In my kitchen:
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| homemade organic lemon cordial |
We love tangy homemade lemon cordial in this house. Splash in some sparkling water, and you have fabulous lemonade. Thanks to our dear friend Princess Pia, who has a tree full of lemons!
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| a few bits and bobs |
Mr P. gave me the Italian olive oil for Christmas. I always buy Aussie stuff, but this was a Christmas treat. The paste and the relish are local. In fact the famous Queen factory (the vanilla bean paste maker), is just up the hill from our house (as I think I've said before). The relish comes from a regional area, a couple of hours away.
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| another book! oh my groaning shelves |
My Scottish blood is zinging here. I love anything about the Scottish islands, and Highlands. My great-grandfather Jock Mackay migrated to Australia early in the 20th century. Not sure if he had been a bad boy, and had to come out, or just decided on a change of scene. :-)
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| a few Christmas goodies from my cousin |
I still wonder about ruby chocolate. Is it natural, or is it something they concocted in a lab somewhere? Looks like you could have a lot of fun with that shimmer powder ...
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| and a Frida keep cup from Princess Pia |
Regular readers will be aware of my obsession with Frida Kahlo. And so is our mate Princess Pia (aware I mean), so she bought me this lovely keep cup for Christmas. I was even there when she bought it, but completely forgot, so it was a huge surprise when I opened it. Yes, my brain is draining out of my ears these days.
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| more tea towels |
You can never have too many tea towels. As my overflowing linen cupboard attests. And these are sooo cute. Thanks cuz!
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| a beautiful Alice teacup and saucer, and tea towels |
Oh lucky me! Our generous friend brought back Alice goodies for me from her recent trip overseas. She knows I love anything Alice. And just like the saucer says: we're all mad here!
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| aren't these pretty? |
This lovely little bowl is made from a coconut husk, as are the little spoons. I love the tiny, sparkly bitty inserts. So that's it for this month. I'd better finish up while the going is good. Come along, virtual friends, no shilly-shallying, excite me with your fascinating IMK posts.
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In My Kitchen:
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| Good Food Week |
wow you got some really good X'mas gifts! I love the tea towels..so adorable, and that bowl made with coconut husk is really beautiful.
ReplyDeletehi angie
Deleteyes i was amazed at how pretty that coconut bowl was! and the spoons. thanks for dropping by.
Your collection of new and delicious flavors is really wonderful. I'm curious about vanilla paste -- waiting to see how you use it. Alice and Frida -- great combination of personalities!
ReplyDeletebest... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
hi Mae
Deletei actually have my own vat of vanilla extract in my pantry but i just liked the look of this paste. you just use it like normal vanilla in cakes etc...
Lemon cordial sounds to die for! I think I'll have to get my act together for your next "in my kitchen." It's loads of fun. (Oh, and I'm a sucker for Alice too!)
ReplyDeletehi jeanie
Deleteyes nothing nicer than tangy homemade cordial. not as much sugar as the commercial stuff, and very lemony!
I wish I lived in the South or the West and could have my own citrus trees. I use lemons every week... Beautiful bowl made out of coconut shell - hard to believe!
ReplyDeletehi judi
Deleteyes it is lovely having neighbours with lemon trees and avocado trees and mango trees ... thanks for dropping by.
You're way ahead of me. It will be at least another 10 months until I start thinking of Christmas gifts.
ReplyDeletei probably won't do anything about it for 10 months tho:-)
DeleteAbout 20 years ago, Mark and I started Christmas shopping in March. We were usually finished by June, and then… when the holidays rolled around… we had only fun time to spend together without the stress of shopping.
ReplyDeleteLove your picks for February! Especially the Alice in Wonderland cup & saucer! So sweet.
hi david
Deletemy sister buys stuff all the year thru for XMas. I'm not that clever:)
oh yes vicki. the lemon cordial is a treat:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun collection here, Sherry! Your friends know you well. :-) I particularly love the Italian olive oil (good choice, Mr. P) as well as that Alice teacup. What a fun way to enjoy your morning tea! Happy February, my friend! (Oh, and the Scottish cookbook looks pretty cool, too!)
ReplyDeletethanks david. yes i have such thoughtful friends:) and they do know me well. thanks for stopping by.
DeleteSo many lovely things in your kitchen Sherry! Do you smell much vanilla in the air at your place? It would have such a lovely aroma!
Deletethanks! no it's a bit too far up the hill lorraine :-)
DeleteThat Frida cup is gorgeous. What a cool surprise. And of course you can’t have too many tea towels! I was reluctant to hook up as I only have the cooking rack and bread to bring to the party. Really I ought to have shared my camping kitchen!
ReplyDeleteit doesn't matter how few items are in an IMK post. we just love seeing everyone's stuff! thanks for joining in.
DeleteNot really sure what I covet the most this month?!?!?!? You know, I am a fellow Frida-phile so that cup is fabulous. I also love the Alice items. I should have made some lemon cordial, too, but made jelly instead.
ReplyDeleteFrida is wonderful! what an icon she has been and will always be!
DeleteWell here I am sans link and worse still, sans excuse! But don't worry, you have enough deliciousness in your kitchen for both of us. How convenient that you live so near the Queens factory and by golly, that Alice cup and saucer is fabulous! It's been the most delicious month at your place, hasn't it?!
ReplyDeletehi sammie
Deletei am very lucky. it is almost always a delicious month in our household:-) Hope to see you for IMK nexxt month.
They say the ruby chocolate is natural but who really knows. And have fun with the rose petals. There is a chance your family left Scotland because of the Clearings. Dave and I did as much research as we could to try and find his clan members when we were in the Highlands.
ReplyDeleteyes i love strewing rose petals here and there tandy:) Yes I am just a tiny bit hesitant to believe that ruby chocolate has suddenly been discovered:) Hoping for roguish ancestors!
DeleteSuch a lot of joy and fun in your kitchen this month. I love that Alice quote - we are all mad here and had it in my kitchen on a badge for a while. Lemonade from home grown lemons is the best. Wonder if you will find out about your scottish ancestors - my Scottish ancestors that I know of are all scoundrels! And shimmer powder is fun - we have used it where we want metal when making designs on cakes or and also on mince pies for a bit of pizazz - so it might go well on pastry for a bit of sparkle.
ReplyDeleteAlice is my fave character! well apart from the Duchess, and the cheshire cat and the caterpillar... thanks for dropping by. i hope my scottish ancestors were an interesting lot...
DeleteWow I love the idea of homemade lemon cordial! I ought to try making it some time :) thanks for hosting IMK!
ReplyDeleteoh yes do make it DoSD. it's so eaasy to make your own cordial, and so delish.
DeleteWhat a wonderful array of interesting items IMK, Sherry! Loved your Scottish Islands cookbook, "Alice" treasures, and "sparkly, bitty inserts" coconut bowl... also your New England Larder red pepper relish, locally-grown vanilla bean paste, and Louisana Cajun" whatever it is." (Do tell.)
ReplyDeleteWorkin' on a post before the deadline, mindful of your "no excuses" promt and encouragement :) -- will be back with you shortly. In the meantime it'll be equally delightful to see what everybody else is up to, given the stellar example you set! :) xo
thanks Kim. the cajun spice is a mixture of all sorts of good things. Mr P. put it in his chilli that he made for dinner today. Hoping to see your post soon!:) cheers s
DeleteThat homemade lemon cordial sounds wonderful. I also like the Scottish cookbook, even though I might not be able to cook so many recipes from it. I fully agree with you that one can never have too many tea towels, but I would also need more space for mine.
ReplyDeletea pretty tea towel is a thing of beauty, and so useful. yep homemade cordial is the best!
DeleteYour kitchen is beaming this month. I have a number of Sue Lawrences cookbooks from my time in Scotland, I remember her being a runner up on what was the equivalent of Master chef in those days. Yeah def. have a lot of fund with the shimmer powder, i picked up a black one over Halloween but typically never got round to using it. The Louisianan Cajun has me really intrigues. The bowl made from coconut husk is stunning, really stunning. Lucky you.
ReplyDeleteoh that's interesting shaheen. i didn't know that about sue lawrence. isn't the coconut husk bowl pretty? cheers S
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