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–

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!

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!)

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.

Focaccia bread with sundried tomatoes and rosemary and herbs de Provence.

I love this bread- great for dipping, eating plain, or splitting for a sandwich!

My new banneton from Celia,

http://figjamandlimecordial.com/2011/06/13/in-my-kitchen-june-2011/

who is, by the way, the originator of the “In my kitchen” posts.

I love my banneton!  But even more, I love Celia- go check out her

blog!

In my Kitchen …

I have cream of balsamic vinegar- Meredith bought these

in Chincoteague!  It is like syrup- great on top of strawberries

and ice cream.  Just plain GREAT!

I also have this wonderful ginger syrup that Meredith

bought on her journeys around the world!  Add hot water

and you have ginger tea- can be used as a flavoring in

baked goods and just happens to be one of my favorite

flavors!

And Australian licorice!  This is the BEST licorice I’ve

ever eaten.  It is totally addicting.  Good thing it is also

available at Giant Eagle stores here in Ohio!

I don’t want to forget this sauce we picked up at the Wine

and More shop in Chincoteague- I don’t want to forget because

it is absolute YUM!

Speaking of ice cream- I also have remnants of a feast

that Luke and Willow brought whilst they were moving

from Columbus to Long Island.  Jeni’s ice cream is made in

Columbus, Ohio- and located right down the street from

their apartment.  We became very good friends over the

years, and I was mourning their moving because I wouldn’t

have a good excuse to go to Jeni’s anymore.  So they brought

me a selection.  Notice the Riesling Poached Pear Sorbet.

If I was on death row and could only choose one thing for my

last meal?

It would be the Riesling Poached Pear Sorbet.

I just realized I left the ice cream on the table after taking the

picture.  Maybe I should go and make sure it isn’t melting.

Maybe I should just go and eat some!

So –what’s in your kitchen?

I love these posts-

they are an opportunity to share:

-little stories about the origin of items

-the generosity of others

-cautionary tales about the use of some gadgets

-instructions on the use of odd or seldom used stuff.

Today I’d like to highlight the tops of my cupboards.

I am short.

The tops of cupboards is a place I very rarely venture.

I need a ladder to get there- and yet when I look up there I want

to see something other than a bare wall (with cobwebs).

And so, over the years, I have filled this space with bits of pieces

that mean something to me.

Some of these things I’ve picked up in antique stores, but more

have been gifts- some of them created especially for me.

And so, precious.

Here I have glass decanters and  vases that came from my mother’s

cache of stuff.  Nothing of great value- except that I grew up with

it and couldn’t bring myself to throw it out after her death.

The wooden platter is a part of my collection of treen- or handcrafted

wooden pieces.  The basket is a ceramic piece my mother made and

gave me.  And the cast iron rooster?  I liked his cocky look at a local

antique store. 

The brass cup and bowl are from an antique store as well, but the

brass candlesticks that started my collection were from my mother-

to my sister- and on to me.  The wooden vase was made by my brother,

the vase came from my niece- a gift from her travels in Europe- and the

pitcher a gift from an old friend.  I love the look of lambs ears in grey and

green.

These clay crocks are used most frequently from  the collection.

They hold coney sauce and baked beans- honey and herbed butters-

sometimes soups and dips.  I like crocks- they retain heat and are

homey and useful.

This cookie jar is a collectable that was given to me by an old friend.

I LIKE cows, and cookies, and collectibles, especially the McCoy ceramic

pieces.  The candlestick was a gift from my brother – the brass piece came

with a lovely arrangement of flowers, the pitcher was from a set that

included a syrup pitcher and a bag of pancake batter, and the last pitcher

was stained and glazed by my mom.

So – when I look up in my kitchen- I am greeted by the memories and

love of friends and family.  I am home.