In My Kitchen – January 2015

Posted on 1 January 2015 by Glenda

Happy New Year everyone!

I usually prepare my monthly In My Kitchen post on the eve of the new month but a small matter of a New Year’s eve party and a bit too much wine prevented such endeavours last night. Oh! … Human frailties 😦

Back to the task at hand …

In my kitchen:

Is garlic. I still have plenty left over in the freezer from last year, two large bunches hanging under the house which I picked ages ago and now I have these guys. Late in the season, I noticed a few cloves growing under the house below where I had been hanging last year’s crop – they had obviously fallen from the bunches. They looked pretty sick because they weren’t getting any water. I pulled them up and planted them into the vegie garden. Now, low and behold, I have these lovely bulbs.

In my kitchen:

Is the start of the summer produce. I have pulled out so many self-sown cherry tomato plants as I was determined not to be over run with tomatoes this year. I still have about 50 jars of preserved tomatoes and tomato puree in the pantry. So … guess what I have been doing? Buying fresh tomatoes! You can’t win. I do have 5 Roma tomato plants but they are yet to produce fruit.

These are the first cucumbers I picked. Since then, I have picked another three. I know I will be picking that many, if not more, each day soon. Cucumbers and tomatoes love it here.

In my kitchen:

Are borlotti beans. I picked these as I wasn’t certain at what stage to pick them. I have now decided I need to wait until they are yellow. I have no need for any more vegetables at this stage, so the plan is to dry them for winter.

In my kitchen:

Are beans, beans and more beans. This year, beans are the new tomato. I have already frozen 4 large bags and still they come. I don’t know how you can prevent the summer glut of vegetables.

In my kitchen:

Are avocados. They are a great tree to grow because they don’t ripen until you pick them. I have been picking two or three every few days since late August. There are plenty still on one tree but I don’t know how long they will last before they fall off. The only trouble with avocados is that it is hard to know what day they will be ripen and, therefore, hard to plan dinners around them.

In my kitchen:

Is a stollen from my lovely neighbour, Renate. As Renate said when presenting it, “What is Christmas without stollen?”

In my kitchen:

Are some cheese sables I made for nibbles for Christmas day. We were invited to friends for dinner and everyone had to contribute towards the meal. I was allocated, amongst other things, nibblies. I made these Christmas-shaped cheese sables and three dips – red, green and white, in keeping with the Christmas theme.

In my kitchen:

Is a little box that Maus made for my sables. I saw the recipe for the sables in a great book called Canapes by Eric Treuille and Victoria Blashford-Snell. On the front of the chapter for Nibbles, Dips and Dippers is a photo of olives, dips and a box of palmers. The box looked exactly liked this one. I showed it to Maus. Within a minute, she was out in the shed making me one.

In my kitchen:

Is another box. I really liked the sables one so I suggested Maus make one for biscuits. They are so cool and took Maus very little time to make. This time, she sawed the corners off. We both decided, in retrospect, that we liked it better that way so she has now sawn the corners off the top one as well.

In my kitchen:

Are some new cup and spoon measures. I put this photo here as I anticipate the ‘critical one’ telling me I need some colour in the post. Well, here it is – colour galore. Maus’ sister, Pauline, brought these back from America for me. I asked her for some American measuring cups so I can make American recipes with confidence but … These guys don’t say whether they are in fluid ounces or not. I filled them up and poured the fluid into my measuring cups to see if they were different and they are, virtually, the same. Both are made in China and I wonder whether they are all the same, whether for the American or Australian market.

In my kitchen:

Is some ginger syrup, a gift from Maus’ niece, Emma. It tastes great with soda.

In my kitchen:

Is a macadamia nut cracker, a gift from my sister, Sandra. It is fantastic. No hammers required for this baby. The nut cracker is made in Queensland by TJ’s Nutcrackers. The nuts are so easy to crack. You just pull the handle down and voila!

In my kitchen:

Is more Römertopf. This time, bread-baking equipment. They are gifts from my sister Juanita. I have now used the top bowl. These guys were on my Christmas list as I wanted to try making bread in a Römertopf again. The bread was fine. The crumb was nice and open, the crust good but it was not a beautiful loaf and it did stick to the bowl even though I oiled it. Next time, I will put baking paper at least in the bottom of the bowl. I still think bread baked in a hot cast iron pot is the best but baking bread in a cold oven is just so much more convenient.

In my kitchen:

Is more Römertopf. I haven’t used this guy yet but the concept will be the same. The bowl is for 1,000g of dough and the loaf pan is for 750g.

In my kitchen:

Is a new kitchen gadget from my friend, Jane. It, too, comes from the States. It is a Snapi. According to the label, it is for picking up salads, pasta and much more … It is very cool.

In my kitchen:

Are some new cookbooks I received as gifts. I fell in love with Rachel whilst watching her series, The Little Paris Kitchen, on SBS. She certainly was a delight on TV and she made some wonderful dishes, in her tiny Parisian flat, which are featured in the cookbook. The only problem with the book is: Rachel doesn’t come with it. That is the problem with buying cookbooks written by TV celebrities – they are never as vibrant as the TV show. I find the same with Nigella. If only Nigella would swoon around my kitchen every time I make something out of one of her books.

In my kitchen:

Is another cookbook gift. Sophie Zalokar is a Western Australian chef from Foragers Field Kitchen and Cooking School in Pemberton, a town not so far from Bridgetown. The book features 40 local producers and gatherers and then recipes created using their produce. It is a lovely idea for a book. The Southern Forest is in the lower south west of Western Australia. It is renowned for its magnificent Karri trees which are amongst the tallest trees in the world. It is a delightful book.

And finally, I would like to announce that the previously featured Tony and Linda now live in my kitchen, thanks to Big Al and Steve.

If you would like to see what is in other bloggers’ kitchens this month, visit Celia at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial. Celia hosts In My Kitchen each month.

53 thoughts on “In My Kitchen – January 2015”

dontboilthesauce on 24 January 2015 at 11:46 said:

Hi Glenda, I love your kitchen I wish it was an online shop!
The produce is amazing as always and the macadamia cracker is uber cool!
I thought the little Paris kitchen was fantastic but was very glad I wasn’t cooking in it!

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- Glenda on 26 January 2015 at 01:07 said:
  
  Hi Jason. Thanks for stopping by.
  
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dianeskitchentable on 6 January 2015 at 09:19 said:

Glenda, your kitchen is exploding this month. I’m looking at your fresh produce and glancing out the window here which we’ve got the Polar Express blowing down on us from Canada. It’s too cold here to even go out and pick up the mail.
I love those boxes that Maus made & knew the minute I saw them that she’d whipped them up for you. They really set off your snacks nicely. And you got one of those cool Snapi’s. My neighbor owns a hardware store with a large kitchen section and he gives those away to ‘some special’ customers. They’re fun and actually work great. As for your cups, if you’re reading an American recipe, it doesn’t matter if it’s dry measure or liquid – all the same. I just tend to use the solid ones for dry so that you can level off dry ingredients and the clear or glass measures (those look more like a drinking cup with the ounces marked off) for liquid measuring. Believe me, it gets confusing – I just made Celia’s sour dough bread & completely misinterpreted the little kg scale that I had hanging around. BOY did I misread that! Basically, for the 2 loaves of bread recipe I think I might have measured out about 14 drops of water.
Cool nut cracker too – love those macadamia’s but they can be a bear to crack open.

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- Glenda on 6 January 2015 at 10:16 said:
  
  Oh Diane. We have the opposite problem. It was too hot to go outside yesterday – 43 degrees. Shit, that is hot. It is my understanding that your cup measures are 8 fluid ounces (236 mils)
  whereas ours 250 mils. How much is in your teaspoons and tablespoons? It is my understanding that they are 5 mils and 15 mils but then why would you have mil tablespoons when everything else is in fluid ounces. Like I said most things are made in China and I think they make generic measuring cups and spoons. Our tablespoon is 20 mils but there are 15 mil tablespoons everywhere in the shops. That is because they are made in China and they are for the global market not specifically for Australia. You have to really look to find a 20 tablespoon. I have no idea what these guys measure as there is no measurements on them.
  
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Moya on 4 January 2015 at 17:28 said:

Glenda happy new year to you and Maus… love the wooden box she made and it makes a pretty cool photography prop as well. Love all your amazing garden produce and I can’t imagine how wonderful it must be to have avocados growing in your garden. Have never seen a macadamia nut cracker before and what a lovely gift from your sister. Love getting new cookbooks 🙂

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- Glenda on 4 January 2015 at 22:39 said:
  
  Thanks Moya.
  
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nancy @ Plus Ate Six on 4 January 2015 at 14:48 said:

I’ve literally just walked home with a bag full of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and avocados and you can just go out in the garden and pick them. I’m so jealous! I’m glad you explained what the Snapi is for because I wouldn’t have guessed at all. Happy New Year x

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- Glenda on 4 January 2015 at 22:41 said:
  
  Hi Nancy It is great having a vegetable garden. I waited a very long time for it.
  
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Liz @ spades, spatulas, and spoons on 4 January 2015 at 10:48 said:

Wow, what a lot of new things in your kitchen! Never enough cookbooks is my motto. Wishing you a very Happy New Year.

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- Glenda on 4 January 2015 at 22:41 said:
  
  Thanks so much Liz. Happy new year to you too.
  
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Misky on 4 January 2015 at 02:03 said:

Love the look of that garlic! It’s too wet to grow it well here in Sussex. Happy new years!

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- Glenda on 4 January 2015 at 22:46 said:
  
  Thanks Misky. Garlic is very happy here. It must be just the right climate.
  
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  - Misky on 4 January 2015 at 22:57 said:
    
    We just took the Christmas lights off the tree outside, and nearly lost our noses to frostbite. Gosh, it’s cold!!
    
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    - Glenda on 4 January 2015 at 23:19 said:
      
      Its bloody hot here.
      
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      - Misky on 4 January 2015 at 23:34 said:
        
        Lucky girl.
        
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Anne Wheaton on 3 January 2015 at 23:30 said:

happy new year Glenda. Avocados. You grow avocados. I’m so jealous. Over here I buy them rock hard, keep them in the kitchen for a few days and they either remain rock hard or turn black and mushy. In fact I rarely buy them now as they’re so disappointing. Your cheese sables look divine.

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- Glenda on 3 January 2015 at 23:44 said:
  
  Hi Anne, I don’t feel so bad about your abundant supply of berries now. I was thinking of making a berry tart for a dinner this week but raspberries and blueberries cost $7.95 for 125grams here. Can you believe it?
  
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missfoodfairy on 3 January 2015 at 18:50 said:

Happy New Year Glenda & Maus, I’m loving your little biscuit boxes – you should make them & sell them at the markets or something! Jealous of all your veggies but my sister’s veggie patch is coming to fruition right now but also waiting for the roma tomatoes – there’s going to be a truck load for sure as there’s about 16 or 20 plants flowering!! Loving your cookbooks too – I’m a cookbook fanatic. See you next month at IMK

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- Glenda on 3 January 2015 at 21:15 said:
  
  Hi Nicole, I am sure I will have tomatoes galore this time next month.
  
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Jane @ Shady Baker on 3 January 2015 at 18:22 said:

Oh Glenda I hardly know where to start with this post so full of goodness! But, perhaps my favourite is the avocados. To be able to pick a couple every few days is my idea of heaven. Happy New Year and thank for your continued support and kind comments.

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- Glenda on 3 January 2015 at 21:14 said:
  
  Hi Jane, I hate to admit that every now and then, I forget to pick some and then I have to go and buy one. It is very annoying.
  
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Marian@Apricot Tart on 3 January 2015 at 11:12 said:

Hi Glenda! What an treasure trove your kitchen cupboards must be! I think I could lose myself for days! Your garden produce is amazing! I am so impressed by what you harvest – you have the greenest thumbs of anyone I know! I trust you enjoyed a wonderful New Year – best wishes for 2015!

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- Glenda on 3 January 2015 at 16:44 said:
  
  Thanks so much Marian
  
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sherry from sherryspickings on 3 January 2015 at 11:07 said:

what a wonderful post. i love the things in your kitchen this month. what cute S & P shakers, and the wooden boxes are gorgeous. so lucky to have veggies growing- we can grow nothing due to a rampaging bush turkey or 2! happy new year.

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- Glenda on 3 January 2015 at 16:43 said:
  
  Happy New Year Sherry.
  
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Kirsty on 3 January 2015 at 10:22 said:

Wow, so much produce Glenda! It looks fantastic, even though you must be swimming in it! That stollen looks superb. I had an Aldi stollen this year and it was so decadent. Then I saw Paul Hollywood (a UK Baker) make one on TV and that settled it.. next year, I’ll try to make one myself. Have a great January, Kirsty xx

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- Glenda on 3 January 2015 at 16:43 said:
  
  Kirsty, I have never made a stolen, I don’t need to, I have a German neighbour 🙂
  
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Elizabeth on 2 January 2015 at 17:33 said:

Oh My Goodness, so much going on in your kitchen, I particulay love that every post is something wonderful from your garden, it inspires me to keep growing, even on my very small block! Thanks for sharing! Liz x

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- Glenda on 2 January 2015 at 23:22 said:
  
  Thanks Elizabeth Keep growing, it is so rewarding. I just put nine bags of beans in the freezer.
  
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fergie51 on 2 January 2015 at 15:03 said:

Thanks for sharing! You have such a bounty it was a delight to see it all. Especially love the boxes! I sometimes try and tell myself I”m just like Rachel, cooking with only a Sunbeam Pizza Bake N Grill. It falls down majorly though in the glamour stakes, she is gorgeous. Cheers.

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- Glenda on 2 January 2015 at 23:06 said:
  
  Hi Fergie, Rachel is gorgeous and I think that is why the book was a little flat – No Rachel 🙂
  
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Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on 2 January 2015 at 09:43 said:

Happy New Year Glenda and Maus! Honestly G, is there *anything* you can’t grow? You found tragic looking fallen garlic cloves and turned them into those magnificent bulbs? You are one of the cleverest gardeners I know! I love your Christmas shaped cheese sables, and Maus’ lovely wooden boxes – I like them better without the corners too! And those Romertopf loaf tins are nice, and produce quite lovely bread when they’re not sticking, but they just don’t look all that pretty do they. I agree with you – I think baking in a covered pot works the best, but you’re right, sometimes it’s just nice not to have to preheat the oven!

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- Glenda on 2 January 2015 at 23:05 said:
  
  Happy new year Celia. The bread I made in the round bowl only stuck to the bottom so next time I will put a circle of baking paper on the bum and see if that helps. I followed your advice and baked it for 15 mins out of the bowl at the end to brown the bum which was a good move. All was good but it looked a lot like a space ship.
  
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Jennifer from Milk and Honey on 2 January 2015 at 08:39 said:

Happy New Year. What an amazing stash of goodies in your kitchen. I think I need a macadamia nutcracker, STAT!

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- Glenda on 2 January 2015 at 23:02 said:
  
  Hi Jennifer. The nutcracker is fabulous.
  
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MamaD1xx4xy on 2 January 2015 at 08:25 said:

Love all your fresh produce, especially the borlotti beans. The box is perfect, how nice to have it made just for your specific purposes. I may have to get my husband to do that for me sometime. Happy New Year!

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- Glenda on 4 January 2015 at 22:49 said:
  
  Hi Gretchen. Happy new year to you too. The boxes only took a very short time to make and are great for savouries.
  
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NapoliRestaurantAlert on 2 January 2015 at 05:37 said:

Love the nutcracker!!

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- Glenda on 2 January 2015 at 23:01 said:
  
  Thanks Josephine.
  
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Francesca on 2 January 2015 at 05:30 said:

The cheese sable and fruit stollen look very tasty indeed. I like the look of your borlotti beans. I don’t have much success with them at all- even though all the other beans grow happily. The women in the South of France, use these beans when they appear really rotten, picked and left to mature further, in their Zuppa al Pistou. I just love them fresh in summer soups.

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- Glenda on 2 January 2015 at 23:01 said:
  
  Hi Francesca, After I picked this lot I realised I need to leave them longer. The pods of the ones I picked today were all yellow and wrinkly and the seeds were much plumper. Live and learn.
  
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ladyredspecs on 2 January 2015 at 05:02 said:

Happy New Year Glenda. The photo of pink papery skins of the garlic with the dirt attached would make a beautiful piece of art! You’re garden must be incredibly fertile, the fresh veg a great reward for all your effort…

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- Glenda on 2 January 2015 at 22:59 said:
  
  Thanks Sandra
  
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Jean | DelightfulRepast.com on 2 January 2015 at 04:26 said:

Glenda, love your photos! I just came over from In My Kitchen (I posted my first IMK today!). I have the same frustration with avocados–no telling when they’ll be ready. Glad to find another enthusiastic bread baker.

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- Glenda on 2 January 2015 at 22:58 said:
  
  Hi Jean, I tried to comment on your post but I don’t think it worked 😦 Thanks for stopping by and for the compliment.
  
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My Kitchen Witch on 1 January 2015 at 22:29 said:

Happy New Year! Love all the fresh veggies from your garden. I agree with the solution you came to regarding borlotti beans. I think it was Francesca @ Almost Italian who said that they are ready to pick when the pods look almost rotten. I know from experience that when the pods look lovely and speckled, many of the beans are still green inside. Like the sound of that canape cookbook. Will need to look it up. And, of course, it really wouldn’t be Christmas without stollen!

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- Glenda on 1 January 2015 at 23:01 said:
  
  Hi Debi, happy new year to you too. Thanks for visiting.
  
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tableofcolors on 1 January 2015 at 19:17 said:

A kitchen full of treasures…lovely! I love all of your fresh produce. Our growing season here in the nordic is quite short that I could never even dream of an avocado tree 😊 Happy New Year!

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- Glenda on 1 January 2015 at 23:02 said:
  
  Hi Laila, happy new year to you too.
  
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Rainbow Computing Services on 1 January 2015 at 18:21 said:

Happy New Year to you as well Glenda and Maureen. Is that the garlic that I gave you a few years ago? If so, that’s amazing and looks stunning.

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- Glenda on 4 January 2015 at 22:50 said:
  
  Hi Sue, it sure is.
  
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lizzygoodthings on 1 January 2015 at 17:00 said:

Happy new year Glenda… loving all your fresh produce, especially envious that you have cucumbers already! Wow. Your cheese sables look and sound good… Peter would love them, I’m sure. If you have posted a recipe, do please let me know. That Food of the Southern Forests book sounds great too! (Though I do not need another cookbook).

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- Glenda on 1 January 2015 at 17:19 said:
  
  Hi Liz, Happy New Year too. I haven’t posted a recipe for the cheese sables but if you would like it just let me know and I will email it to you. Who needs another cookbook????
  
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