In my kitchen January 2015

I'm really happy to say that my blogging mojo has come back from it's hidding place and I'm loving the process and the way it makes me live more mindfully purely by the process.  Last year I felt paralised by judgement, I'm not sure if putting a blog page on facebook was what started the feeling but I've put an end to that and I'm not worrying about keeping up with others blogs and more invested in how it makes me feel.  And that is, happy.  It really gets my creative juices flowing in a way I've never felt, other than my new love affair with crochet.  I guess this is what people have been trying to explain to me for some time about living your passion.  

I did also have a ripper of a year health wise and not in the good sense, you can read about what that is here and that still plagues me daily, but I'd rather not dwell on that here.

I did also struggle with content last year as I felt I had said so much of what I believe and the way we live.  None of that has changed.  I didn't want it to be stale and the same old types of photos, so I've been looking at joining in some other blogs with a kitchen or crochet theme for inspiration.

I've come across this link up with in my kitchen with Celia from fig jam and lime  that I thought would be fun to do each month.  I'm also a closet voyeur so the thought of looking into other peoples kitchens appeals to me!!  

I'll pop the lid on the crochet one soon....

So here is my first attempt at "in my kitchen at the moment"...although a lot of the goodies have been eaten from Christmas that I was given but heres a peep!!! 

In my kitchen at the moment....I am crushing on this coconut oil big time.  I'm having it mixed in yoghurt, on rice cakes with banana and peanut butter (trust me it is my favourite indulgence), cooking with it as it has a high smoking point, adding to steamed greens and I've popped a jar of it by my bedside table to put it on my dry hands and feet before bed.  I also love the jar and it's a reasonable price at just under $12 from my local GoVita health food store.

After all the Christmas over indulgence, my body is craving healthy food.  I'm not gluten intolerant but I just am less bloated if I limit my intake.  I'm into rice cakes with everything from the above mentioned peanut butter, sliced banana and a smidge of coconut oil(there's a picture of this with some home grown sliced strawberries for a breakfast below), to these that were hummus, avocado, grated carrot, slivers of christmas ham, cos lettuce and a squeegy of balsamic glaze.  I'm also having a few miso soups on the side instead to limit my caffeine intake.

On a shelf in my kitchen is a picture of my husband and daughter in Grieve in Chianti, Tuscany many years ago.  It keeps my memories alive.  We had coffee, many gelato, cakes, biscuits, pasta dishes, Chianti wine, salami's, breads and conversations in this town square we called home for a week.  There is also a little bird that I brought for a friend and I to share one each as a symbol of our friendship no matter how far apart.  A stack of inspiration cards sent to me by another dear friend, I change them everyday with a shuffle and see what that day's words will inspire me with.  Today's say "derive strength from those that love and support you".  There is also a vintage bowl and tiles that just make me happy sitting up there too.

In my kitchen are these words that are mounted on the wall....not that I need reminding, surprise surprise!!

In my kitchen is a Christmas foodie gift of red onion marmalade and chutney...I'll save these for a rainy day slow cooked casserole in winter I think.

In my kitchen fridge are a few of my condiments of the moment.  From left to right: The last of my chutney, some chutney from another dear friend - beetroot and raspberry, my absolute must have is lanas garden rhubarb sauce.  It's like a really, really good bbq sauce.  I add it to everything, and lastly this aioli "Blessed and lucky" made with free range eggs.  Oh and can't forget some of hubby's red onions.

In my kitchen there is some crochet paraphernalia, a spin cushion I made for the darning needle I kept losing and my latest project slowly taking shape, an elephant I picked up in Thailand last year and a few sentimental things. 

In my kitchen, sitting up high, are my nan's old scales that I cherish but don't use.  I thought it deserved a sepia photo seeing as they are over 70 years old.  I'd love to know their cooking memories.

And lastly in my kitchen are a jug of freshly picked basil leaves from the bountiful crop outside.  I love the smell of them, but they are also added into lots of my salads at the moment.

So that's it for this month, that was fun...until next time.

Ciao, Jan x