up for air sometime soon!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Celia, you and me both… I got some of your notifications of new posts, and finally today decided I HAD to stop by to visit… miss hanging out here…
but, this too shall pass – we are going crazy here as you imagine, lots of small problems and some not so small to solve, part of moving to another home
I will have to take a look at your parbaked pizza bases – they sound like something very very good to have around
Sally, I hope it’s all going smoothly now. Moving is never easy! Take care, love.. xxx
Celia, don’t you ever sleep?:)
Ha! My friend Patrick once said to me, “Celia, you’ll sleep when you’re dead..” :)
I know what you mean. I’m frantic as well and so far behind in commenting on blogs. I’ve had so many nights out lately and now a teacher’s strike tomorrow so Alfie will be home with me. What to do! Love the look of the cornichons with the olives. Your pizza bases look so much better than mine. Actually, so do your florentines xxx
Charlie, your life makes mine look lazy! Looking forward to catching up soon.. :)
I’ve been busy with the house for the last few weeks, but now I am sitting at Helsinki airport on my way home going through my emails and blogs.
I want that chick pea curry.
If you come to Sydney, Deb, I will cook it for you. And anything else you want. :)
I can certainly see how busy you have been. One thing that you have done is make me very hungry. Let’s see…a few nibbles first, the curry and then some florentines for dessert. I should only be that lucky.
Karen, the more I have on in the rest of my life, the more time I seem to want to spend in the kitchen. I think it’s because messing around in the kitchen is my therapy, and I need it to balance out all the other stress! :) Come for dinner anytime! :)
Oh would I love too. I do wish we were neighbors…that would be lovely.
wasn’t Darling Mills great? Not only perfect food and hospitality but those sandstone walls! and i seem to recall that you could ACTUALLY HEAR in the restaurant even every table was occupied! Will be looking up your pizza bases again.
We LOVED Darling Mills and were saddened when it closed. Would you like me to make you some bases?
Seems many of us have the same problem. I havent even had time to cook properly – we had roast chicken last night – took me 2 nights to do it!!!Those pizza bases have given me an idea of how to occupy the kids home from school due to the strike – goood thinking!
Hope things calm down for you soon too, Sue! :)
Love those almonds florentine. Parbaked pizza bases are such a great idea, must remember the recipe.
Norma, the florentines are just almonds, sugar and dark chocolate. Surely that makes them quite good for us? ;-)
Hope things settle down soon. Looks to me like you’re still eating well!
Greg, thank you. Eating well is a priority, or we all end up sick! :)
Its amazing how time slips away, isn’t it Celia? You certainly look like you’ve been busy for sure! Hope you can find time to pause soon :)
Thanks Becca! Can’t wait until Friday! :)
Oh, I haven’t had those cornichons in such a long time……just gorgeous.
It must be the weather…….I’m cooking white lentils with aromatic spices (Mash Ki Dal) on the top of the wood heater………I get to stay warm while cooking the dinner.
Elaine, they’re such a strong memory for me, I just couldn’t resist buying them when I saw them at the markets!! Were you an old Darling Mills fan as well? :)
Oh Yes!!!! I bought so many of their plant seeds as well; lots of unusual European and rare varieties
I didn’t know they sold seeds! I’ll have to ask them about it when I next go to Eveleigh. Thanks for the headsup!
You’ve certainly been busy here, Celia. I love the idea of making and par-baking the pizza bases, just not sure they’d last to get into the freezer in our house.
Amanda, we don’t usually keep them anymore, but at one time we used to make them and then throw mini pizzas into the oven in the morning for the kids to take to school for lunches. I was far more energetic back then..hahaha
Stop – you are making me hungry – cookies look delicious:)
They’re very moreish, Renee, I can’t stop eating them! :)
I hope life settles down a bit for you. I love that there’s always time for kitchen creations! I’m making some pizza bases today too. I was going to freeze the uncooked dough but seeing yours I might make them up ready for toppings.
Claire, coming out the end of the tunnel now. It’s just been so crazy – heading out for a massage today and baking some bread, both good things! I’ve actually never frozen uncooked dough – does it work well?
Lovely happenings (and delicious looking curry!). Do come up for air soon, please!
It must be going around, I feel like I’ve been chasing my tail for the past month! Keep well. xx
Chris, I hope you’re feeling more relaxed soon too! It doesn’t make sense, surely as winter settles in, we should all be semi-hibernating? :)
I want to turn up at your house in the hope that you’ll feed me. Oh my gosh, YUM.
~S.
Sorcha, lots of folks do that! Once we had five of the neighbour’s teenage kids arrive and announce that mum wasn’t home and could they please stay for dinner? We just kept boiling pasta that night.. ;-)
Always good to see what you are up to Celia, everything looks delicious as usual and your Florentines look perfect. Freezer pizza bases are an excellent idea.
Choc, they really are cheaty florentines, but I’m quite hooked on them. Freezer pizza bases work well, IF you have a big enough freezer! :)
Those pizza bases look prime!
Maz
Thanks Maz! xx
Lots of delicious food Celia! I love cornichons and have never paired them with olives before – looks great. Take Care.
Craig, I thought of you when I was making the curry – wish you could have been here to share it with us! Do have a look at Nisha’s video, it makes veggie curries very simple! :)
Your almond florentines look so fantastic & crunchy, my friend! :) Yum!
And your tamarind chutney must taste divine! I alsdo love, love your pizza bases!
Sophie, thank you! The florentines are gluten-free! :) xx
Dear Celia,
I love your post about time and money and spending more time using fresh ingredients for cooking eg making your own pizza base and knowing exactly what goes into our cooking pots. In the long run, it works out cheaper although more time is needed but if cooking and spending time in the kitchen is a passion, then it is time well spent.
Thanks Chopinand – no matter how busy we get, we always find time to cook, as it’s a priority. I was up at 5am this morning to get the bread on – during school holidays, the boys go through loaves and loaves.. :)
We are the lucky recipients of the pizza base care stack (more than a parcel!!). Imagine having Celia as your neighbour! We don’t have to! Thanks Celia.
Hello love, you are most welcome. Hope you enjoy them! xx
This has been quite fun looking at all the “In My Kitchen” blogs. Thanks for putting this together. I have enjoyed it tremendously! Looking forward to next month, starting now!
Thanks Pamela! It’s great fun peeking into everyone’s kitchen, isn’t it? :)
The “wind up” to summer is crazy, isn’t it?? I’m just now settling down and allowing myself extra time for myself.. blog reading.. blogging.. maybe a few other creative projects.. Let the summer begin!! xoxo Smidge
ps.. I agree.. I’m absolutely in awe of your level of productivity in the kitchen.. and everything turns out just perfect!!
Smidge, you’re very kind, thank you. It’s not the wind up to summer here, it’s the middle of winter and the end of financial year! :) Good to hear you’re taking a little time for yourself.. x