January 2026 started off with fireworks, and ended with me feeling exhausted. After weeks of good sleep, I told a friend how well I was sleeping, and jinxed it. By the second half of the month I could not get two nights’ in a row of quality sleep. At the beginning of January, while my parents were here, we went for lunch at Adriatico. I cannot wait to go back, and to share a review here on the blog. My aunt came over for lunch and gifted me some fresh fruit rather than flowers. I indulged in cherries and litchis when my parents left, and Dave went back to work. We had friends over for Burns Night and for the first time in years the weather was mild enough for us to sit outside and not be in the pool!
Recipes from my blog in January 2026
January was all about desserts, with only two savoury dishes making ‘the cut’. I made sundried tomato dressing which is perfect for summer salads, and a milk stout bread to use up some milk stout leftover from another recipe. I never realized that milk stout would be such a unique South African beer. For a quick afternoon treat I made chocolate caramel mug cake, and a microwave cheesecake. I served chocolate cremeux with toasted flour sables as a dessert, and we devoured bowls and bowls of olive leaf gelato during the heatwave.
One new thing in my kitchen
Two sets of the small kitchen tongs which I like to use have broken. I found a pair that has metal rather than plastic for the ‘tong’ bit, and I love them. So much so that I might have to force myself to get another pair.
This is my February submission to the #IMK series hosted by Sherry. Each month bloggers around the world gather to share what is new in their kitchens.
See the links below for blog posts I published on February 3:
- 2021: January 2021 Showcasing In My Kitchen
- 2020: Lime Tart
- 2019: The House Across The Street
- 2017: Digestive Spice Blend
- 2016: February 2016, Showcasing In My Kitchen
- 2014: February 2014, Showcasing In My Kitchen
- 2013: Tracy Foulkes Answers A Few Questions
- 2012: Presto Pasta Nights 250 Round-Up
- 2011: White Wine Chicken Casserole
I do love a pair of tongs! I have several in different sizes but i probably use my smallest ones the most. Olive leaf gelato sounds so interesting! thanks for joining in!.
cheers
sherry
I need another pair!
This is such a lovely post and so nice that you keep a journal over the past years also. I do hope you do find your good sleep back. It is so exhausting when you do not so I understand. Be well, cheers, ~Nessa
Thanks Nessa, I am hoping sleep finds me soon!
I have a similar kitchen tong too :-)) got another wood one, but doesn’t fit well in my hand.
Dave has those and I do not like them either 🙂
A good pair of tongs is invaluable. Small upgrade, big impact!
For sure!
I went through a period of not sleeping when our really old dog would get up at 3 in the morning. He died in December and I’m just starting to not wake up worrying about him. Sleep is so important!!!
I am sure there is a space in your heart that did not mind that lack of sleep. Big hugs xx
I must take a look at the Microwave Cheesecake and the Mug Cake, small desserts are on my horizon, since it is just the two of us! My daughter cannot cook a meal without her tongs right there as needed. That is her preferred style, as well.
I hope you enjoy the microwave treats 🙂
It’s so easy to become exhausted during a heat wave Tandy. I haven’t been keeping up with things as much as usual either during Summer, but now we can feel the weather cooling down and rain is around. I couldn’t do without my kitchen tongs either, and the olive leaf gelato sounds very refreshing and tasty. Bring on the cooler weather.
I am with you on the cooler weather – we have just had another extreme heat wave!
I need tongs too! I had some in Australia that stayed behind and some in Canada that stayed behind, and now I have just a mini pair, the rest of the time I use chopsticks, but you’ve inspired me to get some tongs.. and bravo for the microwave cakes! I always want something sweet in the afternoon and single size works so well
Single portions are always good! Can I bring some tongs to you??
I love a good tong situation and metal tongy bits are the best! Everything looks so delicious, now I want a chocolate caramel mug cake!
Hope you try the mug cake!
All of your desserts look wonderful, and I always like a good mug cake. I don’t know what I would do without my kitchen tongs – I’ve never seen a small one- I’ll have to look for one.
I am going to get more of the small ones!