A few snippets from the past couple of weeks…
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Pete and I went into town for the opening of Barangaroo Reserve last Saturday. It’s a magnificent space…
The underground area is known as the Cut-Out, and it’s larger than a football field…
We bought a Thai yellow chicken curry from Martin Boetz’s stall and ate it overlooking the water on a gloriously moody, overcast day…
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Last week, the power in our neighbourhood went out for a couple of hours. So Big Boy and I went for coffee. It seemed the only sensible thing to do, and I love any excuse to spend time with him…
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I’ve been experimenting with the offcuts Johnny gives us. We carefully sliced off as much jamon as we could for sandwiches, but I couldn’t bear to waste the delicious fat…
So I added it to my raw rice and let it all cook together. It infused the rice with a delicate smoky flavour…
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We had friends over for dinner on Saturday night, so I popped in to see my friend Dotti at the Paesanella Cheese Shop in Haberfield. It’s the easy way to entertain…
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I’ve been baking an insane amount of focaccia. The first batch was made with this truffle salt, a gift from lovely Jay at Bistro Cocotte (best not to ask how many times we’ve eaten there now)…
I used truffle oil on the top as well…and took a loaf down to Jay to thank him…
The second batch of our regular sourdough focaccia was gigantic…
It’s always so much fun to bake! We ate some for lunch, delivered large pieces to the neighbours, then sliced the rest up and baked it in a 100C oven for two and a half hours. As you can probably imagine, crackers made from oily, salty focaccia are incredibly moreish…
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The manic dishcloth knitting continues…this one was made on slightly larger needles…
I’ve come up with the world’s easiest knitting pattern for a dishcloth (this is for you, Tania!)…using 8ply cotton and 5mm needles, cast on 38 stitches and knit in straight garter stitch (all knit, no purl) for 60 rows (or until it’s large enough), then cast off. Stripes are optional…
As it seems ridiculous to blog about something so simple, I thought I’d make it up to you with a photo of Maude’s current work in progress. It’s a crocheted blanket made in 10ply Australian cotton, and it will be three times this size when it’s finished (this photo is for Nancy)…
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Finally, Sunday morning baking – a couple of mocha bars for dinner tonight, and a batch of gluten-free chocolate cakes, made with Cacao Barry Tanzanie Origin chocolate…
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Hope you’re all having a glorious weekend! ♥
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Thank you from me also for the world’s easiest knitting pattern for a dishcloth… when I get around to it, that’s what I’ll be following… Did I tell you my Dad once made me knit a jumper as a punishment… it was more holes than not, Dad gave up and so did I and my stepmother unraveled the mess to knit something useful with the wool!
That’s amazing! I had visions of Cinderella flash in front of my eyes there for a minute. I can sense a story attached to this! :)
Creative punishment from an Aquarian Dad… I can’t even remember what I was in trouble for…
Barangaroo…..what can one say without running out of superlatives. We visited yesterday (Saturday) and it could not have been more perfect. Sunshine sparkling on the water, yachts sailing lazily along, ferries, the Bridge…..I do love our city. I was amazed at how complete it look….the trees and plants look at though they have been there ages. I particularly love how the sandstone already has a lovely green patina from the tide.
Love the bread picks! Must. Resist. Taking. Up. Knitting… dang those dish clothes look fine (or as my granny would have called them “Worsh rags”) :-)
Knit on! Maz
Hi lovely… I am envious that you have been to Barangaroo! I’ve heard great things about that place. Happy weekend xxx
love all the snippets, thank you. Particularly love the dishcloths. I knitted up a bunch for each of my daughters-in-law to pop in their Christmas stocking last year. Tied up the bundles with string and the gifts were well received. I added some smaller size ones too to use as face cloths for the little grandkids. They are soft enough for the most delicate skin.
I love your snippetty bits of news – makes me feel like I was there! Now, of course, I need to make focaccia. Have been combining your overnight sourdough process with my regular sourdough process and have just perfected another way of overnight sourdough loaf making…having eaten way too much bread in the process! Now, as the weather is starting to turn autumnal, I need to dig out the knitting needles and wool stash :) Hope it’s been a good weekend!
Ok, I think that is simple enough for even me to follow. I’ve been to Spotlight today and will start it tonight. I’m a very slow knitter though so don’t expect to see anything for a few days :) Thank you for the easy pattern. Love the idea of the larger focaccia crackers by the way. I’m stealing that ;)
That current project of Maude’s looks lovely! Colour is so pretty :)
Looks like lots of bits and pieces happening at your place Celia! Xo
Every post you write glows with a sense of community Ms Celia. You are a hub of contentment and activity in your neighbourhood and the rays of your happiness (and your most industrious baking) flow out and light other people’s lives up. Your neighbours are very lucky people and you are a sterling example of the quintessential “good neighbour” :). Love the garter stitch dishcloth (that’s about the limit of my knitting as well ;) ) and that red blanket is pure gorgeousness. A lovely, generous post but nothing that I wouldn’t expect from you Ms Celia. You are a star :)
I really enjoy seeing how engaged you are with life, Celia. It all looks interesting and very delicious! xx
A beautiful blanket! I would love some chocolate goodies… Your snippets are always so interesting to read. Enjoy the coming week!
Maude’s blanket is just divine! Looks way beyond my crochet skills. You are the best of neighbours Celia x
Lovely post as always…the focaccia looks great. I should try that for my next baking day. Must check out Barangaroo too. Enjoy this lovely Spring weather! x
You certainly made the most of the power outage. I also love to go out with my big boy whenever I can. The dish cloths look wonderful. I wouldn’t mind a yellow chicken curry round about now. The focaccia baking is incredible – and so lovely of you to give some away. I would love some truffle salt in my kitchen xx
Oh Celia! You just reminded me to feed Abby……….
I’ll definitely have to make some focaccia soon!
The Focaccia looks incredible, I made one for friends while we were visiting in Wisconsin, it was a HUGE success. Wish I had truffle oil and salt for it though. The dish cloths look lovely, what a nice stocking stuffer for the holidays!
Eva
What wonderful snippets. I am going to try your focaccia recipe – although if it turns out well my waistline may regret it😊
Wow, that focaccia looks divine! Make a mental note, Kath, truffled salt focaccia. Yummy!
Celia your green their chicken curry looks so good. Now that I loved to Jordan i don’t trust the chicken eaten out.. also i love your kitchen washing cloths..
I love how big your sourdough focaccia is!!!! Fab :-)
I like this post ! Love your dish cloths, must learn to do some handcrafts one of these days xxx
I love this little update. Those dishcloths are just beautiful. When life settles down a bit, I should like to work on my knitting skills (currently pretty woeful!).
That focaccia… oh my! In all incarnations of … just yum :-)
Celia, you always seem to have the coolest places to visit and eat. I love your dish towels but my goodness that work by Maude is stunning (and I do love that color).