ALI’S QUILL Edition Seven
Welcome to Winter
There is something quietly wonderful about the moment the season turns. The mornings carry a different quality of light. The air has a new intention to it. And without quite knowing when it happened, you find yourself reaching for the extra blanket, and not minding at all.
Winter is, I'll confess, one of my favourite seasons. Not despite its slowness, but because of it. It gives us permission to be at home. Properly at home.
I have always thought that layering a home for winter is not so different to dressing for it. You build warmth in stages, texture upon texture, weight upon weight. A chunky knit throw draped over the arm of the sofa. A second cushion. Curtains drawn a little earlier as the light fades. Each layer doing its small, considered work.
Just as I reach for a merino base, a long coat, a scarf that does something, the home deserves the same thoughtfulness. Nothing accidental. Everything chosen.
And then there is the particular comfort of the warm quilt. I have been known to make no apologies whatsoever for disappearing under mine on a Sunday afternoon with a book and no plans. If that sounds familiar, I suspect you are my kind of person.
Winter also means soup. And not just any soup. My cauliflower soup, which I have been making for years and which never fails to feel like exactly the right thing. It is creamy without being heavy, deeply flavoured, and the kind of thing that makes the whole house smell like someone cares.
I will be sharing the recipe below and I hope it finds its way to your kitchen soon.
ALI'S CAULIFLOWER SOUP
Simple. Warming. Exactly right.
You will need
- 1 large head cauliflower
- 1 large brown onion
- 3–4 cloves garlic
- Rice bran oil (or other good quality vegetable oil)
- Butter, unsalted
- 2 litres good quality chicken stock
- Salt, pepper & nutmeg
METHOD
- Melt 2 tablespoons of rice bran oil with 10g butter in a large pot. When foamy, add chopped onion and garlic.
- Once softened, add roughly chopped cauliflower (including the stems) along with the chicken stock, salt, pepper and ½ teaspoon of ground nutmeg. If you have a fresh whole nutmeg, grate approximately ½ tsp and add.
- Let simmer until the cauliflower is soft, then blend with a stick blender or in a blender jug until smooth and creamy.
- Serve with warm sourdough and a dollop of cream, a splash of EVOO, or fresh herbs on top.
A Little Chaos, A Lot of Excitement
The sale has wrapped up and thank you so much to everyone who came in and made it such a lovely few weeks. We are now in full stocktake and packing mode, and if you pop in and find us surrounded by boxes, bubble wrap, packing paper and the occasional very important list... do not be alarmed.
We are moving. Still in Mudgee, just around the block, and we cannot wait to show you the new space when the time comes. For now, the shop may look a little like organised chaos, but we want to reassure you: it is very much business as usual.
Curtain and shutter consultations are running as normal. Our in-home visits continue as they always have. And our window furnishings manufacturing is entirely unaffected. Your projects are being made to the same care and timeline, whether we are surrounded by moving boxes or not.
If you have been thinking about new curtains, blinds or shutters, now is still a wonderful time to book a consultation. We would love to come and see your space.
The Long Weekend
The Queen's Birthday long weekend is upon us, and Mudgee in winter is, as those who know it will agree, something rather special. Bonfires. Long lunches. A winery or two. A walk through the quiet cold with good company. We hope yours is full of all of it.
We will be open across the weekend with the following hours:
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SATURDAY
Our usual trading hours
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SUNDAY & MONDAY
10am – 1pm
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