I have fresh eggs In My Kitchen this month. After many months with only a couple of eggs proffered as rent, we sent the freeloaders in our chicken coop back to the farm and replaced them with four Isa Browns that are starting to earn their keep. I had been buying eggs when I couldn’t get any from my parent’s chickens, so it is lovely to be self-sufficient once more.
A wander through IKEA (goodness me that place is dangerous to the wallet) resulted in three new cutting boards. They are made from bamboo, which is a great lightweight wood for the kitchen, and are three different sizes which is handy when you only want to slice a single tomato. I also came out of the store with these simple tea towels which will find their way into food photos from time to time. I think I may have a tea towel obsession. Maybe I should seek help.
My friend Matt and his family visited the United States earlier this year and when we finally caught up with them, he gave me this poultry rub and white truffle oil which he had picked up for me in New York. I have used the poultry rub on roast chicken and it is very, very good. I have yet to put the truffle oil to good use.
Normally I perform a hit and run on the supermarket, but recently I had some time to kill as I was waiting for The Princess. I slowly wandered the aisles to see what new products were on the shelves and came across this coconut sweet spread. It is a mix of coconut, coconut oil and coconut nectar. I used it with great success in a quick apple tart and, despite her initial protests that it was too sweet, I have seen The Princess sneaking spoonfuls as a snack.
There are numerous batches of kale chips moving through the kitchen at the moment. The kale plants are ridiculously abundant this year, and I am struggling to keep up with the supply. I even turned a large batch into kale pesto. It is the kale chips that are the most popular use of this vegetable though, and I often find a trail of kale crumbs leading from the dehydrator soon after I make a batch. At least I know The Princess likes them.
I was really excited to win a copy of The Homemade Flour Cookbook in an Eat Your Books competition last month. I had been coveting this book and was on the verge of buying it myself anyway, so winning a copy was a wonderful thing. I love making my own flour as I feel that there is a difference in flavour between flours that you grind yourself and shop purchased flours. The book has many great ideas for legume and grain flours that I had not even considered, so I am looking forward to cooking from it.
A recent browse through a local bookstore saw me emerge with I Quit Sugar for Life and Fermentation for Beginners. I do like Sarah Wilson’s philosophy and, whilst I don’t agree with everything she says, her ideas and recipes are a good introduction to eating well and dropping the processed foods from our diets. The fermentation book has a handful of recipes that I really want to try. I have already made sour cream with buttermilk, and have my eye on the pineapple vinegar next.
That about wraps up a look into my kitchen this month. Don’t forget to head over to Celia’s at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial for a peek into other kitchens around the world.
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