January 2020 was not the month I thought it would be. Dave took the 1st off work but was back in the office the following day. I also started my work year at the same time with a visit to Hermanus. I was back in the office on the 6th and everything seemed to take an age to get going. Dave and I went to Knysna to see friends and had a great time with them. This month we had two dinner parties. One was with the kids where I made gammon. And the second was our annual Burn’s Night dinner.
Recipes on the blog: January 2020
The recipes I shared last month were mostly ones I made over the December break.
Birthday Chocolate
I save up my special chocolates to enjoy when I feel more like a small treat. This birthday chocolate came from my cousin in England. Ann really spoilt me when were there. If you live in the UK and can get Creighton’s Chocolates I can recommend that you do so.
Chocolates
And while we are on the subject of chocolates and England, here are three more that I brought home. The ones from Boots are really not that special. The J.D. Gross chocolate was worth every penny (no pun intended). When we go back next year I shall stock up.
Coffee Tin
As we did not have any space left in our suitcases on this trip I purchased everything we needed for our holiday. I loved the prettiness of this coffee tin and so I brought it home. It will go on our next trip with us filled with beans ground for espresso.
Cooking String
A few months back I had a recipe which called for cooking string or butchers twine. Luckily for me, the butcher provided that part for me. I have never seen it here and was on the lookout for it in England. Ann and Stuart also needed kitchen goodies so we went to Boswells of Oxford. I bought the cooking string and they got bottles for their gin. If you are in Oxford please pop into the shop as they will be closing soon.
This is my February 2020 submission to the #IMK series, hosted by Sherry. Each month bloggers around the world gather to share what is new in their kitchens. Pop on over to her blog to take a peek.
Inspiration published on Lavender and Lime February 5:
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- 2018 – Savoury Bread Pudding
- 2017 – Night School
- 2016 – TV Cooking Shows Are Heating Up More Competition Than Ever
- 2015 – Clotted Cream
- 2014 – Picnic At Vergelegen
- 2013 – Apricot Tart Tatin
- 2012 – Mushrooms With Spinach And Gruyere
To a life well lived in 2020!
I hope February turns out to be what you think it will be!
I hope so too!
Chocolate with no sugar.. is it worth eating.. 😉
This one wasn’t!
I love your post! Never heard of Creightons but I will see if I can mail order some. What a neat wrapping for birthdays. Mmmm….brioche.
It was a very special gift 🙂
Amazing that you don’t find kitchen string (or as we call it, butcher’s twine). I find it useful for a lot of things. Also your chocolate souvenirs look great.
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
There are so many things we do not get here which makes shopping overseas a lot of fun 🙂
Chocolate and birthdays – a match made in heaven.
Amalia
xo
For sure!
Ooh look at all of that chocolate! I’ve never heard of J.D. Gross chocolate before. I must look it up! Happy Birthday!!
It is really good chocolate!
happy belated birthday tandy! always nice to get really good chocolate. you can buy cooking twine here very readily but it is a bit hairier than the stuff you have in your post:) I wish we could buy those tins of coffee here tho. It looks interesting. does it taste good – and strong? thanks for joining in this month. happy Feb. cheers sherry
The coffee was not that great, but the tin made up for it 😉
yes i love a good tin too!:)
Yes, everything for me has seemed to take forever to get going lately too. Maybe I need some chocolate!
Chocolate cures everything 😉