Here I am in June 2015 Showcasing what is new in my kitchen.
We came back from overseas and had it not been my commitment to myself to let you all have a peek into my kitchen each month, and share this with Celia from Fig Jam And Lime Cordial, I might still have all the goodies sitting on the ‘side board’ in our kitchen. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I did not want to be at the working end of my camera. Eventually, this past weekend I got myself in a place where I wanted to take photos, and headed to what is my new temporary ‘studio’ in our scullery.
In France Dave and I went shopping and I could not resist buying a tin of cassoulet. I had thought that if one night we did not feel like cooking we could just open the tin, but thankfully Dave was enjoying his cooking and we got to bring the tin home with us. It will be enjoyed one night after motor racing for sure. This brand is the one I trust most when in France and I also buy their butter as it is fantastic.
One of my suppliers is selling lavender petals from an organization that works on community upliftment. I usually use the lavender petals from my own bushes, but they have died and for the first time in years I don’t have a lavender bush in our garden. I am planning on sorting out our top garden this winter and so will wait until that is done before planting another bush. In the meantime, I have a lot of petals to use in my cooking and baking.
My love affair with Maille continues and Dave and I went on the Saturday morning we were in Paris to their boutique store. I now keep a list of the mustards I have in my fridge on my phone so that we don’t duplicate anything. Luckily for me they have a store at the airport as well so I can add more to my collection when we pass through the airport in September.
I always look at the seed packets when are travelling and this trip I bought some parsley root seeds. These will go into the new vegetable garden as soon as it is sorted out.
I was invited to attend the Pestaurant function by Nathalie Leblond from Rentokil, but as it is in Johannesburg I had to decline the chance to dine on insects! Not wanting to miss out on the entomophagy experience, I was sent a sample box to try. The event is taking place today, and if you are interested, please click here. I must say, with a little bit of seasoning these would make quite a nice snack. Along with the insects, I was sent two recipes to try, one for chocolate chirp cookies, and the other for locust fried rice. In order they have been photographed, I was sent plain roasted locusts, plain roasted buffalo worms, plain roasted crickets and plain roasted meal worms.
I tried out a recipe for raspberry curd which came from the darling Lorraine. I had a lot of curd left over and so added it to an ice cream base with star anise flavouring and served it as dessert when we had friends over the other night.
I broke not one, but two spoon rests in one week! My lovely bamboo spoon rest was swept off the butcher’s block while I was cleaning it, and broke in half and my metal spoon rest lost its weld. So, I bought this spoon rest from my favourite online store and Dave is still getting used to it being a spoon rest. I love it as it is so sturdy.
Here is my review copy of Sweet. I did not bake anything from the book before doing my review as I ran out of time. I have tried making one recipe so far but it did not work out and I will be making it again until I can get it perfect.
Ocean Basket sent me a gift box, which included a scarf (so warm) and gift vouchers for Dave and I to use at our local restaurant. They have added gluhwein to their winter menu, and the gift box included the spices to make my own at home, as well as a lovely carafe.
What I blogged June 3:
- three years ago – Friday’s Food Quiz
- four years ago – Granadilla Cake / Passion Fruit Cake
- five years ago – Figs In Pomegranate Concentrate
The Pestaurant Treats look interesting – haven’t tried many insects and the like.
They were very interesting 🙂
The variety of cassoulet in tins and jars as the supermarket was breathtaking in France. I’m glad you’ve made a suggestion for a good brand. I don’t have a spoon rest but perhaps I need one?
Always interesting to see what’s going on Tandy. xx
Thanks for being my proof reader! This is a brand I have always bought, from when we first went to France in 2008 🙂
Hmm, not so sure I would be that keen on the worms. Your raspberry curd looks fabulous.
Have a happy day.
🙂 Mandy xo
Have you never tried mopani worms?
Wow the dinner with the insects sounds interesting! And Rentokil is a brand of insecticide here, is it the same there?
It is the same company here as well 🙂
All sorts of bits and bobs in the kitchen then, great selection!
Thanks for taking a peek 🙂
Tinned cassoulet, how interesting Tandy! Insects? Eek. I have not tried that… parsley root is really interesting too. Thanks for the peek at the goodies in your kitchen… happy cooking x
Thanks for the visit Liz. I love the tinned cassoulet as it reminds me of our visit to Toulouse and the surrounding region 🙂
If I recall you freezer your starter when you travel? And its always fine when you take it out? Do you just defrost then feed?
Hi, that is well remembered. I have never had a problem when I take it out of the freezer. I defrost the starter in my fridge, and as soon as it is defrosted I give it a good feed. Hope it works for you 🙂
You are so brave! I could never try insects. In Korea, where I live, you can eat silkworms but I’ve not been able to stomach it. I don’t like the smell of them, so putting them in my mouth doesn’t tempt me!
I don’t know if I could eat silkworms either. I used to keep them as ‘pets’ when I was a child. Thanks for the visit Maggie 🙂
Mmm not sure I could bring myself to try insects and worms. I’m envious of your time in France, sounds wonderful
It was wonderful indeed 🙂
Tandy, it must have been heavenly to visit Maille’s shop in Paris! Sorry to hear about your lavender bush though. Mine took a beating with our torrential rains, but it seems to be recovering now. I’ve never tried gluhwein, but it sounds like a warming winter treat.
I am so pleased to read your lavender recovered. I will make the gluhwein and post a recipe 🙂
What a great IMK post Tandy! I did not know one could get cassoulet in a can! Love that mustard and use it all the time! And love the raspberry curd!
The curd was amazing, and it reminds me to make use of my fruit in new ways 🙂
There must be something in the air Tandy, I’ve been a bit the same with taking photos. Pleased to see you did get your mojo back though and what an interesting mix of things….hmmm I’m not sure about the insects though, but in the right company I would give them a try 🙂 Jan x
I must say, I think it is the cold keeping me out of my ‘studio’. I did not make it there this weekend at all 🙂
Oh no! I love my spoon rest, I’m so sorry to hear you’ve broken yours! The confit duck sounds fabulous, and I was recently given the Maille mustard with cognac – it was VERY good! Thanks for always joining in, even when it feels like hard work, Tandy! xxx
So glad you love your spoon rest! I had the mustard last night with dinner, yum 🙂
Hi Tandy! Great post, I give you credit for trying insect larvae. My take on them was they tasted slightly like over cooked kettle chips, except the grasshoppers they were just crunchy, haha!
Thanks for sharing. 🙂
You hit it spot on there Emily 🙂
I keep meanong to get a spoon rest! I sold so many things before I left Australia. I think edible insects will become a big thing soon in culinary gourmet food.
I am not sure I would go out to dine on insects 🙂