In My Kitchen - May 2012 The year is whizzing by and at the beginning of every month we pay a visit to Fig Jam and Lime Cordial, the website and blog of talented baker and cook Celia, who features a segment titled 'In My Kitchen'. Celia posts links from cooks from around the world, who generously invite readers into their kitchens to share What's Cooking, What's Eating, What's Reading, What's Shopping and What's Happening at the hearth. In my kitchen this month... There is something old and something new. The old wooden spoon in the photograph above belonged to my mother and I have not been able to part with it. I love seeing how the edges have worn down from stirring many a pot over the decades. The cookery book on the left also belonged to my mother. It was posted to her by her mother (my grandmother), who remained in Hungary after my parents made the ocean voyage to Australia in 1956. It must have been devastating for the family to be separated in that way. I cannot begin to imagine the bittersweet journey. This treasured volume titled Az Inyesmester Nagy Szakacskonyve (or The Great Cookbook aka The Art of Hungarian Cooking) was published in 1955 and, before posting it, my grandmother had beautifully inscribed the first page with her own name and address, as the sender, together with my mother's name and street address in a now heritage listed area in Acton, Canberra. There is also an inscription from my father, dated 1955. Looking at this book and knowing how much my mum loved to cook from it brings a tear to my eyes.
In My Kitchen April 2012 Welcome to my Autumn kitchen. It seems like just a few short weeks ago that I was glazing a ham for our Christmas lunch, and here it is April already! Daylight saving ended last night, so it it really only 7.00am, which gives me an extra hour of baking and preserving on this blue-sky Sunday morning. One of the aspects of life in Canberra, Australia, is that we (usually) have four distinct seasons; my favourites being Spring and Autumn. With the changing of the seasons, Peter and I layer up and brave the crisp chill of the morning to visit the weekend farmer's markets. After lunch, we walk or cycle by the duck ponds... and then I have 'me time' in my kitchen, baking and preparing the evening meal, before snuggling on the Chesterfield after tea. Don't you just love the delicious things that the cooler weather brings?! The arrival of a new month means it's also time to visit Celia from Fig Jam and Lime Cordial. Celia features a lovely monthly segment titled 'In My Kitchen', where cooks from across the miles invite readers into their kitchens. It's a little bit of What's Cooking, What's Eating, What's Reading, What's Shopping and What's Happening at the hearth each month. Tell me, what's been happening in your kitchen and what's on the agenda for April? In my kitchen in April are these beautiful quinces from our orchard visit with Jonathan and Robyn Banks. I am planning to slow roast them in a vanilla syrup until they turn ruby pink; and will share the recipe with you in coming weeks. Their rose-like scent has perfumed the kitchen.
In My Kitchen March 2012 Cook, blogger and baker extraordinaire, Celia from Fig Jam and Lime Cordial, features a monthly segment titled 'In My Kitchen', where cooks from across the miles invite readers into their kitchens. It's delicious... a little What's Cooking, What's Eating, What's Reading, What's Shopping and What's Happening at the hearth. I love participating and wish to thank Celia for this initiative. It's such a good thing! Canberrans usually applaud the arrival of March. With an array of exotic tree plantings, our city is picturesque in Autumn, the weather is usually perfect and at this time we celebrate Canberra's birthday with the Canberra Festival. Emphasis was placed on the word 'usually' in my reference to the weather, because we have had no Summer to speak of and the rain has been tumbling down for what seems like several weeks! While I am concerned about the kitchen garden suffering with way too much water, this wet weather augers well for more time spent in the kitchen. In my kitchen this month are: These beautiful flowers (above), which were given to me by some of our dearest friends, Diana and Bryant, when we caught up over coffee and cake one Sunday just recently. in Essays, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote 'Flowers and fruits are always fit presents ... because they are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all of the utilities of the world'.
Inspirational blogger, Celia from Fig Jam and Lime Cordial features a monthly segment titled 'In My Kitchen', where fellow bloggers from across the miles allow readers to peek into their kitchens. Such a great concept and I'm really excited that I get to play too! Thanks so much, Celia, for welcoming me. In a perfect world, I could easily spend most of every waking day in my kitchen, just pottering and cooking. The rest of the time would be divided between food shopping at farmer's markets, vegetable gardening, cycling, reading and sleeping (with Peter at my side for all of these, of course). Peter is a great taste tester and he would be very pleased indeed if I spent more time in my (our) kitchen, for there would be so many more good things for him to sample. In fact, he is looking forward to our retirement in a few years time for this very reason. Hmm, perhaps I should consider allocating a little more time to cycling in planning for our dream retirement, so we can be well fed, yet svelte and fit all at once! This pictorial vignette gives you an insight into my kitchen this month. I have been quite a Bizzy Lizzy.  The fruit bowl (or platter) is the centrepiece on the island bench and is always laden with fresh fruit. We usually buy fruit from the local Farmer's Markets and occasionally from the supermarket when fruit such as bananas and mangoes are on special.  I'm fond of flowers and like to have fresh flowers inside our home when possible. Peter and I have roses, lillies and irises in the garden, however, these came from a stall at the Farmer's Market.  The pink on the edge of the roses is so subtle it barely shows on the first photograph.  Fresh garlic from Ingelara Organic Produce at the Farmer's Markets this morning. There is always garlic in my kitchen.  Cos lettuce in the kitchen garden. We grow plenty, which enables me to barter, something my father instilled. See my post on bartering.  Strawberry plants and more cos lettuce, ready to plant this afternoon.  Blood Orange Cordial from Redbelly Citrus, owned by the Mancini family in Australia's Riverina. Made from 40% freshly squeezed blood orange juice and no added colours or flavours. Great with ice cold mineral water. Click this image, it links to their web pages.  I finally picked up a Madeleine baking tray. I love petit Madeleines and have a good receipt for them. Watch this space!  Green peppercorns in water and salt imported from France. Happened to find them in my local supermarket! Will road test with my peppered porterhouse recipe. Watch this space.  Note to self: You really did not have to buy two more cookery books this week. Yes, I know they are great titles! Yes, I know there are Good Things inside. Hmm? You deserve a treat from time to time. Oh, ok! Self, you win.  Preparing for my post on Seasons' Eatings and planning to make gingerbread biscuits. Yummy! Watch this space.
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