In my kitchen ~ February 2016

It's that time of the month again where we hook up with the lovely Maureen from the orgasmic chef for the In my kitchen series for all kitchen foodie mad devotees from all over the world (and of course newbies are more than welcome) to show off what's been happening in the hub of so many of our homes - the woman cave called the kitchen! 

I'm excited this month as we have added some things that I've been waiting years for....settle in with a cuppa or a vino and take a peak :)

The first new thing in my kitchen is this electric kettle that is making my morning coffees a dream....my last kettle was a "whisper quiet" and let me tell you there was nothing bloody quiet about it!!! So this is a pleasure.

Now, let me introduce to you, in my kitchen is my new love, my life changing appliance....a dishwasher....I always knew we'd fall in love and I'm totally smitten with my clear and clean double sink ;) and my nail polish is lasting so much longer! 

The last addition of kitchen gadgetry is my new food processor - I have always had a small one which is no good for making pastry or anything big like a cake batter so this beauty has been getting a work out. 

In my kitchen has been so much basil I've been whizzing up this fabulous basil with extra virgin olive oil that is just perfect on roasted meats, added to a frittata or dolloped onto toast with squashed tomatoes for breakfast.

I lied, here is one more little gadget a julienne peeler I picked up for a song in New Zealand but man it is sharp! But, great and speedy way to change up some summer salads. 

In my kitchen has been loads of beetroots for pickling.

Now this is a very special addition to my kitchen this month and it's my great, great grandmothers flour canister.  I've been eye balling this for years at mama's and she had it all set out for me a few weeks back and I had to hold back the tears....I'm such a sentimental....but it holds 3kgs of flour and is a dream to get a cup scoop easily into.

In my kitchen finally on stream are tomatoes - it's another late season this year but just in time as I cracked my last jar of passatta from last year - you just can't beat home grown can you!

and lastly in my kitchen are so many peaches I'm going to look like one soon! I made a yummy peach & coconut chia pudding for breakfasts this week, but you just can't beat eating one over the sink and juice spilling down your arms and face...now that's summer :)

Thanks for stopping by....ciao, Jan x

a photo a day for the month of January - week 4

It's the final week of the photo a day challenge for the month of January and I have really enjoyed doing it.  I've started the next photo a day challenge but might leave that on instagram as it's eating into my hooking time doubling up the photos :) You can catch me on @janelladean or for my crochet on @agluttonouswifehooks.

Day 22 "night"

Day 23 "play"

Day 24 "window"

Day 25 "numbers"

Day 26 "simplicity"

Day 27 "telephone"

Day28 "smile"

Day 29 "home"

Day 30 "flat lay"

Day 31 "me"

Ciao, Jan x

A photo a day for the month of January ~ week 3

It's week 3 of the the photo a day for the month of January challenge that I find is a great easy way to be mindful as you are always looking at everyday moments and thinking of the days word for the photo you need to find.  Here's my instalment this week.

Day 15 "Mail"  

Day 16 "Chair"

Day 17 "Faceless"

Day 18 "White"

Day 19 "In the hand"

Day 20 "Patterns" 

Day 21 "Morning"

No explaination needed for these I don't think....I haven't looked at the next lot of words but can't wait to see what I find :)

Ciao, Jan x

A photo a day for the month of January ~ week 2

Again like 2015, 2016 is flying along, well for me it seems.  It's week 2 of the the photo a day for the month of January challenge that I'm loving.  I was really lucky to have a 5 day trip to New Zealand to meet up with some dear friends for laughs, food and relaxation and it was fabulous.  I think it will take me awhile to recover from it but was worth it :)
Ok, so here's my week: 

Day 8 "Landscape"

Day 9 "Shoes"

Day 10 "Lucky" this was a bucket list item of travelling overseas flying solo and I did it without raising stress levels and Air New Zealand were a pleasure to deal with. (Not a sponsored comment!!)

Day 11 "Outdoors" this was at the breathtaking Brick Bay winery

Day 12 "Something I wore" my wedding and engagement rings that I love

Day 13 "Three of a kind" mojitos baby!!

Day 14 "Close up"

so until next week....ciao Jan x

A photo a day for the month of January ~ week 1

I was super excited to see that the photo a day challenge #fmsphotoaday is back to monthly instead of weekly, for some reason I couldn't get into the weekly one but I'm back in the saddle for this month.  I'll post on here each week but if you want you can follow me on instagram @janelladean which is different from my @agluttonouswifehooks account as it has no crochet - gasp!!! :)  You can find all about the challenge here.

So here's week 1:

Day 1 "black and white"

Day 2 "what I did today"

Day 3 "water"

Day 4 "circle"

Day 5 "leaves"

Day 6 "something blue"

Day 7 "reading"

If any of you are joining in the challenge, let me know and I'll come follow you :) until next week....ciao, Jan x

In my kitchen ~ January 2016

Whooooo here we are all finished the Christmas and New Year hoopla for another year and it's time to look at what's been happening in my kitchen which is a series now being hosted by the lovely Maureen from orgasmic chef  who has taken over the reigns from Celia who is taking a break.  Grab yourself a cuppa or a vino and settle in for a peek into what's been happening in my kitchen.

We had a wonderful Christmas day but it was around 33c (91f) which I could be called crazy for doing a traditionally hot cooked lunch but it was worth it and the air conditioned kitchen helped.

The feast started with these puff oysters and prawns.  These oysters are one of my favourite ways to eat them.  You place a teaspoon or so of garlic butter onto the oyster and then cover them with puff pastry and bake in a hot oven, 200c, for 15 minutes or until golden - the photo has them uncooked. Ah-mazing!!

Sorry there isn't any more photo's from the big day but it's hard to host, cook, clear, drink, laugh, eat and be expected to take photos!! I am only one woman ;)

I was given these darling salt and pepper shakers all the way from Dublin from a dear friend who travelled recently - aren't they just the cutest!

It wouldn't be my kitchen at Christmas if there weren't these shortbread.  I traditionally keep them plain but I had a little helper who glittered some up for me.

I also make baby fruit mince tarts that are gifted to special friends as they are a labour of love....psst see these pretty plates above and below, they are from a local artist friend of mine Louise at Tipsy glass.

I made up a big batch of sausage rolls for the freezer for those nights when you don't know what day it is nor do you have the energy to think about cooking dinner.  I pack mine with lots of blitzed up vegetables so I feel less guilty.

This month I had a go at Fiona's apple scrap jelly which was both a success and a disaster.  I first made it, boiled it for ages, sterilised all the jars, bottled and after it cooled I realised it wasn't set!!! Back into the pot to boil it again, wash everything only to take my eyes off it and it boiled over onto the stove so when it was all said and done I had 4 jars!!!! But I will be making it again :) I loved it with cheese and biscuits but my daughter loves it on hot toast.

I got this tart case for $1 from one of the op shops here - what a bargain!! I'm yet to christen it but plans are in place.

and lastly it wouldn't be in my kitchen if I didn't share some of my crochet - this is one of 4 projects I have on the go at the moment.  I'm loving playing with different stitches.  This blanket will be for my bed and I'm just coming close to half way - this is around 30 hours so far!!! Another labour of love :)

Thanks for coming over! Until next month, ciao Jan x