Rino Saffioti makes the best chocolate sorbet in Sydney.
Cow and the Moon were recently named the world’s best gelato makers, but nothing beats Rino’s chocolate sorbet. And because I’m a demanding pain-in-the-butt, they very kindly top it with homemade chocolate shavings and caramelised Piedmont hazelnuts for me…
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Baby M is the cutest little girl in the world.
She sat on our driveway and tried to make bubbles last week, by blowing through her nose…
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Baked goods improve exam performance. Chocolate helps too.
I’ve been baking and tempering for our young friends Rory and Alex as they study for their end of school exams. They assure me that it’s helping…
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Luca is going to be a famous fashion designer one day.
I gave him some Sheridan sheeting scraps I’d found at Reverse Garbage years ago, and he turned them into this shirt…
Note the perfectly straight stripes!
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There IS such a thing as a free lobster.
Two, in fact. My neighbour Liz ran out of freezer space and gave me her Costco lobsters. We made speedy mayo and Cuban bread today and enjoyed them for lunch…
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Life is always brighter with a new enthusiasm.
This month I’ve been learning to pipe buttercream flowers. This is my second attempt at hydrangeas following Rosie Cake-Diva’s YouTube tutorial…
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Practice makes better.
Not perfect, but better. I’m still working on my roses…
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Rocky Road should be made with dark chocolate.
This batch also had roasted hazelnuts, cranberries, glace ginger and marshmallows…
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What bold statements are you making today?
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Love how the beautiful piped flowers match Luca’s shirt!
That boy of yours is a star, Nic. But hey, we always knew that.. :)
Love your post! Chocolate sorbert looks delicious. Baby M is cute! Amazing shirt. Looks well made and matching stipes/plaid. He certainly paid attention to the small details. Mmmm, chocolate brownies and rocky road. Keep practicing with your decorating and you’ll be perfect!
Manuela, thank you! I never actually strive for perfect – I’m just happy to see improvement! :)
If I was ten years younger and Peter was ten years younger we’d open a little cafe… he’d be my fez-wearing barista! It’d be fun!
You do know I’d drive down for the grand opening, right? :)
Great shirt! My bold statement today will be a chestnut festival at Ponte and Paris on Tuesday.
Deb, given your fashion design background, I’m going to tell Luca that he can be especially proud of impressing you! :D
What beautiful job he did on his shirt! And how lucky are your young friends to have you in their cheering section! Everything looks delicious as always :)
Laila, I realised later that I should have titled this post “Young Friends”. :) They’re all so gorgeous, I love them all to bits! :)
Your piping looks amazing! Also, I’m so bummed I missed going to Cow and the Moon and Rino’s while I was in Sydney. That sorbet looks absolutely to-die-for. Have you been to Messina? They definitely have some of the best gelato I’ve ever tried.
Cindy, I have tried Messina, but to be honest I think Cow and the Moon are even better! Hope you get to try their gelato one of these days! :)
Sorry Celia – the younger generation has it!! Methinks Luca will get there: very elegant and well thought out indeed! And Baby M had fun: is there anyone walking down that driveway who does not . . .:) !
They really do have it, don’t they…they’re leaving us in their wake! :)
I’m lol at your bold statements — and agreeing! But I’ve just read the most delicious raspberry and chocolate sorbet recipe so I plan to be able to boldly state: “Rose makes the best chocolate sorbet in the Illawarra!” My other bold statement for the day is “It’s worth buying 100% silk if you get a silk shirt like this one.”
Rose, I’m sure your homemade sorbet will be amazing! I must suggest silk to Luca, I don’t think he’s progressed to that yet.. :)
Ooh that Rocky Road is exactly what I’m craving as my son and I sit here, each preparing for our respective exams this week! Baked goods and chocolate improve exam performance? World’s best gelato too? Bring it on! You’re speaking my language, Celia :-)
Oooh good luck to you both Jaqi! I’m glad I’m not doing exams any more! :)
Ps love Luca’s shirt, too!
He’s a very clever boy! :)
Wow Luca has some amazing talent Celia. I’m blown away by him. I adore your rocky road and can vouch for its healing properties. Apart from that all I have to say is that your enthusiams make me smile
Tania, they do go a bit bonkers, don’t they! I’m trying to decide if I can foist cupcakes on anyone else so I can practice my piping some more! :)
That shirt is so good – what great creativity. Your ‘flowers’ are amazing Celia – and the rocky road. You really are part of the cheer squad for those young people including Beautiful Baby M as she perfects the art of nose-bubble blowing – I have done it myself on occasion when snorting with helpless laughter and drinking at the same time!
Jan, she is the cutest wee thing, if you were here you’d want to pick her up and cuddle her – I know I always do! :)
Celia is an awesome and generous friend- that’s my bold statement for the day! Xox
You’re so nice Becca, thank you! :)
Fabulous shirt – do you have any idea how difficult it is to set in a collar properly? I’m impressed – by him and you!
Amanda, I know. I KNOW. I think I’ve only tried a couple of times to set a collar in, then I gave up and went to knits.. ;-)
What a great happy post to wake up to on a rainy Sunday morning :) Love Luca’s shirt, am off to check out the link.
Tanya, I hope the rain eased up! Luca is a treasure, he gave me his cowboy boots, lovely boy that he is!
I LOVE bold statements Celia! Speak them loud and proud… there are a lot of things that people can disagree with you about… but in the end your opinion is always right for YOU! :) Liz x P.S that shirt is amazing and I think you have nailed the piping :)
Liz, thank you – Luca will be thrilled when he reads all these comments! :)
I would recognize the hydrangeas even if you did not mention the name, which means you are doing a great piping job. Luca sure spent lots of time and energy creating that shirt, just perfect.
Norma, isn’t the shirt brilliant? He even lined up the checks at the front – I’ve only just noticed!
All that chocolate! If I lived near you I would be at your house every day. As alway it’s all lovely.
Thank you! We had a cold snap in Sydney recently, and it was the perfect excuse to temper chocolate! :)
You had me at chocolate sorbet with chocolate shavings and Piedmont hazelnuts.
Hahaha…I have to limit myself to a weekly visit to Rino’s, or I’ll end up a sorbet filled blimp…
Hi Celia, love your bold statements, the hydrangeas looked perfect to me, and the rocky road combination was brilliant!
Thanks Cheri! The hydrangeas were great fun to pipe!
Can’t disagree with any of that. I particularly love Luca’s shirt, he sure is talented.
Glenda, he’s very creative! You should see the bags he’s made! :)
Wow that is one impressive shirt!
I couldn’t agree more! :)
It’s funny, I can’t stand chocolate ice cream, but I adore chocolate gelato! Seeing your pictures, I believe your bold statements! Those cupcakes looks amazing.
Chocolate sorbet is different again, it’s completely milk and cream free! It’s rare for it to be as silky and smooth as Rino’s! :)
Wow – I am blown away by Luca’s shirt!! That is quite something! Your have conquered your new enthusiasm, Celia – the stunning icing on those cupcakes looks professional! And that chocolate sorbet – words fail me but a craving has kicked in!
Selma, it was fun to play with the piping, and I have a little box of tips now – you know how much I love having a bit of kit! :D
I agree that life is always better with a new enthusiasm and quite happy to go along with all your other bold statements too. My brain has stopped working and I can think of no bold statement to make.
Hahaha…what about “jelly printing is the bee’s knees!” or “gin is always better when made with sloes!”.. :D
Yes to both!
Bold statements eh? Potato onions CAN be planted months after they are supposed to be and I am going to prove it. You can eat cake on a diet. Life begins whenever you are willing to pick it up and run with it (whatever age you are) and MAN you are talented Celia and you lead a full and most active life!
Oh yes, those are great bold statements! There’s no point in going on a diet if you have to give up cake! :D
You just have to find the “right” cake ;)
I can’t make any bold statements when I’m drooling looking at all those goodies. What a beautiful job on the cupcakes. So much talent on display in your post and as a sewing enthusiast I am truly impressed with Luca’s shirt. That is really beautiful work.
Diane, I used to sew as well, so we both appreciate how much work went into that shirt! He definitely has more patience than I ever did! :)
None, but I love yours!
Hahaha…thanks Mo! :)
yum yum dark rocky road is the best. love your frosting flowers.
Thanks Sherry, I couldn’t agree more! Milk rocky road is just tooo sweet!
Those roses look perfect to me!
Thanks Tandy! Not perfect yet, but I’m enjoying the practice! :)
Hehe I’m constantly making “OMG this is the best” statements. Thankfully hubby isn’t boring enough to correct me that some things can’t be the best all the time! :P
Oh surely they can be the best all the time! We can just keep moving the bar up.. :)
That’s so good of you to make treats for HSC students. I remember chocolate and sugary treats were great fuel for a day in front of the books. I love that shirt! What neat and precise work and what great flair. I think your roses are coming along really well – I need to buy myself one of those piping nozzles xx
Charlie, you need to buy Iced Affair and then you’ll have all the nozzles you could ever need..hahaha
I am so impressed by your son…I stopped there for a moment.
Not my son, Norma, my lovely neighbour Luca! And he IS very impressive! :)
Luca! So much talent, that is an amazing shirt!
My bold statement is….coffee and chocolate always taste better when kids are asleep :-)
Brydie, isn’t he clever! And I’m pretty sure you’re right about the coffee and chocolate – small people rarely sleep long enough for us! :D
LOL, Celia, I wish I could also say “There IS such a thing as a free lobster.” I love your neighbour :)
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Hahaha…yes, she’s wonderful! :)
High Five, Luca! That shirt is a win.
I’ve been fiddling with my camera trying to get better photos of my jewelry to put on etsy. My obsession with color has been replaced with frustration of light. My bold statement is the Goldilocks and the Three Bears costumes that I made for the hub and the rest of his teaching team to wear for the Halloween parade. (He’s Goldie) :-)
Maz, I went through that stage of taking photos of jewelry and always found they looked better under natural light. I can just imagine the Wonderhub as Goldie, too funny! :D
The smile Baby M is wearing is one of pure bliss. What a great photo, Celia! Keep an eye on Luca. The boy has some serious talent for one so young. Your friend is a wonderful, though I can think of about a dozen things I’d get rid of before I got to the lobsters. :)
Loving that shirt :)
My bold statement is that Celia is an incredible woman, kind in every way. :) I love that shirt too!