Sunday 1 December 2019

In My Kitchen - December 2019

I am trying to think of something clever to write here, but all I can say is: Omg!  Christmas is nearly here.  And here we are at the last IMK for 2019.  How the heck did that happen?  I am starting to panic a bit, as we are cooking and taking the turkey to friends for Christmas lunch, then having family for Christmas dinner.  Eeek!

It has been a bit of a roller-coaster this year, with a death in the family, my story being published, and various bits and bobs of life.  Apparently, the stars (and the cards) say there are changes coming, big changes - so we will see what happens in 2020.  The twenties?!  But but - that means flappers, and Prohibition and post-war shenanigans, and ...  Nope, you silly, add on a hundred years!  May the 2020s bring blessings for all of us.

So here for the last time in 2019 - In my kitchen:



Christmas gin pudding and gin

For another year, I have paid my pennies to get one of these delicious puddings.  They actually make the gin by soaking the pudding in the liquid, so you can taste all the wonderful Christmas spices.  Can't wait!  Oh yes, and they use a different artist's artwork for the label each year.  I really like this one.  It's by Tim Summerton - Flame Trees.


home-made mustard

I love to make a big batch of mustard for Mr P. every so often.  Each time it is different, depending on the amount of basil, honey etc that I throw into the food processor.  I think this is one of my best batches, but we will know for sure very soon, once it has matured.


maple syrup
I picked this up at a local coffee shop recently.  Mr P. went to pay for our coffees, and didn't tell me how much this cost.  I asked him a while later, and nearly fell off my unicorn!  He should have just handed over the deeds to the house instead.


smoked salt
I looooove smoked salt.  Sometimes I just open it and sniff it ...  For some reason, my very fave Yakima applewood smoked salt is no longer available in Australia, so I make do with other sorts.  This is pretty good.  I adore the smell, as it reminds me of growing up in the cold mountains of Victoria, where people had woodfires.  I got my sister to smell it a while back, and she startled back with horror.  Funny girl!    


one guess!

Clients of Mr P.'s came back from Italy with this gift for him.  Twenty-one tiny jars of Nutella in one huge glass jar!  Oh my, it must have been hard to shove in a suitcase.  And it weighs a ton.  They must really like him :-)



a Jamie Oliver santoku knife

This is definitely not a plug for Jamie Oliver, but I bought this knife recently as a back-up for when Mr P. is already using our big knife.  This one is cheap and cheerful, but not a bad item to have on my magnetic knife strip:-)  The grip is comfortable, and the blade sharp (for now).  Not a bad buy for $18!

Well, my dear IMK friends, that's it for another year.  Can you believe it?  Nope, me neither.  Please join in for the last time in 2019.  'Twould be wonderful to see you here.  And yes that means you, all of you:-)  Here's how to join in:  

(And I've given you till five minutes before midnight on Friday the 13th to get your post in!  'Cos that's the generous kinda gal I am!)


1. Add via the Add Link button at the bottom of this post.  Instructions can be found on the sidebar of this page, under the Add your IMK link

2. Comment on this post, providing a link to your post so I can add it to  the list     below.  


3. Email me: sherrym1au@gmail.com, with your link or any    

    queries about the link process 




You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter



In My Kitchen:



Not Quite Nigella





















Sherrys Pickings

56 comments:

  1. So many interesting stuff in your Christmas kitchen, Sherry. I love smoked salt too, but at moment black salt is my favourite. I do want to try that maple syrup!! Have a wonderful weekend, my friend!

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  2. Hi Sherry -- all your new kitchen items look good. The fruitcake and gin especially -- but I always have a problem with beautifully packaged foods because I usually don't have any further use for the beautiful but identifiable containers and I keep them until they become clutter. Sad.

    Have a great December!... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    1. yes i know what you mean Mae. i bought a bottle of prosecco the other day in some limited edition livery. and i thought what't the point of it? it still goes straight into the recycle bin! thanks for joining in again. you are the bulwark of IMK:-) happy december x

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  3. Hehe I have a bottle of that maple syrup and even in Canada it was very expensive! And they must really like Mr P because I only buy light gifts for friends. Luggage space is precious!

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    1. i know lorraine! are they crazy people? filling up their suitcase...

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  4. I'm posting up tomorrow (your today). It dawned on me this Thanksgiving that it was indeed the end of the decade. It hit me again reading your post. I, too, tried to think of something clever for the IMK post this month. You put it well---"OMG!"

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    1. scary isn't it deb? how did we get to the twenties already?? thanks for joining in.

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  5. Sherry I love the look of the gin pudding , and I still need to make mine but I use brandy. Is gin the new brandy for puddings, what next. What would Mum think? Where do I find the pudding and gin , please tell me. Tempting. 2020 will be amazing.Cheers Pauline

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    1. you can buy the pudding and gin online pauline. Four pillars gin. or check the website for stockists... yes let's hope 2020 is fabulous!!

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  6. Okay, gin-soaked pudding? Yes, please! And love your mustard pots - lucky Mr, P! And I love his clients - all that Nutella! Yum! And I do have to say that the handle in that knife does lo9 mighty comfortable... I wonder if anyone carries his stuff here in the USA? I know we will chat before Christmas, but enjoy the season as it starts - and here’s to the 20s!

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    1. hi david
      i bet you can get jamie's stuff there. thanks for dropping by.

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  7. What a fun lot of things you have in your kitchen for end of this decade. You know I hadn't thought of the 2020's as you have. What a hoot it would be if the Charleston and Foxtrot came back as well as the flappers.

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  8. Your homemade mustard sounds wonderful - did you ever post a recipe or is this a guarded secret :) A big container of small jars of Nutella is an interesting gift - is it hard to get where you live?

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    1. hi judi
      my mustard recipe is on the blog. just type mustard in the search thingy. the nutella is from italy!

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  9. Those are some interesting items. Never heard of gin pudding and that big jar of the little jars of nutella made me laugh. where did you find that?

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    1. the nutella is a gift from italy. i've never seen it here in Oz. The gin distiller is in victoria; they've just won internation gin of the year - or something like that:-)

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  10. I hear you Sherry. I think November just disappeared and now all of a sudden December is here!
    Four Pillars Christmas gin and pudding??? I haven't seen those around. I love four pillars so will have to keep my eyes open for these! Thanks :)

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    1. yes the year flew by. it's a tradition now to buy the gin pudding at christmas time. yum!

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  11. Wow, that Nutella looks so great! Time goes by so fast, that is true!

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    1. scarily fast natalia. i reckon i was wrapping last year's xmas gifts about a week ago...

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  12. Haha! The visual of you riding your unicorn is great! :-) Real maple syrup is super expensive. We live smack in the middle of maple syrup country...and it's still expensive. But man oh man is it worth it! Also, I love smoked salt, too! Yum!!

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    1. you're right david. real maple syrup is worth it! smoked salt is my downfall. i adore it and use way too much of it. my arteries must be hardening as we speak. i'll just hop on my unicorn now...

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  13. Hello, Sherry! First, before I forget, thanks for coming over to Marmelade Gypsy and leaving such a lovely comment on my "Grateful" post -- for which I am most grateful!

    More to the point, I am your newest follower and really loved this wonderful post. Such interesting things you have that we don't see here -- and I love that you made your own mustard. Onward!

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    1. thank you jeanie. i am grateful for a new follower:-) lovely to have you here at my blog. cheers sherry

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  14. You have such wonderful stuff in that kitchen. I love smoked salt and use it a lot. And your mustard sounds fabulous. I make my own for gifts, too. Though I've never tasted gin puding, that sounds totally fab!

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  15. I never heard of gin pudding but I think I would like it. I can’t believe that we are starting another decade. Yikes!

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    1. yes it's hard to believe gerlinde. where did this decade go? :-)

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  16. Smoked salt is addicting, isn't it? Really like it. I use a hickory-smoked salt often. And yeah, those clients really must love your husband -- toting that Nutella thing back was work! :-) Fun post -- thanks.

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    1. hi KR
      and they gave him a beautiful glazed platter from vietnam too!!

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  17. That Nutella is so cute and I am very jealous of your Christmas Pudding gin - I tried it when I was in Hobart at a little gin bar and it was crazy good! I can't wait to jump in and join IMK next year although I don't think I'll have anything to share that's nearly as interesting as yours :) Happy Holidays! It's been so lovely to connect with you this year!

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    1. thanks sammie. lovely to have you here and i can't wait for you to join IMK! Have a great christmas break. xx

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  18. Make good use of that knife - it is great for vegetables. My cousin and I would enjoy the Christmas gin pudding and gin :)

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  19. So glad to read about 2020. I have heard from several different sources that this one coming will bring so much needed relief ... at last. Thank you dear for such a lovely and detailed post. Enjoy your day :-)

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  20. Sherry, the year has passed so quickly and 2020 has come so soon! The maple syrup sounds wonderful. I'd probably keep it in the cupboard not wanting to waste it until it got too old to use! And the smoked salt is something I would love. I'll have to keep an eye out for some. Warm wishes for your 2020's to be filled with happiness!

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    1. I believe in using things while you can. Never put them away!:). Yes all the best in 2020!

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  21. I am still in denial that we are in December! Perhaps once we get the tree up it will feel more real. Good Maple syrup and Smoked salt is my idea of a well stocked kitchen! Love the nutella babuska but would not want that in my luggage. And am curious to know if that big knife is heavy - I love the weight of my chef's knife and go to other people's houses and find a lighter knife harder to use. Have a great festive season and thanks for another great year of IMK - I always enjoy seeing what you have in your kitchen and reading your cheery posts!

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    1. no it's not a very heavy knife but it does have enough heft for me when cutting vegetables etc. i wouldn't use it for the big stuff like meat. thanks so much for joining in this year and i hope all goes well for you next year. next year is going to be full of changes i reckon! cheers sherry x

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  22. December it is indeed, what can I say. I'm sure you'll get through the holidays just fine, no need to panic. :) I'm trying to reassure myself at the same time.

    I already wish you a Merry Christmas time and happy twenties, may they indeed bring you many blessings!

    P.S. Love the Christmas gin pudding.

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    1. thank you veghog. very kind of you.. i hope the 20s are great for everyone, and the whole world. merry christmas! cheers sherry

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  23. Sherry, I so agree this year has flown by. Its been an interesting year for me, better than the past few year in relation to employment anyway. Gin Christmas pudding now that is a new one on me and I am quite intrigued. Love the packaging. I always like having a nosy at what you have in your kitchen and with it being December, moreso. Wishing you a Happy Christmas.

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    1. thanks shaheen for being a stalwart here at IMK. lovely to have your posts each month. have a fab christmas. cheers S x

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  24. Sherry, I think you're quite clever enough -- plus I loved everything IMK and your "back stories." Keep up the good work, girl! Finally penned a post and hopefully posted it on your link party at last. My doing, not yours. Looking forward to perusing everybodys' posts (including yours) SOON! Sooo many things to savor during this crazy busy Season! Thank you, xo.

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    1. lovely to have you here kim. thanks so much for joining in. may your christmas season be fabulous. cheers sherry x

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    2. Hi again, Sherry! I read through everybody's posts (including yours again, xo) intending to comment "specifically" before the New Year, but this is a crazy busy time for me musically. What a joy to see what everybody's up to and some new faces, too! Looking forward to a return trip to your post (and theirs) soon. Merry Christmas!

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    3. hi Kim
      have a marvellous and musical festive season. are you in a choir or a musical group? have fun cheers S x

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  25. Hi Sherry
    i tried to comment last week, but it did not work. i seem to have problems commenting on Blogspot. Wow, someone really likes your husband to give him all that nutella! Did you know that the nutella bought in North America (and likely Australia too) is not the same as the nutella in italy! So that makes the gift even better. i was trying to read where your maple syrup is from as the brand doesn't look familiar. Thanks for hosting-i am planning to post just before your deadline! Have a wonderful Christmas and a new year full of health, peace, and love. Ciao, Cristina

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    1. thanks for persevering cristina with your comments. yes i have a lot of problems too commenting on other blogs so i just keep on keeping on till they work:) no i didn't know the nutella was different in italy. i haven't tried it yet so i must do so soon to test it out. the maple syrup is from canada i think. 'twill be lovely to have your post this month. merry merry christmas! x

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  26. That is a LOT of Nutella! They would make good stocking stuffers. I love your mustard and the labels, I give it at Christmas as well. Have a very Merry Christmas Sherry.

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    1. thanks Liz. Mr P is pretty fond of my mustard too:) merry christmas to you.

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  27. Sherry not sure if my link has worked, tricky business. Thought I followed all the linked in party destructions though. Here's the link anyway. https://happyretireeskitchen.blogspot.com/2019/12/its-all-about-christmas-in-my-kitchen.html

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    1. it's all fine pauline. your post came thru! thanks heaps for joining in this month... i know it's a busy busy time for everyone. cheers S x

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  28. Hi Sherry, missing in action for sometime but glad I could make this entry before the year end. The gin sounds delicious and I bet Mr. P is waiting patiently for his mustard, wonderful that you make your own. Another year has passed so quickly. Wishing you and your family a happy Christmas and a lovely new year :) Moya from www.foodandtools.com

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    1. hi moya
      lovely to see you here. hasn't this year flown by? can't believe it's Christmas already. i've been making mango chutney all day so I'm pooped now! have a wonderful festive break. cheers S x

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