For the first time in a long time, I am ahead of my blogging schedule. This is going to be so important as next month Dave and I are headed overseas. But before then, we got to celebrate my birthday. July 2025 brought with it its own challenges however. We were without water for three days due to the poor infrastructure in our area. Luckily for us, we have a 1000 litre tank that contains rain water. We installed this in anticipation of day zero, and I am so grateful we did. At least we could still flush our toilets, and wash the dishes. I am again reminded how fortunate and privileged was are to have running water in our home when so many people don’t. We went to friends to shower which also helped a lot!
Recipes from the blog in July 2025
Of course, there had to be a birthday cake, and this one was made in the microwave. I confess to having made it several times to ensure it was good enough for the day. I also made a batch of breakfast rusks, and shared a recipe for a rhubarb tart I made when rhubarb was in season here. Flatbreads featured twice, one lot made with sundried tomatoes to go with a spicy yogurt. And the other were Swedish flatbreads. I made fig chutney which is nearly finished, so it is time to look out for a new recipe. The last recipe for the month was balsamic tomatoes, which I served with caramelle pasta.
International Scone Week 2025
It is that time of the year again! If you would like to take part in International Scone Week 2025 please see this post. You can link up any recipe you have created since last August.
One new thing in my kitchen
After the success of my first cheese cake based ice cream, I decided to try another recipe. For that, I needed pistachio cream. This does not come cheap, and sadly, the ice cream does not do this ingredient any justice.
This is my July 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 August 5:
- 2022: Cocoa Cookies
- 2020: July 2020 Showcasing In My Kitchen
- 2019: Vegetable Scones
- 2016: Win Tickets To Winelands Chocolate Festival 2016
- 2015: August 2015 Showcasing In My Kitchen
- 2013: Sourdough Scones
- 2012: Grape And Blueberry Flaugnarde
- 2011: Smokey Chicken
- 2010: Nero Risotto With Peas And Prawns
Congratulations
Thank you!
July looks to have been a delicious time in your kitchen!
I missed scone week last year, hoping to make up for it next week.
Amalia
xo
I look forward to you being a part of it Amalia 🙂
Ah yes. It’s quite humbling to lose electricity and/or water. Love that birthday cake!
It makes one realise how lucky we are to live with basics as a norm 🙂
Lots of baking in July and I also have a similar pistachio cream I bought in a Turkish supermarket, but the real good one is the one I bought from a local store…it’s made with 100% of pistachios.
That sounds like the real deal and I will look at Lidl for some when we are in Holland 🙂
Am reading and hoping the plans both for your birthday and your trip away are continuing seamlessly. We have had half-days without power, but usually there is too much water around, either from the sky or, without failure, from the tap. That kind of problem will usually not go away without long hassles either, so am glad to hear, you do have a tank! Do like the taste of pistachio . . . can imagine this form of it not being cheap . . . be well .. .
I love pistachio and can eat the nuts lightly salted in abundance 🙂
that’s good about being able to put up any scone recipes since last august as i have one from earlier this year (plus i will do another new one soon). I love Dubai chocolate but i wonder about using the pistachio paste in other things. I made ice cream with it, and it was pretty good but i reckon you could use other nut pastes probably to better effect! Have a great August.
cheers
sherry
I am really disappointed by how the pistachio paste barely features in the ice cream. But I will make another batch to prove I can get it right 🙂
You had a fab month of food, though am sorry about the water woes – tho still glad yall had a workaround. Here’s hoping your trip goes smoothly and CONGRATS on being ahead as related to that blog. Also – I love fig chutney and that looks delish!
The fig chutney was delish indeed 🙂
Loved the idea of mug cake for birthday!
I am a big fan of nuts too and have been thinking to make pistachio cream at home.
I think I might make the next batch as well 🙂
Wow, I can’t imagine having to ration water like that, but admire your fearlessness to take it in stride!
We were faced with a possibility of having ZERO municipal water a few years back, and water rationing has become habit. Just a pain when you cannot shower 🙂
Oh yes, being without water and/or power, yikes. I believe after experiencing both, I can live without power easier than water. Great job on the tank you installed, we have talked about that…I headed to the breakfast rusks because I need something new for breakfast. Have a wonderful time when you are away, and Happy Birthday to you!
Thank you Melynda, and I can highly recommend a water tank 🙂
Happy birthday! So many delicious things happening in your house! Glad you had the water tank to help you get through the water issues.
I believe that my husband is going to make a bit batch of rusks this weekend!
Have an amazing trip to The Netherlands!
Enjoy the rusks!
Wow. You were so lucky to have the stored rain water to use while your water was out. We haven’t had any time that our water was out but we sure have had times when our power (electricity, phones, and cooking) were out. The most was 3 days in the winter and it was difficult. Happy birthday and enjoy your trip! As usual your baking looks interesting and delicious.
Three days without power is intense! Before we installed a solar system we were without power for nearly 48 hours at once due to a fire. That was enough to make me ensure it never happened again 🙂
I will go check out your flatbread recipes, as I love it. So sad the ice cream didn’t do the pistachio cream justice.
The ice cream is making for great milkshakes though 🙂
Happy Birthday! Your cake looks great and I love cheesecake flavoured ice cream – it’s the best! Your rhubarb tart looks amazing – I’m crossing my fingers that rhubarb season here will last a bit longer 🙂 Happy travels!
Thanks Sammie! And maybe we will catch the rhubarb season in Holland 🙂