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In My Kitchen…May 2012

Posted by heidiannie in In my Kitchen - (29 Comments)

Aiden on May Day-2012

Waiting on the front porch- flowers in hand.

In my kitchen is a bouquet of May day flowers!

Aiden didn’t want me to take a picture of him- just the flowers.

So I gave him cookies and milk, sat him down at the table and we worked out a

compromise. Smile May flower bouquet and boy drinking milk.

In my kitchen…

is a digital kitchen scale with grams- so I can make bread and follow

recipes more accurately!

In my kitchen…

are measuring scoops- from 1/2 cup to 1/8 cup- Very Handy!

In my kitchen…

is a treasure trove of Australian honey- thank you, Meredith!

In my kitchen…

is a batch of freshly made granola- I put butter rum flavoring in and it is so delish!

In my kitchen…

is this silicon mat for hot pans to sit upon! I love it- it holds the pans quite

securely so I can dish out soups without worrying about anything spilling!

And – In my kitchen…

are even more silicon lily pad covers. AND …

A give away! These silicon lids fit perfectly over a mug and keep your coffee or tea warm

for a long time. Leave a comment saying you would like one and I’ll pick two (2) of your

names out of a hat and I’ll send you one!

I’ll send these wherever- so don’t worry if you aren’t in the USA!

(I bought another lid- in a sunflower pattern as a give away for my niece’s facebook page.

- it is a medium size lid and will fit on small and medium

size bowls and pots. I bought a whole set for her rental house and if you comment here and go

to facebook and like Sailors Rest Rental Resort- you will be in the running for this. I’ll let this

give away run until the end of May and announce the winner(s) on the next In My Kitchen-June! )

If you are interested in seeing what is in other bloggers kitchens, go to Celia’s blog, and have a look-

and if you are a blogger and would like to join in- then we could see what is going on in YOUR kitchen!

Thanks for visiting!

April- In my kitchen…

Posted by heidiannie in BREAD! | In my Kitchen | Steps on the Journey - (21 Comments)

April in my kitchen is actually tomorrow.

But I’m putting this up today because I’m tired from baking

all morning and want to sit down and yet feel productive.

In my kitchen is a marvelous branch of orchids that my

sister brought me from her house (she accidently broke it off!)

In my kitchen…

are these delicious brownie bars I made last week from my mother’s old recipe.

In my kitchen…

is this versatile bowl/pan cover (silicon lid) that sticks fast to smooth surfaces-

forming a tight bond to keep out oxygen AND

can go in the oven, fridge and freezer. Plus it is really pretty!

In my kitchen…

is a pot of broth cooking up a couple of beef soup bones and all the veggie

parings and peels that I generally toss when I am in a hurry. I’m planning on making

some French onion soup with this broth!

In my kitchen…

are these coconut lime skewers. I love to thread chicken

breast onto these and grill them- the taste is like a marinade

from the inside out!

In my kitchen…

is my lap top- I was Skyping with my grandsons last night and

Aidan said,”Take my picture, Grandma! I’ll make a real good face!”

I used it there to remind me of a recipe earlier,too, so it is rather floury right now!

In my kitchen…

is fresh bread for toasting next week and

fresh made bread wraps for lunches for Jordan.

Also in my kitchen is a sinkful of bowls and pots that I need to go and wash.

If you are interested in seeing what is in kitchens all around the world- go to

Celia’s blog Fig jam and Lime cordial and check out all the other blogs, as well

as hers! What’s in your kitchen today?

In My Kitchen- March 2012

Posted by heidiannie in In my Kitchen | Recipes | Steps on the Journey - (22 Comments)

Just putting up the title made me think of myself

as a child. By 2012 I would have imagined a fully

automated kitchen- like something out of Star Trek-

with replicators and requesting a gourmet meal from

the computerized oven.

But – right now- I have nothing like that in my kitchen!

Here’s what I do have…

In my kitchen there is honey- lately I’ve been liking the thick and very

flavorful honey that Meredith sends from Australia. Not sure if their bees

are just better at making a dense and thick honey or if it’s in the way they

process it- but it makes our American honey seem more like a weak syrup!

I not only have honey in my kitchen- but all kinds of honey kitsch.

Like Pooh nesting dolls…

A hive of measuring cups…

a couple of honey pots, and this little

honey bear bee doll that is made of a chenille bed cover.

In my kitchen…

is a pan of brownies.

Not Dan Lepard’s sweet potato brownies- in fact- not anyone’s famous

brownies. Just an old favorite recipe that I’ve used most of my life.

Honestly, brownies are made up of sugar, eggs, butter, chocolate and flour.

And they almost all taste really yummy.

Here’s my tried and true recipe that you are free to use and share-

ingredients-

2 cups sugar- I use cup brown and 1 cup white granulated

1 cup flour- I use AP/plain flour- but feel free to use Whole wheat or graham flour

4 large eggs

pinch of salt

1 tsp vanilla- I use my homemade vanilla- use whatever you have and like

4 squares unsweetened chocolate- or 8 oz. choc chips- or a bar of good dark 85% chocolate

1 cup butter- or margarine, melted

method:

Grease and flour 9×13 pan.

Melt chocolate and butter together in microwave or in sauce pan- be careful not to burn it.

Beat eggs and sugar together until thick and light-colored, making sure that sugar is dissolved.

Add chocolate mixture to egg mixture- beat until well mixed.

Mix in flour salt and vanilla (I add 1 cup of chopped walnuts at this time, as well.)

Bake until tester comes out clean. Cut while warm, then remove from pan when cool.

Baking temperature :350 Baking time : 35 minutes.

In my kitchen….

is a stash of coffee from all over the globe, Sumatra, Hawaii, Ethiopia, and where ever

Gevalia gathers it Smile – and a wonderful cast iron coffee grinder.

I have used the grinder many times- but not always for coffee.

The last time I used it was to grind up the rhizomes for orris root to use in potpourri.

I don’t think orris root is dangerous, but I’d like to clean out the grinder before I use

it for anything meant for human consumption again.

In my kitchen are these little candies I made up with white chocolate disks, yellow

m +m’s and bits of pretzel sticks. I made them as a joke, because my husband

ALWAYS wants bacon and eggs in the morning. But they are really tasty and easy to

make up quickly. I am going to get some more m +m’s to make up a whole batch!

And in my kitchen…

is this potato salad that I made to trick myself into thinking that winter is over.

It’s not over. But potato salad is such a favorite summer time treat that I was

longing for something different.

This is part of a series started by Celia at fig jam and lime cordial-go there to see

other kitchen posts. And join us , if you’d like to share what is in your kitchen!

In My Kitchen- February 2012

Posted by heidiannie in In my Kitchen - (25 Comments)

I really love doing these posts.

Love reading and seeing what others all around are

doing in their kitchens (see other’s postings here!).

I am interrupting my own interruption to post this,

but I so wanted to share a couple of things

in my kitchen…

In my kitchen there is bread. Always. Even if I am sick.

Bread…

And more bread.

And pizza- because it starts with bread.

Bread with tomato sauce and cheese.

And sourdough rye marble bread.

I would call it a swirled bread.

And my new bake pot. My son brought this to me in his carry on luggage from New York.

I love it. So far I’ve made a marvelous stew and of course- bread- in it.

My philosophy of bread is simple.

I love to eat it and I love to make it.

OR

I love to make it and I love to eat it.

So- that’s what’s in my kitchen this February. Bread.

And some cookies.

What’s in your kitchen?

In My Kitchen…

Posted by heidiannie in In my Kitchen | Steps on the Journey - (18 Comments)

The January edition of IMK is going to be abbreviated because

I am tired and not feeling well. The toll of Christmas and preparations

has been very large this year- I didn’t really plan to make so many cookies-

but my nephew’s wedding necessitated the nearly 100 dozen of cookies in

December, the gingerbread competition added on more baking, and if you

throw in the 10 or so loaves of bread and apple cakes I’ve been making-

I did a lot of baking last month!

But- here goes!

In my kitchen…

are the new apron and gingerbread boss chef jacket that came from the

competition in December!

(Which – did I mention? We won!)

In my kitchen…

is this ornament I found in our yard upon returning home

on New Year’s Day. A flower made of eating utensils!

Not sure exactly where this came from…?

So I’m adding this boxed set of silver grapefruit spoons that

I got at a second-hand shop.

I’m a total sucker for eating utensils that come in silk covered boxes!

In my kitchen…

are these bars of goat’s milk soap that I felted. They turned out rather nice,

but I think I need to make more to get the right look.

In my kitchen…

is this scarf I just finished knitting. It is in the kitchen because I just took it

off and threw it on the table when I came home from lunch with some friends.

The colors blended so well with the table I took a picture.

In my kitchen…

is a new stash of vanilla beans-

and a newly started bottle of vanilla- along with an almost empty

bottle from last year!

After all those cookies, my vanilla is at an all time low!

And lastly-

In my kitchen…

is my husband – happily eating dinner- ham and basmati rice, wilted spinach,

homemade applesauce and summer squash grilled with onions.

Every once in a while I need a reality check. The last couple of photos are what

my kitchen is really all about. A happy family-good meals- a table surrounded and

filled with love.

AND- just a small smile at the end of this post-

I just saw this movie, Stranger than Fiction, with Will Ferrel and Emma Thompson-

and the best love scene in a movie for bakers was in it.

See it here on Youtube- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2tqVQX_H3c

In My Kitchen- December cookie edition

Posted by heidiannie in In my Kitchen | Steps on the Journey - (18 Comments)

In my kitchen–

are trays and trays of cookies.

But it is not about Christmas! My nephew is getting

married tomorrow and he’s asked me to make cookies.

In my kitchen-

Is my pizzelle iron- I made pizzelles for the wedding, too!

and I sewed up a little pouch to hold them on their tray.

In my kitchen-

is a pomegranate waiting for the right moment to peel and eat!

In my kitchen-

is a beautiful pewter tea humidor that is holding the most fragrant fruit tea.

I really love the scent, but something in this tea makes me cough- so mostly

I just smell it.

In my kitchen-

are these plates for parties!

I love parties!

Tomorrow is the wedding – so I will have NO more cookies in my kitchen.

Until I make some for Christmas!

What’s in your kitchen?

Check out Celia’s blog for other kitchens to explore!

In My Kitchen- November 2011

Posted by heidiannie in In my Kitchen | Steps on the Journey - (19 Comments)

I just got back into my kitchen after two weeks on the eastern coast of

Virginia. It is like culture shock. Down there I keep the ingredients to

a minimum- less to use up or carry back home- or

~shudder~ – have to throw away!

My kitchen is overstocked.

I have goodies from all over the world, thanks to Meredith, my niece

serving in the US Navy. I have bulk items from the Amish stores in the

next county- and I have a bunch of interesting specialty items from Aldi’s

and Trader Joe’s markets.

I also have a problem with collecting.

Or should I say, collecting is a problem I have.

In my kitchen-

I have cookie molds all over- these are wooden and wax. I also have about 10 ceramic molds.

In my kitchen-

I have a large jar of cinnamon imperials or hearts- I use them to decorate cookies.

In my kitchen-

I have the fixings to make gingerbread houses.

silicon molds ….. and ribbon candy and sprinkles,Icing bags and tips,and marzipan and almonds,

and color pastes and large cake boards and meringue powder!

In my kitchen-

I have a new insulated glass with a sand castle imbedded in it!

In my kitchen-

I have fresh pineapple sitting on top of a pineapple vase.

I love fresh pineapple and love to decorate with it during the holidays.

In my kitchen-

(or more precisely, in the stairway down to the basement, off of the kitchen)

my husband built me some pantry shelves. I love this pantry-

I can see everything at a glance and don’t have to worry about

a heavy can falling out of the cupboard onto my toes!

Well- that is just a peek into my kitchen this month. I have lots

more that I will share along with recipes as the holidays progress.

What’s in your kitchen?

( This is a continuing series in conjunction with Celia’s at Fig jam and Lime cordial

go and take a look at all the posts she has listed in her side bar, if you are interested

in a peek into kitchens all around the world!)

In my Kitchen- September

Posted by heidiannie in In my Kitchen | Steps on the Journey - (14 Comments)

Corn- glorious –corn.

I cleaned the silk and outer husks and put it into these special vegetable

bags to keep them fresh before I get to roasting the ears.

In my kitchen-

Whole wheat bread bears in large and small sizes! I made them up to

use as hostess gifts for the wonderful people who shared their homes

with us during my son’s ordination. ( I also made the little ones for the

grandsons!)

In my kitchen-

I recently found this at a yard sale- I’m going to use it to cut homemade noodles!

In my kitchen-

A whole pile of yummies from Australia! Macadamia nuts by the bagful and jarful!

- honey with strong names and flavors and colors!

AND Tim Tams!!! lovely Tim Tams!

In my kitchen-

is a batch of nutty granola ready to bake.

In my kitchen – are teas flowers ready to bloom in my new glass pot.

In my kitchen- are black, pink and red salts. I’m not sure about the

correct recipe for the black yet, but the Himalaya pink is rather delicate

and I generally use it in rice for a quiet little salt. The Hawaiian red I

use in making pulled pork. A little smoke flavor and this salt gives

a pretty authentic flavor!

In my kitchen- are scoops of all sizes and types!

I never met a scoop I didn’t like!

Well- that is what is in my kitchen this September. What is in yours?

To see others in this series , check out Celia’s blog Fig Jam and Lime Cordial-

and see what bloggers are sharing from their kitchens, this month.

In my Kitchen

Posted by heidiannie in Folksy | In my Kitchen | Steps on the Journey | Whimsey - (11 Comments)

In my kitchen..

is this tomato that reminds me of a painting of a woman

combing her hair by Edgar Degas. I was staking up the

plants and this one tomato fell into my

hand. As I carried

it into the house- I saw this painting in my mind’s eye.

In my kitchen…

are these knitted fish filled with lavender – so fragrant-

I’m going to use them as sleep sachets.

In my kitchen…

are my new potholders that I knitted and then quilted.

I really don’t want to use them yet. I’m just admiring them.

In my kitchen…

is a bag of deeply aromatic coffee beans – ready to be ground!

In my kitchen…

is this wonderful stew my husband made!

He accidently defrosted stew meat and so

he found a recipe in an old Betty Crocker book

and made stew in a crock pot! It was waiting

for me when I got back from my road trip-

what an absolute surprise!

In my kitchen…

is my new favorite snack-

dried vegetable chips. The green beans are the best!

In my kitchen…

are many molds and crocks and grinders and corks.

After the yard sale, I have an eye on these things.

I am going to have to start downsizing my kitchen gadgets-

but it is SO hard!

Which would be the first to go?

I will think of that tomorrow.

What is in your kitchen?

(This is part of a series of “In my kitchen” blog posts initiated by

Celia on Fig Jam and Lime Cordial. Go there to see a list of the other

bloggers sharing a peek into their kitchens!)

In my kitchen…

Posted by heidiannie in Folksy | In my Kitchen | menus | Whimsey - (17 Comments)

… 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!