April was an amazingly busy month! We started off at Lakeside Lodge and Spa and this was followed by a visit from our friends from London. We spent an amazing evening and day together and the children had a great time in our pool and playing with the puppy. This was followed by a visit to Johannesburg to see my sister and nieces who were here from Sydney for my father’s 70th birthday. I also got to spend time with friends and family which was amazing. Even better of course was coming home to my own bed. Somehow nothing beats that. My kitchens are topsy turvy at the moment as we are sort of living in the house for meals and television so I have moved my butcher’s block into the new kitchen. This post is also to wish Maureen who blogs over at Orgasmic Chef a speedy recovery and to thank her for hosting these regular in my kitchen posts. So, onto May 2016 and hopefully this month will be just as exciting as the last one.
I was given a bottle of watermelon jam with my copy of Two and I made scones from my FOMO box to enjoy with the jam. The scones did not last long.
I made a batch of gingernut biscuits which had too much ginger in them for my taste buds. These were adapted to make cinnamon and vanilla biscuits. I took the ingredients with me to Johannesburg and my niece and I made mildly cinnamon flavoured biscuits together.
Part of the joy of having a puppy is the snuffles and love you get. But, Scarlett is chewing her way through everything! She has destroyed my salad dressing bottle with her enthusiasm and eaten a book I had set aside to donate.
This month Yuppiechef sent out an excellent box. I have made use of the biltong dukka and Moroccan rub and climbed straight into the marinated artichokes. When we are in Italy, carciofi is the one delicatessen item I buy on a daily basis. They are very expensive here and so this was a great treat. I have used the balsamic vinegar to flavour cooked red cabbage. The wine, panforte and truffle oil has been set aside for enjoyment at a later stage. I took the tea bags to my parents as I have so many bags of Earl Grey tea. I have used the box from the tea bags in our guest bedroom to hold the various tea bags I have on offer.
My nieces and I made the hot chocolate using cold milk and then set these in the mini pops kit I gave them as as gift.
I decided to bring home a shower cap from our night away to use when I prove bread. I am working on a new recipe which I just can’t get right. That is not stopping Dave and I from enjoying the bread I make every second weekend.
What I blogged May 4:
- one year ago – Lime And Ricotta Cheesecake
- four years ago – Licorice
- five years ago – Seared Tuna
- six years ago – Back in South Africa
Ooh will you share pics of your puppy Tandy? 😀 A very interesting haul this month. Did you like the watermelon jam?
The jam was excellent! I shall try and post more pictures of Scarlett for you 🙂
The plastic shower cap is a brilliant idea! It sounds like you have had a fun and busy month. I’ve never thought to make watermelon jam… it sounds delicious.
It really is delicious 🙂
A great month indeed! And great stuff in the house (except for puppy chewed things lol). I want that watermelon jam!
I will have to make the watermelon jam sometime to share the recipe 🙂
Amazing things in your kitchen Tandy……. looks like your dog is having a great time.
You have no idea! She eats her way through anything you leave unattended or within reach 🙂
Lots of lovely things you did this month! Am intrigued by the idea of watermelon jam, sounds delicious. I think I need to pinch the shower cap idea, I know Celia also uses one. Very practical!
It is very practical and I must now just remember to use it 🙂
I just sorted out a huge pile of toiletries collected over many years (Mr T is forbidden from taking any more) and found a couple of shower caps which are now with my bread making gear as well. Lovely to see family and friends and do some cooking with them too. Naughty Scarlett!
Urggh, your comments are ending up in my spam list again and I know I have deleted one already – sorry! I always take the toiletries with me – kind of feel we have paid for them with the room fee haha. Scarlett is too cute regardless of how naughty 🙂
Oooo those marinated artichokes though. Also- I want to see the puppy!!!!!!
I am going to take some photos!
Tandy, these In My Kitchen posts are such fun! Sounds like you’ve had a lot going on. I’ve never tried the shower cap thing (I need one for my head right now!), but it looks pretty handy.
I have seen the idea so often on other blogs that I though ‘why not?’. And it really worked 🙂
Sounds like lots of lovely things are happening in your life Tandy. I’d love to see some puppy pics. Gotta say that shower/ proving cap is genius 🙂
I shall try and take some photos of her this month Jem 🙂