In My Kitchen - September 2015

Here's what's happening in my kitchen at the moment...

Dark Coconut Toffee Organic Chocolate:

If you hang out with me long enough (like for say, 5 minutes), you'll soon realise that I like chocolate. Whenever I see a new flavour, brand, variety, size or shape, I must try it.  I have a whole pantry shelf dedicated to chocolate.  Willy Wonka's got nothing on me. Oh, and check out the fine print - butter and sea salt, CRUNCHY AND TOASTED. They didn't need to convince me, but I'm glad they did.

Capi Ginger Beer:

My sons cooked dinner last night.  When it's their turn to cook, they trawl through cookbooks and magazines with the freedom of knowing they can choose whatever they like to cook and eat.  (Last night they cooked Piri Piri Pork Fillet with Apple Slaw.)  When they cook, it usually means a quick trip to the store. (Because they inevitably choose something I don't already have in the house - and if you saw my pantry and fridge you'd wonder how they managed it, but they do.)  On our shopping trip, they found this ginger beer. (They don't get soft drink very often, so ginger beer is a treat) and asked if they could try it.  According to the Dan Murphy's website, "Capi Ginger Beer is a blend of fresh Australian ginger juice, lemon essential oils, chilli and capsicum extract.  The up-front aromas immediately reveal the fresh ginger, while the lemon essential oils ensures a perfectly balanced flavour profile.  Finally, the chilli and capsicum extracts provide the perfect amount of spice kick on the back palate."  The boys gave it a big thumbs up (the grown-ups drank gin mojitos). I did have a sip, and it was really refreshing. Might have to find a cocktail to test it on.




Cacao Nibs:

These crunchy little nuggets have been making an appearance on my granola and porridge at breakfast time lately. They were sprinkled in and on some Cacao Nib Muffins with Dark Chocolate Glaze earlier today.  They are chocolaty, without being sweet. Which is pretty sweet when you want a punch of cacao in the face without the sugar high. Which, if you're anything like me, is pretty often.

Tomatoes in Cans and Bottles:

Fresh tomatoes at this time of year suck.  I've used up all my homegrown preserved tomatoes, so I headed to the fabulous local Italian delicatessen and stocked up on all manner of canned and bottled toms.  I can make pasta sauce to my hearts content until the fresh ones start appearing in my garden.  (I'll tell you a secret.  I'm just a little bit in love with the packaging. I like to open my pantry and gaze at my stash. Does that make me weird?)




Colavita Black Olive Tapenade:

My eldest son is mad for olives and he loves this stuff.  It's so quick and easy to slap on some crackers for an after school snack. And seriously, finding healthy snacks is a full time job.

Mr Pitta Traditional Pitta:

I usually make my own pitta (recipe here), but on days when I run out of time/energy, I turn to Mr Pitta.  It's the second best pitta around. All my Greek friends tell me so.

Honey and Co.: The Baking Book by Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich:

I'm a sucker for a good baking cookbook, I will not lie, and this is a good one.  Check out my slightly adapted versions of their Pistachio, Rose and Strawberry Buns and Fudgy Chocolate Brownie Sandwich Cookies with Tahini Cream if you don't believe me.

Anyway, that's my kitchen for now.

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Fig Jam and Lime Cordial