Friday 1 May 2020

In My Kitchen - May 2020

How are you going, my IMK friends?  I'm feeling much better lately, I must say.  I'm slowly getting used to social isolation, and in fact, I may even miss many aspects of it when life goes back to normal.  No demands on my time, nowhere I have to be, nothing screaming for immediate attention.  Perhaps you feel the same?  I hope you're all keeping well, and getting into your Corona routine.

Let's get right into the May IMK.  Can you believe how fast the year is flying?  Nope, nor me:-)  I'll see what I can find for this post: since we've been nowhere and done nothing, it may be a wee bit grim.  (Kidding!)  I've been making and sharing food with the neighbours (our immediate neighbour is nearly 90), taking them muffins and cake and lasagne and chicken soup.  It helps me feel useful, and I love fattening them up.  Just like the wicked witch in Hansel and Gretel:-)  

We've also been doing driveway drinks on Sundays at 5pm.  Yep, we're allowed to have two guests, and of course stay 1.5 metres apart, so no sins committed.  Unlike the rugby players who went camping in a big group on the weekend, and were firing rifles without permits to boot.  What is wrong with these ball-kicking boofheads?  Anyway, let's cut to the IMK chase...

In My Kitchen:



corn muffins
I've done a lot of cooking and baking during COVID-19; I made corn muffins to use up some frozen corn.  They didn't do their puffing-up thing, so they were flat but toothsome.  'Toothsome' - what a wonderfully chewy word.


garlic heads and dried granules
I usually buy garlic from Patrice Newell's farm, but she didn't have a crop this summer, sadly.  So I found these online, and had them sent up from Victoria.  I really love the dried granules; so easy and convenient.


birthday cake
There was birthday cake for Mr P.  This is one of Nigella Lawson's recipes, which I've made often.  For some reason, the icing went thin and weird (I think I misread the recipe), so most of it slid off the cake, which ended up sitting in a puddle of chocolate.  Still good!


garlic cloves
Here's me breaking up the garlic heads into cloves, ready for the freezer.  Thankfully, there always seems to be a bag lurking in the back of the freezer drawers.  I just finished off my last bag from November 2018.  They were less pungent, but still fine.


there was cordial
I made lemon and lime cordial with fruit gifted by friends.  It turned a beautiful pink due to the wild hibiscus sugar that my cousin gave me for Christmas.  I might even try making my own sugar since you can buy wild hibiscus powder online ...


organic limes
And here are the limes from our friends' tree.  Gorgeous green globes full of juice and vitamin C.  


plain flour
You know how hard it has been to get flour?  Well, our mate Mel who runs a cooking school here in Brisbane, has had to cancel her classes during the crisis.  So she decided to set up shop selling flour and yeast and so on.  And she does classes via Zoom these days.  What a whacko world it has become, but interesting.  So I hotfooted it down to her cooking school, and bought some plain flour.  Ah, what a relief to have some in the pantry again ...


honey
I bought this from a local lady; her sister is a beekeeper who lives on the Sunshine Coast, an hour or so north from here.  She normally sells her honey up there to cafés and shops, but due to COVID-19, the need for honey had dried up.  So she had lots of spare honey to sell.  Luckily for us!


the mystery bucket
'What's this?', I hear you asking.  You know that infamous bottom drawer we all have in the kitchen, full of stuff ... like alfoil and baking paper.  Somehow I had ended up with eight rolls of various things lurking there.  I suddenly had a brainwave.  Why not buy a container, shove them all in it, and whack them into the pantry?  I love it!  Problem solved, and I now have a bit of room down there to shove other junk:-)

That's all for this month, folks.  Hoping to see you here.  You know the drill:  add your link as per the button below, or give me a yell via email (sherrym1au@gmail.com) so I can help you add your post.  Cheers till next month.  (Oh, and just a reminder for you Wordpress aficionados - Blogger doesn't have the pingback function so you need to let me know about your post, if it's other than via the Add a Link button.  I don't get notification from your post automatically.)






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60 comments:

  1. Great to see you doing better with the challenges of lockdown! Cooking for a neighbor is a wonderful choice of things to do. I've seen people getting together at a distance in their driveways here too, but we've mostly been visiting from sidewalk to porch.

    I'm looking forward to seeing how the usual bloggers are doing in their isolated kitchens!

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

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    1. hi Mae
      thanks for joining in. yes it has been hard times but good in some ways. lots of baking and cooking i think has been going on!

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  2. Happy belated Birthday to Mr. P :-) That's a lovely cake to celebrate, Sherry. Those corn muffins would be perfect with some soups or salads for a delicious and comforting lunch.

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    1. thanks angie. yes you're right re the corn muffins. great with soups. cheers S

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  3. Someday I must join in here. I've been baking and cooking like a crazy girl during this. And I finally got my kitchen more or less put back together after the painting and big clean when I got my new stove a couple of months ago. You're right about finding new room! I hope you enjoyed the cake. Nigella's recipes are usually pretty successful!

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    1. oh yes please jeanie. do join in! i love nigella's recipes but i didn't read the recipe properly i think! cheers S

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  4. I'll be linking up on the 5th but wanted to wish you well today. My post will be about baking too with no new gadgetry. The flour situation has me a bit freaked out. I LOVE the pantry hint idea!!!!!!

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    1. thanks debra. glad you like my bucket idea for the pantry:-) see you on the 5th...

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  5. Oh I wish I had an elderly neighbor to fatten up! It's been a strange time, but you're right, there are some positive aspects to it. Stay safe and healthy. Happy birthday to Mr. P!

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    1. thanks kelly. it has been an odd odd time but there are good and bad points for sure...

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  6. I'm with you - there is a strange 'time out of time' feeling to this experience and I'm finally settling into it.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. yes i think it has taken everyone a long time to settle into it , but i think lots of us now are getting very used to social isolation! and perhaps even enjoying it.

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  7. Hi Sherry, glad you are feeling better during these strange times. Finally after some months managed a blog post which I was happy to do. Happy birthday to Mr P, love the sprinkles on the cake. Lots of lovely garlic in your kitchen and the garlic granules remind me of my grandmother who loved to sprinkle them on boiled eggs. Some bread flours have been a little scarce here too but so far have managed. As always thank you for hosting 😊

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    1. hi moya
      lovely to see you here on IMK. And Mr P says thanks. strange times but things are lightening up now as restrictions eased a bit as of today. we can actually go on a 50 km drive! yee hah!!

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  8. I have never though about freezing garlic, but what a good idea. Do you completely peel them or just separate the cloves? And I like the look of the cake with runny icing, it looks as if that was your intention.

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    1. Hi Liz
      No need to peel the cloves at all. I just break up their heads and stick them in a freezer bag. They last in the freezer for a very long time. Thanks re-the cake. It did actually end up looking like it was meant to be like that :-)

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  9. Haha! I love that you likened yourself to a wicked witch, Sherry. Too funny! Also, I really like your idea of making flavored sugars. What a cool idea - that drink looks so fun! I'm thinking a splash of liquor in there wouldn't be a bad thing, either. :-) Keep on staying sane, my friend. These are weird times, but things seem to be making a turn here in the States. A long way to go for sure, but at least there's a light at the end of the tunnel...I think. Happy belated birthday, Mr. P!

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    1. hi david
      yep weird times but good in a way. love the peace and quiet and the lack of have to have to have to do things. thanks from Mr P!

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  10. When my husband moved in we counted that between us we had about 6 rolls of cling film. Two years later and I think we are finally on the last roll!

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    1. hi Marg
      it was funny how i just had a brainwave about getting a bucket for the boxes of paper. I love it!

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  11. I'm glad to hear that you are in good spirits and busy in the kitchen. It's great that you can help your neighbours by cooking for them.

    I have also added my link.

    Have a nice weekend!

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  12. Heard about you, thanks to Mae, and will join in as soon as I get my link adjusted to include IMK. I had the same experience with garlic at our market this week. Suppliers of fresh heads weren't able to come through, so a container of peeled cloves from Korea. But they keep well in my fridge.

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    1. i'm so glad that Mae told you about IMK. Yes it's amazing how well garlic will last in the freezer.

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  13. This was my first time linking, and next time will add in more of what was on our table during the month. Wonderful to see how everyone is coping.

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    1. wonderful, claudia. glad to have you here. thanks for joining in. keep well.

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  14. I just linked up. Love your post and that you are still baking and cooking for neighbors. I'd love a slice of cake!

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    1. thank you tina. wouldn't it be nice to get together for cake?:)

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  15. Hi Sherry
    April is one of the shortest months but it felt like 2! Glad you are hanging in there will physical isolation. It will get better. Ciao, Cristina

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    1. hi cristina
      yes march and april have seemed interminable... the year is flying and it all seems so strange. anyway it can only get better. cheers S

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  16. Hi Sherry,
    I am enjoying all the links and comments. I have a message/request for commenters: I would love to see their current blog posts. BUT sometimes their google-blogger ID (required for commenting here) links to an old blog or to none. PLEASE put the link to your real blog in the comment so we can share with you! Also please consider adding a "my web page" link on the google-blogger ID page.

    Be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    1. hi Mae
      yes i've been having trouble lately accessing other blogs when i get an automatic email from them. it just goes nowhere so i have to go in manually to find it. Not here on my blog usually, but just via email subscriptions. i don't know what it is with blogs that the providers make it soooo hard - to comment or access. Grrr....:-)

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    2. i mean the internet providers, not the actual blogger people of course:)

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  17. Glad to see you're taking full advantage of the lock down, what a great looking cake! A belated happy birthday to Mr. P!

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  18. Such a nice thing to be feeding the neighbours Sherry. I pass on preserves, honey and bread to friends, we play swapsies, and that does the soul good. Nice to see you being busy. Which Nigella chocolate cake do you like? I make the one with coffee cream quite a lot but I still don't have a standard go to chocolate cake recipe for emergencies. Take care, Pauline

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    1. hi pauline
      this is actually a plain sponge with a chocolate icing. because it was so wet, the icing just covered the whole cake! I have a chocolate heart-shaped cake which i use a lot. i don't think i know the cake with coffee cream but it sounds wonderful!

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  19. I wonder if I'll ever be organised enough to get an IMK post up? Love yours though. I think the bucket for the long rolls of kitchen paper etc is just genius! And so is the frozen garlic. Why did I never think of that before?! I've been fattening my neighbour up too and she's a great cook herself so she's been reciprocating. When all this is over I will probably need to wire my jaws together, all this extra time cooking (and eating) is not doing my waistline any favours! LOL!

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    1. i'm really hoping you'll do an IMK one of these days sammie! yep that bucket idea just came to me in a flash. so glad it did. i have been freezing garlic for a few years now, after my Sis in law suggested it to me. yep i think i've put on 100's of kilos lately!

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  20. I've put up my IMK post - and I enjoyed seeing some iso kitchen. Hope you are enjoing a bit of let up in queensland - we are still waiting for that in Victora. That cake looks delicious as do the muffins. I am fascinated by the hibiscus sugar - just made limeade last night but never heard of that pink sugar before! You seem to have settled into the iso vibe with driveway drinks, online purchases, great baking and cleaning up the kitchen!

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    1. thanks johanna. that's great. yes the restrictions are easing now. we can go on drives! yay! you can buy the hibiscus sugar as is, or buy the powder and add it to sugar. it makes things delightfully pink!

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  21. Hi Sherry,
    I love the idea of freezing garlic. I always keep my fresh ginger in the freezer, but never thought of garlic.. If I would like to join in for IMK for next month, is there a specific day that I come by to link my post?

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    1. i grate and store ginger in the freezer to, Judee. great idea. IMK posts go up from the first to the 13th of each month. Hope to see you here soon.
      cheers
      sherry

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  22. We've been doing some virtual cocktail hours with friends via computer video, but we're thinking maybe we should start driveway drinking. :-)

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  23. I so want to try that wild hibiscus sugar! I had Dave make me a shallow drawer just for all the rolls of 'stuff' - but your idea is great. Thankfully after 2 weeks of lockdown our flour levels seem to be back to normal. Good thing as we have baked a lot of bread.

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    1. check for it online tandy. i don't know if and where you can get it, but maybe online...

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  24. I can find bleached white flour but not unbleached so I am saving the flour that I have for general cooking. Miss baking... There seems to be a shortage of garlic? and the heads are small. I will freeze when they are available - wish I still had my big garden!

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    1. unbleached flour? i just use normal plain white flour:) it's not really garlic season here, so not surprising that there's no garlic at this time of year. cheers Sherry

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  25. I am so pleased to read that you are a little more upbeat and like many of us being kept busy in the kitchen. You have reminded me that i have sweetcorn in the freezer too and muffins sound good to me.
    I am running low on flour i picked up months before the pandemic, but i will cross that bridge to buy when i come to needing it, i have enough still to get me though. Wild hibiscus sugar sounds amazing and certainly welcome when luxuries in the home kitchen this time are limited. I would love a glass of your lime lemon drink having just finished working in the garden.

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    1. hi shaheen
      yes drop on by for a lemonade! if only...:-) i think we are just about 16.5,000 klm's away from each other! thanks for joining in this month. great to have you here again. you are such a stalwart of IMK; much appreciated. have fun
      cheers
      sherry

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  26. Very kind of you and happy belated birthday!
    I've nominated you for the Liebster Award and hope you'll join in...no pressure though and a bit of fun. ;-)
    https://imageearthtravel.com/2020/05/10/liebster-award-nomination-4/

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    1. thank you for that but i've actually done it before some years ago so i will humbly decline this time.
      cheers
      S

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  27. Love that pantry hack with the rolls! So much easier to find them when they're stacked that way. Also how gorgeous is that pink hue? Must look out for that wild hibiscus sugar!

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    1. thanks lorraine. yes i do love that sugar. it has a lovely taste too.

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  28. I love that you are helping our your elderly neighbour - I am sure they have been super happy with everything you've brought over. I've also not heard about the hibiscus sugar - it sounds wonderful, and I love the colour of that cordial! Great tips, Sherry.

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    1. yep they have been very happy with our deliveries:) Thanks for your comments and for dropping by the blog katerina.
      cheers
      S

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  29. This all looks so good. I would have never thought of that combo in the smoothie. I could go for that right now. And the cake is great!

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