Thursday 3 July 2014

In My Kitchen ... in July

After a couple of months off I'm excited to contributing again to the In My Kitchen series!


In My Kitchen ... in July I've said goodbye to this little kitchen in our Coffin Bay beach house. We are extensively renovating the house to meet our changing needs.



In my Coffin Bay kitchen this month I donned protective masks rather than an apron, used a grinder rather than a stick blender, and ground hundreds of spots on bricks rather than whip a storm in the kitchen!

I am hoping to be able to reveal the new kitchen next month!




While the renovation is underway, in the property we have rented, this is my kitchen. It is a very nice space in which cook! 



It's been particularly cold and wet so I've been cooking soups to warm us. This was a particularly tasty Bacon and Bean soup.



We love hearty chickpea dishes. This was served hot for lunch with feta sprinkled over! Yum!



Our next door neighbour dropped in with these little beauties - freshly caught local prawns! Cooked in oil with chilli and garlic, juices mopped up with crusty bread, they disappeared before I thought to take a photo!



At the monthly Coffin Bay Farmers Market I purchased supplies for a barbeque from ethical, free range prime producers 'Minniribbie Paddock'.  The Moroccan flavoured sausages are the best I have tasted anywhere!

Of interest is that this local farm is custodian of two registered rare old breeds of pig - the Tamworth and the Berkshire. These animals are raised free range.



Our two oldest grandsons came to stay so I had enthusiastic helpers assist me in baking - and devouring -  a double batch of Condensed Milk Cookies! Delicious!



To support good health I have been investigating foods packed with probiotics. This is my first attempt at the ancient health drink, Kombucha. I am very pleased at the 'mother' growing on the top of it - and it tastes OK too! I'll be making more!




Not my usual storm in the kitchen - but I do love freshly caught fish for dinner. This meant that I relented and used the stick blender to whizz up burley for my husband to use fishing! Whew - the smell!!!




Finally, I wish to extend my congratulations to Celia of Fig Jam and Lime Cordial, host of the In My Kitchen series, for being named Number 21 in the top Australian food blogs list for 2014!

Do visit Celia's inspiring blog - you will not be disappointed!

Thank you so much for visitng my kitchen/s this month!

Cheers!

Marian







23 comments:

  1. What an exciting time, Marian! Look forward to seeing photos of your completed reno!

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  2. Thanks, Liz! I can't wait to share them!!!

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  3. Good luck with your remodeling. How exciting.

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    1. Thanks for your wishes! It's been a long time since I've had to plan a new kitchen. There is so much to consider! My fingers are crossed that it it turns out well!

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  4. wow that was very good of you to use the stick blender for the burley. i don't think i could be so generous.:)
    love the condensed milk cookies. oh and those prawns....

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    1. Hi Sherry!

      I really did want some fresh fish for dinner so the use of the stick blender was a small sacrifice - just this once! It worked a treat too! I'm thinking that one might make its way onto the Fathers Day gift list!

      Thanks so much for dropping by!

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  5. I love your 'mask' photo, Marian! What a lot of work, but the end result is sure to be twice as sweet with so much of yourself invested in the project. Your griddle full of sausages is making me hungry for breakfast!

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    1. Hi Kim!

      Grinding those spots was my first bit of handywoman work ever!!! Prior to my recent retirement I was too busy with work to tackle such projects. To my delight I really did enjoy it - and you are so right about the sense of accomplishment that comes from having done this!

      Those sausages were truly sensational - I must get some more at the next market - they would be perfect for a long lazy weekend breakfast!

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  6. oooh kitchen reno! How exciting, imagine the fun you will have restocking the pantries (my favourite part!)

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    1. I'm looking forward to the restocking of the pantry too, veganopoulous! I've also got an eye on the sales at the moment because the cutlery and crockery need replacing!

      Please let me know if you know of any sites/places that have great sales! You can only spend your money once!

      Thanks for dropping by!

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  7. Marian, look at those prawns!!! Do you know, since I started reading your blog, I'll now only buy Coffin Bay oysters. I keep telling Pete, "if Marian thinks the water is clean enough to evaporate SALT from it, then imagine how good the oysters must be!" :) Your soup looks divine and a kitchen renovation is very exciting! Can't wait to see what the finished result looks like! Thank you for you very kind words too, love x

    PS. It's Celia - can't get the commenting software to recognise my log in!

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  8. Hi Celia!

    I'm so glad you are enjoying Coffin Bay oysters! The exciting news here is that the local oyster farmers are reintroducing the original native angasi oyster. Here's a link to a recent ABC Landline piece you may find interesting. http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2014/s4025477.htm.

    I've got my fingers crossed that I will be able to share the new kitchen next month! Hoping it's been warmer at your place than it has been here recently!

    Cheers!

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  9. I know you are probably all about decluttering but perhaps a cheapie blender from Big W may be the way to go if you're going to be whipping up burley on a regular basis. As to those prawns, what little beauties! Can't wait to see the renos. Thanks for the tasty tour.

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  10. Hi Fiona! Inspired thinking re the cheapie blender - I will definitely be following your advice! Glad you enjoyed the post!

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  11. G'day! Nothing like renos to make you hungry too!
    Your soup looks warm and welcoming!
    Thanks for this month's kitchen view too!
    Cheers! Joanne

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    1. Hi Joanne!

      Thanks for dropping by! I can't wait to be able to show off our reno - especially the new kitchen - and to cook up a storm in it!!!

      Cheers!

      Marian

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  12. Hi Marian! Wow those prawns are huge! Thanks for sharing, and good luck with the renovations! :)

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    1. Hi Emily!

      Those prawns were the biggest I have ever had!!! Loking forward to sharing the completed renovation project with you all!

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  13. What wonderful prawns! Your chickpea dish looks really appetising - actually it all does. Hope the renovations are going well.

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  14. Hi Anne!

    Those prawns were wow!!! We love chickpea dishes - I'll put it on the blog soon! The renovations are going well so far - I'll put an update on my other blog here at thelivingwellinretirementchallenge.blogspot.com.au later today.

    Thanks for dropping by!

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  15. That was a pretty tough thing you had to go through there. At least you've had all the stuff you needed all laid out. Oh well, there's still a lot of reasons for you to celebrate. Just look at all those food. Yum! Anyway, I hope the sinks continue to keep working and that they wouldn't be too problematic in the future. All the best!

    Lovella Cushman @ Perfection Plumbing

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