This is one of my favourite storage jars. I sometimes pretend the chef character is an illustration of me, especially with the wavy hair. I actually had two of these jars with the same character, but my nephew smashed it by accident. I've never let him forget it - no I'm just teasing, he did smash it though, that part is true.
Do you remember me mentioning in my last IMK post that I treat myself to some lovely artisan bread now and again. Well sometimes the bread loaves just do not fit snuggly into the bread bin I already have in the kitchen, so the lovely husband got me an even bigger Bread Bin. This creamy hunk of enamel will certainly house more than one loaf for sure (or maybe he picked it up to stash his chocolate bars!).
I've won a couple of foodie goodies too. I went to a Vegetarian food festival and won a goodie basket filled with vegan goodies, including four packets of vegan cheese from Vegusto.
Blogger friends like Johanna over at Green Gourmet Giraffe has given it the thumbs up, so I'm looking forward to cooking with it. I've already got a number of ideas of what to do with it.
Secondly, I entered my vegan Mexican Tamale Pie in a blogger contest and I was runner up and was sent a jar of Gran Luchito - an intensely smoked chilli spice paste. I've already made one dish with it and am looking forward to making the most of my jar, slowly of course - its powerful stuff.
Other than rhubarb, I don't have much to harvest from my garden yet, oh I fib there are herbs, here is some thyme and chives with allium flower head in tact - perfect to garnish a salad plate or a summer soup.
Whilst at the farmers market at the weekend, I also picked up a punnet of seasonal green gooseberries. Any suggestions what to do with them would be most appreciated. I'd hate to see them go to the compost bin.
In My Kitchen Series is hosted by Celia at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial. It is an opportunity for worldwide bloggers to share what is happening in their kitchen. Please do go by and read about the other bloggers sharing what's going on in their kitchen - the heart of many homes!
Make the Gooseberries into a sauce to serve with roast goose, or turkey or pork - in the same way that you would use cranberry or apple sauce.
ReplyDeleteOh Mark, you know I won't be serving anything with goose, turkey or pork - you are teasing me right? Plenty of other veg grub that the gooseberry sauce would compliment, so its a possibility - but to be truthful I was looking for sweet ideas :)
DeleteOh no! I feel your pain, my nephew has done the same to some if my things when he was smaller. Hahah
ReplyDeleteI know there really isn't food involved in the post, but the thought of warm loafs of bread made me a little hungry. x)
And congrats on winning that basket! I've only tried vegan cheese on pizza. Garden wise, I'm growing some sunflowers, lavender, and garlic!
vegcourtesy.blogspot.com
Ah thanks Adi.
DeleteLook forward to seeing your sunflowers, mine are growing very very slowly.
Oh I just read a recipe today and thought, if only I had gooseberries!! So it's a Rhubarb and gooseberry Charlotte recipe by David Loftus. I can email if you are interested. But basically kinda like an apple crumble but with Rhubarb and Gooseberries.
ReplyDeleteMMm let me think about it - rhubarb and gooseberries are both very tart, don't know if I can handle it, though I know D would like it.
DeleteI need to e mail you anyway, long overdue. Sorry about that, but you are in my thoughts, honestly x
You too x
Deletelovely Bread Bin and good hiding spot.
ReplyDeleteThank you Francesca. So true, good hiding spot for sweet bites.
DeleteLots of nice goodies indeed! How about a gooseberry fool? :)
ReplyDeleteMmm maybe.
DeleteThanks for sharing your wonderful kitchen... I would make gooseberry jam, its so delicious.... I have a recipe somewhere, but not handy... I'm sure that the food blog community will have a recipe out there for you :) Liz
ReplyDeleteP.S I love your storage containers...very cool!
Thank you Elizabeth. I don't think I have enough gooseberries for jam :(
DeleteI enjoyed this post- you have a lot of really photogenic things in your kitchen! As for the gooseberries, perhaps a gooseberry fool? (Jam's always great of course but not very original.) Or what about a sauce to go with something savoury? Like you would with plum or orange? (I can imagine seitan slices might be good here...)
ReplyDeleteThank you. Not everything in the kitchen is pretty, but useful.
DeleteGooseberry fool and jam both been suggested x I'm liking the sauce idea, to go with a mock meat of sorts, but truthfully something even sweeter is calling out to me. I'll have to check out my bookmarked recipes.
Oh those vegan goodies look delish - lucky you. I have a bread bin exactly the same but I keep my bread flour in it in my pantry, Of to check out the other food blogs, thanks for the link.
ReplyDeleteOh Lorna what a fab idea for storing bread flour in the bread bin. I may just do that when its empty.
DeleteLove a peep in your kitchen - that biscuit barrell is gorgeous - and your winnings are just what I would love in my kitchen - love smoky flavours and have enjoyed vegusto in cooking - actually used some vegusto blue cheese in your eccles cakes which I will post about soon. And I looked at my gooseberries bookmarks and have this crumble bookmarked that you might like http://appleandspice.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/gooseberry-raspberry-almond-crumble_11.html
ReplyDeleteThanks Johanna :0 ) Tis a bread bin :)
DeleteLook forward to seeing the vegusto blue cheese eccles cakes.
MMm crumble, liking the recipe suggestion and the flavour combo there, so who knows.
Simmer them with some fresh root ginger, add sugar to taste, blend if you like smooth compote and eat with some really good thick yoghurt, yummy!
ReplyDeleteTotally love your suggestion for the gooseberries, I've plenty of ginger and actually have some Greek Yogurt in the fridge too, so if its not used in a bake in the next couple of days, this may be the dish to win.
DeleteI make a simple jam with gooseberries so that would be my suggestion. Enjoy them regardless :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, don't have enough for jam unfortunately. But I promise I will find a way to enjoy them.
DeleteLovely post, Shaheen.
ReplyDeleteI do not have any such pretty jars, as I mostly reuse plastic tubs, and some other bottles that I have collected over the years.
May I wish for all of us, the skills of the chef pictured in the first photo; particularly, the flexibility.
Peace :)
I used to recycle my plastic tubs once upon a time and still do so with glass jars for jams and preserves, however over the years i have treated my self to charity finds as well as new ones so that I can make my first proper home kitchen look nice. I'd love to see your bottles!
DeletePS Yes I so agree with the last sentence, wish we all had the chefs flexibility :) Take care.
That Gran Luchito looks and sounds wonderful. Even the name is evocative. Lovely tour and nice to see you won some goodies. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Fiona.
DeleteGooseberries! That's one thing I've never tried - I don't think we grow them here. Congratulations on all your wins, and I love your bread tin - this month has seen a lot of enamelware in the IMK posts, how lovely to see yours as well! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Celia.
DeleteI hope you get to try some some day, they are very tart!
Congratulations on your prize packs, and especially being runner up for your Mexican Tamale Pie! That's very impressive. I love your big bread tins too, and think they'd be an excellent chocolate storage spot if there was ever space around the bread ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you Kari.
DeleteI'm pleased with my wins, been cooking with the paste, not got round to the cheese yet, but it has a very good date.
Nice post Shaheen! The gooseberries look lovely, I'd make them into a nice sweet and spicy pickle. Yum, I'm off to find some gooseberries! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Emily. Sweet and spicy pickle - Yum
Delete