In My Kitchen June 2016

Big news!  I am wearing a polar fleece in my kitchen.  So what? it's winter, some of you are saying.  But we have had an 8 months long summer here folks, so this is a blissful change.  The sky is blue and cloudless, a breeze is blowing and it is wonderfully refreshing.

There are other things in my kitchen apart from a fleeced-up blogger.  In fact, it has been a bit of a crazy month here, and I seem to have acquired a few new things.

Here we have:

chilli chocolate powder 

  

I first had this when my cousin sent it up for my birthday last year. I had to buy more when I ran out.  It has chilli and cayenne pepper in it, and it is deliciously HOT.  I like it over vanilla ice cream; the contrast between cold temp. and hot spice is delicious.
  

purple gin

Yes I know I have been splashing this image around on Instagram, but I just love the colour and the gorgeous floral aroma.  And best of all, it is local- i.e. made 2 hours away from me rather than in another country:=)

and we have barberries - tart and chewy

Our Iranian friend made us a beautiful rice dish with barberries which we loved.  I am planning to use the wonderful saffron she gave us and these barberries in a similar dish.  

then there is a new book 

This photo sorta looks like Matt and I are holding his book together don't you think?  A lot of the recipes are meant for colder climes so it may not be practical for my sub-tropical kitchen, but who cares? Don't we all love him anyway?



And then there is Gizzi.  I know almost nothing about her, but this book was on sale so I nabbed it.  You simply can't resist that Audrey Hepburn look!

Gizzi looking glamorous in her kitchen 

these speak for themselves

a very early birthday pressie to myself   

I love all sorts of vinegars and usually have several different ones on the go.  We were at a local café recently which has a provisions store also.  I saw this and it came home with me.  Delish on salads.

more macadamias

Mr P. and I did some more foraging.  I know they look a bit awful, but you need to leave them dry out for a while.  The husk then shrinks and starts to come off making it much easier to get the nut out.

Ukrainian chocolate

Mr P.'s IT person is in Ukraine.  Why, you may well ask?  He tried to get one locally but they were wildly expensive and weren't very amenable to his needs.  A friend recommended the lovely Olena, who hails from Kiev.  See the chocolate?  That's her name - Olena!  Last week we had a big package from her out of the blue, as a thank you to Mr P. for paying her a decent wage and being nice to her.  (As he is to everyone.)

a beautiful blue tumbler was in the parcel 

We loved rootling through this big box of goodies as surprises kept popping up, including this very cute earthenware pot.  It can be used for cooking apparently.

lovely little cooking pot  

Too cute to put in the oven!  It will sit nicely on my shelves looking beautiful.  I hope the lovely Olena did not spend too many of her hryvnias on this package.:=)  Yes that is a new word for me too.  I am guessing folks that you may not have known the currency of Ukraine either.

pine-scented soap  

We tend to use liquid soap in our bathroom, so I have put this in my underwear drawer to give a beautiful aroma to my smalls.  The funny thing is when I started to take off the wrapping, the soap was so greasy that I just punctured the whole thing many times (like a frenzied axe murderer) so the aroma comes out and the grease stays in.  Perhaps they still use goat's tallow and ashes like the Phoenicians?

really good Aussie olive oil  

  

Every year, or at least those years when there are olives on Patrice's farm, I buy a box of her oil.  You have to get in quick 'cos they sell like hotcakes (I think the Sydney chefs use it in their restaurants).  It is great to support Aussie farmers and to use oil that has only travelled interstate not halfway across the world.

can't wait to try this 

I had a drama with this, as some people may have seen on Instagram.  Australia Post ran over my parcel!  The lovely suppliers sent me a replacement without a quibble, unlike Aust Post.  Have you ever tried to make a complaint with them?  Don't bother, you have to sell your firstborn, AND your second born.

freebie from Josh & Sue

Josh and Sue sent me this rock salt in my replacement parcel after the terrible tragedy of being run over by Aust Post.  The parcel, not me.  Thanks guys!

this sounds intriguing

This maple sugar is apparently twice as sweet as normal sugar.  I will have to investigate further.


Well, that isn't everything that came my way this past month but I don't want you falling asleep as you try to get thru this post.


Join in with Maureen from The Orgasmic Chef in this monthly show and tell of our global kitchens.