A few bits and pieces from the past couple of weeks…
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The fennel in our garden is going gangbusters…
We’ve been eating lots of fennel pizza, as well as delicious fennel salad…
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The gorgeous gals at Little Flowers sent me a present! Pete and I pop in to say hi whenever we’re eating at Velvet Garage – we’ve now used their service three times…
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The birthday run continues! Two more neighbourhood chocolate cakes went out last weekend…
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I’ve been baking pies – the lard pastry I made in bulk and tucked away in the freezer a few months ago has been defrosting perfectly (the recipe is in our July IMK post)…
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This t-shirt design made me laugh (but I didn’t buy it)…
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I’ve been baking April Bloomfield inspired scrolls, filled with the last of our broccoli raab. The raw leaves were blitzed with mozzarella cheese, chilli, garlic and a little oil to form a pesto, then spread over sourdough prior to baking…
Small Man was a huge fan of these…
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Our aquarium is being overhauled. These magic rocks are called MarinePure and they’re going to help keep the algae in check. They’re man-made, and look a bit like balls of coral…
We’re getting all new African cichlids, but Elvis the catfish is staying. Did you know catfish can wink?
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What’s been happening in your part of the world?
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Beautiful flower bouquet! The birthday cakes look delicious. I will have to check out the pastry recipe again. With all the things to get ready before the snow starts to fly, I am tending to get forgetful and negligent with my baking. I always tell the family once I’m stuck indoors things will return to normal. Lol
Manuela, I try to stock my freezer up for times when I’m busy, but sometimes I end up with so much food in the freezer that we have to spend a week eating from it! :)
Weather is starting to get a tiny bit cooler so looking forward to soup and stews. In between inking a second Haunted Histories and promoting A Year in the Secret Garden, I’ve been caught in a jewelry making mania. Lots of shiny! :-) Maz
Hahaha…I had five years of jewellery mania, making and selling vintage Swarovski pieces. It’s very addictive! :) Here’s one of the last pieces I made…
The flowers are so pretty but I am intrigued by the card/label – who is the Viking??!! That t-shirt design is hilarious and those scrolls look delicious!
The Viking is the handsome bearded man who delivers flowers! :)
What a beautiful floral arrangement! You have indeed been busy! We just had our second birthday in the family this month so I can relate to the craziness. Great looking chocolate cakes too!
The cake baking has been full on – driven by both the string of birthdays AND the egg glut! :)
Hi Celia! On Saturday my little grandchild: Francisca, is 1 year old! Yes, her first birthday party and I´m trying your chocolate cake.
Wish me luck!!!
As always, your post rocks!!!!
Ale
Ale, hasn’t that gone quickly! How wonderful for you all to be able to celebrate her birthday together! :)
Great looking fennel crop! IMHO, a sorely underused veggie ;-)
We have had a great self-sown crop this year!
We may have to work that into the plant list for next year!
I NEED that shirt! We have been flat out building a new perimeter fence for the dogs to frolic in happiness and cool shaded bliss this summer. It’s about 1/4 of an acre worth of fencing and includes a mass blackberry blitz in the process so I am starting to feel my age most alarmingly in the morning. Made a HUGE pizza the other night and thought of you while I was topping it. Wish I had some of that gorgeous fennel to add. Better get growing eh? ;)
Fran, the fennel is just the best pizza topping – it’s particularly good with an egg on top (Steve might like it!)…
I am going to give it a go Celia :)
Bits and pieces are the mortar of life I think. Gorgeous flowers :) I made my first Spelt Romertopf loaf… and it stuck, so I either didn’t bake it long enough or macadamia oil isn’t sufficient for oiling. I’m will try again but it was good enough for work lunches for me.
I usually oil with canola spray. I’m glad it was edible! :)
I adore fennel but never had as much luck growing it as you – and those gorgeous bulbs look male which are always the sweetest…yum! I have the same pie blackbird as you in my kitchen :)
Tanya, I never knew there was male and female bulbs! How can you tell the difference?
Well, I might be wrong, but my old Italian aunties always told me that the round fat ones (which are sweeter) are male and better for eating raw and the taller slimmer ones (clearly I don’t fit into the fennel female category!) are less sweet and are the female ones – so better for braising etc! It does seem to be true – at least, when you taste them :)
That pirate shirt made me laugh too. I made a big hydrated loaf using half semola rimacinata in the Romeropf. After proving, I coulld not get the dough to behave- it was a soggy mess. Oured in into the lined Romy aand off it went, high and nicely coloured, but to me, it still tastes a bit raw. Not my best loaf, but the little fellas and Mr T can eat it.
Lucky to have all that fennel. I forgot to put it in this year, too much travelling!
A bread baking friend once told me that bread doesn’t mind an extra ten minutes in the oven (unlike cake), so if the loaf comes out of the pot and isn’t feeling quite ready, I reduce the heat to 175C and pop it back in on the rack to finish up for a further 10 mins of so (out of the pot). I’m always amazed at how I’ll almost pour dough into the pot sometimes and it comes out looking like bread! :)
Ha! That tshirt made me laugh too :-)
Good things are happening in your part of the world Celia. xx
Thanks Brydie! Hope you’re enjoying spring!
You had me at fennel. I can’t imagine having it fresh. Until a couple of years ago we never even saw it in the grocery stores here. Now it is more plentiful, but often a bit worse for the wear. I do admire your energetic cooking and baking Celia!
Ardys, we didn’t have much luck with the fennel we planted last season, but it went to seed and we ended up with all these self-sown bulbs. They’ve been great!
Life looks bright, cheerful and delicious at your end Celia! x
It’s pretty good, thanks Jane! xx
Oh, your catfish has made my day! Flowers and fennel are on my list of favourite things and the chocolate cake represents love and the celebration of it – how delightful to have a neighbourhood chocolate cake “going out” to a neighbour – it seems to me that’s what the world needs more of right now – and the ability to be glad about lovely bits and pieces. Thank you for that lovely post Celia – I’ve been reading so much about the current horror that is gripping the world right now and trying to understand it, but that post has lifted my spirits.
I’m glad to hear that Jan. Made writing the post worthwhile.. xxx :)
Always lots of busy, busy, busy in your neck of the woods Celia! Not much going on here lately- both girls off sick :( I did get around to planting out some garden though- beetroot, snow peas, beans and lettuce. Still the danger of frosts, so have to be careful xox
Becca, I hope the girls are both better now. The weather here has finally turned hot – although the skies opened this morning and now it’s dark and overcast. Just when we think spring is finally here.. :)
Your fennel is beautiful, the flowers must have been a delightful surprise and your fish intrigue me. I’ve never been successful with fish so I stick to a dog. :)
Maureen, the new fish are fantastic. There are 18 in the tank now, and I’ve named them all. I stand at the glass in the morning and practice remembering who is who – it’s not easy! :)
Oh wow darling, you have been busy… aren’t those flowers just so pretty, old fashioned… and so much deliciousness happening at your place! Can we come for morning tea? *Wink* xo
Of course you can! Hope to see you soon! :)
More cakes! It’s good to see you’re getting through your stash of cake boards. Your fennel looks superb and I love the salad and how you’ve added the fennel fronds. I’d love to see your fish tank after the renovation xx
Oh yes, the cake board stash is dwindling at a rapid clip. Ha! I think I have a lifetime’s supply. Do you need any more? :)
Always so many happy things on the go Celia,. Think its time to re-look at trying fennel, not one of my favourite flavours – your salad looks like just the thing to get me enjoying it.
As you know, my precious Pete is home and we have been enjoying every moment together. Sadly he is leaving again tomorrow for a couple of weeks.
Have a lovely day Celia.
:-) Mandy xo
Mandy, I’m so glad you’ve had Pete home, I know how much you enjoy that! Hopefully the next couple of weeks when he’s away will fly past quickly! :)
Well of course I knew cat fish can wink, just like you know schoodles can laugh! (lol)
Hehe…I don’t even know what a schoodle is!
I adore fennel. It’s one of my favourites, both the tops and the bulbs! Love the look of the salad that you created here. Beautiful list of bits and pieces right here… that pirate shirt! Ha! x
The pirate shirt was a hoot! :)
Yo ho ho hell that sign made me laugh too because I have been confused about pirates or alcholism in the past. You have taken Velvet garage into your world and I can imagine you relaxing under the red lights on the velvet chairs and when you go home munching on that amazing fennel. I just love fennel. x
I really do like Velvet Garage! And as you know, it takes a lot for a cafe to impress me! :)
How good are little flowers – I love the concept and its so easy. They are on a winner.
They’re just the best – and the nicest people too!
Wow! Lots of various, pleasant things happening on your side! Lovely flowers, lovely salad you got there, too!
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Thanks Julie!
Very envious of your fennel as I find it very difficult to grow. Like the idea of your scrolls – on my list to have a bash at.
The scrolls were great – I was surprised how many Small Man ate! The broc raab is a treat, I’m glad it grows like a weed in our garden!
What a lovely bunch of flowers. I want to experiment more with fennel so will definitely be trying out your salad. The T-shirt also made me laugh.
Thanks Vicki – fennel salad has become a regular side dish here!
I envy you that fennel – after eating it fresh in Libya I realised that the force grown stuff from Holland is just rubbish and it really needs to be freshly picked.
Gorgeous pie – send me a slice?
It’s in the post! You can take the girl out of England, but you can never take the love of pie out of the English girl.. :)
Love fennel. That salad made me drool, actually… as did your scrolls. I love the idea of broccoli rabe inside! Your neighbors are certainly lucky to have such a lovely village baker ;)
Thanks darling! We’ve certainly had fun with the birthday cakes this year!
Very sweet! I bet they love your baked goods as much as you love their flowers!
They’re just lovely! I’m so glad you took us to Velvet Garage and we didn’t pike out because of the rain – it’s become one of our favourite places to eat! Thanks love.. x
That Elvis, yes he did wink at me & I winked back. I don’t think I’ve ever used fennel – mainly because I never see it fresh in the stores here. I think we do get fennel seeds but I’d love to try this on a nice homemade pizza.
Those gals at Little Flowers sound like they know how to make customers happy & keep them coming back. I just love that burlap wrapping around the flowers (and plan to steal the idea first chance I get).
You know back here in the states, the kids started school about a month ago so they’ve all gotten together to share & spread germs to their parents who then go out & about spreading the bounty to the rest of the world. It’s autumn fair season here & we just went to one of the biggest fairs in Massachusetts – The Big E. Naturally I caught some little nasty & have been abed wishing someone would make me some nice homemade soup.
I’m sorry to hear that Diane! Hope you’re feeling better soon. How did the engagement party go?
It was awesome and I keep starting a post about it and then end up back in bed. Celia, my husband’s not good at putting things together so you should have heard the “words” from the field where he was supposed to be setting up the tent!
Oh honey, I’m so sorry you’ve been so laid up! But you did make me laugh about your hubby! :)
That t-shirt design made me laugh really loud… priceless!
loved the iced cakes, in my next life I shall be able to tackle that!
:-)
I’m thinking I need to get into icing cakes a bit better in this lifetime – that could be my next big project.. :)
Great reminder to throw some fennel in my mid-day salad!! Love the photos, btw!
I love the colorful fennel salad! Will have to try something similar