What a busy time of year it is!
We’ve had visiting friends and family, appointments, school concerts and end of year parties. We’ve also had a busted dishwasher (now fixed), blown elements in the oven (now fixed) and a broken Emile Henry pot (sob).
I was so excited at having a working oven again that I made a double batch of sourdough. The white dough was turned into cottage loaves (above), and the spelt into boules…
. . . . .
Chocolate tempering has started in earnest for Christmas – these are our “Ironic Freddoes” – a 62% blend of Callebaut 811 and 70%, made even darker by the addition of cacao nibs…
. . . . .
We experienced a David Attenborough moment in our backyard last week as we watched this Robber Fly (also known as an Assassin Fly or Bee Killer) feeding on its captured bee…
. . . . .
I spent a glorious afternoon with the divine Debra Kolkka of Bagni di Lucca. After lunch, we visited the White Rabbit Gallery…
…and ate raspberry and lychee sorbet at the gallery’s Tea House…
We were given a sample tray of different teas to choose from…
I chose the bamboo blend, while Deb had an exquisite Princess Flower tea which bloomed in the pot. Our pots were refilled with boiling water twice as we chatted…
. . . . .
Back at home, we harvested the first of our purple potatoes…
…our Lebanese zucchinis are really starting to take off…
I sliced them into strips with a potato peeler and stir fried them with an assortment of other vegetables…
. . . . .
I hope you’re all happy and well, and enjoying
this festive time of year as much as we are!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
That stir fry looks tempting Celia and I have a lot of zucchinis to use up! Can you recall what you put in your sauce besides soy and, I presume, garlic and ginger?
Rose, no sauce! We were frying steaks, and we just tossed the veggies in the leftover meat juices! :)
Loving those purple taties, Celia. Busy, busy, busy all round methinks. Crazy time of the year. Bring on the holidays and some down time, please. xox
Likewise darling – January and a rest is in order, I think! Hang in there, hopefully it’s an enjoyable busy for you! :)
I love the idea of Christmas in Summer. You get the joy of the season and fresh veg at the same time!
Your veg looks fantastic as does the sherbet and the cottage loaves!
Those loaves look perfect- I may need to revisit that shape.
Thanks for reminding us.
Heidi, and we get school holidays! The cottage loaves are fun, but mine often come out looking like Muppets – although you’re the queen of making dough behave! They’re an odd loaf to slice though. :)
Busy, busy, busy with me too – but glad I found time to read your post. In awe of your cottage loaves in particular. Haven’t baked bread for about 6 weeks and having withdrawal symptoms. About to rectify.
Sally, isn’t it frantic! I barely have time to breathe – I’m miles behind with making Christmas presents this year! Hope you’re enjoying your busy time though! :)
Busy here as well! I used my last flowering tea a few weeks ago :)
Tandy, the flowering tea was gorgeous – I’d not seen anything quite so pretty before! I did prefer the flavour of my bamboo blend too! x
Love the look of the sourdough, and the photo of the robber fly, and sadly realize I have lived in the country too long: also love modern art and have not been to The White Rabbit Gallery. That just has to be amended :) ! After the busy period!
Eha, the White Rabbit Gallery is so much fun – after wandering the gallery, Deb and I sat and chatted for an hour in the tea house, and it was so peaceful. Hope you get a chance to pop in soon! :)
More lovely loaves! I have some sourdough in a corner, quietly rising right now!
Amanda, sounds like your sourdough is really kicking along beautifully!
Oh lovely Celia. I look forward to seeing you when all the madness is over. Zucchinis look good …and at last potatoes in my favourite colour
Tania, I’d love to catch up in January. And the potatoes are usually on sale at Eveleigh – didn’t the potato man say he’d be back in December last time we were there? :)
I have never seen purple potatoes, do they taste different? Sorry about your pot, we’ve just had a rash of things breaking as well, hence I have a new fridge and a new vacuum cleaner, eyeing my aged washing machine with trepidation!
Sue, they’re really nice – a bit like desirees. They’re not sweet at all, which always surprises me, and they make a great purple mash. Things always seem to break in batches, don’t they? The back toilet’s not working now. Sigh. :)
Sure sounds like holiday time Celia- a few major disasters tempered by a few gems of happiness! Right on track for Christmas :) xox
You got it, babe. That’s what happens – no wonder tradies take January off! :)
What a wonderful time you’re having Celia. Your stir-fry looks like just what I need right now.
Claire, it IS fun, but oh how I’d love to come up for a little air. It seems every day has something on lately! You’ve been busy yourself – love catching up with what you’re up to on IG!
Yes, Celia, tis is a busy time of the year, especially if you’ve kids and a family. Still, it’s good to see you took time to visit a gallery and enjoy a cuppa with a friend. Good for you!
John, it’s busy because I’m catching up with friends! And going to the dentist, and making Christmas presents, and trying to feed the boys who are on school holidays and lurking in the kitchen all the time.
Something to make you laugh – when Big Boy was 14, someone asked him what the best thing about school holidays was. He replied, “Four hot meals a day”. :D :D :D
Celia, just look at those loaves. You are the queen of baking. I say, enjoy the festive season and then enjoy the rest!
Glenda, you have set me off on a quest. I came home with a dodgy piece of hardwood from the timber yard, and am trying to talk Uncle Steve into turning it into some cutting boards for me.. :)
Hi Celia. Dodgy is fine. It adds character
I hope to slow down and breathe just after Christmas. It’s that time of the year! I was shopping and had parking anxiety and I kept thinking “Please Christmas be over!”
It’s insane, isn’t it? Let’s get together in January, love. I don’t think we’re going to make December! x
I love your busy! xx
Thanks dearheart. I do too! Although I’m starting to fret that I haven’t really done much by way of Christmas yet – no cake this year I think, but I have started making chocolate (but it keeps getting eaten!). :)
Your top loaf of bread and I have the same figure…LOL. Your zucchinis looks wonderful – mine just aren’t doing so well. Do you always pick them when the flower is still healthy & attached like that? I’ve been waiting for ages beyond that point so maybe that’s my issue?
Mel, you are too funny! :) I have no real idea about zucchinis, as this is the first year we’ve had any luck with them at all. We’ve just been picking the zucchs when they seem big enough – sometimes they still have the flower attached, but not always…
My dsishwasher just sprung a leak and now my wooden floor has been ruined…Merry, Merry to me….
Oh Norma, I’m so sorry to hear that.. :(
I’m beginning to think I’d prefer Christmas in the summer – the dank cold weather here is not helping me to feel festive this year.
Fresh vegetables to lighten the festive cooking would be a big bonus.
I love the teapot you show, Celia – I think it would inspire me to drink more tea.
Suelle, I wish I could send better weather to you all! The teapot was gorgeous – I nearly bought one for $19 (I think), but I just didn’t know where I’d put it. Nor did I need another teapot! :)
Oh Celia, am heartbroken for you about the broken Emile Henry pot. Was it the new risotto one? The bread looks spectacular, especially the spelt loaves.
Feeling your pain,
Robyn.
Robyn, thank you! It was worse – the risotto one I could replace, but my favourite brasier pot is much harder, as they don’t seem to bring them in anymore! I broke the handle off the pot dropping it into the sink, so I can still use it, but not sure how to wash it without getting water into the clay. Might need to find some way of glazing over the broken edge…
Love the tea kettle photo – wow! Homemade bread and chocolate – YUMMERS! Happy Sunday:)
Thanks Renee! The teapot and flower were just so gorgeous – as pretty as any artwork there!
Lots and lots of yummy. I’m thinking I might use these school holidays to start on some bread making and your simpler focaccia recipe looks like a good spot to start. I figure if I get the kids involved, it might not seem like hard work…
Alison, it really is very easy and focaccia is a great starting point, as it doesn’t matter then if it doesn’t rise much.. :)
Thanks for reminding me of summer in the garden! But then, I guess there’s not much chance of a white Christmas either.
Never get a white Christmas here, Doc! Hope you get one though! :)
Making raspberry sorbet right now, that tea looks too good to drink, I think it would be an alternative to a vase of flowers on the table.
Roz, isn’t it gorgeous? I’m so glad you told me about this place, and that I could get to go with Debra. She’s so much fun! :) xx
I’m busy, busy at work and with boring domestic stuff… waiting for the holidays so I can be busy with some fun stuff. Flower teas are magical :)
Not long now, ED, just a few weeks of December left! Hope you’ve got some relaxing time off coming up soon! :)
Wow Celia, those breads look amazing – as do your freddos! It certainly is a busy time of year, but I do love the festive-ness(?) of it all ; )
It’s a really fun time of year, isn’t it? :)
The breads, the chocolates – I want everything! I love Lebanese zucchini too! They are very difficult to find here – so good just sauteed with garlic…..
Anna, we’re growing the Lebanese zucchs for the first time, and they’ve really taken off!
Oh you spent time with debra, how lovely and that tea looks glorious, i am always envious of your sour dough, I fear I will never be that good !
Celi, thank you, and Debra is even lovelier in person than online! :)
Celia, this post and all the photos (even the one of the robber fly feeding on its prey!) delighted me this morning! Of course, it included two of my most important food groups – bread and tea!
Jean, thank you! We were so excited by the robber fly – we often spend time peering at small things in the garden.. :)
Thank you for taking me to that wonderful gallery. I just knew you would be fun. It was great to meet you. Next time you have to come to me in Italy and I can show you my favourite things.
Deb, oooh, I can only dream! :)
Just finished dinner and how I wish to have a bowl of the lychee sorbet for dessert.
Norma, I’ve had a lot of lychee WITH icecream in my time, but never lychee sorbet. It was very good indeed!
All good – but fresh crusty bread is the gooderest!
If you have a strong stomach, read Poet’s United’s interview with me. :-)
I adore Billingtons sugars, so much flavour. So good.
Merry Christmas and happy new year to you and yours, my dear. x x x