In My Kitchen - December 2021

I can't believe it is December.  It is starting to feel Christmassy - by which I mean disorganised about any preparations - and I am enjoying cherries and stone fruit in season.  I have enjoyed some great meals and fun times out of home, which I hope to write about, such as The Rising exhibition and a work retreat.  But it is still a struggle to feel life is returning to any sort of normal after our long lockdown.  Everything is still tiring and odd.

Above is a cute Christmas pudding mature cheese.  I could not resist that wax decoration but it is so pretty that I haven't had the heart to cut it open yet.  I guess it is meant to be cut into wedges like slices of Christmas pudding.  (and for

Sylvia has played wit a few cute festive food ideas.  This marshmallow star to sit on the side of a mug of hot chocolate looked great but made it hard to drink.

More marshmallow fun was had with these marshmallow chocolate penguins with candy eyes and smartie beaks.

My favourite of Sylvia's Christmas creations was this chocolate sleigh with candy cane runners, chocolate bars and coins, all driven by a chocolate bear!  In my sleigh I had mint kit kat, whittakers coconut chocolate block and a freddo frog chocolate.  Loved it!

I went for a work retreat over a weekend and we bought these mini Nessie shortbreads for Sylvia to share with her dad while I was away.  Aren't they cute!

Sylvia's aunt sent her this beautiful Edinburgh advent calendar from Scotland.  Thanks HH.

And now onto some meals.  This veggie burger with salad and sauce in a sandwich was very satisfying.

This simple meal was one that I really loved.  Fried Haloumi was served with lemon juice and a blueberry sauce made by boiling blueberries with balsamic vinegar, honey and a pinch of salt.  On the side was steamed asparagus from the Farmers Market.

I made a stale end of baguette into a cheesy herby garlic bread.  I think I served it with a stew but it seems a long time ago now.

My work retreat was a hop skip and a jump from Red Hill Community Market so I headed there on the Saturday morning and purchased some treats: cranberry shiraz relish, seaweed and soya sauce, good riddance rescue balm (for mozzie bites) and choc coated liquorice.

I also have a couple of photos of meals eaten out of home.  Above is a magificent half roasted cauliflower with yoghurt sauce, pumpkin puree, and pomegranate arils.  With kombucha and chips on the side.  I wish I could direct you to head the Clyde Hotel in Carlton to sample this dish but it was on special.  I can tell you it was amazing and so satisfying.

Also very satisfying is this Poke Bowl at The Boot Factory in Coburg.  It is full of (mostly) green goodness of edamame, avocado, sushi rice, charred pineapple, cucumber, wakame seaweed salad, pickled cabbage, yuzu kosho mayo and housemade furikake,  I was a little disappointed they had ceased to offer the fried tofu as an alternative to tuna but I really loved it with the edamame.

I am sending this post to Sherry of Sherry's Pickings for the In My Kitchen event.  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 visit more kitchens and her cheerful Christmas header.