There seems to be a lot of fresh produce In My Kitchen this month. My dad gave me three baby pumpkins from his summer harvest. Each is the perfect size for a batch of roasted pumpkin soup. One seems a touch green but I am hoping that it will cook up well.
Mr Grumpy’s workmate has a tree laden with avocados, so Mr Grumpy engaged in a little bartering this month. One dozen of our freshly laid eggs for half a dozen avocados. Given the price of avocados in the shops at the moment, I feel we got the better end of the deal. Now we just need to wait for them to ripen.
I have been stocking up on the new season walnuts that have started to appear at the farmer’s market. A fresh walnut tastes sweet and creamy, and completely different from the shelled walnuts I usually buy. They are nice to snack on, although unfortunately I don’t appear to own a nutcracker. We have taken to crushing the nuts to get to the kernel, which leaves the nut meat slightly squished. I am thinking a nutcracker needs to be a priority purchase this month.
Years ago, when we lived in England, our local Indian take away did a cracking dhansak curry which I absolutely loved. I have yet to find a decent dhansak anywhere in Perth, so when I found this dhansak curry powder in a local Indian specialty store last week I snapped it up. I also picked up these cute Indian dishes as food photography props, which I have already put to good use. Now I just need to blog more curry recipes.
Staying on an Indian theme, my new rice cooker has a setting for flavoured rice, so I picked up these Turban Chopsticks Rice Kits in Woolworths. I always keep a jar of curry paste or a meal kit in the cupboard for an emergency meal, and am a huge fan of the Turban Chopsticks range. Their kits and curry pastes contain no artificial ingredients, and all are packed with flavour.
Apparently I have not been baking enough of late. It seems that no sooner do I bake a cake or a batch of muffins, they are demolished by The Princess and Mr Grumpy. I whipped up a quick batch of these Coconut Chocolate Bliss Balls this week to try and fill the gap until I find time to bake.
Short and sweet for my kitchen this month. Don’t forget to hop over to Celia’s at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial to see what is happening in other kitchens around the world.
Hiya Tania, (why is everything in caps? Oh well, I have checked and it is not me.) I like your Indian dishes. I wouldn’t mind a couple myself. I am also very interested in your pumpkins. I have about 24 on vines and I don’t know when to pick them. I was told to pick them when the stems die but they are very much alive. Any hints?
I bought the Indian dishes from Prime in Osborne park Glenda. They didn’t have a lot of choice at the time though. As to the pumpkins, I was also of the understanding that you had to wait for the vines to die. That is when we picked ours last year. Did you put yours in late? I was going to say surprising you still have live vines, but you also still have tomatoes so I don’t know 🙂
Tania, mine went in in spring and are still thriving. I just hope all the pumpkins don’t rot. (BTW Everything is still in caps when I type.)
I’ll be interested to see if they ripen properly Glenda. I assume they will pop up in an IMK post 🙂 I think the caps thing is related to the theme, as the same happens in search. They don’t show up as all caps though 🙂
great kitchen this month!
Thank you, and thanks for stopping by 🙂
Mmm, I love the look of those bliss ball – I think they’ll be on my agenda later today!
Thanks Amanda. They are great to have on hand for snacks.
I bought a fantastic spring loaded nut cracker from the walnut grower at by Farmer’s Mkt. It’s by far the easiest I’ve ever used. It cracks rather than squashes the nut and with minimal effort. Spring loaded is definitely the way to go…..
I know exactly the one you are talking about. I have seen the same nutcracker at my local market. I will have to see if the seller is there tomorrow. Thanks for the reminder.
Tania, those Indian serving dishes are darling. (I like your fish curry recipe — thanks for the link!) I think you got the better end of the deal on the avocados, too. Thank goodness my hubby surprised me with some chocolate today — my eyes were glued on your last photo — off to chase that link now!
They are cute dishes aren’t they Kim. Glad you like the curry. It is a favourite in this house, and easy to change up with chicken. Lucky you to have a husband surprise you with chocolates 🙂
Gorgeous photos Tania that I could view all day! I wish I could try one of your Bliss Balls with my tea right now!
Thank you also for this month’s IMK view!
Wow! Such lovely photos. Thank you so much for the peek. 🙂 Have a lovely week.
xx Jhuls
https://thenotsocreativecook.wordpress.com/2015/06/07/in-my-kitchen-june-2015/
I’d love a big bowl of those walnuts Tania!! Great things happening in your kitchen 🙂 Jan x
My husband keeps complaining about me buying them Jan, but I have plans to sit on the back doorstep in the winter sun and crack myself a bowl 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
I love the variety in your kitchen and great products 😀
Keep it up Tania!
Thanks Dennis 🙂
I SO wish our avocado trees would do something! They’ve been in for years, but not a single fruit yet. How glorious to be able to trade eggs for avos, I’d be in on that! I really like that brand of Indian spice mix – I use their chick pea (chaat masala) one. And your dad’s pumpkins look most fine. How did the green one go? x
I’m glad to hear that the spice mix brand is a good one Celia. Looking forward to trying it. Will keep an eye out for the chaat masala. I haven’t cooked the green pumpkin yet. Every time I suggest pumpkin soup there is much groaning so I might just have to make a batch for myself 🙂
Love the Indian dishes, would be great to find something like that! Such a good month for IMK!
Thanks Cate 🙂