Tuesday 7 April 2015

What's in my kitchen... April 2015

Happy April! As we've just celebrated Easter, I had planned to show off all the yummy Easter things that have been in my kitchen. Unfortunately, as I refuse to buy Easter things too early (I saw hot cross buns in the shops the week after Christmas!) they're hot commodities around here when I do relent and get some. It's the quick and the dead with my family and Easter goodies. We were also away visiting family so I haven't been in my own kitchen for awhile too. So you will just have to imagine the Easter chocolates, buns and cakes that have been in my kitchen as there was no way I could hold back the hoards long enough to get some photos!

Instead I have some fresh produce to show off...

In my kitchen is...

Some home grown assorted citrus. Not grown in my garden, but gifted to me by my dad (who did grow them) when we were visiting. On uploading this picture I realise they all look a rather lurid shade of green, but it was just the light, as they are actually a lovely shade between yellow and lime. In this bowl (which I was given as a pre-wedding present) are unripened lemons, a lime and a grapefruit. I plan on eating the grapefruit and using the lemon and limes to add to my water bottle. As the weather cools down, I find that I need a little more incentive to keep the hydration up...


In my kitchen is...

Dragonfruit. Again, homegrown, but again, not by me. These were from my mother-in-law, who grows lovely dragonfruit (alas, I do not). I swapped some of my eggplant glut for these babies.


I ate them sliced up plain, drunk in smoothies, and added them to Ellie's lunch plates (appropriately sliced and shaped with a heart shaped cookie cutter for extra appeal). Unfortunately, she gobbled them before I could photograph my culinary artwork. Somehow it seemed wrong to hold back a toddler from a meal so I could style it for photos! Instead I do have a plain shot of the insides. I can't decide whether I prefer the red or white dragon fruits. I don't think there is a huge taste difference myself, but I do love the bright colour of the red variety.


In my kitchen is...

Handfuls of snow peas (or sugar snap peas depending on where you're from). They don't look like much, but Ellie and I pick a handful a day, and munch on them as we wander around outside. Sometimes that means we are tending other edibles, as I believe it's important for my children to know where food comes from. Other times we race around the lawn or lie down and blow bubbles. Jimmy rolls around on a picnic rug and squints at his enthusiastic big sister as she attempts to share the peas and blow bubbles for his amusement (this generally means they both end up crying - him because he gets soap in his eyes and her because she thinks him ungrateful). I can usually placate her with peas when that happens :)


In my kitchen is...

A delicious apple crumble slice (meander on over to see Liz of Mother Hubbard's Cupboard for the recipe, which I followed faithfully except I subbed something in for the eggs and used a vegan butter). This was taken as my contribution for a sweets plate at a birthday party, and made so much that I froze some as well for play dates and morning teas for Ellie. I'm happy to report that it defrosts beautifully as well.


In my kitchen is...

The results of coriander gone wild! My dainty little bushes turned feathery and bolted in the heat, but they obligingly have produced plenty of seeds. I'm pleased about it because these were great plants and I want to grow their babies!! So I've harvested a bunch of the seeds and these will be hung up to dry out in a paper bag. Some will be used for cooking, and I'll save some of the others for planting when the moment is right.


I am linking this post in with Celia of Fig Jam and Lime Cordial's monthly In My Kitchen event. Go have a peek through other kitchens around the globe!

What's in your kitchen this month?

22 comments:

  1. I had dragonfruit IMK this month too - I adore it!

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  2. I am intrigued with Dragon fruit since the first time I did see and taste!
    Thank you for this month's lovely IMK view too!

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    1. Thanks Joanne! I think dragon fruit tastes a little like kiwi myself...

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  3. Never had the pleasure to try dragon fruit but I love the colour!

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    1. The red ones are just stunning too! Can't eat too many at once though... they uh... flush out the system very well!

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  4. ooo I have never seen coriander seeds before - I love to use the ground spice version -are these similar? Also loving your snow peas, they are my favourite!!!

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    1. Hi Bec, yes! Coriander seeds can be ground and used in dishes like curries etc. The seeds themselves are delicious whole in dishes too. I use them for a lot of my Asian dishes. Of course, the leaves and the roots of the plant can also be eaten too - such a versatile herb!!

      Snow peas hardly ever make it to the table in my house :)

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  5. That apple slice looks delicious! I love your homegrown (yours and others) produce too. Impressive :)

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    1. Thanks Kari. The slice was amazing, but the credit is all to Liz!

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  6. so hard to keep coriander from bolting in the qld climate! love the dragonfruit.

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    1. I've tried staggered planting but it paid me back by bolting all at once! Ha! Dragon fruit is one of my faves.

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  7. Oh oh love the fresh coriander seeds. Would be interested to hear about the flavour if you cook with them fresh rather than dried?
    Kavey (fellow IMKer)

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    1. Oooh that's an idea Kavey! I'll give it a go and report back. I imagine the flavour wouldn't be as intense but would have a lovely green taste if that makes sense...

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  8. Loving the photo of the dragon-fruit although I am yet to taste one and enjoy it - where am I going wrong?

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    1. I don't know! Remedy this as soon as possibly, they're yummy! :)

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  9. Those dragon-fruit are beautiful, I've never seen or tasted one before! At first I thought they were flowers. The insides are lovely as well and interesting, what do they taste like?

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    1. They're such pretty things, although they grow on a sort of cactus like plant. I think they taste a bit like kiwi fruit

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  10. I've never seen a coriander plant seed like that - how fun to have your own coriander seeds in your kitchen.

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    1. I'm very lucky to have a small vegetable patch at home. It's a hobby but certainly supplements our diets nicely :)

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  11. Wow, I've never known anyone to grow dragonfruit at home! How cool is that! So much lovely homegrown produce - love the bowl of citrus! Our lemons are producing, but not our limes...waiting, waiting.. :)

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    1. I think I will personally grow a single lime off my tree. Seems a poor effort for all the love I've given it. :)

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