Wednesday 1 June 2022

In My Kitchen - June 2022

Well, since last month's IMK post, Mr P. and I have traversed half the country. We took a quick trip (tee hee) to Ballina in Northern Rivers, New South Wales via the capital city Canberra, and on to Newcastle, then Ballina, then home.  We've had a fabulous break of it.  Soooo nice to be back in one's own bed though, isn't it?

We drove through Lismore and Murwillumbah on the way home.  It was so sad to see that Lismore especially has been ruined.  It was deathly quiet, with many shops and buildings still in total disrepair.  Heaven knows how and when and if these places will come back to life.  There are people sleeping in their cars, or living in tents and caravans - truly heartbreaking, with winter almost upon us.  Winter is mild here but it's still a terrible thing to have to do.

It feels a bit heartless to talk about 'things' in my kitchen, but here we go.  Mr P. and I have donated money and clothes etc for the cause; and a local woman drives down each Friday taking all sorts of necessaries to the displaced residents.  Maybe our new Government will do more now.  So happy to see that Australians decided they'd had enough of the uncaring government we've had for too long.  


In My Kitchen:



I love me some Worcester!

I love Worcester!  And a black garlic version sounds like a winner.  I bought this at our mate Lucy's providore store in our local village.    Can it be as good as my homemade one?  We will see:-)


yep another cookbook

I bought this one on our travels, at the National Arboretum in Canberra.  A friendly waiter suggested we visit here, and how right he was.  A simply wonderful place to spend some time, with children flying kites, and everyone enjoying the (very) bracing weather.


teacup and saucer from the National War Memorial, Canberra

The purple poppies commemorate all the animals who lost their lives during the wars.  I think 130,000 Aussie horses went over to the war zones in WW1; only 6 were brought back.  The soldiers often shot their own horses dead rather than leave them to their uncertain fates overseas.


delish!

We finally got to Long Track Pantry in Jugiong.  I have been buying online from them for years!  'Twas wonderful to see it in person and buy their products.  I have their recipe for tomato relish, which I will make for the blog one of these days.  Not tomato season here, but I bet they are still available in the supermarket.  And the recipe does say you can use any tomato you like.


goodies

Davidson plum is a native fruit; here they have added it to salt to make a finishing salt.  I can't resist buying different salts, even though we use very little these days due to Mr P.'s health.  Love red capsicum relish!  And the Tumami sauce (like the paste I buy) is made with black garlic and tomatoes.  That was a new one to me, so I had to buy it.


my curveball!

This came in the mail while we were away.  (Plus a $100 cheque!)  How delightfully old-fashioned.  I'll actually have to go into a bank now.  Check out the results here.


So it's short and sweet this month, due to being away for half of May.  Looking forward to reading your posts, my friends.  And for newbies, here's how to join in:

IMK posts are about your kitchen (and kitchen garden) happenings over the past month.  Dishes you've cooked, preserves you've made, herbs and veg in your garden, kitchen gadgets, and goings-on.  And a curveball is welcome - whatever you fancy; no need to be kitchen-related (see my certificate above).  

The link is open from the first of the month to midnight on the thirteenth of the month.

Options for adding your post to IMK:

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 OR:

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

3. Email me: sherrym1au@gmail.com, with your link or any queries about the link process, or if you would like it to be added after the 13th ('cos I can sneak it in; I know the boss)


use the logo or not as you wish:-)

  

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

46 comments:

  1. East, west, home is the BEST :-)) Why is Lismore ruined? Because of corona? Here I have seen many shops are closed and so many people lost their jobs and income...it's just sad.
    I want to try that black garlic Worcestersauce!

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    1. hi angie Not covid-related. Poor Lismore got flooded again! It's so sad. This was the worst flood we've had around here for a very long time.

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  2. Hi Sherry -- Your travels sound fascinating. Some day I hope to see more of Australia. So sad about the destroyed areas. And congrats on the short-story prize.

    I assume you will quickly delete the newest hijacker's links to a totally irrelevant blog with no kitchen content whatsoever, and no indication of relevance to the old and new IMK crowd. As for the crowd: I'm looking forward to seeing what's in their kitchens as they post.

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    1. thanks Mae. Yes I have deleted a couple of them. Soooo annoying. they don't even have the courtesy to read the post or add a comment. Grrrrr! Not sure about the ones with recipes, that aren't hawking their wares. I may leave them on.

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  3. I love black garlic so I'm sure I would enjoy the worcestershire sauce! Congrats on winning $100 for your short story.

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    1. thanks Judi! I was so happy and surprised to win.

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  4. Congrats on your prize! I don't think I've ever had black garlic Worcester!shire sauce -- sounds intriguing. :-)

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  5. Sorry to have missed you in Newcastle! Looks like you had a wonderful trip away from home, and you are right that it is so sad what has happened to Lismore. Congratulations on your prize!

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    1. what a shame. would have been great to catch a coffee. I didn't realise/remember you were there. We loved it there! Thanks re prize. I am so stoked!

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  6. So sad that people are still displaced after your natural disasters. We have the same here from the floods. I think it was so impractical to return the horses, even to England from Europe so they were left behind, or shot, as you mentioned. Well done again on your award - we don't have cheques here anymore. And I love the sound of the black garlic Worcestershire sauce.

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    1. yes so sad about the horses. thanks re my prize! am super stoked about it. such a lovely surprise.

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  7. Happy Half Year Sherry.

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  8. Hi Sherry, I am having a difficult time commenting on your blog but I will try. It’s so sad to see all the disasters and wars in this world. I am in Germany right now and my brother took in Three displaced women from the Ukraine. Gerlinde de Broekert

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    1. sorry gerlinde!! I know it is a pain. Bloody blogger!! Good on your brother.

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  9. You found some wonderful things on your travels. Natural disasters really make life so difficult for so many. It's terribly sad. And especially as winter as setting in. How very sad.

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    1. thanks jeanie. yes it is sad times for the world lately.

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  10. Interesting but sad story about the horses. The poppy flowers on the teacup and saucer are lovely. Congrats on the essay contest and thanks for hosting.

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  11. Sherry, your journey sounds wonderful. A good trip always feels rejuvenating and gets you ready for the days ahead (Of course, only after a good rest, ha!). I am not familiar with the places In Australia but, I felt a pang for the people who have been displaced-natural castatrophe? Thanks for sharing your adventure with us.

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  12. hi david and thanks! it was a lovely surprise to get 2nd prize! Mm i can probably email you the e-mag. it does feel wrong to be light-hearted in the face of the general horrors but we do have to keep on keeping on. Yes soooo happy about the election results and surprised. Yay! Yes the tumami is good stuff. Put it in a stew-y thing this week.

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  13. Congrats on your prize! Well done!!

    As great as it is to travel around and see the sites, there is something great about coming home.

    I bought that cookbook a few months ago now. I still haven't cooked from it, but we are having Atlas mealkits for the next couple of weeks.

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    1. thank you Marg. I have a recipe that I want to make from the book so I'll do that one of these days for the blog.

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  14. Congratulations Sherry on your writing competition prize! That's impressive. So glad you finally were able to get out and travel some, even though it sounds like certain places were quite depressing. I remember going back to south Louisiana after hurricanes. Just heartbreaking. The purple poppy tea serving is lovely.

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    1. Thanks much MJ. I was so pleased. Yes we had a great trip but it was very sad to see how Lismore esp. has been ruined by the floods. There is talk they will rebuild the town up on the ranges. Great idea i think. They did that with one small town after the 2011 floods.

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  15. So awesome about your short story! Congrats! All of your things sound wonderful this month, especially that hazelnut granola and PLEASE post the tomato relish recipe soon. We are already getting tomatoes and if all of our plants produce, I will need LOTS of recipes. Posting up tomorrow.

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    1. thank you debra! Yes I will indeed do the relish recipe soon. Cheers S.

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  16. That's very sad about Lismore and I hope that they get some help there. Congratulations on the prize! And yay to getting rid of that useless govt :D

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  17. Well done on the prize. And glad you got a wee break away too. We're much doing the same this month. Getting away now finally that the weather is better and all restrictions are lifted!

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    1. thanks Neil. Yes it's good to get away every so often.

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  18. I'm so impressed with your prize! Well done!!!
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. thanks so much amalia. I was very pleased and surprised.

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  19. Clapping for you - that's great about the writing award. I like the cookbook and any worcestershire sauce is welcome in our home. Love it. Very sad about the people who had so much destroyed by floods. I hope they get assistance.

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    1. thank you tina. yes there is flood assistance but it's still hard for many who are living in caravans etc as their houses are ruined.

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  20. We are actually driving up to Queensland before we leave and am bracing myself for the devestation we will see. Really hope the new government will do right by the people of the Northern Rivers. In happier news, sounds like you had a wonderful trip! That Worcestershire sauce looks particularly delish! I didn't know that about the war horses - so sad but a beautiful cup and saucer - isn't the War Memorial a fitting tribute to our those who have and continue to fight for our freedom.

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    1. ooh sammie. drop on by! we would love to see (meet) you. I can't wait till the massive renos are done on the War Memorial in Canberra. It will be stunning.

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  21. That is so sad about the Northern Rivers region - so much support is needed after a natural disaster and to feel abandoned would just make it so much worse. I hope our new government actually looks out for such people. But your travels sound really interesting, and your food souvenirs are the best. And congratulations on the prize.

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  22. I'm late with everything as I've been quite crook since arriving in Cairns a coupe of weeks ago,good to be back on the computer. I think I started to comment before we left home but then things happened So thrilled for you Sherry, winning the writing award, always such a thrill. You must work so hard at it. I love different Worcestershire sauces, and I would have bought the cup and saucer as well. Great post, thanks. Hope you are well.

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    1. i hope you're feeling better pauline. thanks re award. i am super happy about it! Feel free to email me with an IMK post if you have one for this month. I can add it manually!

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  23. Congrats on the short story, Sherry! And it sounds like May was a pretty fun month for you down there. We just got back from vacation ourselves, and we're getting ready to move next week. Our June will be like your May! In other news, that black garlic Worcestershire sounds delicious!!

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    1. thank you david. it was a lovely surprise - esp. that cheque:) Good luck with the move. such a big job!

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