A few bits and pieces from the past couple of weeks…
I was tempted to write a post on this chocolate bar, until I realised that the first instruction would be “get Pete to make a batch of his special caramel”. I roasted almond slivers until deep golden, then Pete used his magic copper pot to make a very dark, almost-but-not-quite burnt, caramel. The nuts were stirred in, then spread onto a greased tray. Once cool, the praline was crushed and added to a tempered batch of dark chocolate (63% cacao). It’s quickly become a friends and family favourite…
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We’re now down to four hens, having lost Mrs Gronkle a couple of weeks ago – she was laying thin-shelled eggs and we now suspect one might have cracked inside her. It’s a very common problem (dodgy shell gland) in ISA Browns. The remaining chooks are still in fine form, but they were quite nasty to Mrs G near the end – apparently chooks will detect any weakness and attack it. I’ve renamed them the Bitches of Eastwick…
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I slow roasted a shoulder of lamb – with sides, this 1.5kg cut ($18) is enough meat to feed the four of us comfortably. It takes about five hours (including resting time) from start to finish. When it’s done, the bones pull out cleanly, and the meat is easily shredded with a fork. Pete has announced that this is how all lamb should be “carved” from now on…
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I’ve now received three arrangements this year from FreshFlowers. Every single one has been superb – this latest box was a gift from my sister…
I pulled the flowers out of the box and popped them into the clay jug that Nick and Mary brought back from Greece for me over a decade ago…
Apparently these tiny lime-green button chrysanthemums are this year’s trendiest cut flower – they last for ages…
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Remember my young friend (formerly Baby) Grace? She and I have an understanding. I adore her completely, and she doesn’t bother trying to boss me around because she’s figured out it doesn’t work. During the school holidays, she refused to go to the Sydney Aquarium unless she was allowed to wear her hammerhead shark costume…
See why I’m so fond of her?
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Life has been getting in the way of blogging this month! Hope you’re all well! ♥
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Celia, those green crysanthemums are gorgeous. And what a funny story about the chooks (or not so funny, really) – little wonder you are calling them the Bitches of Eastwick!
Hmm, that chocolate sounds heavenly! I never realised chickens can be so nasty and it is always lovely receiving flowers. Think I too would want to wear my hammerhead shark costume to the Aquarium – sweet girl!
Have a happy day Celia. Hope the life that’s been getting in the way is all good.
:-) Mandy xo
Sorry to hear about Mrs Gronkle – will you be getting any new chooks or won’t they assimilate with Biatches? I did chuckle when I read that I would need Pete to whip up some of his special caramel – if only! The chocolate does look superb. I made a slow roast leg of lamb too a couple of weeks ago – the meat was so tender and I have shoved the bone and what was left of the after a couple of days of meals, sandwiches etc, into the freezer for when I have some time to make some soup – to which I add pearl barley and lots of mint. Not so Baby Grace is just adorable – love her outfit!!
The chocolate looks delicious. Beautiful flowers. Grace looks so cute in her costume! Lol!!
Love the shark costume, Celia.
Bitches of Eastwick! That is too good! well, it is mean of them, but their title is perfect
loved everything you shared… (and BTW I am counting the days for May, as I’ll be joining you finally in the IMK party!)
The bitches of Eastwick! I love it having lived with chickens. Your lamb shoulder looks fantastic.
Now I want to go to the Sydney Aquarium wearing a shark suit. Tell Grace I salute her sense of style. :-) And praline sounds awesome. Hugs, Maz
The Bitches of Eastwick made me chuckle too, great name!! The chocolate looks amazing and the flowers look beautiful..your world always looks so interesting!!!
Your chocolate looks delicious, what a treat! I didn’t know about the dodgy shell glad in Isa Browns. I will keep that in mind when we are ready to get some chooks. Grace’s outfit would have earned a few warm smiles at the Aquarium – so cute.
Love those button chrysanthemums, Celia… have not seen those! Thanks for the update on the hens, great fun. Stay safe in the storms, love.
I think I need a hammerhead shark costume to get me through the queues at the supermarket – I’m sure I’d get to the front quicker! I do miss my hens, but you’re right, when one is weak they all gang up :( And as for the lamb, I used to love my lamb really pink when roasted but not everyone else does so I’ve now converted to very slow cooked too and everyone is happy!
That is most definitely the coolest costume ever. Do they make adult sizes?!
R.I.P. Mrs Gronkle. Mmmm, praline chocolate would tempt even me. Slow roasting rules in our kitchen!
Love that little girl in the costume too. Life sounds pretty good Celia.
That’s the only way to serve lamb in my house. I love it. And that costume – I cant even – she should be an internet sensation!
Sorry to hear about Mrs Gronkle Celia…hugs…never very nice….
Your chocolate looks divine and flowers always brighten my day!
I want a shark costume – it would be very cosy in this weather. I love how you and Pete cook together. I think a lamb shoulder is my favourite part of the lamb. What mean little bitches! I’m sorry you lost Mrs G and that injury sounds really painful xx
mmhh…the chocolate bar looks delicious
Oh no… thats no good about the chooks…. Ours only get nasty when we throw in a snail then they fight over it, so we always have to make sure there are three. I love the shark costume, very cool! Liz xx
Well who doesn’t have a shark onesie in their wardrobe? I’ve just got my bronze whaler in at the dry cleaners for a quick spit and polish before winter sets in.
I love the shark suit! My son had a cow suit he wore everywhere the same way :) Those little chrysanthemums are very cute, I’ll have to keep an eye out for them, and great name for the chooks!
I’m more in love with Grace. I would wear that costume too. :)
The chocolate and the lamb – it’s a good thing I don’t have to choose.
Who wouldn’t want to wear such an adorable costume?! I can see why that chocolate bar is becoming a favorite, I am salivating looking at the picture and reading the description. Bitches of Eastwick is just too funny, I needed a good laugh!
Hope all is well, love? x
All is well, just insanely busy!
Life should always come first. I tried the praline in some chocolate that I tempered and it was amazing :)
Hahaha I have one bitch in amongst my 4 chooks – and you are so right how they sniff out the weak – my poor Fiona is constantly left out and pecked so I feed her some secret worms while the others aren’t looking ;)
I wanted to say thank you too, I went through and read your frugal living archives and you’ve inspired me to get my a into g and do some serious cook ups. I have challenged myself to not go to the supermarket until next week, I’ve whipped up 2 pots of soup (homemade tomato passatta, veg with pasta and rice & pea and ham bone) making 16 lunches and dinner for 2 nights for 3 of us for a few dollars – sometimes I forget the basics so thanks for the reminders xxx
Vote 1 for Grace! Golly your chooks are a bit eager, ours must have be delicate little things, Isa’s are notoriously nasty to old, new or weakened members of the flock so the name is perfect.
Ditto about life and blogging. Love that shark suit. I think I need one for TAFE.
I know what you mean about life getting in the way of blogging and am just now catching up on everyone’s latest blogs. That Pete is sure a nice guy.
That lamb look so good I could dive into it right now – of course it’s dinnertime here & I haven’t even thought about it…oh well…life.