In my kitchen ~ December 2015

Here we are at the end of another year and the final installment of my IMK series hosted by the lovely Celia from Fig Jam and Lime Cordial.  If you'd like to take a peek into other peoples kitchens from all around the world pop over and take a look....grab yourself a cuppa or a wine and settle in to see what's been happening in my kitchen.

So, December...one of my favourite months.  I know there are many who don't like Christmas or the craziness that seems to come at this time of year but I love it.  I don't have to worry about overloaded social engagements (just a nice steady stream....)nor do I have to spend too much on gifts and I think this has a lot to do with it.  I'm lucky to have never really had any Christmas family dramas of drunken fights or other bad behaviour - smooth sailing I'm very blessed to say.  Two years ago I took over the reigns of cooking Christmas lunch and I love hosting this as my gift to my family...

In my kitchen is lots of fresh garden produce...these carrots I love roasted with cumin, 

our purple garlic didn't fair that great a crop this year but I'm making lots of garlic butter for the freezer so I can use it for months to come.

this years basil has been so leafy I'm in heaven!  I just wish the tomatoes would hurry along so I can enjoy them altogether :)

lots of cavolo nero and mint - I love the cavolo nero lightly blanched, drained well and then tossed with evoo, garlic and lemon juice.

In my kitchen I've been making ricotta gnocchi with fresh sage & lemon burnt butter as a potato substitute that is sublime.

that heady smell of frying sage, butter and evoo gets me everytime

In my kitchen I've been crushing on this unfiltered evoo that I got from a trip to La Manna in Melbourne - perfect to dress a salad or add a slug to finish off dishes. 

In my kitchen is duck fat for my roasted potatoes on Christmas day.  I buy a whole duck and render the fat which I find is more cost effective than paying for just the duck fat and the added bonus of roasted duck for dinner!  Aldi stock Luv a duck at this time of year at only around $14 a bird which is great when you can pay up to $10 just for the fat at some grocers!!!

In my kitchen has been the sweetest locally grown cherries that we have been eating by the kilo - yum!

In my kitchen is this Turducken that I'll be roasting Christmas morning.  I know, I know, it's cheating but it will make for a dreamy lunch service ;) I've never had one before and am really looking forward to trying it - fingerscrossed it's good!! I wonder if any of you had tried one?

In my kitchen on Christmas day will be my treasured carving set brought from the Waterloo markets in Belgium a few years ago.

It wouldn't be December in my kitchen without my shortbread, 

baby fruit mince tarts

rosemary salt that are all perfect for gifts or just to enjoy in your own kitchen ;)

In my kitchen sits my latest crochet project that I'm loving creating.  It will be a large blanket for the end of my bed.  I originally started the pattern from here but I've changed colours and some stitches along the way so now I'm just flying solo with my own ideas.

and finally, I'll leave you with a quote that I think just puts life into some sort of  perspective for me!

Ciao, Jan x