A few (very random) snippets from the past couple of weeks…
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I made my first attempt at cleaning and cooking baby octopus, following a recipe from the Australian Fish and Seafood Cookbook that my friend Amanda recommended (I bought a Kindle copy)…
Gutting and dismembering cephalopods isn’t for the squeamish, as they look quite alive before you start (plus it was 5am and I thought I could hear a mouse under the bench, so I was a bit jumpy). But it’s worth learning to do, because the Australian varieties are regarded as a sustainable form of protein.
The octopuses had a long 40 minute braise until tender, then rested in a vinegary wine stock for a couple of days before serving. They were a big hit…
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My friend and neighbour Maude crocheted me another cotton poncho. I loved the purple one she gave me last year so much that I wore it until it was matted and threadbare…
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Last weekend, we had our Autumn dinner with friends Kevin, Carol, Gil and Therese. We get together at the start of each season for a night of (mostly) vegetarian food and wine. At this dinner, we served Sawsan’s hummus, a garden broccoli raab dip, spiced mixed nuts, mascarpone reale and French Ossau Iraty sheeps’ cheese.
Remember my $4 wheels of organic brie from Costco? I defrosted one of these and brushed it with Ian and Diana’s backyard honey, added chopped pecans and garnished the top with garden thyme and rosemary flowers. It was oozy and perfect, and no one could believe that the cheese had been frozen (or cost $3.97!)…
I opened a bottle of Graham’s 1970 Vintage Portuguese port and was very chuffed when the 47 year old cork came out in one piece…
Our plan this time was simple…fill the table with nibblies to go with freshly baked sourdough, followed by vegetarian pizzas…
…then serve three desserts! Tiramisu, little chocolate cakes, and a plate of dark chocolate coins and fruit cake with port. It was a glorious night…
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On Sunday, my niece Hwa and her boyfriend Ian came to visit. They brought me sunflowers!
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I had planned to study clouds this year, but instead I’m reading the teachings of the ancient Roman Stoics. A good friend suggested that it might be helpful in my efforts to manage my anxiety. This was the book he recommended I begin with, but I’ve now moved onto the actual texts (well, translations thereof – I can’t read ancient Greek). It’s been a wonderful, enlightening process that I’m enjoying immensely. I’m learning to think in a different way…
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And while we’re on the topic, you’ll be pleased to know that the Headspace meditation continues. I’ve now clocked up more than two months of daily 15 minute sessions and it’s been joyous. I can’t recommend it highly enough!
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The rainy weather has been playing havoc with my walking schedule, but there’s been more time for baking as a result. Of the eight loaves below, five went to the neighbours…
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I cooked abalone recently and kept the shells as tea light holders…
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Finally, a delicious new tipple, taken from Nigella’s Christmas Cookbook. It’s two parts cognac, one part Grand Marnier and one part Amaretto (I substituted Frangelico). If the measures are sized carefully, this can be consumed without falling over…
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Hope you’re all having a wonderful month! ♥
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
What a feast Celia, no one would have even noticed there wasn’t any meat. And I love the Poncho, great color.
I downloaded Headspace but haven’t on your suggestions but haven’t used it yet. Would love to hear more about the stoics and how your thinking has changed.
Your vegetarian spread looks great. Congratulations on keeping up with your meditation practice. I have to get back to it myself. I am going to look for your book.
I’m too squemish to try octopus. The sunflowers are so cheery! A lovely pocho. My bread baking was put on hold for a bit as I’ve been busy with our newborn baby girl. I baked quite a few loaves before she was born and froze them, but I have to start baking again in the next few days.
We learned to appreciate octopus when on holiday in Spain a couple of years ago, but never see it fresh in this part of the UK.
The abalone shells look lovely as tea-light holders – the reflections increase the light given out.
I love your snippet posts Celia. The little ab T lights look good- I also save ab shells when they come my way and used to dive for them on the South coast of NSW where you can take 6 per person off the coast at a certain depth. The rules may have changed though. That bread looks amazing, as usual and so many, reminding me that I need to get my bread making rhythm back as Mr T looked sad when he discovered no spares in the freezer yesterday. Must also grab hold of that meditation app. Head has become too busy again. Will someone turn me off please, especially at night! Thanks xx
Fra, grab the headspace app soon if you can – the meditation for sleep is in the singles section. Normally it’s paid content, but it’s free for March only. I’ve texted you the link. xxx
Thanks my dear friend.
What a delicious time you’ve had of late. That table spread with goodies is eye popping, I can imagine the good time you all had.
What wonderful array of ‘snippets’. I too must get that app as I’ve had many nights awake for hours and its doing my head in. Your friend Maude does beautiful crochet work, very impressive. I bet everyone thoroughly enjoyed that dinner, best way to do it. Not sure about the octopus…………getting visions of it coming alive and wrapping itself around my head as I try and swallow it. :)
Your Autumn feast sounds magical and your new poncho is beautiful. Winner of a post, Celia. (except that octopus :) )
Your poncho looks a lovely colour…what a thoughtful gift. I love the sound of three desserts at the end of your amazing meal…did you have room left to sample all three? Meg:)
Love your snippets – your nibblies look so very good and I just love the rounding off with 3 desserts – no heart can be down with 3 desserts on the menu. The info on tackling an octopus is quite timely because I’ve been eyeing more sustainable seafood choices too. The subtitle of your book made me smile and interested me – I need to learn the art of “stoic joy”. We have a family catastrophe that is now of 6-months’ standing (no different from the average family catastrophe I imagine) – but if all else fails me I shall def try Nigella’s cocktail! I find making lists helps with the scrambled brain.
I’m not sure about the title of that book – Stoic Joy? Maybe I’m being pedantic! I probably need to download that app instead of just following them on Instagram…….
Lovely spread btw – I love a nice graze with superb alcohol. And company of course.
Ahh that’s the very first bit of the book, Nance. Stoic with a capital S is VERY different to what we understand the word stoic to mean now. xxx
But if your measures are on the large side …
Even as I wrote that, I thought…”I bet Anne’s going to say something…” hahaha
Whoa, fruitcake with Port and then the tipple!! I have that book, must take a look, thanks for leading me down the ‘garden path’ !!
I 😍 WAS falling over with ALL these AMAZING tidbits!! WOWZA and AMAZING DON’T even come CLOSE to expressing how much I’m in awe of not just the brie but those sourdough loaves (which I TRULY believe more than make up for the walking!), the super cheerful sunflowers which was adorable of your niece and bf to bring for you, and FINALLY, for me, that drink. Talk about warming. Ummmm … I’m not usually a drinker because of so many meds that conflict with alcohol, but that mix would make me take the tiniest of sips just because of the flavors! I’ve not commented in a while but this post sure got MY juices flowing! I’m now heading to my kitchen to figure out something chocolaty for dessert tonight and it’s ALL your fault! Have a GREAT weekend!!
That drink sounds like a real winter warmer, I think I’d prefer it with the frangelico.
What an amazing vegetarian spread. I certainly wouldn’t miss meat with that feast.
love the sound of that cocktail. i reckon it would do you in very quickly:) look at all the glorious loaves. so clever. beautiful poncho.
Ah Celia, that poncho. My mother made me one in the 1970s. Thank you for the beautiful memories. Love this round up, darling xx
Wow! My husband and I have just been having some interesting conversations around Stoicism – I may need to get that book for him. And my youngest, who has always been “wound too tightly” has been using Headspace to great effect. Thanks for sharing all of this Celia!