For a while now I have been enjoying the monthly In My Kitchen blog event hosted by Celia at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial. I love the opportunity to peek into other people’s kitchens from around the world. But you can only be a passenger for so long. Sooner or later you need to join in. So without further ado …
It has been a busy couple of weeks in my kitchen. I bought ten kilos of organic Tegan Blue plums from the local farmer’s market, which then meant I actually had to do something with them. I bottled the majority of them for use in crumbles through the winter months. I make a huge batch of crumble that I store in the freezer, then when I need want desert I dump a bottle of plums into a dish, top with crumble and dessert is ready by the time you’ve eaten the main.
I made a small batch of low sugar Spiced Plum Jam with the rest of the plums. I have long wanted to preserve grapes in some manner, so I also made a small batch of Grape Ketchup. I think the recipe needs more tweaking but grapes have disappeared from my local market so that will now need to wait until next year. I poured some over chicken wings and roasted them. They were good but next time I will marinate them to see if the flavour penetrates the chicken.
I have a label programme that enables me to easily make labels for my jams. By labeling them I always have a ready gift should I need one (and I also don’t forget what was in the jar in the first place).
I made a batch of lime curd from some limes a friend gave me. No fancy labels on these ones – they are just for us.
There are now many, many limes in my kitchen. These ones are from my parent’s trees. I will juice most of these and freeze them in lime curd size batches so I can make curd when limes are scarce. I might also try to make a lime pickle if I can find a recipe that takes my fancy.
New cookbooks are a given in my kitchen. I bought these with a gift voucher my mother-in-law gave me for my birthday. I was curious about the ‘I Quit Sugar’ book after reading a couple of reviews. We don’t eat a lot of processed sugar in our house, but I still found the book to be full of interesting and well researched information. It has a very good selection of recipes for savoury snacks and breakfast to replace all those traditional sugary options. I haven’t had a chance to read Hugh properly yet.
I have been waiting for Jude Blereau’s new book since I first learnt she was writing it. I have been lucky to experience a few of the recipes in her classes so I know they are good. This signed copy was given to me by my lovely friend Sue.
This tea cosy was my Christmas present from mum. After much nagging she caved in and knitted it for me. It is one of my favourite things in my kitchen. Now all I need is a cover for my little tea pot (Only seven months till Christmas mum – just saying!).
And finally a Nutty Granola slice straight out of the oven. Maybe now The Princess will stop complaining there is nothing to eat.
I hope you have enjoyed a peek into my kitchen. Head over to Fig Jam and Lime Cordial to see what is going on in other people’s kitchens this month.
Fab tea cosy! I am coveting your limes as well. I keep meaning to do something sensible like labelling my preserves properly to use as gifts. Especially important as my handwriting is pretty ropey.
Pity we live in different states Liz. I would definitely share ; ) Now I have set it up the labels take little time at all. I made a basic label (size, font etc) for each size jar and then just change the contents each time.
Ooh! Ditto on the cozy. Is it a pattern one can order?
I admire your energy. I’m embarrassed to admit how much fruit from my trees just dies on the ground (where the animals eat it, so, not a total loss). I keep saying “this year…” Maybe 2013 will be the year I get energetic, too. 😉
Thanks for setting such a good example.
Hi Ruthie. The pattern is one from a book called Really Wild Tea Cosies.
It’s not so much energy but that I know I will be filled with regret if I don’t. Particularly when it comes to the plums ; )
When I used to live in San Jose, California, there was a charitable organization that would go around town and pick people’s fruit to give to homeless shelters and that sort of thing. San Jose was once all orchards, so the older parts of town still have orange, prune, apricot, cherry…you name it trees in many, if not most, home lots. I got tired of oranges falling on my head from the tree right over my front door, and they came and picked them all, leaving me a couple dozen for my use. That is a great idea.
Where I am now, I have many more trees because this land was an orchard too, but many more trees are left. Here no one wants to be bothered picking, though. It’s a shame, but it keeps the critters from starving. Not sure how good that is, but there you go. 😉
Well, heck. I clicked the edit link but nothing happens. I just wanted to thank you for the book link. I love it!
Pleasure Ruthie. She has a few books out now. I think she just recently released her third.
How great to have you joining in Tania, thanks for playing! Loved seeing all the treasures in your kitchen – your bottled plums had me oohing and aahing. We don’t have a vacola kit, but I’m always tempted by them – we tend to put everything in the freezer instead, but it DOES take up a lot of room! Look at all your lemons and limes, wish we had them in our kitchen! And could you please let us know what you think of Hugh’s book? I like all his books as a rule, but I haven’t been able to get my hands on that one for a look. Finally, your mum is very clever, because that tea cosy is absolutely gorgeous! (Hope you get a matching baby one!)
Thanks for having me Celia ; ) I love my Vacola. I still use the freezer a lot as well but the Vacola just means I have a bit more room to juggle with. I still haven’t managed to get past the first couple of pages of Hugh’s book, but shall let you know when I do. I have my fingers crossed for a matching pair of tea cosies : ) But will have to wait till Christmas to see if the wish is granted.
Welcome to the fun that is IMK. I do find it makes me actually look at things I ignore most of the time!
What a lot of plums! I do think bottling is such a satisfying way to preserve fruit.
I don’t suppose your Mum would be interested in taking orders for tea cosies? I love home made ones.
Thanks Pat. Sometimes just the sheer volume of fruit to be bottled makes me feel tired, but the sight of full bottles lined up makes it all worthwhile. As to the tea cosy, it was hard enough getting that one. I don’t fancy your luck ; )
Nice to meet you and see what is in your kitchen 🙂
Thanks Tandy. Thanks for visiting.
Your granola slice looks delicious!
And that tea cosy is wayyyyyy too cute! Your mum is very talented!
Thanks. It can’t have been too bad because The Princess ate it without complaints : ). My mum is extremely talented, luckily for me. Thanks for visiting.
Hi there, loved seeing what is in your kitchen and that tea cosy is beautifully knitted! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you very much for visiting. I’m hoping all the nice comments about the tea cosy will induce mum to knit me another ; )