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In my Kitchen - June 2017

1/6/2017

30 Comments

 
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The months are zooming by and here we are at the mid-point of the year once again. The last few leaves, in various shades of autumn, have been blown off my Japanese maple tree by bitterly-cold wintertime winds. And the temperature has already dropped down to minus four degrees C this week!

Thankfully, before that heavy frost I had picked all the lemons from the potted bushes on my front verandah. We've been enjoying the fruit in warming dishes, such as scallop and saffron risotto, slow-roasted lamb shoulder, and chicken roasted with lemon, tarragon and garlic. Let's now take a look at the other goodies in my kitchen:
Wooden platter  Liz Posmyk Good Things
On our last trip to Kiama in summer, I bought myself a new wooden platter-come-chopping board. It's almost too pretty to be used, and I have to admit that I was rather perturbed the first time Peter sliced into a loaf of bread, leaving a deep cut in the wood. Call me a fusspot, but I have covered a clear plastic chopping sheet sitting on top of the board now.
Locally produced Homeleigh Grove EVOO  Liz Posmyk Good Things
At the conclusion of our weekend in Yass, we popped in to the Visitor Information Centre. To our delight, we discovered a good selection of locally produced food and wine, so we stocked up on a few bottles of locally-produced extra virgin olive oil from Homeleigh Grove, and a bottle of Pinot Noir from Di Bartolo Vineyard. The Fairy Wren on the label of the bottle really took my fancy.
2012 Pinot Noir from Di Bartolo vineyard - Liz Posmyk Good Things
Whilst in the Yass Valley, we enjoyed a couple of great meals at the Duck 'n' Fishes Cafe, Cooradigbee Homestead, and it was there that I discovered this air-dried, shredded Angel Hair chilli from Essential Ingredient. It's lovely as a garnish, both in terms of flavour and presentation.
Angel Hair chilli from Essential Ingredient  Liz Posmyk Good Things
I used a pinch of it to juzz up a risotto of Tasmanian scallops and saffron, prepared in the Tefal Cuisine Companion in a recipe not too dissimilar to this one of mine.
Scallop risotto with saffron and angel hair chilli -  Liz Posmyk Good Things
Ever since our visit to Stockholm a couple of years ago, I've been looking for pearl sugar. Peter presented me with a jar of it after I had made my Scandi cardamom scrolls. I know I could have simply ground some sugar cubes in a mortar and pestle, but somehow I never got around to doing that.
Pearl sugar from Essential Ingredient -  Liz Posmyk Good Things
There's a pile of fabulous new books awaiting my review; including a how-to on Backyard Chickens by Dave Ingham, and Hippie Lane the Cookbook by Taline Gabrielian. Please stay tuned, as I'll be showcasing these on the blog over the next few weeks.
Cookbooks for my review -  Liz Posmyk Good Things

That's all for now. Please pop in and say hello to my friend, Sherry, from Sherry's Pickings, who is now hosting the IMK series (thank you, Sherry). Happy cooking to you. 

Over to you. Tell me dear readers, what's happening in your kitchen this month? And how's the weather in your part of the world?
30 Comments
mae link
31/5/2017 02:14:31 pm

The little bird on your wine label is cute -- and I bet it helps sell the wine, too. I'm vulnerable to choosing wines that have pretty or humorous labels when I don't have any real info about what's inside the bottle.

Autumn leaves are so far away from us! I hope you enjoy them.

best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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Lizzy
2/6/2017 02:40:37 am

Thanks so much, Mae.

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francesca link
31/5/2017 08:49:17 pm

I love the light airiness of your photos Liz. That scallop dish looks so good bu I am wondering how I might make some chilli floss since I have so many chillis. Another project! Of course a drop of Pinot Noir is an essential part of winter.

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Lizzy
2/6/2017 02:41:00 am

I'm not quite sure, Francesca, but it's delicious!

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sherry MacKay link
1/6/2017 12:15:29 am

oh yes i love cute labels too. i can't resist them. i know what you mean about chopping boards. i always feel like a monster when first using them and ruining their beautiful smooth wood. pearl sugar looks interesting and how about the chilli threads? thanks for joining in this month!

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Lizzy
2/6/2017 02:41:13 am

Thanks for hosting, Sherry. x

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Amanda link
1/6/2017 12:55:49 am

I just adore the label on that wine - I hope the contents are just as lovely!

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Lizzy
2/6/2017 02:41:25 am

I do too, Amanda. x

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Gerlinde link
1/6/2017 10:18:43 am

I never heard of pearl sugar , it must be wonderful on cookies. The angle hair chilli is something I would like to have in my kitchen.

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Lizzy
2/6/2017 02:41:37 am

Hi there Gerlinde.

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John / Kitchen Riffs link
1/6/2017 11:58:55 am

This IS a nice looking cutting board/ platter! I don't have that many wood boards -- they all get beaten up pretty quickly. That plastic cover is a good idea. Anyway, good stuff in your kitchen this month -- thanks.

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Lizzy
2/6/2017 02:41:47 am

Thanks John.

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Eha
1/6/2017 08:52:50 pm

So interesting what we can learn from reading these monthly compilations! Shall be looking up 'Essential Ingredient' - that angel hair chilli looks v tempting! And 'Homely Grove' olive oil: would love to compare it to my present long term Australian supplier! And 'Hippie Lane' cookbook - there was a time when I would have thought it very unsophisticated to have anything to do with 'hippie' [tho' I was living close to Nimbin at the time: funny!] . . . . and then there is something called 'maturity' :) !!

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Lizzy
2/6/2017 02:41:58 am

True, Eha x

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Chris Riley link
2/6/2017 05:15:01 am

Love the idea of the angel hair chilli - was it overly hot? I'll look out for some. It looked a treat with the yellow of the saffron rice. But - oh no, don't cover your lovely cutting board. Let the cutting marks add the character over many years of use.

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Shari from GoodFoodWeek link
2/6/2017 05:52:42 am

I was actually looking at Hippie Lane the Cookbook by Taline Gabrielian this morning in the bookshop - I'd love to know what you think about it and whether it is worth purchasing.

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bushboy link
2/6/2017 06:00:37 pm

Oh no Lizzy...a chopping board covered in scratches and scrapes are the memories of great foods cooked. I have one I just use for bread and the deep grooves tell the tale of the countless loaves I baked, endless supply of toast to the family and the thousands of school lunches prepared x

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Andrea
2/6/2017 07:38:01 pm

Always love seeing what's in your kitchen, gives me inspiration! Also, I really must call into Yass, we are not far and yet we pass by always in a rush to get to Canberra. I love the fairy wren label, we have a family of fairy wrens in our garden! Think I'll look out for the chilli next time I go to Orange and visit the Fresh Ingredient! Looking forward to hearing about your new books on the blog xx

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David link
3/6/2017 01:20:05 am

Love your leaf arrangement... and so wish I could get my hands on that chilli angel hair pasta!

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Karen (Back Road Journal) link
3/6/2017 09:58:56 am

The angel hair chilli is one thing I wish I had in my kitchen, it really makes for a pretty presentation.

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Moya link
3/6/2017 12:48:02 pm

Lizzy the color in those maple leaves are stunning... autumn colors we don't get to see in Bahrain. I'm protective over some of my chopping boards too so I completely understand :) I bought some angle hair chili's too, they do look lovely as a garnish on your risotto.

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Kirsty Young link
4/6/2017 03:18:01 am

Yep Liz, minus 4 is pretty much the norm for the upcoming week! I hope winter is kind to us this year. Love the pretty Fairy Wren on the pinot label. I got an education lesson this week in why pinot noir can be so pricey, as they have the extra step of thinning out the fruit bunches on the vine. Virtually tossing money onto the ground! Thanks for the IMK tour this month. Cheers, Kirsty

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Janet link
4/6/2017 07:48:28 pm

My Miss 20 has moved back home - and she loves to bake and cook! So lots of yummy things are being whipped up in my kitchen, and not by me!!!

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Eva Taylor link
6/6/2017 01:11:50 am

I have been on the lookout for pearl sugar for ages, I'm so jealous you have some! The angel hair chili looks awesome too.

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SeattleDee link
6/6/2017 02:28:21 pm

What a jolt to see your colorful Fall leaves while I'm reveling in the colors of Spring. The chili threads add such a visual "pop" to your scallops and risotto - was there a pronounced flavor hit as well?

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Liz link
6/6/2017 09:30:53 pm

That cutting board is lovely, and I understand why you would want to keep it pristine. Interesting new ingredients and beautiful garnish of your risotto with the chili angel hair. As you get ready for winter, it is spring and verging on summer here.

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Lizzy
11/6/2017 03:02:25 pm

Thanks everyone for popping in to comment. Apologies I haven't responded. We're still overseas xx

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Miss Food Fairy link
13/6/2017 03:20:36 am

Japanese maples are my favourite Liz! Love the air dried chilli too, must go find some at Essential Ingredient in Prahran I think. And those scallops looks delicious! Hope you're having a great OS trip xx
https://missfoodfairy.com/2017/06/07/in-my-kitchen-june-2017/

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Kim | a little lunch link
17/6/2017 07:18:40 pm

Liz, no worries about responding anytime soon -- I didn't get a post done for June and will be gone again til mid-July. Let's catch up in August! In the meantime, I enjoyed peeking in your kitchen. Your risotto looks mouthwatering and the angel hair chili is a fabulous complement. I loved the names of the restaurants where you dined, and also that beautiful little bird on the wine label. Pretty autumn leaves, too! Enjoy your travels, and your kitchen when you're home. :) xo

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Napoli Restaurant Alert link
23/6/2017 06:26:01 am

Love that angel hair! Do let me know if that Backyard Chickens book is any good. I'm always looking for reliable info on our six girls!

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    Photo of Liz Posmyk, Food Writer, Cook and Traveller

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Good Things is written and published by Liz Posmyk © 2011-2020.   All rights reserved.
Excerpts may be used provided that full and clear credit is given. Thank you.


Photos used under Creative Commons from alantankenghoe, riptheskull, David Jackmanson, Amani Hasan, SuntanMidori, oropeza, Annie Mole, Vegan Feast Catering, avlxyz, jeffreyw, mockstar, jenly, Syeefa Jay, pizzodisevo (therapy - terapia - Therapie), ginnerobot, cliff1066™, Jim, the Photographer
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