Well, well, well it’s been a while between In My Kitchen posts now hasn’t it. But I’m back (from the holidays that fed Instagram until it had to put on elastic waist pants, yet neglected proper posts until even the tumbleweeds lost interest) with an overflowing batch of three months worth of IMK goodies.
As per usual this is a collection of things seen over on Instagram — reasonably edited, grouped in loosely interpreted categories and appearing no particular order.
You’ve totally missed me haven’t you. Let’s go!
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Prep.Prop.Style.Shoot
We had such a brilliant time at the first PPSS workshop in August that we’re doing it all again in two weeks time (then again, again, in March)!
If you’re in Tassie — or know someone who would benefit from a weekend workshop filled with improving photography and styling, and eating brilliant food — grab one of the last spots and join us!
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The first meal Ellie served up for lunch on day one of the August workshop nearly stopped us in our tracks — the bread, the octopus salad, the smoked quail, the local salmon — sigh.
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There’s a distinct possibility that on our field trip to a local oyster farm I ate near on two dozen myself. They were, in no uncertain terms, the best oysters of my life — and the fact that they were harvested less than a day prior (vs the 3 weeks prior once we get them in Sydney, what?!) made them all that much sweeter, quite literally.
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I can’t thank the workshop attendee gift bag sponsors enough and I even included some of my own goodies for good measure.
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Kitchen Shenanigans
Green smoothie bowls have been a bit of a habit around here — even RJ asks for them from time to time, albeit in a glass.
It’s pretty much just spinach and avocado blended with any rogue fruit that happens to be lying around, then topped with something crunchy. Very scientific.
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It’s possible that there’s been a lot of almond milk and molasses hot cacaos too. Although marshmallows (toasted over an electric burner, yes really) don’t usually feature.
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Speaking of chocolate — have you tried Liefje? No? Go get it, now.
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That pumpkin granola from a week and a half or so ago was first seen at a little creative market where I had a bake-sale table. The raw truffles in the background will be posted soon, the raspberry spelt doughnuts need a bit more taste testing refinement first.
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Other People’s Kitchens
Five weeks of holiday travel meant that I spent more time in other people’s kitchens than my own these past couple months.
First up is my favourite spot in my grandmother’s house, a window at the kitchen table filled with all manner of pretty coloured glass. It makes me smile every single time.
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Ancient table cloth, everyday-use vintage china and silver, family recipe bran muffins, dinner leftovers as breakfast, mother and grandmother laughing at me standing on chairs to take a photo. This is home.
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Pears from the trees, Concord grapes from the vines, my perpetual hand model and purple scented air.
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Out on Rt 380, just past Stockton, there’s an Amish farm where you can pick your own pumpkins… More importantly however, they sell doughnuts on Fridays.
Also, it could have been the two weeks without doughnuts that dulled the memories but RJ and I agree that the Amish ones may beat all the NYC ones we ate…
In slightly related news the light in my grandmothers kitchen is a petulant child – but when it behaves it’s simply heavenly.
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It’s pretty much impossible to get decent bread where my mom lives so the first thing I do when we arrive is to make a few loaves of rye & wholewheat no-knead bread.
Spread with homemade pear butter (take all the old canned pears off the cabinet, drain liquid and put fruit in a slow cooker, simmer roughly 18 hours, re-can) it may have appeared for breakfast, and various morning and afternoon teas, more than once.
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When one goes to the farm during harvest one must make at least one Concord Grape Pie (if not three). And yes, of course I had pie for breakfast, why would you even ask a silly question like that.
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My brother’s mother-in-law (my bro-mo-in-law) makes a feather light matzah ball, an amazing sweet carrot soufflé and has the best china and silver collection I’ve ever seen.
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J: Can we make waffles one morning?
L (the sister-in-law): Of course, I have hard wheat we can grind ourselves!
J: why does that not even surprise me.
My people.
Also, because I didn’t feel like looking for the electric beater I whipped the whites by hand – a task that takes twice as long as finding the beater but totally counts as pre-breakfast exercise and justifies an extra waffle.
Note to self, get a deep-hole waffle maker asap.
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There are no words for how hard it is to leave these little creatures each time.
Ms. S (who doesn’t warm to anyone in under a month, or three) took roughly five minutes to decide that RJ was her new best friend and proceeded to lead him around by the hand for our entire visit while my brother and SIL looked on in disbelief. The fruit they’re eating — gooseberries aka ground cherries.
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Maui sunsets demand salsa, guac and local beer every.single.evening.
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I make stuff
Because I need something else to do with my time I’ve been taken up (or re-taken up as the case may be) ceramics. It was contained to a weekly class however it’s recently spread to a bookshelf in the spare bedroom and the living room when possible. As you can imagine RJ is thrilled.
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Eating all the things from my new bowl prototype.
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I must admit that I’m quite proud that I made every ceramic thing in this photo — little stoneware dishes (perfect for holding salt, sauces, rings and uncut diamonds) and the linens are over in the shop now and Babushka boards and plates will be there in time for Christmas (I hope).
The green bowls I made over a decade ago and would love to find a glaze like that again.
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When a client sends you product samples and there’s a promotional card in the package with a photo you shot for them? That.
Also, caffeine-free Roobios Chai for the win.
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All the Pretty Things
“…underdressed or overdressed. Anything in between can be a yawn.” ~ Megan Morton
When an interiors book and a new Zero Japan teapot show up, independently but at the same time? That’s a good mail day.
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It’s official, the incredibly talented @lissletters wins best conference business card, ever. Runner up is the effervescent @smaggle because tea, people, tea!
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42 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia each day. Each.Day. The only way we’ll beat this thing is together.
October was an awareness month for all sorts of women’s health issues — but just because the month has ended doesn’t mean the fight against women’s cancers is over. Find a cause you believe in, donate if you can, support yourself and get checked, or just go make a cuppa and go call a girlfriend to say hi.
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Yes, that is a mid-century enamel Copco skillet. Yes, it has a lid too. Yes it was worth every ounce of the 6.5 lbs it took up in the suitcase to get it back here.
Yes, it’s currently living on a chair in the corner of the lounge room, don’t look at me like that.
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A few of the goodies I picked up on our latest trip, just hang’n out in the morning light…
Wood dishes Maui / white cups Palermo / tin of cherries (for the tin, not the cherries, obviously) Priano / everything else Western NY (that rolling pin was a dollar, can I get a hell yeah).
We won’t even talk about what I left at mum’s for her to send at Christmas. And of course between the cake cutter and the ice cream scoop and the enamel pie tin all I can think about is dessert.
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Sourdough • tahini • roast pumpkin purée • coconut cream • cinnamon
But more importantly, ceramic plates that look like marble.
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I’ve always wanted a pretty camera strap, I found this one and liked it so much I bought it for both cameras. It makes me happy, and considering I spend roughly six to eight hours a day attached to my camera I’d say it was a very good investment.
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Travel to Eat
That trip I may have mentioned? (haha) Well we saw lots of stuff and did lots of stuff but through it all we ate. Lots of stuff.
This is only a snippet, a taste if you will, because if I shared all the things we’d be here for days. On the other hand, if you’re looking to avoid real life for a while and possibly drool on your keyboard a bit you can find much, much more over here.
There were doughnuts, lots and lots of doughnuts.
and gelato, lots and lots of gelato
and a few sunset beverages, as you do
and pie, because pie is always a good idea
and plenty of opportunities for brunch of course.
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And then, in the midst of a market in Sicily, we came upon a man making sandwiches. He was so animated and engaging we simply had to stop and watch. And if you stop and watch you simply must order.
So we ordered and took a sandwich to go and then later, after looking at centuries old mosaics we ate said sandwich while standing on the side of the road, taking inappropriately large bites while half leaning over, stretching our arms as far from our bodies as possible but still within biting distance, as to not drip said sandwich all over our shoes.
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Out & About
Somehow, after all that we came home and still went to lunch for our 11 year wedding anniversary. In our defence we had planned to go to Six Penny for our 10 year anniversary, it only took us 365 more days to get there.
In possibly related news I want roasted parsnips with wattle seed salt and caramelised cream for every meal, thank you very much.
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And finally, due to an incessant pining for Italy and plotting to return to Maui ever since we’ve been home, a spur of the moment date-night at Da Mario for proper wood fired pizza was just what the doctor ordered.
Make that ordered in lieu of a never-ending stream of money to feed the addiction to go to all the places forever. Sigh.
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Last but not least I just spent a lovely Sunday afternoon with a group of gorgeous creative people at @theassemblyhome Spring Lunch.
This was the dessert table — cakes of course by @simmerandboyle.
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That’s All Folks
As always I’m linking up with Celia for IMK. Make sure to pop over to her site and check out the other IMK posts — there is always great stuff to be found.
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* Nothing here is sponsored. All opinions are fully my own and yes they are generally positive, because I don’t have the time or inclination to share stuff I don’t like. Supercalafragalisticexpialadoshus. Beam me up Scotty.
Wow, what a trip! Felt like I was with you. And so many beautiful pictures!
well i can’t even begin to comment on every lovely thing here but boy do i love that skillet. and the ceramic plates and your own hand made ceramics and the pink tray and and…all so lovely.
heehee thanks Sherry!
I can’t comment on everything but can I just say that your photos blow my breath away. They left me awestruck and I had to go back to actually read your post I was so struck by your photos. It makes me definitely want to take a Prep.Prop.Style.Shoot class. Maybe it will be my birthday present to myself!
On a second read, your trip looks like it was a lot of fun and the doughnuts amazing. I love your Grandma’s kitchen, the glass is stunning.
Oh thank you Maggie! If you’re ever over in Australia you should hop on one! Isn’t that window simply heavenly? <3
JJ, I really liked the name of that conference you went to: “Prep.Prop.Style.Shoot.” Makes me aspire to greater things, thank you — plus your ensuing photos were ALL elegant and gorgeous. Looks like you learned a few things — I did, too! Also enjoyed your “scientific smoothies” 🙂 and your grandmother’s colorful window and “petulant” assessment of her kitchen. (They all have personalities, yes?) Most of all, I love your effervescence about LIVING & experiencing life (Happy Anniversary), and for sharing your one-of-a-kind perspectives.(Goodness, I love IMK!) Thank you.
Hi Kim, it’s actually a workshop series that I’m running – but I do learn something new from attendees every time! Haha, yes very scientific approach ;D