A family of wrens is darting back and forth from the old bird bath in the courtyard just off our kitchen to the Manchurian pear tree in the front garden. To our delight, there are a few bees on the lavender bushes too. They disappeared en masse last summer and I can't wait till they bring a few more friends to visit. It's a warm day and somewhere in the distance someone is using a whipper-snipper. Fortunately, the noise is carried in the other direction by a gentle breeze. After a winter that seemed to go on and on, finally there are sunny days, blue skies (and hopefully, better health) to look forward to. In my kitchen this month is the official program for this year's Floriade, a festival that celebrates spring in the nation's capital with a mass planting of the most beautiful flowers (see above). I had the pleasure of meeting Julie Goodwin, Australia's first 'Masterchef' at Floriade last weekend. Stay tuned for my postcards and morsels from that event. Floriade is held until mid October, so there's plenty of time to plan a visit. What are you waiting for? In my kitchen is Lyndey and Blair's Taste of Greece cookbook. Peter and I caught up with Lyndey for a long overdue cup of coffee following the Hilltops Wine dinner in Young recently. I'm keen to dip into this one during spring and summer. In my kitchen is a jar of traditional Queensland mango chutney from Mudgeeraba Spices, a group that has a stand at Floriade every year. My tastebuds are tempted by a spoonful of this topped with a dollop of sour cream. Quite divine! In my kitchen there is asparagus, thanks to the Australian Asparagus Council. We've been enjoying it in a range of salads and I also plan to make an asparagus soup this weekend. What's your favourite asparagus recipe? In my kitchen there are baby aubergines or eggplants from the local market. Peter won't eat them, which is good as I get them all to myself. For a few recipes and information about aubergines or eggplant, see my posts here. In my kitchen is a copy of Oxfam's newly released Vegetarian Cookbook, and I am delighted to have been invited to submit one of my recipes to the book. This latest edition features some 70 recipes from celebrity chefs as well as 'prominent Australian food bloggers'. The focus of the book is on using local or seasonal produce and energy efficient cooking methods in support of Oxfam's GROW campaign that aims to fight global hunger. The book is available from Oxfam stores nationally and sells for $24.95. In my kitchen are mini baking tins that I will use to bake smaller portions of cake and pie, so that Peter and I can get back into shape ahead of Christmas this year. I will bake usual portions and freeze the rest. Sounds like a plan, no? In my kitchen is a rather cute tea duck that I won on Facebook from Sealy Australia. Clearly they felt sorry to hear about my pneumonia! Also in my kitchen is a brightly coloured Portugese rooster of good luck and happiness that I bought from a quirky and really lovely store in Young recently, called Annie B's Full House. In Portugal, the rooster is a symbol of faith, good luck and justice. I used to own of these in a former lifetime. It was red, white and blue. I left it behind when my life took a new direction. Perhaps this cheery little chap might keep me bolstered with good fortune in terms of my health and wellbeing. One can always hope. And finally, in celebration of the return of the bees to our garden is my study of bees on lavender, taken this morning. I love my Olympus macro lens to pieces and plan to spend my retirement investigating it's endless photographic possibilities. So, tell me, what good things have you in your kitchen lately? And have you visited my friend, Celia, who hosts this series each month. There are many new friends to meet around the world via the In My Kitchen Series. So, pop in and say hi.
21/9/2013 01:07:22 am
What a lovely post Lizzy, can't wait to see some of the recipes from Greece you're going to share.
Lizzy
21/9/2013 10:24:11 am
Eva, thank you kindly! I think I might start by making Lyndey's cheesecake, which is in this post http://www.bizzylizzysgoodthings.com/7/category/hilltops%20annual%20wine%20dinner/1.html I tasted it at the dinner, but have yet to make it. Peter asked me yesterday to use some strawberries with it. 21/9/2013 01:08:46 am
Hi Liz, Glad you finally have another Portuguese rooster. I love the colours! It's so cheery - do hope it will bring you plenty of good fortune.
Lizzy
21/9/2013 10:24:41 am
Hi Christine... me too... actually this one is a lovely cheery colour! Thank you for stopping by : ) What a glorious collection of photos! I stopped reading and just scrolled through them, returning after to read. It seems like you've got lots of good things happening now. I love the idea of the Floriade. We have nothing like that here in Southern California - at least nothing I have heard of. The rubber ducky is too cute..., and may your rooster bring you good fortune!
Lizzy
21/9/2013 10:25:28 am
Hi Adri... Floriade is just gorgeous.... when I worked closer, I would go every lunchtime! The little duck is fun! Thanks for stopping by. 21/9/2013 08:12:36 am
Isn't Floriade the most wonderful place to visit??? The rooster is definitely a keeper!
Lizzy
21/9/2013 10:26:40 am
Hello my friend! How are you getting along?! Floriade is great... better some years than others... but I love it all the same. Still not 100%. I think I have a long slow journey to full recovery. Hope you are resting! Get well xoxo
Andrea
21/9/2013 10:52:14 am
Hi Lizzy, fabulous post! I so love tulips and do look forward to our coming trip to Floriade the long weekend. Will have to check out the stall for the mango chutney given I'm a Queenslander at heart! And, next time I'm travelling through Young, I will have to look at for the Portuguese chicken! Which store in Young was it? Have good memories of taken family down to young from parkes a couple of years ago to pick cherries!!! This post was just fabulous, all my favourite things, tulips, Floriaide, photos and memories!!!
Lizzy
21/9/2013 10:56:25 am
Oh, Andrea, you will love Floriade, it's a picture this year! I will give you the heads up that the chutney is $20 a jar (yikes)... once you taste it you will know why I lashed out! Check out the nut lady too... she does the best roasted nuts. Delish! Oh, sorry, I should have mentioned, the store in Young is Annie B's Full House https://www.facebook.com/anniebs.fullhouse Annie is a delight!
Lizzy
21/9/2013 10:20:54 pm
Sue, thank you! If I get the time, I will share mine!
Lizzy
21/9/2013 10:21:54 pm
Hello Glenda... how wonderful that you have been to Portugal! Thanks for your kind words, so very kind xo 21/9/2013 01:15:17 pm
Some practical, some whimsical- exactly what every kitchen needs Lizzy :)
Lizzy
21/9/2013 10:23:12 pm
Thanks Bec, so true! I'm sorry, I didn't realise you were out of action. Let me know if I can do anything to help xo
Lizzy
21/9/2013 10:23:38 pm
Hello Elaine, that sounds quite delicious! Will you blog the soup and the quiche? Yes, I love to make cakes but am conscious of what it's doing to our waistlines so I always freeze half of whatever I make also. Waiting their turn in the freezer at the moment are black bean brownies, coconut lime syrup cake and red and black currant batter cake. Love your little Portuguese rooster - he's a keeper!
Lizzy
21/9/2013 10:24:12 pm
Thanks Fiona, I thought he was rather cute! Sounds like we are both on the right track in terms of not overeating! : )
Eha
21/9/2013 03:31:53 pm
Oh Lizzy: wish I could 'pinch' half of yours this month. OK: asparagus and aubergine into my big pockets first of all ~ and BOTH cookery books: have been amiss and do no have this particular Oxfam book - use so many of their vegetarian recipe all along. And I do not have the Lyndey Milan one ~ I hope to God the darling woman has been able to make peace with what happened . . .LOVE that tulip and wish I could be at the Floriade . . . think of me just for a second as you pass the tulip beds . . .
Lizzy
21/9/2013 10:25:16 pm
Oh Eha, I hope you are travelling better than you were! Yes, terribly tragedy for Lyndey and so hard for a mother to come to terms with losing her beloved son! The tulips at Floriade are just beautiful! Get well xo 21/9/2013 06:06:30 pm
Macro photography is so cool! I did a lot of it 10+ years ago, using a manual focus camera (Nikon F3) and slide film. Which was a real pain - you never knew whether you nailed the shot, needed to send it off and wait for the slides to see what you got, and it was expensive! I figure with digital cameras we're getting the cameras for free, and buying the "film." Anyway, nice shots! Try butterflies too - they're tons of fun. And loads of good stuff in your kitchen this month!
Lizzy
21/9/2013 10:26:29 pm
John, where can I see your macro work? These days things are so much better with digital, aren't they! Have tried to capture butterflies, they are difficult! Been to a couple of butterfly farms. Watch for my upcoming post on a trip to Cairns. Thanks for stopping by : ) 21/9/2013 11:19:18 pm
Your tea duck is so cute!! I also love the Portuguese rooster, both certainly add some beautiful colour to your kitchen. Thanks for sharing Lizzy x
Lizzy
22/9/2013 09:16:40 am
Thanks Lisa... it is cute, isn't it... I can just imagine it floating around on my cup of tea! Yes, I love the colours of the rooster too : )
e / dig in hobart
22/9/2013 11:13:48 am
i'm looking forward to seeing your floriade report, lizzy - i can't believe it's a been a year since mum and i went! i'll have to get her think about going again next year...
Lizzy
22/9/2013 06:49:52 pm
Your way with asparagus is perfect! KISS x 23/9/2013 12:59:53 am
Lizzy, I'm hoping the warmer weather will speed your recovery along, too. Your photos are gorgeous! Congratulations on being invited to submit a recipe to the Oxfam cookbook, too -- truly an accomplishment! My favorite way to cook asparagus is good ol' fashioned "steamed" but I also love it sauteed and grilled. And in quiche. And... :)
Lizzy
23/9/2013 03:52:36 pm
Kim, thank you so much! Asparagus, is so versatile, isn't it!
Lizzy
23/9/2013 03:52:52 pm
Thank you Krista : ) 23/9/2013 02:32:08 am
Loving your post!
Lizzy
23/9/2013 03:53:36 pm
Hello Heidi and welcome! Yes, it's nice when we are on other sides of the world to share our seasons. Thank you for your very kind words : )
Lizzy
23/9/2013 03:54:01 pm
Hello Bernice, thank you kindly... may our chickens bring us much good fortune : ) 24/9/2013 12:11:04 pm
G'day Lizzy! Love your rooster and your ducky too!
Lizzy
24/9/2013 08:29:51 pm
Joanne, many thanks!
Lizzy
28/9/2013 11:35:02 am
Thank you Azita, you should play too!
Lizzy
28/9/2013 11:34:48 am
It is, isn't it! I just love the colours!
Lizzy
28/9/2013 11:35:22 am
Elaine, thank you, that's very kind of you! Hello darling! What a beautiful post this month - I sighed with happiness when I opened your blog to the photo of the tulip. Floriade already! And what a bittersweet book for Lyndey, it must be full of memories for her. I love your Portuguese rooster, may he work his magic for you! xx
Lizzy
30/9/2013 08:58:44 pm
Hi lovely Celia! How can it be October already!? Yes, a bittersweet book for Lyndey... heartbreaking. Thank you for your very kind words. xo 29/9/2013 07:09:44 am
What glorious flowers, just when ours are fading for the year *sigh*. I hope the warmer weather brings you better health and stamina my lovely Liz. And fabulous that you are in the Oxfam Vegetarian cookbook - well done! What recipe?
Lizzy
30/9/2013 08:59:48 pm
Kellie, thank you so much! I hope so too... it's back to a cold snap again and I seem to have come down with something again. Sigh. Thanks for your kind words about the Oxfam book. The recipe is roasted banana chillies. : ) Comments are closed.
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Welcome...Üdvözölöm
Cooking and writing have been a lifelong passion. Join me as I share with you my favourite recipes; postcards and morsels from my travels; conversations with cookery writers and chefs; and news on food, cookbooks and cooking. - Liz Posmyk
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NB: I use Australian standard measuring cups and spoons in my recipes.
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