It is October, springtime in Australia, and yet there is still a sharp iciness to the cool morning breeze. The air is rich with the scent of sweet Jasmine, and as I write this post I watch a family of fairy wrens that are nesting in the tangle of flower-covered vines just outside my study. I'm amazed at the number of moths and other insects these little birds can find, as they dart back and forth from the garden to their nest, bringing sustenance to their young. I reach for my camera, but they are simply too quick for me, so I'm sharing instead a lovely image of a blue wren captured by my bird-enthusiast friend, Christine Cannon. A new month means it's time to collate a fresh, new In My Kitchen post for my friend and fellow cook, Celia, who hosts this monthly collection of posts from around the world at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial. So let's take a look at the good things in my Parsley Street kitchen this month. In my kitchen is my favourite silicon coated whisk. I love the colour and the fact that it's non-stick and heat-resistant. In my kitchen are Majura Valley free range eggs, bought fresh from the roadside stall on Majura Road. Owners, Ann McGrath and Nick Weber, took out a Landcare ACT award recently for innovation in sustainable farming practices. In my kitchen is my ceramic ginger grater and a knob of fresh ginger used in stir fries and ginger tea. In my kitchen is an icing set with silicon bag bought recently from Aldi for under $10.00. I think this will come in handy. In my kitchen is a set of old-fashioned enamelled pie dishes. These will be perfect for rhubarb and apple pudding too! In my kitchen is a collection of new and old books including Colour Deconstructed by Tricia Guild and photography by James Merrell. I was fortunate enough to win this spectacular book through a competition run by Hardie Grant (thank you HG!). There's also a copy of Yotam Ottolenghi's Plenty, a purchase from the UK Book Depository. When I sent out a tweet saying that I should add that title to my collection, a tweet came back from Yotam himself, saying 'Yes!'. The other books were carefully chosen, treasured finds at the Lifeline Bookfair recently, including Pardon My French by my friend and fellow food writer, Sally Hammond, A Taste of History by Bryan Bruce, Knife Skills in the Kitchen by Charlie Trotter et al, The House of Oysters: an oyster lover's guide wit 55 recipes by Australia's A-list chefs (foreword by Leo Schofield), Honey and Dust: travels in search of sweetness by Piers Moore Ede, Fragrance and Flavour by Rosemary Hemphill (first published in 1959, the author is the mother of Ian 'Herbie' Hemphill), Paprika Paradise by James Jeffery, and perhaps the very best of the bunch is Russian Cooking by Robin Howe (published in 1964). Reading for retirement, methinks! In my kitchen there are lemons galore, store-bought (well, market-bought), as my home grown lemons have all been used. And of course my favourite lemon zester, made by Zyliss. I used to sell many of these when I co-owned the cookware store. On a visit to Floriade's Nightfest, I splurged on another purchase from Mudgeeraba Spices. And I mean splurged, because the 300g jar cost me $20, however it was promised that the spices would stay fresh for years, if stored correctly. With this blend I can make Peter's favourite butter chicken, as well as tandoori. Annoyingly, the ingredients are listed as 'freshly ground pure spices', otherwise I'd tell you what's in this very fragrant, spicy blend. In my kitchen is a box of oranges. I figure my body can use all the Vitamin C possible to help recover total wellbeing. In my kitchen is Jalna low fat 'yoghourt' made with a2 milk. My system seems to tolerate a2 over regular milk protein. In my kitchen is this mini esky of goodies from McCormick Spices, sent to me to road test as part of the company's latest Marinade in a Bag and Grill Mates products. While I prefer to make marinades and sauces from scratch, we tried the Spicy BBQ marinade with beef ribs and the verdict is that we loved it. And finally, in my kitchen are these two Real Hot Chocolate treats, which Peter bought with the last few dollars on a Wheel and Barrow gift voucher. Have you tried these? They make great hot chocolate, but are expensive, so good for an occasional indulgence. Tell me, what's cooking in your kitchen this month? And do you love adding new food related titles to your bookshelves as much as I do?
6/10/2013 02:03:40 pm
I loved your post, Liz! It got me thinking that in my kitchen this month I will be making luscious marmalade flavoured with whiskey - our family's absolute favourite, a birthday cake for my daughter - just what is yet to be decided, and a selection of lunch box treats at the request of my grandsons - because Granny's cooking always tastes the best!
Lizzy
7/10/2013 08:01:56 pm
Marian, thank you... I'm glad you are going to play IMK too. Your kitchen sounds like a hive of activity... and with grandsons to feed, what a good thing : ) 6/10/2013 02:50:24 pm
I LOVE those bags of hot chocolate!
Lizzy
7/10/2013 08:02:18 pm
Thanks Betsy, me too! I will be watching your space to see what's cooking : ) 6/10/2013 02:58:49 pm
I haven't participated in this yet, but I do live reading about it! I love the view of that gorgeous vine, we are heading into winter now and the garden is grasping at its last breath. Soon everything will be covered with snow.
Lizzy
7/10/2013 08:03:35 pm
Hello Eva, oh you must play! The jasmine is so lovely... if not a little too heady! I was so allergic to it as a child. We didn't plant it, it was here when we bought the home, but it is lovely. And the fact that the wrens are nesting is delightful. Hard to imagine that it will be snowing at your place soon : ) 6/10/2013 05:30:54 pm
You have a very tasty kitchen!
Lizzy
7/10/2013 08:03:51 pm
Hello GG... there is still time!! : )
Lizzy
7/10/2013 08:04:06 pm
Hi there... glad you will be playing too! 6/10/2013 10:28:30 pm
I love your lemon zester - it looks a perfect shape to hold in the hand. How efficient is the ceramic grater? It looks easy to clean, but does it work as well as a microplane?
Lizzy
7/10/2013 08:05:36 pm
Hello Anne, the Zyliss is my favourite zester, it fits perfectly into your hand and the ease of use is excellent. The ceramic grater is, pardon the pun, 'great'. I actually find that the fine microplane for 'zesting' doesn't work that well despite being razor sharp. But that's just me. 6/10/2013 10:33:52 pm
It's so sad, but my favourite floral scent is Jasmine, and I even wear Bvlgari Jasmine Noir perfume. And I drive a Honda Jazz (best car ever). We don't have any Jasmine in our yard at the moment, and I really miss it, so am incredibly jealous of your gorgeous Jasmine flowers!
Lizzy
7/10/2013 08:06:32 pm
Hi Jas... pity you don't have any Jasmine... you need to plant some! 6/10/2013 11:55:01 pm
Love the enamel pie dishes and of course the free range eggs and you just made my mouth water when you mentioned rhubarb and apple pudding! I'm perfecting my tomato chutney at the moment in my kitchen as I'm taking the plunge and doing a market stall at the end of November. Otherwise I'm also cooking Chicken Lasagna from Whole Larder Love, just discovered this cookbook and the lasagna recipe is delicious.
Lizzy
7/10/2013 08:07:18 pm
Hi Catherine, wow, you have been busy... and what fun... is there anything more delightful than cooking? Your market stall project sounds exciting.
Hi Lizzy,
Lizzy
7/10/2013 08:08:14 pm
Hello Heidi... thank you so much... the vine is delicious! The zester and the grater are excellent, aren't they! You must swap those books soon. Thank you for your very kind words. I hope you are travelling well xox 7/10/2013 02:55:33 am
I love all your goodies in your kitchen Liz. The whisk is so cool and I need that ginger grater, so very useful!
Lizzy
7/10/2013 08:08:52 pm
Hello Helene, thank you.. yes, the whisk is cool... and the grater is useful! I am always hesitant to use it in case I drop it : (
Lizzy
7/10/2013 08:09:42 pm
Hi Glenda... the whisk is pretty, it sits well with with some of the blue in my kitchen. The enamelled dishes were from Coles, I think! Very inexpensive! How nice that you can buy roadside eggs that are so fresh, Lizzy! And I love your blue whisk - I have a silicon one as well that I don't use nearly as much as I'd like to, but it's just a boring black one! :) The Ottolenghi book is a treasure (although most of the recipes are time consuming) and I've developed a recent passion for enamel bakeware as well. In fact, I'm off to buy new enamel pie dishes in red! :)
Lizzy
7/10/2013 08:11:40 pm
Hi Celia... the farm with the eggs isn't too far from our place... so when we don't get to the farmer's market on Saturday (which seems to be often lately), then it's useful to get the fresh eggs from this one. Funny that everyone seems to fancy the whisk. I have yet to investigate Plenty... perhaps one for my retirement. I love enamelled bakeware! xxo 7/10/2013 09:27:02 am
You have a great collection of things in your kitchen Lizzy. I do like the look of that collection of books, very inspiring!
Lizzy
7/10/2013 08:12:06 pm
Andrea, thanks so much... I love those books.... so much to peruse and learn!
Lizzy
14/10/2013 02:12:24 pm
Thank you, Bernice... I agree with you on those chocolate things... wow, I never thought of making them! You are a genius! I will let you know what that book is like : ) 8/10/2013 04:40:29 pm
Wonderful things in your kitchen, I'd love to raid your cookbook collection :).
Lizzy
14/10/2013 02:12:45 pm
Thanks Laura, I frequently raid my cookbook collection... I love it! 9/10/2013 01:18:42 am
My big focus now is going to be vegetables, we have fabulous autumn veggies and my local farmshop is full of amazing produce (my kitchen garden is almost done for the year but a for a few courgettes). I have a wish list as long as my arm of new recipes to try, very exciting! Your jasmine looks amazing, mine is finished for the year now!
Lizzy
14/10/2013 02:13:37 pm
Hello Anna and welcome. Isn't it great having loads of new recipes to play with! Thanks for stopping by. I'm off to visit your blog now. 9/10/2013 03:48:41 am
Liz, I'm trying to breathe in the scent of jasmine from your stunning photo... and freshly grated ginger... and lemon zest... thanks for the sensory picnic! Loved your retirement reading list. I've got one a mile long, too -- could read cooking-related for the rest of my life and be perfectly content. :) Nice post!
Lizzy
14/10/2013 02:14:14 pm
Thanks Kim... isn't it wonderful to just sit and drink in all those delicious cookery books and blogs : ) 10/10/2013 08:34:42 am
That Jasmine pic is my screensaver now :) Charming indeed!
Lizzy
14/10/2013 02:14:46 pm
Hello and welcome : ) Thank you for your very kind words. I'm loving that you have my jasmine as your screensaver : ) 10/10/2013 12:23:54 pm
Oh I do love your ceramic pie dishes, they're just gorgeous! Also love those hot chocolate spoons, what a great idea!! Great IMK post Lizzy xx
Lizzy
14/10/2013 02:15:04 pm
Thanks Lisa... the pie dishes are great.... very handy for all sorts of things xo 11/10/2013 12:33:50 pm
I'm bummed to have missed posting an IMK,but with travel and having a head cold this last week, it just didn't happen. :/
Lizzy
14/10/2013 02:15:49 pm
Gah, I hate head colds. Hope you are feeling better! I am not keen on the microplane for grating ginger.... I do like the little ceramic grater, though the wooden ones are great too! 13/10/2013 11:45:42 pm
I love to take a peak of your kitchen. So fun to see things that we don't have here...even some of the cookbooks-I've never heard of. Now I need to look them up! Gorgeous blue on the whisk:)Love this post, Lizzy!
Lizzy
14/10/2013 02:16:09 pm
Thanks Lora, and welcome! Isn't it great to peak into kitchens from around the world xo 14/10/2013 11:11:17 pm
G'day Really enjoyed your post today Lizzy true!
Lizzy
16/10/2013 04:49:24 pm
Thanks Joanne, so very kind xo 15/10/2013 11:28:41 pm
I'll take the ginger grater please! And the chocolate cups, and the white jasmine flowers, and the books...
Lizzy
16/10/2013 04:50:11 pm
Hi Paula, and welcome! I'm glad you like the goodies here... and I LOVED your dutch pancaked, loved, loved, loved it! Thanks for the share! 16/10/2013 08:29:51 am
What a beautiful post, enjoyed it immensely! I loved those hot chocolate spoons...seen them several places but have not given them a try yet.
Lizzy
16/10/2013 04:50:49 pm
Hello there and welcome, thanks ever so much! Do try them, actually someone suggested they'd be simple to make. Yes!
Lizzy
18/10/2013 03:03:09 pm
Azita, thank you so much, as I do in yours! : )
Lizzy
19/10/2013 02:37:55 pm
Thanks Fiona, good to see you. Yes, I know, we used to sell icing nozzles among other things when I had the cookware store and they were $$. I have a plastic nozzle or two, but couldn't resist this one! I will let you know (in due course) about Honey and Dust.
Lizzy
19/10/2013 02:39:12 pm
Tell me, Zsuzsa, in what way, I'd love to know.
Lizzy
20/10/2013 04:47:38 pm
Oh, I see... that one is plastic, not glass... ours come in cylindrical tubs too : ) Comments are closed.
|
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
All
NB: I use Australian standard measuring cups and spoons in my recipes.
|