In my kitchen - July 2013

In my ktichen, the old and the new, the frivolous and the healthy nestle side by side.  Sylvia is particularly taken with the new and the frivolous.  That is why I let her buy some fairy cake toppers in a cake decorating store recently.  I suspect they will never seen a cake.  At the moment they have buttons on their tips.  Aren't they fun!

In my kitchen is more frivolity.  I love fancy cupcake papers.  These are from Coles Supermarkets.  But they never seem to show well on cupcakes or muffins.   They just get brown with oil and cake crumbs.  Maybe we can make these into paper flowers instead.

In my ktichen the old and the new eye off each other suspiciously.  And with good reason.  You may wonder why my old icing sugar container is upside down.  If you look closely you may see the crack in the bottom (no rude jokes please).  I love these tubs for my flours and sugars.  They have been with me about 10 years but they are getting brittle.  Falls can be fatal.  I need to find a new set of tubs.  The one in the photo is not big enough.  It is just holding the fort right now.

In my kitchen lunches are often on the fly.  We have our standards.  Hummus and bikkies, sushi, baked beans, pikelets.  Every now and again they are worth shouting to the rooftops.  This sandwich was brilliant.  Hummus, crushed quinoa balls, grated carrot, grated home made soy cheese.  If only I had these ingredients on hand more often.

In my kitchen, I sometimes find something exciting to snack on after lunch.  This caramelised fig yoghurt is a recent favourite.  It is every bit as good as the name suggests.  What a fantastic flavour!  It suggests so many wonderful possibilities.  Smoothies, cakes, ice cream.

In my kitchen are fun vegetables from the local farmers market.  Romanescu cauliflower must win my award for being so amazing to look at that I don't want to use it.  It is so special that I can't think of a recipe that will feature it without burying it, yet I can't just boil such vegetable freakishness.  In the end I tried to make cauliflower steaks on one of Sylvia's bad nights.  Half were undercooked and half were forgotten and burnt.  Sigh!

In my ktichen is colour.  Golden beetroot.  So many possibilities for recipes.  Quiche, dips, soup, risotto.  I ended up cooking it in a lentil soup that was a bit heavy on the lentils.  Yummy but the lovely golden chunks were buried.

In my kitchen are alternatives to the usual fizzy water we drink.  I couldn't resist this kombucha at the Coburg Farmers Market.  I am kombucha-curious.  It is more refreshing than sugary drinks.  Yet I am still unsure of the stuff.  I was warned to only drink 100ml a day for the first few days in case I had a reaction.  It smells of garbage.  It tastes interesting but odd.  I am still unsure if I should feel the health benefits or just feel good about a healthy drink.  I am not sure I am so keen on having it in my fridge again.  But if I see it as a drink option when I am out, I wont say no.

In my ktichen is art.  It is nice to have more time for art and craft with Sylvia right now.  The cupboard doors are our gallery.  Here is a recent painting that Sylvia and I did together.  I love doing art with her and I think she learns this way.  I drew the purple boat.  She drew the orange one under the mermaid rock.  I started the mermaid, she finished it.  I drew a boy throwing a ball.  She drew a pink girl with a pink ball.  I drew dog paw prints.  She drew monster footprints.  Yes there are monster footprints in our kitchen.  Be afraid!

I am sending this to Celia at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial for her every fascinating In My Kitchen event.