In My Kitchen: November 2018

November finds us feeling quite warm after two days in the early 30s (celcius).  The Halloween section of the supermarket is all but gone and the Christmas section has grown at a scary rate.  I am enjoying the longer nights but less happy that the plants out the back need more watering.

Above is a special edition jar of vegemite.  I really like the Indigenous artwork but wonder why they had to celebrate 95 years.  It is an odd number.  It seems like either they don't think the brand will still be there in 5 years time, or - more likely - that the creatives wont be there in 5 years time.

Over the school holidays at the start of October Sylvia had a friend over.  We made some sushi, packed some carrot sticks, twisties, nuts, caramel popcorn and strawberries and rode to a nearby park for a picnic.

We baked vegan chocolate cupcakes for a school cake stall a couple of weeks ago.  Sylvia did a few cupcakes with fancy swirls and then did not have enough white icing left and did some less fancy swirls.  I took them along anyway and never heard if they sold but I hope they might have pleased a few people with dietary restrictions.  (By the way, this photo was taken after Sylvia started eating the other side of the cupcake but I must have taken the others to the stall by then.)

I  bought these Tyrrell's worcestershire sauce and sundried tomato crisps for E for a little reminder of the Old Dart!

Then I bought these new Vegie Twists cheese max with potato and lentils for myself.  I like the other Vege Chips products.  These were quite tasty and looked cute too.

We can't resist Smalt Salted Caramel Fudge at the Coburg Farmers Market.

Here's another day's purchases from the Coburg Farmers Market.  Gorgeous George's Sparkling Apple Kefir (love it) and hummus, kale for this salad, Sourdough Kitchen's currant buns, purple cauliflower to roast, home made sourdough crumpets to eat with strawberry chia jam made from the punnet of berries.

I recently took Sylvia to DFO in Essendon to buy sandals for the warmer weather but my favourite shop for kids shoes had closed.  I consoled myself with these beautiful paisley bowls.

Last Christmas we saw Gingerbread Lindt balls and I said it was too early to buy it.  We never saw them again and Sylvia pined after them.  So this year when we saw them we pounced on them.  They were nice but once was enough.

It is asparagus season and I have been buying big bunches from the farmers market.  My latest way of using it is to shave it and put on top of a pizza (a bit like this one at Smitten Kitchen).  Tonight I tried it with half cooked broccoli and capers as well as our usual tomato sauce and cheese.  Really good.

A bike basket of purchases from the Coburg Farmers Market.  Asparagus, strawberries, kombucha and we dropped by the seedling stall and bought a raspberry plant and a cherry tomato plant for our pots out the back.  I've repotted them in larger pots, using some dirt from my mum and some dirt from the worm farm.  Here's hoping they might give back.

Last night's dinner was an easy one.  Pasta with stir through sauce, plus lots of vegies and grated cheese.

I am sending this post to Sherry of Sherry's Pickings for the In My Kitchen event, that was started by Celia of Fig Jam and Lime Cordial,  If you would like to join in, send your post to Sherry by 13th of the month.  Or just head over to her blog to peek into more kitchens.