Wednesday 1 April 2020

in My Kitchen - April 2020

Remember that Rudyard Kipling poem that ends with: "You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!"?  My dad liked the classics - Charles Dickens, Shakespeare et al - and this quote, which he often spouted to us kids.  Dunno why; I guess he just liked it.  Not sure why my brain threw this quote up at me, in the middle of the night!  Maybe because I can see that other bloggers are continuing on, but I'm finding it tough to see the value at the moment.  

I don't want to let regular IMKers down, so I have put up a post for this month.  I think we can let our hair down a bit this month, and just go for it.  Tell us what you're making, growing, baking, doing - not just in your kitchen, but anywhere in your house, in these difficult times.  Not sure when I'll post again; it could even be next week depending on how I feel, but let's see how it goes from here.  All the best, everyone!  And see you on the other side...


In My Kitchen (and elsewhere in the house):



me at my sartorial best:-)

Well, here I am in the bathroom, trying to cut my own hair!  This is halfway through...Let me tell you, it ain't easy holding up the scissors, and my hair, and the phone - tee hee :-) 



Mr P. having a neighbourly drink in our driveway

Last night (Sunday) we joined in on a local community event - drinks in the driveway.  We waved to our neighbours across the road, and held up our glasses to each other.  Very convivial.  I think even this is a no-go from now on, as you can only have outside gatherings of two!



chocolate self-saucing pudding

Is everyone else madly cooking and baking, and eating lots of cake and chocolate?  Yep, me too.  This is made with black cocoa powder, so definitely not burnt, as my young friend Johnny B. gently chided me.




re-reading this one after 20 years!

Trying to re-read this fishy one, after twenty years.  It was good then, and it's good now, but my brain is on a stop-work shift, so I'm finding any reading a bit difficult:-(



success in the elusive loo paper hunt

Mr P. went out hunter/gathering and found that elusive creature known as toilet paper.  What a caveman he would have made!




another book of food essays

I love reading about food, as much as making it.  Here we have some food essays about eating solo.  Not that I am; I mean you can't get rid of Mr P. that easily.   And yes, another (small) wooden spoon; is it olive wood, or is it mango wood?  Mango, I'm thinking.

Okay, that's it for now.  Join in, all my lovelies.  Can't wait to see what you've been up to during the virus crisis.  You know what to do - add your link, OR email me with the details so I can add it for you.






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In My Kitchen:




Not Quite Nigella
https://www.notquitenigella.com/2020/04/15/bean-salad-recipe/

64 comments:

  1. Hi Sherry -- Your reaction to the global emergency and social isolation seems to be the opposite of mine. I'm finding that writing blog posts is a great way to contemplate what's happening and a great way to refocus stressed thoughts. I hope you soon find a way to share more with us.

    be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    1. thanks Mae. i am finding it very hard to concentrate on anything at the moment! even reading is going by the wayside. take care!

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  2. I am glad for every single post that are posted on the blogs I read. It makes me feel less isolated than I really am!

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    1. Hello Anne, I feel exactly the same way if they are honest. Thank you.

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    2. i wish i felt more motivated. maybe later down the track...

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    3. i just feel ... isolated and no energy. i wish i felt better about blogging etc. at least i am baking and cooking lots! take care

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  3. Glad you persevered and posted the latest IMK up. I am finding that blogging (and reading blogs) is a much needed distraction right now. Do take care! (Have you tried a ZOOM cocktail party?)

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    1. everone is talking about Zoom these days. i have loaded it to my phone and must give it a go soon... cheers!

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  4. Cool that you found some toilette paper...here we can't find any..it's just crazy. Now I desperately need that chocolate pudding :-)

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    1. mysteriously there is now plenty of loo paper but not a drop of flour! weird!

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  5. So lovely to see you albeit virtually. At times like this when we're so physically isolated, I'm so grateful for my online connections and the friends in my computer. I think you did a bang up job on your hair. I'm not worried about my hair as much as the dog's - Teddy Roosevelt is going to look like a yeti at the end of this. Me and hubby will have to learn how to groom via youtube! That book looks so fun - best title for a book ever. I love the idea of a driveway get together, surely it's still allowed because you're only gathering on each driveway, no? We live in an apartment so there'll be none of that although I have been sharing cake with my neighbours. Stay safe, keep calm and carry on baking! Hope to see you around the tracks soon :)

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    1. thanks sammie re the hair! give teddy a hack yourself. grab some scissors and go for it:) i just keep on baking... take care.

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  6. Sherry, thank you so much for hosting. I also find blogging makes me feel less isolated. It doesn't matter if you have a recipe to post, just please do stay in touch with us.

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    1. thanks so much Liz. i will try to keep in touch. cheers!

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  7. Love the idea of the driveway drinkies Sherry, can't see the problem with that really. I think this whole crisis means that a lot of people are finding they are losing a sense of direction, and finding it hard to stick to things for very long, just because of the uncertainties of everything perhaps. Also we are used to getting out and about frequently. Anyway I will try and write up an In my Kitchen over the Weekend just to keep it all going. Stay healthy in Brisvegas. Pauline x

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    1. hi pauline
      hope to see your post up here soon. will be good to see what everyone is up to in these hard times!

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  8. I'm working from home which is an interesting challenge, I'm also mindful of eating healthier as I'm in a confined space now and getting a super early walk, planning future travels and celebrations which excites me and if I had time I'd also do some online learning, that's about it. Take care lovely xo

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    1. thanks M. i am finding life a bit tough atm to be honest. doing lots of baking tho... take care xxx

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  9. Thank you for hosting Sherry! I was thinking a quarantine edition might just be what we need. IMK ties us together to the beginning of the month, and after the longest March EVER am looking forward to writing my post

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  10. What a delightful post, Sherry! Me? I've been reading, cooking and blogging, decorating, a little needle felting and just trying to keep in and not anxious. With mixed results! Stay well!

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    1. you too jeanie. i feel very frazzled these days, and finding it hard to concentrate but i guess we will all get there. take care.

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  11. Hi Sherri, I'm pleased you are continuing the IMK in these difficult times. I also thought your chocolate pudding was burnt when I saw it earlier on Insta. Good to know it wasn't. Nice that those who live in streets and apartments can socialise at a distance.I'm also struggling with reading at the moment, which is a worry as I have such a backlog of books to read, but my brain is elsewhere. Cheers, F

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    1. hi francesca
      i just cannot take anything very seriously at the moment. my brain is full of fuzz! i have many books to read but am still not even thru one of them. take care

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  12. I too am going to have to cut my own hair! Toilet paper is not an issue here - but flour and yeast are. Nothing on the shelves when I went shopping yesterday. I am going to venture out again when we run out. Stay safe, and stay healthy.

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    1. i think i hacked my fringe a bit too much today! it is looking very wobbly:) ah well no one except hubby is seeing me. yes loo paper is back on the shelves but no flour!! keep well.

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  13. Sherry, thank you so much for hosting IMK. I love the personal stories, more now than ever. I don't think I will ever take my hairdresser, or restaurant meals for granted ever again. Loved the picture of your cocktail hour. We have been eating a lot of chocolate in our house as well, and drinking a lot of wine. Stay well, and thank you again.

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    1. yep i agree liz, the stories are what makes blog posts so interesting. i keep on eating cake and chocolate and crisps and ... i'll be as big as house after all this:)

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  14. Thank you as always for hosting. I love that people are still connecting and it is nice to know what is happening in other places right now. Sometimes its discouraging but I am plugging along and hope we see a change soon in this world.

    Yes to the party in the driveways! I like that photo. I am just letting my hair get longer and will pony tail it I guess. Don't even care that I'm about to turn 64!

    Stay safe, my friend.
    Tina in North Florida, USA

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    1. thanks so much tina. yes i can only hope life improves and fast:) congrats. a good age. i am turning 62 this year!

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  15. I'm sorry you're having a rough time. I think I'm doing allright because denial is my middle name! Not that i'm going anywhere, I just don't let my brain think about it. I've never been a worrier, which, does no good. I might be the only person/blogger not baking!

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    1. hi mimi
      i wish my brain would give me rest! Hubby has a chronic illness, and his income is not steady at this time so there are financial worries too for us. i will be so glad when life is back to normal...

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  16. Hi Sherry, it's great that you're keeping this event up even in these times! I have again taken part. I can't believe that you can cut your own hair so well! :)

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    1. thanks veg hog. i have hacked my hair a bit more so it looks a bit straggly but i don't care - no one sees it except hubby and he says it's fine:) take care

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  17. I’m so glad you are continuing to share. For me, I continue because I need the sense of normalcy, and the creativity is one of the few things left to enjoy! “Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant” looks really charming. Must see if I can find it...

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    1. i haven't read these essays yet but i have read laurie colwin's book, so i'm sure this will be good too. look after yourself.

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  18. Blogging is a safe and sane place in these strange times.
    Amalia
    xo

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  19. That drinks in the driveway idea is awesome! I might have to suggest that here in our neighborhood. And cutting your own hair? We haven't gotten to that here...yet...but I suspect it's coming. Yikes. Stay well, Sherry!

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    1. yes we are all finding out our homegrown talents these days. hope you are well.

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  20. Hi Sherry and thanks for hosting again-despite it being difficult. Everyone copes with this crazy situation in their own way, as i said in my post. i have been posting more than usual. It has been extremely difficult, but i felt i had things to say. Don't know how i will feel next week! Ration out that toilet paper and stay safe! ciao, Cristina

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    1. i am finding it so hard to get inspired to do a post these days. my mojo has just gone... thanks for dropping by. keep well.

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  21. Sherry, I hear ya about questioning the need to blog these days with multiple hash tags, videos, and Instagram posts usurping our long established domains. (Why bother?) But, I'm totally glad you did. Keep it up, girlfriend! -- I hope to join y'all soon! Your home-grown haircut, drinks in the driveway, and astute observation: "I love reading about food, as much as making it" tickled my soul. Here's to having something to look forward to (besides your post) in the coming days, connecting with real people! xo

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    1. thanks muchly kim. keep well and happy. cheers sherry

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  22. How gorgeous is that dining in your driveway idea? I don't think it has made it to our area but I would love to give it a go! :D

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    1. it's a wonderful thing to do lorraine. gives such a sense of community in these hard times!

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  23. You are so brave to cut your own hair!
    It looks great!

    I did my eyebrows the other day. 😁

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    1. i keep hacking away at my hair every so often. it's not too bad - so far.

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  24. It seems there is no end to our isolation over here. We do the things postponed for ages and, luckily, there are many concerts and plays on live stream. I would turn your attention to the most expected one : A. Bocelli is singing in empty Milan cathedral on Easter evening, 07:00 p.m. local time ( his you tube channel ). Stay healthy and Serena and Buona Pasqua a tutti !

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    1. all the best to you too davorka. i can't believe how very quiet it is outside today. easter tends to be as a lot of people usually go away but of course we have to stay home and indoors now. so spooky!

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  25. Everywhere it is the same situation and we are trying to our best. I learnt to thread my face hair and shape the eyebrows with tweezers.
    Stay well and keep sharing your posts.

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    1. wow. threading your facial hair. crumbs. i don't think i could do that. i have to cut hubby's hair soon; it is getting too long and shabby! at least i have some hair clippers for that. cheers!

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  26. Thanks for making sure there is still IMK - it is cheering in these strange times. I really will try and visit more kitchens this month - haven't been on my blog or computer as much as usual - all my routines have been upended and the days go quickly. I love your haircut photo and Mr P in the driveway. And am not surprised to see chocolate and cooking are current comforts. Hope you get some reading done - I love to lose myself in a good book to travel to a different time but am not finding much time to read. I had forgotten how much time phone calls can take out of the day! Stay healthy and hope you keep your spirits up!

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    1. oh yes it is so very strange these days! so quiet out there, like a bomb has gone off:) i am still finding reading hard. the brain, the fuzz... keep well!

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  27. I think the posters on IMK are my favorites on the www. Thank you so much for carrying on with Celia's original IMK.

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    1. thank you Liz. i sometimes feel that no-one is watching:-) as they say... I'm very glad to know that others love IMK as much as i do. cheers and stay well! x

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  28. Dear Sherry, Thank you so so much for persevering and continuing this months IMK post. It is heartening to see other IMK post and read how everyone is coping in these scary strange times, I am finding blogging is a good distraction for me. I do hope you and your family are keeping well. I did think wow that is one dark cake,i have not seen black cocoa powder

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    1. yes i am finding it hard to go on as usual shaheen. blogging has sort of gone by the wayside for me. Black cocoa powder is an odd thing - so very black, and it makes cakes go very black of course. odd but interesting. stay well!

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  29. Sherry, I'm feeling very much the same as you. I just can't get the blogging motor going, but yesterday I received an email from a reader encouraging me to pick up the pen and start blogging again. So, back to the keyboard, I'll go. Not because I need to blog for me, but instead because I know one person out there hopes to see a post from me. In reading the comments I know you have many out there who enjoy your post and recipes, I sure do. So, my friend, when the pen feels comfortable again, you go girl...

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    1. hi Ron
      thanks for your kind words. i have actually got a post up! it will appear at midnight:) It may be the only one for some time... Hope you're doing well. all the best, cheers, sherry

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  30. We're living in such a weird time, aren't we? And likely to be in weird mode for some time, I fear. Anyway, fun post. I've still got time before I need to think about cutting my hair, but that time will be coming. Maybe I'll just let it grow long and wear a ponytail. Let my freak flag fly! :-)

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    1. cutting your own hair is so much fun KR:) Go for it!

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