Sunday 2 September 2012

In my kitchen - September 2012

In my kitchen we have had lots of chocolate and favourite recipes lately.  Quite a bit of chocolate arrived for Father's Day today.  We went to my parents' place today.  I made chocolate caramel slice because E loves it - and I made it with gluten free flour for the celiacs in my family.  Sylvia and her wee cousins helped break up the chocolate and spread it on the slice when melted.

In my kitchen are more signs of Father's Day.  It has been lots of fun this year.  Sylvia made a card and chose some presents.  She couldn't wait to give her dad the strawberries with eyes.  This morning we had pancakes with plum and raspberry topping for breakfast.  I even made an 'S' and a 'D' pancake.  I also made a nut roast to take to my family roast dinner.  Lots of good food today.

In my kitchen is a new plate.  I made pretzels again.  I think they looked even better than my first try.  I let a bit of the soaking water pool in the holes which was a bit mistake.  It made the edge of the pretzel really bitter.  I ate my pretzel off a new plate my mum brought back from her recent holiday in Ireland.  It had got lost in the cupboard and was a wonderful surprise when we discovered it.

In my kitchen is a bracelet with Sylvia's name on it.  She is such a grown up little three year old.  At child care she is doing yoga and teaching younger kids to draw and has a best friend.  Her friend came along to see Sylvia's dad play with his uke loving friends at the Edinburgh Castle Hotel last week.  She brought along a bracelet for Sylvia.  They sat under the table, danced, hugged and rode little trikes about the pub.  It was very sweet.

In my kitchen were these cute lollypops.  I had to buy them for Sylvia because they were so cute.  I had to take a photo quickly (and it shows) because she couldn't wait to eat them.  Later I tasted one and felt a little shame-faced because they didn't taste nearly as amazing as they looked.

In my kitchen is some herbal tea I brought because it was on special.  This is exactly the sort of herbal tea I love.  I hope I will drink it.  I have been enjoying many cups of herbal tea over this winter.  Now that it is spring and the sun is shining, perhaps my need for warm tea will go.  Maybe just as well.  I keep forgetting to drink it while it is hot.  (Not surprising that I forgot to drink it hot tonight when I have had the dish rack collapse on me and I knocked my laptop on the floor.)

In my kitchen was Ottolenghi's Surprise Tatin.  My mum made it for us.  It is packed with potatoes, tomatoes, goats cheese and caramelised onions.  Amazing.  I forgot to do the tatin thing and turn it upside down.  It was so good that I must make it.  It will give me another chance to serve it properly.

In my kitchen is another new plate.  I bought it recently in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy.  I love the design.  It looks like the girls are passing the piece of treacle gingerbread from one to the other.  (Thanks to mum for the gingerbread!)  And the plates are melamine.  Great when you have a 3 year old underfoot.

In my kitchen are new kiddie chopsticks for Sylvia.  Bought at the same place as the above plate.  (Took me ages to photograph them,  I even resorted to using the manual settings on my camera.)  Sylvia chose them and loved them.  I was hopeful she might use them.  She tried a few times.  Then she took out the chopsticks and used the girl as Dolly's snuggly thing!

In my kitchen we use a lot of honey.  It goes into porridge in the mornings.  Sylvia loves it on toast.  I love it in baking.  We recently found these cute jars.

I am sending this post to Celia who has a monthly In My Kitchen event where you can peek into many kitchens.

I am also including a spring photo from my brother's new house.  They had a working bee there yesterday.  It is a great house and, after all the work that is going into it, it will be brilliant when they move in.  I only did a little painting and then ended up entertaining 5 kids.  I gave my camera to my niece Quin who took lots of lovely garden photos, including this one.  Here's to sunshine, family and good food! 

31 comments:

  1. Such a gorgeous plate for the gingerbread! And teehee, I wonder what the proper name is for a tarte tatin that hasn't been turned upside down?

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    1. Thanks Hannah - I think I would just call it a pie :-) but it is the sort of word they really need to invent on Randling

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  2. Love that last plate. I think I could do with those chopsticks, never mind Cooper, haha. I am working on you prize, know what i want to get, but haven't seen what I like yet. If you are lucky, it may be there before Christmas :D

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    1. Thanks Jac - that is fine about the prize - if it doesn't arrive I will just have to go and pick it up in person - ha ha! the chopsticks are cute aren't they?

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  3. Wow, there is a lot happening in your kitchen :) I love that plate and those Celestial teas - they're one of my favourite brands for herbal tea. The chopsticks are also gorgeous and I'm very impressed that Sylvia's childcare does yoga!

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    1. Thanks Kari - it is funny that these posts make people think a lot is happening - though I guess I spend a lot of time there! I was amazed they are doing yoga - she does the table post at home

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  4. I have a set of those beginners chopsticks - they are really hard to use. Really really hard so I still use a fork (tragic). I love Celestial Tea - my favourite is Lemon Zinger (works good hot or cold by the way).

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    1. Thanks Mel. I haven't tried the chopsticks much but I thought they would make it really easy for sylvia and they didn't. I think fruity herbal teas are quite good cold (and I should know as I forget about them too often - that reminds me ...)

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  5. I love the look of that pretzel and that little bracelet is absolutely gorgeous.

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    1. Thanks Glenda - I was quite pleased with my pretzels and I thought the bracelet was a lovely gift

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  6. So many good things in your kitchen. Love those chopsticks, but I think they are not that easy to use.

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    1. Thanks Lizzy - I think the chopsticks aren't easy to use if you are not used to them - I was even wondering if they were harder than regular chopsticks but am not sure - I don't use chopsticks often myself

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  7. wow, there's a lot going on in your kitchen! Way more than ours, but then we don't have a 3 yr old child around! I've been thinking of making pretzels too - so thanks of reminding me. I will try this one, I also have a peanut butter pretzel recipe to try. And what a modern mum making versions of Ottolenghi's stuff! Pretty cool.

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    1. Thanks Adam - I do spend a lot longer in the kitchen because of all the time trying to get Sylvia to eat - a peanut butter pretzel recipe sounds interesting - and yes my mum loves keeping up with the latest cooking (her chocolate and salted caramel tart is amazing)

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  8. Ooo I really want that tatin! Thanks for posting the link to it!

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    1. Thanks joanne - the tatin tastes amazing and probably looks even better if turned upside down

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  9. Oh those chocolate lollipops are Peko and Poko from Japan! I used to love the Peko chan merchandise. In fact, I have a container of bookmarks on my desk! :)

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    1. Thanks Lorraine - I've seen you talk about peko or poko on your blog I think - didn't realise they were the characters on the lollypops - they are very cute

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  10. You are always so busy! Love those childrens chopsticks, so clever. All the fun without the hassel. Everything tastes good eaten with chopsticks!

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    1. Thanks Katie - I've never really got into chopsticks - though I think noodles are fun with them - but I sort of understand why Sylvia gave up quickly - though I think they are good to play with so at least she understands the idea

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  11. Such lovely things in your kitchen! Your pretzel looks great and the tatin sounds absolutely delicious!

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    1. Thanks Mulberry Pomegranate - highly recommend the tatin - probably less fiddly than the pretzels but both are yummy

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  12. The plates are fabulous! Such a whimsical design on that last. And I do love the child-friendly chopsticks. What a great idea!

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    1. Thanks Ricki - the whimsical design on the plate is great but it seems a shame to cover it up with food

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  13. I've seen young ones eating out at Asian restaurants with those chopsticks. They are such a wonderful idea, I hope Sylvia becomes interested in using them one day.

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    1. Thanks Mel - maybe I should try and eat a few meals with chopsticks at home and give her a bit of a role model - I quite like to get our my chopsticks and asian bowls once I get myself organised but it doesn't come naturally

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  14. Johanna, what a gorgeous post! Every item is just wonderful, especially your pretzels (I've never tried making these!), and the lovely crockery - really adore that plate with the gingerbread on it! Girls are always so grown up so fast, aren't they? Boys barely speak at 3, and then at 14 they revert to grunting again.. ;-)

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  15. Everything you shared is so fun!
    I wish I had a three year old again!
    (NO I don't - I wish my grandsons lived closer and I could entertain them more often. :) )
    I, too, love the tarte tatin and thank you for the link.
    And your plates are so cute- and yummy- especially the one with the pretzle on it- good job with the pretzle!

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  16. What a lot of lovely things in your kitchen. I particularly like your new plates, and melamine must be perfect for an active household - no more breakages! I could just do with a piece of chocolate caramel slice too. Delicious.

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