In My Kitchen July 2012

4/7/2012

In My Kitchen July 2012

Blue wren treasures on the sideboard in my kitchen

We are now well into July and I'm amazed that the months are passing so quickly. Next month in August it will be a year since I embarked on this blogging adventure and I'm delighted to be able to share my passion for fresh produce and cooking with so many new friends. One of those friends is Celia, at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial, who brings together cooks and food enthusiasts from across the globe with her In My Kitchen posts.

Celia has very kindly dedicated her July post to another of our friends... fellow food blogger, Barbara Harris (Winos and Foodies), who passed away recently. I always looked forward to hearing from Barbara and enjoyed reading her posts. The one that has stayed with me is this one where Barbara shared a photograph of the first New Year's Eve that she and Bryan, her husband of 32 years, celebrated together.

Farewell to a very gracious, courageous and beautiful lady. May the angels always watch over you.

Since the passing of my parents and two older brothers, I have thought of wrens as little angels, and I feel blessed to have a family or two of them in my garden. On a sideboard in my kitchen is a collection of blue wren treasures (see above) that include gifts from beloved friends. The little tapestry was from my friend, Christine; and the yellow picture was painted by the mother of another friend, Lee (who I haven't seen for a long, long time). Peter gave me the little ceramic tile as a gift after a Summertime visit to the Australian National Botanic Gardens when we were first dating.

Also in my kitchen...

Enamelled colanders that I bought from markets in Budapest

White ceramic apple baking dish... another bargain from a second hand store

Organic black Beluga lentils... watch this space for my lentil soup recipe

There are two lemon fairies in my office now

This lemon zester is one of my favourite cook's tools

Tas-Saff saffron produced by Terry & Nicky Noonan. I wrote an article about them in the '90s.

Black truffle that I won on Twitter. I shared this with my friend, The Dog

A range of great-tasting products from Beerenberg Farm in South Australia

Three titles on vegetables from my cookbook collection

What good things are in your kitchen this month?

36 Comments

Celia link

7/7/2012 08:32:18 pm

Beautiful post, Lizzy, thank you. May the angels and wrens watch over both Barbara and her family.. x

I love your wren collection, and am intrigued by the beluga lentils - I've never heard of them before. That's one of the nicest things about the IMK posts, I'm always learning new things. Looking forward to seeing your lentil soup recipe. Your truffle looks scrumptious, and I have a couple of lemon fairies too - everyone is growing them prolifically except me! (I'm on the verge of harvesting my second lemon ever.. :))

Have a great week, love.. x

Lizzy

7/7/2012 08:43:35 pm

Indeed, Celia.

Thank you. I am trying not to collect too many ornaments, especially at this middle aged stage of my life. I love being surrounded by lovely things, but once you have packed up the house when a loved one dies, you realise that there are more important things in life.

I am blessed to have the lemon fairies in the office, as I do really love lemons and use them frequently in my cooking. Even as I write this, there is a lemon and tarragon chicken roasting in the oven!

My little lemon and lime in pots on the verandah are doing well!

Have a great week too, my friend. xox

Lisa link

7/7/2012 08:38:19 pm

What a lovely collection! Love that apple baking dish in particular !

7/7/2012 08:48:56 pm

Thanks Lisa. The little apple dish was about two dollars, pre loved white ceramics are a favourite of mine! Hope all is good with your little family!

Jane @ Shady Baker link

7/7/2012 10:15:07 pm

What a beautiful post Lizzy. I have just read Barbara's blog through your link, also a beautiful post. Indeed, may wrens watch over her. We are lucky enough to see these little wrens in our garden occasionally too, they always seem special.

I love the apple baking dish. Lemons and a zester...two kitchen favourites! Have a good week, I am looking forward to the lentil soup recipe. x

7/7/2012 10:38:08 pm

Hi Jane, thank you kindly! I love the wrens and always refer to them as little angels. Now Peter does it too. The soup is with smoked hock, so very very tasty!

Emilie@theclevercarrot link

8/7/2012 02:13:32 am

What wonderful things in your kitchen! I really adore those enamelled colanders from Budapest. I love anything enamelled and anything white! Your black truffle looks amazing too. I wish I had that in my kitchen this month! Enjoy.

9/7/2012 09:16:59 am

Thank you Emilie! I like old enamel ware too, my mum always seemed to have it in her kitchen. Happy cooking and thanks for stopping by ; )

Lisa Anthony

8/7/2012 07:55:38 am

Enjoyed your post, I have an abundance of fresh tomatoes and peaches. They are sweet and juicy! A true blessing of the season.

9/7/2012 09:17:46 am

Ah, peaches and tomatoes... you are enjoying a warmer season in your part of the world. I long for summer now. Thank you for visiting.

Misky link

8/7/2012 09:30:40 am

I hope that your blue wren angels always watch over you, Lizzy. I also have a lemon zester but yours is soooo cute! I use mine a lot. I've found that lemon zest also freezes quite well, if you have a lot of lemons and don't want to the waste the rind. I'm so interested about the truffle. What does it taste like?

9/7/2012 09:19:34 am

Why thank you, Misky, that is very kind!

This zester is great, as it is ergonomic and very user friendly all round. That tip about freezing lemon zest is a great idea, thank you. Please tell me, do you freeze it in lemon juice?

Truffle? What does it taste like? Hmmm.... that is a tough question. Truffle is earthy and rich in flavour. Definitely an acquired taste.

InTolerant Chef link

8/7/2012 11:06:41 am

What exciting things Lizzy! I love the little blue wrens and we get the occasional visitor here cheekily hopping about taunting the dog :)
I have yet to use this years Saffron, I love to smell and taste some totally fresh, then hoard the rest to gloat over when no one is looking. :)

9/7/2012 09:20:48 am

Bec, I am looking forward to seeing your saffron! I think you are amazing growing your own! I would be gloating too.

Maureen link

8/7/2012 11:19:23 am

Barbara will be missed by so many.

You've got the coolest things in your kitchen. I hate to say it but the biggest thing in my kitchen right now is a mess. I heard the mister down there earlier and he's not not the neatest cook. (ever)

I've got a batch of macadamia nut blondies and a beautiful bunch of rhubarb and strawberries somewhere in there. :)

9/7/2012 09:22:07 am

Indeed she will, Maureen.

I smiled when I read about your mister not being the neatest cook, neither is mine, but I adore him, even if I grumble about crumbs from one end of the kitchen to the other.

Yummy, your ingredients sound delicious, what are you making with them?

A Canadian Foodie link

8/7/2012 02:53:53 pm

I will have to send you some peeks into my kitchen treasures sometime. Loved this personal peek. Cute willow gal with blue bird - and love the enamel colanders. Thousand of them through the Eastern Block and I have never brought one home. I will now! They are pretty!
Love your specialties.
XO
Valerie

9/7/2012 09:23:46 am

Hi Valerie, why don't you play too! The little willow girl is so pretty... I think she is happy and carefree, which is how I would like to be (though life throws some BIG spanners in the way at times). The colanders are a favourite. I always worry that we will accidentally put them in the dishwasher. Thanks for visiting, my friend from afar xox

JohannaGGG link

8/7/2012 03:57:57 pm

Those wrens are a lovely way to remember those who are no longer with us. Love the wonderful colourful sights of your kitchen. I quite like the sound of the jonathan roberts book - is it as interesting as the cover promises?

9/7/2012 09:24:40 am

Hello there.... they are, aren't they. Little angels.

The Jonathan Roberts book is delicious. I have had it for years and never tire of all the beautiful pictures and interesting facts. Thanks for visiting.

Mandy - The Complete Cook Book link

8/7/2012 09:07:58 pm

So sorry to hear about your friends passing Lizzy.
You have an incredible amount of wonderful treasure in your kitchen this month - fabulous.
:-) Mandy

9/7/2012 09:25:30 am

Barbara had so many, many friends in the blogging community. I wish I had had the opportunity to meet her in person. We talked about a road trip but it was not to be. Thank you for visiting.

Karen link

8/7/2012 11:50:56 pm

Hi Lizzy, Sorry to hear about the passing of your friend.

Fabulous lentils, that look even better than the French puy variety.

Ohhh. Lucky you winning a truffle ! I've never tried a fresh one, only truffle oil.

9/7/2012 09:26:26 am

Hi Karen... thank you.

The lentils are amazing. They hold their shape so beautifully in cooking, much like the Puy lentils.

Fresh truffle is divine. You know that truffle oil is made from chemicals?

Sous Chef link

10/7/2012 04:44:58 am

What a lovely post, so very sorry about Barbara. You have some delightful things, *steals the colanders with her eyes*

10/7/2012 09:05:34 am

Thanks so much. *Hides colanders behind her back* LOL.

Claire @ Claire K Creations link

10/7/2012 11:06:43 am

What a wonderful collection of goodies you have there. I especially love the apple baking dish. So cute!

I hope the angels are watching over Barbara too. xx

13/7/2012 10:52:14 pm

Thanks Claire, me too xox The little apple baking dish is a favourite. I have another in the shape of a pineapple ; )

Tandy link

12/7/2012 01:06:36 am

what a great selection this month - I love the apple dish :)

13/7/2012 10:52:36 pm

The apple dish is popular, isn't it Tandy.

heidi link

12/7/2012 01:43:37 am

Your wrens are so pretty- I love blue birds!
The white ceramic apple dish and white colanders make me rather envious- but I really don't have room for another thing in my kitchen- so I will just enjoy looking at yours.
You have a lot of great stuff in your kitchen- from lemons to truffles, saffron and some rather intriguing bottled products- thanks for sharing this month. (I thought I had already commented- but don't see it - must have been interrupted before I posted. :) )

13/7/2012 10:53:18 pm

That's the spirit, Heidi. I am running out of room too. Gets that way, doesn't it. Thanks for visiting xox

Glenda link

13/7/2012 01:19:21 pm

Hi Lizzy
I love your apple baking dish. Since I have started blogging I have been visiting op shops more frequently. They are great. That bowl is a winner.

13/7/2012 10:53:59 pm

Thanks Glenda. LOL, I love op shops. I have gathered some wonderful white ceramic ware from my op shopping trips!

Christine (FoodWineTravel) link

16/8/2012 08:49:42 pm

Hi Liz,
I meant to comment earlier on this but never enough hours in the day... I was so thrilled that you featured my little tapestry of the gorgeous blue wren. It was a pleasure to create and I'm glad you get so much enjoyment out of it. xx

16/8/2012 08:54:21 pm

Hi there... you know I love that little tapestry! One day I will write a post and story about how you came to give it to me as a gift... do you remember? xox

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