In my kitchen…

Posted on July 14, 2011 by heidiannie

… is this happy little onion!

I saw this big smile when I cut into the onion and it made me smile right back!

In my kitchen…

are these salty almond bars- packaged and ready for lunches!

In my kitchen…

is this loaf of peasant bread – raised in the banneton Celia sent me

(Thanks again, Celia!) and fresh out of the oven.

In my kitchen…

is this wonderful tea infuser pot! Jordan bought it for my birthday- he doesn’t know yet

that he bought it- but he did all the same!

In my kitchen…

–

is this can of Tasmanian honey! I love the tin- and the honey is delish-

Thanks to Meredith for this beauty of a treat!

In my kitchen…

are my favorite rolling pins. Most of them were gifts and I love them

and use them all throughout the year.

In my kitchen…

is dinner!

Grilled Ahi (yellow fin tuna) with a swirl of basalmic vinegar on a bed of

vegetable couscous, baked sweet potato, and a garden salad!

Yum!

Slovaks are Hobbits!

Posted on July 4, 2011 by heidiannie

This has long been my opinion.

I have been reading Tolkien since I was

15. Rereading the trilogy every year since

my thirties- it is like an autumn journey

I take every year.

And the more I read about Hobbits, the more

familiar they seem. My mother was definitely

from Hobbitish stock. She certainly had the feet

for it. And the earthy sense of humor- in fact-her

reasoning was rather more or less hobbitish as

well.

But I got a couple of pictures from my cousins that

have me totally convinced!

This is my aunt Anna in 1956.

Hobbits for sure!

The more it snows

Posted on March 31, 2011 by heidiannie

(Tiddly Pom)
The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom)
The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom)
On snowing.
And nobody knows
(Tiddly Pom)
How cold my toes
(Tiddly Pom)
How cold my toes
(Tiddly Pom)
Are growing.
The more it snows
(Tiddly Pom)
The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom)
The more it goes
(Tid!dly Pom)
On snowing.
And nobody knows
(Tiddly Pom)
How cold my toes
(Tiddly Pom)
How cold my toes
(Tiddly Pom)
Are growing.

winnie the pooh

Sigh! It really is pretty.

But it’s almost April.

Enough, already.

In My Kitchen…

Posted on March 16, 2011 by heidiannie

I borrowed this idea from Celia, at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial.

She has the most interestingly delectable things in her kitchen.

Today, I’m still in my test kitchen in Chincoteague, so I decided

to show some of the things I have here.

…I have basalmic vinegars that have been the base to marinades, dressings,

sauces, soups, and dips. A can of chai tea that I’ve enjoyed hot and iced and

plundered for a source of cardamom. And a small tin of Mediterranean spices

that I’ve used for pizza and focaccia toppings. Plus a bottle of Virginian white

wine that we served with grilled shrimp and flounder over the weekend.

…there is a nice mix of cookies and flowers at the breakfast nook.

Jeanette Jha painted the butterflies on the pot and brought the primrose

when they visited!

(the cookies are great for nibbling with tea!)

…there are shiny pots and pans hung over the 6 burner stovetop.

…two new ovens- convection and regular-

brand spanking new!!!

…A LARGE container of cashews- we’re eating them by the handful- and I

chopped some up for Chicken Salad with cashews and grapes.

…Four tea pots of graduated sizes- and a tea cozy Willow made me for

Christmas.

…sugared orange peel I made to use in Irish soda bread tomorrow.

…and a cupboard full of dishes and bowls and cups-

…where I have these cups displayed! It makes me so happy to see them-

happier still to use them.

What’s in your kitchen, today?

Dancing with the roomba.

Posted on March 12, 2011 by heidiannie

I didn’t say the rumba. Room-ba.

It’s a little robotic floor sweeper that scurries about a little

like a crab and moves about by lightly bumping into walls and

cabinets and people.

I turn it on when I’m busy in the kitchen and it goes about its

merry way- bumping around the house.

Sometimes it comes up right behind me and bumps into my heels.

I can usually hear it, so I’m kind of prepared-

except it is much quieter when going over a rug, so it can really

surprise you sometimes.

Yesterday, I would step to the right and it seemed to follow my steps,

right step, left step, glide, glide.

I’m so glad no one was taking a video.

“What cha doin’, Heidi?”

“Nothing. Just a little dance with my roomba!”

here he is, hooked up to his momma!

close up of my new dance partner

Wordle fun

Posted on February 23, 2011 by heidiannie

My friend Joanna at Zeb Bakes made me a wordle from Jonathan Feinberg’s Wordle site.

I really like it!

It is words from my blog- and some of the topics I’ve had up lately.

Want to play? You can go to Zeb Bakes and follow Joanna’s VERY helpful instructions and links that will

take you to the right place and grab the wordle for yourself.

And – Jonathan says you can use the wordle free- even for commercial use.

What I really like is that this is a view of my blog from my friend’s point of view-

and that really adds to the fun! Because it gives a fresh perspective and I can see how well I’m

communicating.

Thanks, Joanna!

Making a treat out of a trial.

Posted on February 22, 2011 by heidiannie

I give up.

We had temperate weather for a weekend and then

WHOOSH back to winter.

Snow and temps below freezing.

BUT- I’ve decided that giving up can be sweet.

I made a orange snow sundae for dessert!

I was making candied orange peel and decided to use the left over

syrup and some scoops of snow from the deck to make a treat.

So I have some orange peel to decorate some cupcakes-

and a yummy frozen treat!

And look how pretty the sun on the snowy treetops look!

I thought I might update this post and add an old recipe for candied

orange peels. In case you’d like to make some!

I love to use something I might have discarded to make something beautiful and delicious. My husband takes an orange in his lunch everyday. When he packs his lunch, the peel is thrown away as garbage. When I pack his lunch, I peel the rind off first and then peel the pith away- saving the rind( the orange part) and tossing out the thick white peeling underneath.

The thin orange rind is where all the oils and flavor are in the skin- so when you peel it off, make sure you don’t pick up the white part- it is bitter and unusable.Cover the rind with water and simmer for about 20 minutes, then pour off the water and repeat (Cover, Simmer, Pour off). The water will be a light orange each time- you are getting rid of the bitter flavor with the water baths.

Add about 3/4 cup fresh water and 1 cup sugar and stir to dissolve sugar, then put on low heat and simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour, stirring occasionally. The peels will become translucent and the sugar water will become a simple syrup.

Put fine sugar in a filter or plate and, using a fork, lift out the orange peel and dredge in the sugar.

Cover both sides and set aside onto wax paper.

To make flowers, use a long piece of peel and after dredging in sugar,

roll into a rose shape while still warm and pliable.

Shape into rose by wrapping peel tightly at base and flare out the “petal” top.

Allow to dry on wax paper until it isn’t sticky, and then you can garnish cakes- or dip into dark chocolate for candy, or just use in recipes- like in Irish soda bread or hot cross buns.

And, pour the simple syrup into a bottle and save to use in orange flavored punch or sauces or dressings.

It’s a wonderful addition to many recipes.

Coffee Grinders- a love story.

Posted on February 16, 2011 by heidiannie

My sons love coffee.

They love the flavor, aroma, history, geography and the effects

of coffee.

I am a tea drinker. I WAS an exclusive tea drinker. No Coffee, for me,

thank you very much!

That was until my youngest son started making it and offering it to

me every day.

“Would you like a cup of coffee, Mom?”

“Sit down and have a cup of coffee with me, Mom.”

Seriously- how can a loving mother- offered a chance to sit and talk

over a cup of coffee with her son -refuse?

So I started drinking coffee between my tea times.

Now, I’m addicted- I WANT that cup of coffee every day.

And I , too , love the romance of coffee. It is exotic- grown in climates so

unlike my own, gathered mostly by hand, dried and packaged and sent

off to be roasted to perfection and then shipped to us- bursting with flavor and

a fragrance that is so rich and hearty that is almost enough just to smell it!

But I digress- this is a story of brother’s love.

These brothers.

For Christmas this year, they wanted to get the other something he

would love. Something special. Something important.

Something that he could REALLY use.

And so – they chose something that was just what they would have wanted

for themselves. An automatic burr coffee grinder.

Not knowing that his brother was choosing exactly the same gift for him,

they purchased and admired and wrapped their gifts- I think regretting that

they couldn’t give it a try first. On Christmas morning, they exchanged their

gifts- and although they were different models and makes- they were so

pleased to give AND receive a burr coffee grinder for Christmas.

OK- it’s not exactly O. Henry’s , Gift of the Magi’s, but it is such a sweet

gift exchange that I had to share it.

Please forgive me, Jordan.
Luke, I know you understand.

The first grinding was pretty impressive!

Looking into the face of WINTER-

Posted on February 2, 2011 by heidiannie

Looking out my kitchen window,

the view is rather drear.

The sparkle of my bottles and glasses and lavender

helps make the scene cozier and dear.

But , no.

Winter has more than one expression

Soft snow has melted into any icier declension.

There is ice caked on my sidewalk.

Ice is coating all the trees.

Ice is running down the windows.

And has covered all the streets.

So I sit inside my ice cube-

Slippered feet up, cheerful fire crackling on the grate,

and sip chai tea and nibble on cookies-

The world is frozen-

chores can wait.

A Kitchen post

Posted on January 17, 2011 by heidiannie

My friend Celia, over at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial often shows some of

the riches of her kitchen in a series called “In my kitchen”. It is a lot of

fun looking at all her exotic and fun items. I thought, since right now I

have much of the bounty that Meredith brought back, I, too, would put up

some of the items in MY kitchen!

Above I have oils and vinegars- Australian Pukara Estate oils –truffle,grove gourmet and

a triple pepper- plus two pomegranate balsamic vinegars and a dark sweet cherry

Balsamic!

I have Japanese noodles, smoked salmon from Washington,and a very savory mix of

of curry and mushrooms- written only in Japanese- so I’m only pretty sure that the

vegetable is a mushroom.

Take a closer look at the smoked King Salmon from Seattle Pike Place Market!

I’m looking forward to some good sandwiches with these babies!

A collection of pesto and sauces- all in Italian- mushroom, pepper, olive,etc.- I

intend to make my own pasta for these or maybe some fresh Italian bread for

dipping!

These lovely bottles contain olive oil.

Mostly in Italian with pithy English translations- (Of course- for the

pasta-, Using mainly in Neapolitan cookery, and, my favorite-

for make witty

a candid pasta)

That last one has olives on a skewer and oregano, basil, and assorted

peppers and spices nestled in the bottom! For make witty!

I also have many assorted Japanese sauces to go with those

noodles. The yellow labeled one is called aji-pan and has a

wonderful citrusy light flavor! It goes very well with a splash

of rice oil as a salad dressing !

Last night I made Kalua pig and pulled it to go on these yummy Semolina BBQ

rolls with Dixie Grill Sauce from Oahu!

I also made these delicious Swedish ginger cookies!

I can’t remember whose blog I got the recipe from- if you recognize them,

let me know. They are fantastic- and no cinnamon!

Allyson got me this wonderful thigamatropic straw broom!

I love brooms- I love twisted handles-this makes me smile!

(and I’m sweeping the floor more than once a day!)

In my kitchen, I have this nifty new frame for digital pictures! I love

it! ( thank you, Jordan!) He programmed it to do a slide show- so I just sit

and watch my loved ones while I’m drinking my coffee!

What’s in your kitchen?

UPDATE:

A happy little pair! Packaged together- it looks like a watermellon and fish crackers-no?

NO! It is dried tiny fish and peanuts and rice crackers! This is what they have in Japan for snacks at the baseball games. Meredith sent me this in a package- without an explanation and I've been wondering why- WHY?

And that is also in my kitchen! WHY?

Steps On The Journey

walk with me a while

Category Archives: Whimsey

In my kitchen…

Slovaks are Hobbits!

The more it snows

In My Kitchen…

Dancing with the roomba.

Wordle fun

Making a treat out of a trial.

Coffee Grinders- a love story.

Looking into the face of WINTER-

A Kitchen post