Monday 2 March 2015

In My Kitchen ... in March 2015

I have a confession to make. In my kitchen very little cooking has been happening - for a while now!

Why you might ask? Well, I now have a lived experience of how incredibly debilitating and excruciatingly painful 24/7 sciatic pain can be. Fortunately, after trying a number of options, I've just had a treatment that has worked, and so slowly, slowly I'm returning to health!

These trying few months have certainly highlighted to me the importance of our health - and how fragile it really is. I've been investigating the concept of 'food as medicine' - and what part foods might play in healing my body that has been assualted by pain, anaethestics, pain killing drugs and antibiotics! To say my gut microbes have been compromised is an understatement!

All is not lost however! I have focussed my attention on making bone broths, exploring fermented foods for the first time, and making the most of fresh summer vegetables grown organically in our little garden. I know too, that what I have learnt will continue to influence my future cooking!

In my kitchen I have embraced principles of the Paleo diet. I've been craving chicken soup as my body heals. This a  Paleo chicken bone broth soup that I made for lunch. With celery, carrot, spring onions, ginger and chilli plus a squeeze of lime juice for freshness it was yummy! I'll be putting this recipe up on the blog soon if you are interested.




These beef marrow bones are currently roasting in the oven before I place them in the slow cooker along with water and apple cider vinegar to cook slowly for 24 hours.




Up until now my experience with fermented foods has been limited to the recent discovery of kombucha. I found this punchy kimchi at Romeo's Heath Store in North Adelaide. I'm really enjoying the spicy flavours but will need to start making my own as it is very expensive! If anyone can recommend recipes for probiotic rich saurkrauts, kimchis and the like I would be very grateful.



What a joy it is to eat home grown produce from our garden. We have eaten simple salads drizzled with EVOO all summer long.



With not much cooking happening in my kitchen I thought I would share with you my original mixmaster. It's a Sunbeam, given to me by my parents as an engagement gift - which makes it a vintage circa 1974 model! Despite having taken a beating over the years it still works - although at only one medium speed. 

In my heart of hearts I confess that I think it makes a better cake than my current fabulously expensive mixer! Maybe, like old and dear friends, we just understand each other's foibles better!




Thank you so much for visiting my kitchen this month! Please do visit Fig Jam and Lime Cordial where the amazing and generous Celia hosts the In My Kitchen series. There you will find wonderful kitchens from around the world to peek in to!


Wishing you good health!

Cheers!

Marian





24 comments:

  1. So good to hear that you are now home and resting so that you can be your old/young self all over again! Love the one speed mixer... they don't make em like that any more! And bone broth soup is my favourite!

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    1. Thanks, Liz! Hopefully you can't keep a good woman down for too long! I've just discovered bone broth - and I love it!

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  2. Hope you continue to feel better. I gotta get me some of that Kim Kraut!

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    1. Hi Jennifer, I'm on the mend thank goodness! The Kim Kraut is worth finding - I'm really enjoying it's spicy flavours - and it's good for you!

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  3. G'day Glad you are home and I reckon that mixer is the best one and seems to last forever!
    I admire anyone who can grow their own veggies! Thank you for this month's IMK view also!
    Cheers! Joanne

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    1. Hi Joanne, thanks for dropping by! I hope I can take a lesson from my vintage mixer and keep on keeping on for a while yet! Cheers!

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  4. I've never got on very well with handmixers, nor the stick blenders that one immerses in to a pan or bowl to use. I can splatter everywhere. I've not got an (Aussie) power blender which suits me much better. Bet that roasted marrow bone was heavenly?

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    1. Hi Kavey! I agree that mixers and stick blenders can be the cause of a disaster or two! I've certainly had my share! Roasted bone marrow is delicious - and quite under rated by many people I think!

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  5. My mother used to have a Sunbeam mixer though hers was c1957 but with the same dial bit at the back and the white glass bowl. That's brought back happy memories.
    Your salad looks wonderful - just what I crave as we emerge from winter.

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    1. Anne, I'm so glad the mixer bought back happy memories for you! Mine does too! In a few months I'm betting that I will be eyeing off your summer produce with great envy! Cheers!

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  6. Marian, I did the In My Kitchen thing in January, then in February visited the blogs on Celia's list for that month. Now I'm working on March and am so delighted to have discovered your lovely blogs!

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    1. Hi Jean! I'm so glad to hear that you are enjoying being a part of the In My Kitchen series! I look forward to it every month! I'm delighted that you've discovered my blogs and look forward to your feedback!

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  7. That soup does look quite delicious. Your garden veggies also looks wonderful. My seedlings are sitting on the kitchen table now and I can't wait to get my summer garden planted.

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    1. Hi Gretchen, I've just discovered bone broths and am impressed with how simple they are to make, and how versatile they are! Good luck with your seedlings - I hope you will harvest bountiful quantities of fabulous fresh veggies throughout summer!

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  8. I have an almost identical Sunbeam Mixmaster circa 1965 that my mum has given me. It still works well and even has a mincing attachment (though I'm not keen on cleaning it). I even picked up a replacement bowl in an op shop recently at a fraction of the new bowl replacement cost. I can already see that you'll receive many more comments about it. I hope your health continues to improve Marian. cheers xx

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    1. Hi Fiona! I know what you mean about that mincing attachment! I will now be on the lookout for the small bowl at local op shops - it went missing years ago! Thanks for your wishes re my health - I'm looking forward to bouncing back as well!

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  9. I much prefer hand mixers over those expensive stand mixers- i.e. you can move the mixer into every nook and cranny (ooh, sounds sort of sexy)!

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  10. Fran, I admit to owning both! My hand held is particularly invaluable for last minute preparation when taking food for a shared table - and is certainly quicker than a hand whisk!

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  11. I learnt to make cakes with that mixmaster and the white bowl.

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    1. Hi Jo! I hope your experience was as memorable as mine!!! Thanks for dropping by!

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  12. Very nice and interesting blog, thanks for this post..it's been great reading this.

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  13. Marion... good to hear that you are getting better... food plays an amazing part in that... I love my fermented foods, I have a super greens one and a yummy turmeric one that I buy... I probably should make it, but I have so many other things to do :) The produce from your garden looks wonderful! I am waiting to plant things here in Queensland as it is still over 30 everyday and way too hot! Thanks for sharing! Liz x

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  14. I came across your lovely blog via blogchicks.com.au. Oh my, your food photos are amazing!!!

    I'm currently hosting a giveaway and would love for you to enter. Two hot chocolate mixes in a jar are up for grabs! Details are on my blog - hope to see you there! x

    http://www.butterandjamblog.com/2015/04/giveaway.html

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  15. Marian, I hope you are feeling better and look forward to seeing some of your new posts!

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