In My Kitchen November 2016
I loved having the links to the IMK posts back in a central location, so once again I’m linking up with bloggers from around the world and sharing a little of what’s been happening in my domain during the past month. Follow the link to Bizzy Lizzy’s Good Things to look, to read or better still, join in. Thanks Liz.
For me, not much time has been spent in the kitchen because I’ve been sitting at my sewing machine. This marvel of engineering has powered through billions of kilometres of thread having sewn everything from underpants to wedding dresses in it’s forty plus years of working life.
The extra special task at hand forced me to acquire new specs for close work, I’ll still respond to Ladyredspecs though, I’ve simply down graded my old frames to hold lenses for close work. Making my daughter Leah’s wedding dress has been a major achievement. I haven’t sewn much in recent years, but with Leah’s vision, tutorials on Youtube and my resurrected skills it’s now finished and the bride will look gorgeous on her special day. Ten days to go and counting.
I’ve been listening to the radio in my sewing room. A few weeks ago I heard a discussion about jam and pickle making which included Alex Elliot-Howery from Sydney’s Cornersmith Cafe. My interest was piqued so I borrowed their book from my local library. From it I’ve already made the Fermented Pineapple and Chilli Sambal. It’s an absolute flavour sensation, hot, salty fruity and fresh. I’ll write a post about it next week. I’ve added “Cornersmith” to my lengthy wishlist.
In My Kitchen are folk art gifts from Swedish friends who are visiting for the wedding, some pin-up boys for a foodie, (actually a dish sponge) and a generously proportioned oven mitt.
In My Kitchen I have tarragon vinegar infusing. A colony of ants decided to nest in my small pot of tarragon. There was no way I was letting them have those delicious leaves, so I harvested it all and now it’s steeping in a bottle of Champagne vinegar. I’ll strain it after 3 weeks. Our summer salads will be very well dressed this year.
In My Kitchen Spelt sourdough madness continues. During my initial attempt to master sourdough a couple of years ago the one thing I made which worked as it should was pizza bases. I made these to the exact same recipe, except I quadrupled it. They are fantastic. We had pizza for dinner and now I have a stash of bases in the freezer for a lazy meal.
In My Kitchen is a pot of sencho green tea. The little tea pot has been in my kitchen a long time, it’s the perfect size to make a brew for one. Now I’m going to put my feet up for a brief moment of respite and pop over the Bizzy Lizzy’s to have a moment of distraction with other IMK post before the pre wedding madness continues.
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34 comments on “In My Kitchen November 2016”
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Please Pass the Recipe by Sandra Gay is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License.
Please Pass the Recipe 
that’s weird i left a comment the other day.. oh well. just saying how clever you are re making that wedding dress. i can barely sew on a button. i must get hold of that seafood cookbook too. a few people have mentioned it. see you Wednesday.:)
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Blogging platforms don’t like to interact sometimes. Very frustrating for us all. I’m sure you have talents that are foreign to me. Sewing is a longtime love I fell into as a teen, I’m proud to have made Leah’s dress.
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A wedding dress is a very big project, please do post a picture of the bride wearing it. I am looking forward to that recipe for the sambal.
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You’ve been a busy little bee haven’t you Sandra and will be until your daughter’s big day. I’m sure she’ll look magical (looking forward to seeing photos) and so will the mother of the bride. Have a wonderful day and may your daughter have a life full of happiness and love 🙂 Loving the sound of the pineapple & chilli samba, which I wait in eagerness for the recipe! Love your new red specs too. Lovely goodies for IMK this month xx
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Thanks FF, I’ll be vising IMK next week
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What gorgeous gifts from your Swedish friends!
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They’re quite unique Marcellina, thanks for commenting
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Sandra, your daughter’s wedding day coincides with my 16th anniversary (wedding, not blog)… how special that you sewed her dress! Will be thinking of you this weekend, xo. Your “red specs” have certainly gotten a workout lately, and your labors of love are evident in your Sambal, spelt pizza, ant-invaded vinegar, and well-deserved cuppa. Enjoy!
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Happy anniversary Kim It’s going to be a festive few days for us, the bride turns 40 on Sunday
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Twice as special, Sandra! (Three times, counting you sewing her dress.) Memories are made of this… xo.
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Wow Sandra… making a wedding dress, how talented you are and hope we see a photograph. Love the cute oven glove, fun dish sponge and tea pot.
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Thanks Moya, I’m just wishing for calm in my kiitchen….
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You are amazing turning your hand to any sewing let alone a wedding dress! I put my machine in for a service hoping it might inspire me to use it but I stick to basics like hems etc. Might just have to check this book out too as the samba looks delicious. All the best for the wedding, such a wonderful time!
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That’s so very exciting Sandra! Congratulations to Leah and her partner… I’m sure it will be a beautiful, delicious day for you all to enjoy! I’m in awe of the fact that you’ve made her wedding dress… so very clever! Hope to see a photo at some stage…
Lovely post of a busy month in your kitchen and home. Hopefully you get to take a breather and relax sometime soon. M.xx
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Thanks Margot, I think the bride has everything in hand, it continues to be crazy busy, rest after the 13th hopefully.
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Oh my goodness, a wedding dress! Wow!
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Thanks Michelle, I surprised myself 🙂
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Can’t wait to see the dress – how exciting, and how talented you are to have the skills for such a task. I like it when you recommend library books- I often follow you recommendations and did last week with the Dunlop book. The pickles do look good.
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Thanks Francesca. You must borrow the Australian Seafood Cookery book, by John Susman et al, new release, absolutely chock full of valuable info and recipes, I think you’s really like it. The pressure is mounting here, just back from a flying visit to Melb, I have a house full of guests, lots of last minute wedding details and childminding keeping me busy, looking forward to some peace and quite!
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That’s an incredible sewing project — and wonderful! How did you manage to try even one new fermented pickle recipe! I’m really impressed. It’s so much fun seeing kitchens around the world. Mine is here:
http://maefood.blogspot.com/2016/11/my-kitchen-november-2016.html
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
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Hi Mae, it was a big undertaking and I’m relieved that the dress is finished. The fermented pickle mainly involved waiting , it comes highly recommended
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All you amazing seamstresses who sew your children’s wedding dresses just make the rest of us look bad, you know that right? 😉 I’m teasing, good on you, and I can’t wait to see it! I’m so glad spelt sourdough madness continues in your kitchen! xx
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I think of you each time I bake bread Celia and I frequently refer to your wonderful baker’s resource on line. Thanks a million. I feel so proud to have made the wedding dress. The bride will be beautiful
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Thanks hon. I was so happy to see Leah’s dress – she looked absolutely stunning! Wishing her and her new hubby a lifetime of happiness!
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A wedding. How exciting! Love those new specs and the little tea pot, Sandra. Happy November! Thank you for the very kind shout out and for the peek into your kitchen xx
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You’re welcome Liz. Yes, a wedding next Friday, lots on our plates right now, but it’s an exciting and very happy time.
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How exciting! I would never attempt a wedding dress! You must show it, if your daughter doesn’t mind. I never mess with fine fabrics or worse, lace!!!
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Thanks Mimi. I’ll post a photo after the wedding. It’s a tropical beach wedding, so not so traditional, but I’m extra pleased with the result…
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How exciting to have a wedding soon, I can’t wait to see photos of the gorgeous dress. The pineapple and chili sambul sounds wonderful.
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Thanks Gretchen. Nov 11th is the big day, lots to do still but loving every minute.
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That pineapple and chilli sambal sounds fabulous, but it still doesn’t trump a wedding. Very exciting!!! Had to laugh when I saw the post-it on the tarragon vinegar. Tried this once and they all fell off, so it was impossible to tell which label went with which jar. I now mark decanting dates on my calendar. I really hate ants! Why do the always target pots? They are so difficult to eradicate and then you repot the cleaned pot and they come back again!
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Slightly crazy here right now visiting Melbourne, visitors from overseas, wedding prep but it’s a joyous time, we’re very happy for Leah. I think the pineapple sambal will be my secret weapon this summer, post scheduled for next week
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I really enjoy your IMK posts and how exciting, a wedding!! Enjoy this special time leading to such a special time.
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Thanks Lisa, it’s bust exciting and emotional but I wouldn’t miss it quids
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