Best of the week

Here I am! A bit late with Best of the Week, but I know you don’t mind! If you’ve been reading recently you will know that I have had tonsilitis. I’m finally starting to feel better today, and thought I’d celebrate with a wee catch up before the week rolls out. And the movers come. And I my two final assessments are due in. And my new study period starts. Yikes. Let’s crack on, petals!

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Last week’s paid subscriber recipe was for my very picnic-worthy potato salad. Did you try making it?! If you are not a paying subscriber, here is an ace recipe for you to try anyway; it’s for focaccia and my beautiful and kind son-in-law Paul has made it two days in a row and says it’s VERY DELISH!

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Best of the week

What are the best things for last week? Here are a tiny few, pals ...!

1/ I would like every single thing in this shop, pretty much. Perhaps you feel the same?

2/ I just bought the Kindle version of this cookbook because I can’t buy any more actual books until I’ve moved and am in better financial straits! I’m going to buy the hard copy down the track, for sure. It’s jam-packed with brilliant, simple, comforting recipes, as Claire’s cookbooks always are. YUM. Also Claire’s lunchbox cake looks very, very good.

3/ Making simple crocheted cotton washcloths. I usually start with a chain of 45 stitches and then decide what to do after that. Mostly I love a bit of a crocheted rib, as you can see. I’m keen to make a whole drawer-full, inspired by my friend Rhonda’s drawer.

4/ Speaking of linens and such. How beautiful is this tea towel? There are lots of others to choose from, but this one is my favourite. I love seaweed. I’m a seaweed nerd. Who could resist all those swishy textures and colours and shapes, I ask you? NOT ME. Nope.

5/ Look at these beautiful vessels and vases all snuggled up together. (Via)

6/ Ari just sent me this photo. He called it ‘Yam on a tram’ and let’s not quibble because I’m into it.

7/ Mac and Cheese with Roasted Tomatoes? Yes. Please.

8/ How to make shortbread.

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Tool of the week: The BBQ

Do you have one? What kind is it? Do you use it?
Charcoal? Gas? Something else?
I don’t have one for Melbourne yet, so I am keen to know what you all like to use!
Please tell me, so that I may be outdoorsily inspired by you?

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TikTok cooks

Lots of people hate TikTok, but when it comes to cooking it’s actually brilliant. Regular people in their regular kitchens making delicious-looking things are so very much my jam. I’m going to share a favourite here each week (when I remember!) This week we’ve got … Fig and Olive Platter’s Sicilian Pizza - WATCH

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Three Good Things

1/ Feeling a bit better after being tonsilitis-y.
2/ Talking to the kids!
3/ Nearly finished packing our stuff!

What are yours?

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Chatty highlights

Okay, I admit not many people are commenting but the ones that are are very much appreciated! (Please come over and comment! I promise it’s lovely to chat here and we can form a special type of gang!)

We chatted about rice cookers and my OG darling-face fave Reannon said:

“I used to always cook my rice in the microwave- 1 cup rice to 1.5 cups of water. Perfect every time. But since I got my multi cooker I tend to use that more because it’s huge & I can cook more. The multi cooker is great for all grain cooking actually. Today I cooked freekeh & burgel. So nutty & delicious.”

We chatted about food in fiction and Emily-Ann said:

“From childhood I also vividly remember the food from Enid Blyton - From The Magic Faraway Tree: pop biscuits and google buns are my first memory of fiction food I wanted. A book called Hazel Green. Hazel is friends with a baker need I say more.

Harry Potter - Butterbeer and pumpkin juice! the feasts in the Great Hall... Molly Weasley's cooking and a particular memorable stack of buttered toast that Hermione once brought Harry.

More recently from The Dictionary of Lost Words - Porridge Lizzy made with fresh cream and stewed apples. Also lots of tea and freshly baked biscuits, fresh bread and sandwiches and baskets packed for picnics.

Where the Crawdads Sing - the food felt to me like an integral part of the story telling. The importance of food for survival and the connection it had with being cared for. It had me googling and craving so many Southern American dishes.”

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“a thousand little winds pass through me this morning, fragrant with forest leaves and bright autumnal berries.” — Emily Dickinson

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Best wishes and squishes to you, dear reader.

x pip