Sunday mornings are a quiet time at our house.
I’m almost always up early (thank you, perimenopausal hormones). Yesterday I unstacked the dishwasher, scrubbed the cooktop, baked lunch rolls, made a second batch of dough, hemmed pants, repaired the dirty laundry bag, washed two loads of clothes, and swept the floor. I’m often at my most productive before 9am, and at that time of the morning, domestic busyness never feels like a chore.
Once the kitchen was tidy and the rolls were in the oven, I made myself a small pot of hot chocolate and sat down to sip it out of a tiny sake cup. The drink was made by blitzing 30g of Amedei chocolate in boiling water in the funky little jug that Kavey sent me from London. The cup is a Paddington Markets find – it was made by artist Samantha Robinson in nearby Alexandria. It’s only big enough for a few sips, but the ritual of pouring, sipping, and pouring again was comforting and meditative…
As I opened the linen closet to put folded towels away, I noticed that the red glow from an electrical panel was illuminating the one litre bottle of Grey Goose vodka I’d bought from Costco. In the 6am darkness of the hallway, it was quite ethereal…
The lunch rolls were Small Man’s favourite – sourdough stuffed with Italian olives and Margaret River cheddar. They turned out well…
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On Friday, my lovely neighbour Michelle rang to let me know that baby Evan (11 months old) had been unwell, and that the only thing he would eat was Auntie Celia’s sourdough fruit loaf. No pressure at all, of course, but she also wanted to mention that she was down to her last slice, and there was just the slightest chance that he might starve if I didn’t bake some more.
Ok, she didn’t exactly say that, but I made a loaf for him anyway on Saturday. I’m a sucker for flattery from babies…
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On Friday night, we had our winter dinner with old friends Kevin, Carol, Gill and Therese. We get together four times a year, at the beginning of each season. I made lovely Lorraine’s ever reliable brie dip (photo below is prior to baking), substituting Pete’s quince jelly for apricot jam…
We served up our recently made confit duck rillette on grain crackers, topped with cornichons…
The next time I remembered to take a photo was at midnight after everyone left! The glasses went into the dishwasher the following morning (I’ve broken too much stemware to attempt cleaning them at the end of a big night).
Having a Berocca before bed is my personal hangover prevention technique. I truly believes it works, although I was a tad dusty the following morning…
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On Sunday, the sun came out to brighten a calm, glorious winter’s day. We went to lunch with my folks, and I took this photo of the kids as we were walking back to the car. My trailing behind photos have always been of our two (the previous ones are here and here), but now there are three. The adorable Monkey Girl joined us for lunch – we love her to bits…
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After the big hailstorm, our garden is starting to grow back. The lemon tree is doing brilliantly at the moment…
…and we were able to harvest enough newly grown broccoli raab to make dinner last night…
My clever Pete has a deft touch with this style of pasta.
To a large pot of well salted boiling water, we added the roughly chopped raab and the sliced green portion of a small perennial leek. The water was then brought back to the boil and the dried pasta added. As it cooked, we fried up the leftover confit duck rillette (including all the fat) in a little butter with sliced garlic, chilli flakes and the chopped white portion of the leek. These were cooked gently (so that the garlic didn’t brown), and then the drained pasta and greens were added to the pot. Finally, a little of the boiling water was added and the dish was seasoned to taste.
I didn’t think it needed Parmesan cheese…
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As always, weekends are too short! How was yours?
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Just found your post via England I think :) maybe I already told you this but am a little OFF as I just got an Irish wolfhound puppy (9wks old) that has taken over my life haha Do hope I can find your post of the Sourdough Fruit Loaf…SAVE the babies :) ME, I’m trying to save the house from another ‘baby!
SAVE the babies! :) Here’s a link to a couple of our sourdough fruit loaves (the one in the photo above is based on the second recipe):
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2013/03/05/bread-101-sourdough-epi-stars-and-fruit-loaves/
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2011/11/30/sourdough-fruit-loaf-and-black-salt-kamut-bread/
My goodness but you really are a morning person & I admire you for it. I like a quiet Sunday morning with the newspaper, a cup of coffee and a scone. Love your pictures Celia, especially love those walking from behind. I think that Grey Goose was calling you my dear.
Today though is wedding invitation stuffing day. I’ve got the center island all cleared for the production line to be set up.
Di, you KNOW it’s an issue when the vodka is calling you at 6am. ;-) I read this Cathy comic yesterday and thought of you!
I LOVE that. Will have to show my daughter.
It’s early Sunday morning here. Everyone is asleep. I’m drinking coffee and watching the cats run around the backyard.
We went to a nice dinner party last night, friends of the hub from high school. Delicious food, especially a vegetable couscous (the big pearl kind) with eggplant, bell peppers, olives and asparagus. It was a treat.
That vego dish sounds divine, Maz! Our friend Gill is a vegetarian as well, so we made a big veggie lasagne, with a mushroom and black bean filling!
Celia you very kindly send me some of your sourdough a while back, I have made a few sourdough loaves with it they have tasted good but were a bit flat. This weekend I used the sourdough to make rye bread and it turned out perfect so thought I would let you know.
Helle, that’s great! Thanks for letting me know!
The fruit loaf looks delicious. I’m sure baby Evan will be better soon with such delicious get well food. You sure got a lot done in the morning! Love your from behind pictures. I baked bread again yesterday. Children love the pancakes I make from the leftover starter. Looks like you had a pleasant weekend. Enjoy the coming week!
Manuela, I’m always so impressed by how much you manage with such a large family AND a newborn! Still baking bread! Good for you! :)
Hi Celia, OMG all that work before 9:00am. The most I manage before 9 is a cup of coffee.
Ah well, anything I do before 9am doesn’t feel like real work. Anything after that feels like a bit of a chore!
Would love your lunch rolls recipe I just want to eat them :-)
Beautiful pictures! I love the idea of sipping homemade hot chocolate from a little cup and refilling from a jug. As you say, there’s something so relaxing about that sort of ritual.
Thank you! It’s such a pretty little cup, but oh so tiny!
And here I was just expecting pictures! What a full and interesting life you lead Ms Celia. Happy Monday to you and here’s to an equally full and productive week for us both :)
Thanks Fran! Hope your week has started well! x
It certainly had Ms Celia. I just found out how to make an archway easily in 3d Studio Max :)
I am thoroughly jealous of your ability to get so much done before 9am. I can keep going until I eventually fall into bed at stupid o’clock but never want to get up again.
See, whereas I’m in bed at 9.30 to 10… :)
That explains the early starts….
Yep, me too, for the perimenopausal hormones but they do their thing at 3 am which is far to early for anything except wakefulness and thinking too much!
I had a fantastic Saturday morning at Eveleigh Farmers Market and am raring to go back next week. The G.O. made fabulous sour cream and Lustre potato mash to go with our beef cheeks and corned beef. I made tea from fresh turmeric & ginger from Bonville near Coffs Harbour, and biscuits from DIY chocolate powder, walnuts & dried figs. And rice pudding with pruned sugar plums from Colleambally. I’ve missed going to the markets and having done so, it was everything and more I’d wished for :)
Ugh…yes, can thoroughly relate to the thinking too much, ED! Looking forward to the markets on Saturday!
Yes the weekend was far too short. Glad you got to see the most of the day possible ( LOL) I was up with you. Love that glowing grey goose and would be up for a bottle from Costco!
It’s a bargain there! Definitely worth making a trip out! :)
Good-morning Celia,
I am an old friend of Sally Prosser in Dubai as I used to live there. Now also in Oz in Melbourne. Where r u? Margaret River? Please can you send me your lunch rolls recipe with the olives and cheese they sound awesome and I feel like being adventurous to try and make them. Do you think your recipe would work if j use
…,use Gluton Free flour???
Have a good day.
Petra
Hi Petra, I’m based in Sydney. I’m sorry, but my lunch rolls recipe won’t work with gluten free flour. They use sourdough starter as well. I don’t have a recipe on the blog, but if you wanted a yeasted recipe, you could use our basic bread dough and fill it with cheese and olives. Here are some basic recipes which I’m sure you’ll be able to adapt from:
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/bread/bread-101-a-basic-bread-tutorial/
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2009/04/23/nutella-scrolls/
I like your weekend Celia. I can also relate to that early morning business thing. It is the best time of the day as far as I’m concerned: the things you can get done and the quiet of the dawn, it’s like free time. I hate to tell you but this early thing will last a long tome. It’s a blessing. And along with early mornings come a little nap in the winter afternoon sun curled up with the kindle.
Love the pics of your sons- and girlfriend too.
Oooh Fra, the promise of an afternoon nap is very enticing… xxx
I love the Grey Goose snap! I’ve only recently had my first visit to the (only) Costco here in Adelaide. It’s quite an experience, but I don’t think we have alcohol in ours. If we did, I must have missed it!
Oh that’s a bugger if they don’t, the booze is massively cheaper at Costco in Sydney! :)
I’m a morning person too – your rolls looked fantastic as did the fruit sour dough…might have to give that a whirl….I made your overnight sour dough but I must admit the bread was good but not ‘holy’ – would it be the flour I’m using do you think Celia? I’m being a tight arse and using Aldi plain flour….can you recommend a bakers flour I might use? We had it for 2 days toasted then the chooks went made for it soaked in hot milk for breakfast ( I’m such a softie for my girls :))
Jan x
Jan, I don’t have much luck with plain flour for bread – not enough gluten. I like Manildra and Ben Furney Flour Mills brands, but the Defiance brand from the supermarkets is very good too. A lot of the Victorians have had great success with Wallaby bread flour as well.
Thanks so much, I’ll go hunting :)
I am a morning person too, but you certainly have me beat on the number of chores you had accomplished. Sounds like you had a wonderful week-end, your rolls look amazing!
Thanks Cheri! Last Sunday was particularly productive!
Well, my favourite photo surely is the b/w of your two boys and the lovely lady who has joined the team! Getting up at six? Oh the benefits of not being menopausal and living alone :) ! Have never ever been a morning person but happily stay up for work or fun till the midnight chimes . . . am laughing at the ‘Grey Goose’ . . . what, no morning tonic needed!!!!!
I resisted the urge for a little ‘hair of the dog’, Eha.. :)
I am definitely NOT a morning person Celia..haha. But they say that the mood you wake up with usually sets the whole family going on that! I have yet to experience this.. But we have traditional small coffee cups like the one you used for sipping your delectable hot chocolate & I’m anxiously waiting for the evening to come to make that. I love that in the evening. Yesterday I made a fresh batch of sourdough pizza bread using our Abby. I just rolled out the sourdough, & added all the ingredients one would on their favourite pizza, rounded them into bun shapes, baked them and YUMMMOS!!
Thank you so much for tutorials Celia. xx
Lina, I actually bought one of the little Lebanese coffee pots from Harkola to make my hot chocolate in. But I found it didn’t cook as well on the stove as it did in the microwave – got a bit oily when it was boiled. Your sourdough pizza sounds wonderful! :)
I’m an early bird too – especially after a big night out for some reason. I get everything tidied up and clean again and then I crash around 11am and have to go back to bed! We’ve had a gorgeously relaxing weekend – the last one with just the two of us until September I worked out with visitors, holidays and business trips coming up.
Nancy, I always sleep badly after a bit to drink, you’d think it would be the reverse! Glad to hear you’ve had a relaxing weekend, they’re few and far between these days, aren’t they!
I’m lucky to be up by 9am on a Sunday! Let alone doing all those jobs! My perimenopausal wakefulness kicks in around 3am so by 6am I’m often just getting back to sleep. Stupid hormones.
I love having so many blog friends who know what I’m going through! Thanks hon.. xxx
Sounds like a lovely weekend Celia – I was up early Sunday morning too cooking pancakes for 8 small boys after Mr M’s sleep over birthday party, but I needed an extra early night Sunday night to recover :)
Good grief Beck, a sleepover of eight! I’d need a week to recover! :)
it’s a bit like that isn’t it! Until afterwards, I did wonder why everyone kept telling me how brave I was :)
Lovely Celia…you are so incredibly productive! I dream that i may one day be a fraction as efficient as you…but yes, I agree that getting up early certainly helps. I love the meditative quality of pouring and sipping from a tiny cup. A student gave me an exquisite tiny teapot and cup from China for green tea. Very special. Lucky Monkey Girl…she’s chosen her “adopted family” well!! And yes, it’s been said before, but I would love to be your next-door-neighbour…me and everybody else!! :-)
Jaqi, thank you! Your little tea pot and cup sound beautiful – my mother always referred to those tiny tea cups as “kung fu cups”. Not sure why. But I know in all the old kung fu movies, they’re always drinking out of them in tea houses.. ;-)
PS I forgot to add that I’ve just received photos from an excited lady who I shared some Sourdough starter with. Her first bouncing bread baby! Priscilla’s progeny continue to flourish! :-)
Hahaha! Now you also understand what a thrill it is! :)
I’m not great int he mornings but getting better as the body clock also wakes me up early :( Like you, I never wash glasses after a late night…always best to save that chore until morning! Got back to England at the end of last week and took Hercules out of the freezer, just about to make my first batch of bread with him today, he’s bubbling away happily!!
Hooray for Hercules! I hope the trip back went well and you’re all settled again in England.. xxx
Oh so often a little smile appears on my face when reading your posts! I want a night light like that goose, it is gorgeous, could maybe even attach a tap for emergencies. Evan must be pretty bright boy by the sound of things. Dinner party would have been fun and is that why my broccoli looks stranger than normal? I grew from seed as ‘Sessantina grossa’ It’s raab! I picked the first harvest yesterday and put some in the paneer jalfrezi last night. Researched today and yep, it’s raab. Bit more enthusiastic about it now :) Always learning :)
Maree, it’s the main leafy green we grow – the entire family loves it. Here’s the main thing we make with it. The Italians always double cook it, and we find it works well that way…
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2012/10/14/six-week-ten-minute-pasta/
[…] and some broccoli raab. Funny, I hadn’t heard of ‘raab’ until I read Celia from Fig Jam and Lime Cordial‘s post today and she mentioned broccoli raab in her post. It looked suspiciously like what […]
Your Sunday routine sounds quite similar to my Sunday Celia! Those early hours are the best and by far the most productive. Your life looks and sounds incredibly full and happy. Love that special fruit sourdough & the hot chocolate x
As I was writing this post, I thought to myself, “Jane will understand..” :) xxx
Great post! Love the goose! You’re a very funny writer.
Thanks Mimi! I have a very funny life. :)
That cup and jug look amazing! What a great find and gift!
Maggie, the jug is just gorgeous, I wasn’t sure what I’d do with it when it came as it’s only the size of a coffee mug, but I use it all the time!
Darling, you write so well. You could blog about dirt or sunshine and I’m happy to read every single word. Lovely pictures of your boys… and gf! xoxo
Baby girl, you say the nicest things ever. Thank you. Much love to you – and you KNOW I took that photo of the boys JUST for you, right? :)
Wow! A great collection of photos and events!! I’m the same in the morning, always up before the rest of the world and getting on with things in the kitchen :) I love the peace and calm at that time of day x
Elaine, it’s just wonderful, isn’t it? There isn’t another time of the day like it.. xxx
I’m sitting here right now at 6.40am listening to the birds singing as I eat my breakfast…how perfect is that? X
Doesn’t get better… xxx
I am post menopausal. Very. After reading your high volume activity packed morning whirlwind doings I made a pot of tea and went back to bed (after feeding chooks and geese) for a little horizontal meditation. You exhausted me ;)
PS : IT’S A SIGN. IT’S A SIGN. (The illuminated grey goose)
IT WAS 6AM. IT WAS 6AM. ;-)
Beautiful Blog.
A lovely collection, enjoyed seeing them on Instagram xx
I’m just going put it out there – that goose is scary. The rillettes are not.
I am a morning person too. I get my best work done then. The boys are up before dawn too so they do get in the way a little. This past weekend we helped my parents unpack. They renovated their mountain house and moved their full time. We also took the boys camping overnight. A first for all of us. I’m just get thrilled we all make it back down the mountain alive and somewhat healthy. The day before I had to stop three times to let Ewan vomit out the car window!
How does it feel to be a life saver? Are there medals for baby saving? You definitely deserve one. That picture of the three kids is my favourite. :)
I love that goose!
Celia, inspired by your fruit loaf, I made a fig version myself. I thought I was quite generous with the fruit, but clearly not as when it was cut up, the figs were a bit stingy in distribution. Do you have a good ratio of fruit:dough recommendation? xx