June 2025 Showcasing In My Kitchen

~ Tandy

June 2025 was mostly cold and wet, with a small smattering of snow. It called for lots of warming food, and snuggling under the blanket with the dog. I usually space out our social plans, but over the course of 8 days we went out three times and had friends over once. On one of the evenings we went for a wine tasting at De Brasserie. A stranger walked up to me and asked “Am I speaking to Tandy?”. This is not the first time it has happened, as my social media profile photograph is just a younger version of what I look like now. The woman asking was the very first person to comment on my blog. It was a happy coincidence that made my heart smile.

Recipes from my kitchen in June 2025

For a family meal, I made tomato biryani. This is such a comforting dish and something I could easily make over and over again. On our table were beef patties. These are really so easy to make at home, and far more economical than buying ready made patties. Inspired by our IMK host, I made preserved lemon harissa. And for an easy add on to any meal, I blistered some tomatoes. For our afternoon treats, there were spiced cookies and coffee cookies. Biscuits never last long in our house, so I am always up for making small batches, as often as possible.

Two new things in my kitchen

At the beginning of the year I went out for coffee with a long time blogging friend. We keep in touch when I have questions about nutritional things, as that is her area of expertise. Or when she has questions for me about overseas. Bernice gifted me this beautiful wooden spoon that she bought in Italy. I have set it aside for use with sweet things, as her blog was all about baking. Mark and Eva were meant to spend a weekend with us when they came to South Africa. I had planned on making my no knead sourdough with her. As Eva has a wrist injury that prevents her from heavy work, I bought a Danish dough whisk. The Danish Dough Whisk is an invaluable tool for mixing dough by hand. The long wooden handle and thick metal whisk make it perfect for mixing the dough by hand.

Wooden Spoon And Danish Dough Whisk June 2025

This is my June 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 July 1:

Lavender and Lime Signature

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Published by Tandy

I am passionate about using regional, seasonable and sustainable produce when I cook. I live in Gordons Bay with my husband and dogs. We visit new places locally and overseas as often as we can to experience the food of the area. Follow along on our adventures!

30 thoughts on “June 2025 Showcasing In My Kitchen”

  1. Funny coincidence: I just gave my sister a Danish dough whisk and two wooden utensils. We have found the whisk very useful.
    Have a good month… mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  3. Love the dough whisk – never seen one before. And how funny is it when you get ‘spotted’!? As usual, everything looks so delicious, especially the tomato biryani. Yum!

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  4. Nice to look, read and remember . . . had no idea you got any snow . . . my closest is about a hour away and very rarely! But am writing this with a cyclone off the Coast just 40kms away . . . not nice and we’re hoping the night will be peaceful as we have no electricity tomorrow for repairs . . . Have never seen a doughhook like this > an interesting ‘learn’ 🙂 !

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    1. Hope the rain storm is not destructive. We get a fair amount of snow on the very tops of the mountains, but not enough for skiing!

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    1. I am going to look for one when we are in The Netherlands to gift to Eva. If you don’t find one by September, let me know 🙂

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  6. Tandy, our blog themes this month are just the opposite- you were making warming foods for cold weather while here in Pennsylvania we are suffering through a long hot humid heatwave and making no cook cold meals. That being said hot or cold I would enjoy your blistered tomatoes, tomato biryani and preserved lemon harissa. So cool that people recognize you from you blog. I’d love to see an more current photo of you sometime!

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  9. This must be Danish whisk month! I purchased on as well, for my latest food adventure Whole Wheat Sourdough Sandwich bread. I took a look at the Coffee Cookies, and I do want to make those. Personally I love coffee flavored anything. Thanks so much for the visit!

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  12. You know how i love a wooden spoon! I have many, both for sweet and savoury dishes. I remember my sister staying with me one time, and being amazed that i had separate spoons for cooking! But who wants onion in their cake batter? How lovely to be recognised while out and about! Definitely would give a lift to your spirits (if needed). I’ve had my Danish whisk for ages; so useful for cake batters etc. Thanks for joining in this month!
    cheers
    sherry

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  14. The whisk looks like a good buy, at the moment I am ok with kneading, and my sourdough doesn’t need much kneading, good to know about it though. When do you use the lemon harissa? I went back to your recipe to check it out, I have lemons so perhaps I should use them up and preserve them. Your tomato biryani sounds interesting, I don’t buy many tomatoes at the moment, they are so expensive here. Take care, and lovely post Tandy.

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    1. I use the harissa when I am making any North African inspired dish. I am thinking it will even be good in hummus? Can you grow tomatoes? Ours are so bland here, nothing like the Italian ones I devour when we are in Italy 🙂

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