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!