In My Kitchen - February 2022

Hard to believe it is midway through February.  This year so far has been intense.  A lot of time at home with the air conditioner on trying to find some energy and avoiding covid.  With days at the pool or beach when I can.  Here are a few notes to catch me up:

• Ash Barty winning the Australian Open - delighted to see some great tennis after the palaver of Novak Djokavich being deported from Australia.
• Dylan Alcott was made Australian of the Year.  He is such an inspiring guy and will continue to be an amazing advocate for the disability community.  
• I got my Covid booster at the Exhibition Buildings after 3 hours sleep.  (I thought Sylvia could get her booster too but two doctors both agreed to it and then found in the small print that teenagers weren't eligible.)
  
• We finally saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child that was booked for March 2020 and has been postponed 5 times. 
• Schools are back after the summer holidays and there are constant reports of covid cases.  Covid cases went crazy over summer but seem to have passed the Omricon peak and now we hope that "Son of Omricon" does not send cases back up.
• I enjoyed a birthday lunch at Smith and Deli in a new location. 
• Our current tv binging is Modern Family.  
• February is a great month for notable dates.  We have already passed 2/2/22 and will soon have 22/2/22.
  
• Federal politics has been a circus of lies, leaks and ukuleles.
• I was so shocked and sad to hear that Catherine of Cate's Cates food blog died suddenly last week of a heart attack. She was so energetic and passionate and a talented, creative cook.
  
• Last week I had my first day in back in the office for almost 2 months.  As I left I read that one of my colleagues had just had a positive rapid antigen test at home.  Not ideal but I was glad that I didn't
  

It saddens me that I haven't had the energy for much cooking and blogging lately.  But as always I hope I will find more time for writing some blog posts that are sitting in my head.  Meanwhile let's take a look at what's in my kitchen, even if not much cooking.  Above is a french toast with berries, tofu bacon and sausages that Sylvia made for my birthday brunch.  Delicious!  We have been eating quite a bit of tofu bacon recently.

We bought these "oven chips" because Sylvia loved the smiley faces.

We have been more likely to order pizza on Friday nights than bake it at home.  On this week I tried the margherita topped with fries from the Cornerstone Pizzeria.  Great comfort food idea but a bit harder to eat.  I had to fold mine over so the fries would not fall out.

Australia Day has become less of a thing lately as it becomes more contentious.  But I could not resist a packet of Australia Day Golden Gaytimes.  I love trying a twist on an old favourite.  Golden Gaytimes were my favourites as a kid and I still occasionally indulge.  I don't think the gteen (lime?) filling is better than the original butterscotch.  Nice but nothing beats the original.

We bought this Fudge S'Mores Drumsticks to try a new flavour.  It was nice but I was disappointed that the chocolate filling was not as neat and central as the photo.  My filling was way off centre but still tasted good.

And yet another ice cream!  It has been pretty hot.  This Sweetporium Boysenberry Cheesecake Ice Cream is one of the best ice creams I have had for some time.  With the chunks of cheesecake, it was delicious and very moreish.

Hot weather has also meant lots of drinks.  I am still drinking kombucha when I can but Sylvia has been into juice and chocolate milk.

Here is one of my meals that is pretty much pre-made: beetroot burgers, oven chips, cauliflower rice and sliced baby spinach.  This is what we have been eating when too tired to cook.

Some of our meals have been brought over by friends and family.  Kerin brought along these vegetable batons, hummus and some chocolate fruit and nut slice. 

Occasionally I have made an old favourite recipes such as this lentil spag bol with some fresh basil from the garden.  (It is a bit like this Bolognaise.)

Sylvia and I could not work out why the supermarket was selling Lindt chocolate koalas.  (Snap them up before they are extinct?)  It was actually one of the Lindt bears in a koala wrapper.

It was great to visit the new location of Smith and Deli for lunch.  It has been a long time since I was at the old location but it brought back some good memories.  The vegan sandwiches I used to love are less prominent but still there as well as a bain marie and salad bar.  I enjoyed a chickpea and okra curry,, and indulged in a carry bag.

I have always love perusing the fancy groceries at Smith and Deli.  I took home a few items.  The vegan marshmallows and honeycomb went into a delicious version of Hedgehog.  The Dill pickle and apple cider crisps were devoured with appreciation.  The break rolls were wonderful but so big and filling that I found it better to serve half as a serve.

Sylvia bought me this dumpling set for my birthday.  The steamer is quite small and cute.  And I loved the pattern on the bowls that I also bought a matching serving plate and serving bowl.

 

 My parents gave me this gorgeous Klimt-sylte cat cushion for my birthday.  It goes well with our purple couch but sadly our old couch is no longer in great condition,  This is not helped by having a cat who loves to scratch (the couch, the bed, doors etc)  He turns up his nose at cushions and loves to sit on pizza boxes!

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 wonderful hand drawn header.