A few bits and pieces from January…
We spent last weekend at Nelson Bay celebrating Uncle Greg’s 70th birthday. The views were stunning…
The following night, we dined at Watercress in Nelson Bay. Formerly the restaurant Zest (winner of several Chefs’ Hat awards), it’s a bit more affordable in its new bistro incarnation.
Big Boy and I had scallops for entree…
…and I had the lamb and eggplant main…
. . . . .
From our oven…
…I baked a batch of yeasted bagels for the first time in ages (usually I make sourdough ones). They were hoovered up in no time at all…
I also baked black salt sourdough loaves…
..using my old lidded tins which kept the oven spring in check…
…resulting in perfectly square slices of bread…
. . . . .
Inspired by my faux laksa success, I made this simple soup for lunch using freezer leftovers from Christmas (prawns, prawn stock, poached chicken), basil and purslane from the garden…
…a spoonful of Tom Yum paste…
…and a handful of vermicelli noodles…
. . . . .
Chinese New Year is coming!
Here’s the lantern I’ve made for the occasion…
. . . . .
It doesn’t happen often, but at the moment, life is calm and mellow.
Hope all is well in your world! ♥
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Nelson Bay looks beautiful & it sounds like you had a great meal. I’ve never seen anything like that lidded tin but what an idea! I always wondered how you got square bread. And that Chinese lantern is gorgeous, very nice work.
Thanks Di! The lanterns have been great fun to make – both the fan and the lantern above are new designs this year for me. It’s all done with paper and a stapler!
And your talent Celia, don’t forget that. Give some people paper and a stapler and they end up with a pile of stapled paper.
I’m glad to hear your world is calm and mellow. Long may it last! I always think hatted restaurants next to casual beachside locations are a waste of space. When people are on holiday or going to the beach for the day, a casual eatery is usually what they’re looking for. That’s my main gripe with Palm Beach – it desperately needs so lively, fun, BYO type places to go xx
An American here (Texan no less)- pardon my ignorance but what is a “hatted” restaurant? Formal or dressy, perhaps?
Ah, sorry I wasn’t clear! Over here, restaurants are graded according to a “hat” system. One hat for very good ones, up to three hats for the few top ones in the city.
http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/food-news/top-hats-smh-good-food-guide-2014-awards-20130902-2t0op.html
Charlie, I think you’re right – the hatted restos seem wasted there, particularly when everyone wants to come in wearing tshirts and shorts! :)
Black salt sourdough…. oh, one day you will kill me.
I will die happy, but still..
gotta go check that recipe from your site, I see that one used regular sea salt, for this you just used black at the same proportion?
awesome round up, I am drooling over those scallops…
Sally, I use regular fine sea salt in the dough, and scatter crushed black salt flakes over the oiled tin before the dough goes in. The boys love it! :)
Celia I was wondering what to do with my excess black sea salt …….wonderful stuff!
Elaine, I seem to have a lot of it too, but it’s wonderful on the outside of the loaves – both in terms of looks and taste!
I hope calm and mellow endures for all of the ‘year of the horse’ for you, with just enough pizzaz to make it interesting! Have to add Nelson Bay and Watercress to the ‘must do’ list. ;)
Ardys, thank you! It never does last though – we just have to enjoy it while we have it! :)
What a lovely weekend break in Nelson Bay and your lantern and fan look exquisite!
Danielle, thank you! It was lovely to catch up with all of Pete’s extended family – Uncle Greg is the youngest of eight siblings, so it’s a HUGE family!
Your lantern is just beautiful Celia!
I can’t wait to get my hands on one of those tins to make some square loaves. So perfect.
Isn’t Nelson Bay beautiful? A friend of mine used to live there and we visited the year before last. My kind of waves at the beach too… nice and flat.
Claire, I believe they’re called Pullman tins if you’re looking for them, although the Pullmans I’ve seen have all been thinner and skinnier!
Hello Celia, what delightful water views! Your bread looks amazing as usual. I have not made bagels before. If I made your yeasted bagels with fresh yeast (as opposed to dry) how much yeast would I use? I just happen to have some fresh yeast in the fridge for once.
Your lanterns are impressive! Enjoy the calm. It is relatively calm here too…something to do with the tail end of the school holidays I think x
Jane, maybe 15g? I’m sorry, I don’t use fresh yeast, so I don’t really know. My fam actually prefer the sourdough ones, but I didn’t have any starter ready…
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2009/09/05/sourdough-bagels/
Have a great end of school hols! xxx
Your Chinese lantern must be one of the most beautiful I have ever seen and I’m coming back after work to see your video on how to make that exquisite fan! No end to your talents!! Love the nearly ‘no cost’ faux laksa ~ nothing much faux about it :) ! Have a lovely weekend – hope a little bit of rain but present temperatures, at least what we have here!!
Eha, thank you – we’ve had a bit of rain this week, hope you have as well!
Hi Celia… that lidded bread tin is interesting! I haven;t seen on of those before… even when I had the shop… love this post. Nelson Bay looks beautiful… such blue skies! And how about those scallops! Wow, that fan is so beautiful too, you are very clever!
Lizzy, it took me years to find! I’ve actually had the black steel bread tins for years, but found the lids quite by chance at Chefs’ Warehouse!
Nelson Bay looks gorgeous. I haven’t been there. I would have ordered exactly what you did.
Debra, food was great, you’d have loved it, and I bet you’d have taken wonderful photos too! I only managed a few.. :)
Just reading this and looking at the photos made me peaceful inside. I love the square tins.
Thanks hon, I’m glad! xx
Nelson Bay looks beautiful! Never seen a lidded bread form. Very interesting! The lantern and fan look beautiful. The paper gives them a very pretty design. Enjoy the calm days!
Thanks Manuela, long may they last! Hope all is well on your side of the globe!
Calm and mellow is a wonderful place to be Celia- especially with a drink in hand! Xox
Becca, hope you’re enjoying some peace and calm too. Lots of love to you, darling xx
Hello Celia, sounds like you had a lovely break. Nelson Bay looks lovely it’s been so long since we’ve been there we really should visit again. Your lantern looks gorgeous, very beautiful piece.
Stefanie, thank you! It’s such a clever lantern, I was really chuffed with how it turned out! The pattern I followed used 30 wrappers, so it ended up quite big!
Maybe we should visit….!
Ha! So you say, but we only got Will-I-Am today! :)
Nelson Bay looks wonderful – I’m not surprised you’re calm and mellow. I have two questions – 1 What’s a hatted restaurant? and 2 If I put a baking sheet on top of an ordinary tin and weighted it down, would I get square loaves do you think?
“Chef’s Hats” are our local equivalent of your Michelin Stars. And yes, a gerry-rigged tin and sheet would work – that’s what I was using until I found the lids – some photos here:
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2011/11/18/salt-crusted-bread/
I need that covered tin for my rye bread! I’m going to check into what I can buy here in the UK. Your photos of the ocean are beautiful. I need some sun and warmth!
Misky, I think they’re called “Pullman tins”. I know Joanna has one, she might know where to buy them in the UK…
Brilliant that everything is calm & mellow with you Celia – very productive still though I see. I love leftover noodle dishes & your laksa looks fab. Reminded that I must grow purslane this year too. Very handy as I’m currently planning planting so thank you!
Andrea, be warned, once you plant purslane, it will be there forever! Ours is colonising our driveway at the moment! :)
A Pullman loaf tin, I think….I shall have to pull mine out of the back cupboard and try out your recipe Celia–looks like fabulous bread! Love your pictures, as always! Your posts are so motivating!!
Thanks Debby, that’s very kind of you! I think proper Pullman tins are skinnier and longer – mine is a standard bread tin with a lid I found afterwards! I could be wrong though – I’ve never actually seen any for sale here called Pullman.. :)
You are incredibly talented….
Norma, you’re so nice, thank you! :) How are your eagles?
You are living the beautiful life! I’m inspired to get down to the beach.
I made my first sponge cake yesterday… came out a treat. Your fan is a treasure, off to watch the video. Hugs, Maz
Maz, I think you’d love the fan! Hope you can find some red envelopes to make some with! xx
Looks like you’ve had a lovely summer! I love your square loaves, and bagels. I’d love if could share your sourdough bagel recipe.
Clare, of course! Here it is:
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2009/09/05/sourdough-bagels/
Scratch that Celia, I just found your recipe, going to give them a go ASAP!
Hi Celia, I saw this and thought of you – how to make your own chocolate moulds! I have to give this a try. http://www.thekitchn.com/3-kitchen-staples-to-mold-your-own-chocolate-in-176353
cheers, Rosemary
Thanks for thinking of me, Rosemary! It looks very interesting – clever too! :)
Nothing wrong with square bread – when it’s made from scratch like yours. Looks lovely. Also love your lantern. Happy Chinese NY.
Thanks Rachel! Have a wonderful Year of the Horse!
I love the look of those bagels! I think the bread looks fantastic, too. But I wanted to comment on how much I admire the lantern and the fan. They are just beautiful. There is a very large Chinese community here in my city (near Los Angeles) and preparations are being made for the New Year. The school children participate in many arts and crafts, but I’ve seen nothing as beautiful as your lantern!
Thank you so much! Some years I get right into the lantern making, other years it’s all too much work, but this year it’s been great fun! I found a couple of new patterns as well this year, which always makes it more interesting! :)
Great post and i love the photos, however just a small correction …. Nelson Bay is in Port Stephens about 1hr north of Newcastle whereas the Central Coast is defined as the area between Sydney and Newcastle (includes Gosford, Woy Woy, The Entrance etc) …
Ooh, thanks Fiona. I’ll fix it. :)
Hi Celia! You can’t show me pictures like this of sunny, drop dead gorgeous AU! I’m so jealous… looks like you are having an absolutely wonderful summer (that scallop dish looks to die for by the way…) Good for you :)
And while I’m here- I wanted to congratulate both you and Pete on your anniversary! What a sweet post that was to read. Love your wedding picture too. (I’m playing a bit of catch up with my reading)
Now about that chocolate cake… I think that’s going to be my weekend baking project over here. Thanks for sharing the recipe! xx
Hi Celia, Of course my eyes are drawn to your wonderful bread and pullman tin. That is one kitchen thingy i don’t have. Sounds like your life is good at the moment. I hope it lasts just a little longer. I always say after 21 life is full of issues. Before 21 it is bliss.
Black salt! I bought some but haven’t done anything special with it. Do you use it in other recipes?
Love the baking and craft from your house!
The craft is so creative….P.s the bread is one of the most perfectly baked ones I’ve seen! Love the texture :)
Thank you! The house is full of fans and lanterns – I’ve been asked to stop! :D
;) Happens all the time with me as well, I can’t just adorn the house enough!