Welsh Nosh and Welsh Things In My Kitchen

In the past, Celia from Fig Jam and Lime Cordial who hosts In My Kitchen (IMK) series has been kind enough to give me the opportunity to showcase my new Welsh kitchen when I moved home.  

Now nearly a year on I am going to share some other Welsh things and nibbles.  So what's in my kitchen for March?!  As we just celebrated St David's Day in Wales I thought IMK this month would have a distinct Welsh influence.

I am not a beer drinker at all, but I had to have this glittery beer glass.  It will probably never be used for drinking, but it looks pretty.  I may just fill it up with pens and pencils and put it on a table; or fill it up with daffodils when they pop up in our garden.  Next to this big glass is a little Welsh shot glass, look close and you will see a little Welsh lady.  

I have some Laverbread: a traditional Welsh delicacy that is often just spread on toast.   I have made some vegetarian recipes in the past with it like vegetarian burgers and pie, but I have recently made some new ones over the weekend including this rather rich Laverbread Dal - fusing my Welsh and South Asian heritage. 

I will showcase some of the recipes in the coming days, if you interested.  In the dainty red ceramic jar, we have Halen Mon Anglesey sea-salt that was gifted to me a little while back.  

Lurking back at the back of my cupboards in the kitchen, I found two Welsh Lady jars, one contains Roasted Chestnut Chutney and the other Mincemeat. You may not the little red ceramic dragon sitting on top of the left jar, I picked the cute little dragon from a crafts fair around Christmas time.  

Next we have 100% Welsh Extra Virgin Rapeseed Oil by Blodyn Aur.  It's been a while since I've used Rapeseed oil, the last time was actually when I lived in Scotland and I picked one up from the farmers market then. I am looking forward to using this mostly on salads.  Next to it, we have a Welsh Dragon Chilli Sauce called Electric Mud.  I picked this up when I was in Cardiff from the Riverside Market.  It is extremely hot and to be used in very small drops.  

February 2015 In My Kitchen

My goodness is it already February 2015, I cannot believe how fast January has gone by. Okay onto what's in my kitchen for February.  Well there were a lot of vegan ingredients in my kitchen last month as I was following the Veganuary challenge, but this month begins with a bit of a mish mash. of crockery, edibles and bites.  Hope you like.  

I share with you a a plate, a bowl and a mug that I picked up from a charity shop last month.  

This is what it looks look when put together.  The child in me likes it.  I don't think I will ever use it, but it makes me smile whenever it catches my eye. I am sharing this charity shop treasure with Thriftasauraus.

This little tub of Black Garlic has been sitting at the back of my kitchen cupboard for a few months, its time to use it, so come back to check out some of the recipes I make with it this month.

I haven't opened either of these jars yet, but am looking forward to spreading them on my bagels, it would make a nice change from peanut butter.  The Curd Herd Heavenly Blackcurrant and Star Anise sounds unusual; and the Meridian Crunchy Hazelnut Butter well just would make a lovely change.

From Steenberg Organics I have some Fair trade Saffron, Orange Blossom Water and Apple Stuffing.   Any one have any suggestions as to what to do with orange blossom water, I do have some ideas, but other suggestions are always appreciated. 

Marigold Pomegranate Molasses that will go perfect with my Zaytoun ingredients to cook up a Middle Eastern inspired dish. Just in case your wondering, the accompanying pomegranates are fake, they come out for Christmas table, but I forgot to pack them away this year, so they are adorning a fruit bowl in the kitchen window. 

I have had a bit of a sore throat recently, so have been putting a few drops of Echinacea liquid into my herbal and fruit teas, fortunately the cold has stayed away and so far no time has been taken off work, so it must be doing me some good. 

I have had a recipe bookmarked from Johanna at Green Gourmet Giraffe for vegan coconut bacon for a little while, and finally got round to making it today, but I couldn't help myself and adapted it a little by adding some sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds to the mix - its very moreish.  Here it is cooling down. 

And just as my adaptation of the vegan coconut bacon came out of the oven, these potato slices coated in chilli flakes were about to go into to the oven.  Come back later in the week to find out what dish this is.

And finally, 5:2 Vegetarian Cookbook by Celia Brooks.  I have been borrowing a copy of this book from the library the past year, but I was kindly bestowed my own hard copy by the talented Celia Brooks herself.  Other than the vegetarian and vegan recipes, what I like about this book mostly is that it is handbag size, so that I can pop it into my bag and take a gander for cooking inspiration for the coming week.    

I am sharing this post with the dynamic  Celia at Fig and Jam for February 2015 edition of In My Kitchen Series. Please go by and check out her post as well as the other IMK posts.