In My Kitchen – June
5 June 2012 in In My Kitchen
Celia from Fig Jam and Lime Cordial hosts a monthly initiative whereby food bloggers from all over the world write about what’s happening in their kitchen, do go and have a squiz, you will find the people who contribute listed on the right hand side of the home page.
In my kitchen…
are gorgeous tangy pepperdews grown and pickled by my friend Micheal, they inspired me to make a lovely sweet potato and pepperdew soup.
In my kitchen …
is this Moleskine Kitchen Journal that I won from Yuppiechef, they recently held an Heirloom recipe competition and I entered my Mum’s wonderful Sage & Onion Sausage Rolls. I love getting a box of happy from the guys at Yuppiechef, everything is always beautifully packaged with a handwritten card and a fridge magnet to add to my collection. The journal has various sections in which to write favourite recipes, tabbed sections to personalise, food calendars, facts and handy measures and conversions.
In my kitchen…
is this old enamel bowl. I found it in a junk shop here in Pietermaritzburg, when I turned it over to see the price I was astounded to see the name Ruby Gill written on the bottom. It was a sign – the bowl was meant to be mine, you see my maiden name is Gill.
Sadly I’ve only used it once as a prop to hold rice, I put a beef dish in it the other day and was about to photograph it when Himself walked by and said “oh yummy, dog food!”
In my kitchen…
are some of the lemons from our two trees, as you can see one gives us a very smooth skin and the other a rougher skinned lemon. Last year I squeezed some of our crop and froze the liquid in ice trays and then popped them into a zip-lock bag, it meant I had lemon juice all year round.
In my kitchen…
is this bottle of Verlaque balsamic reduction, this particular flavour (honey and rooibos tea) goes particularly well with my 3 ingredient sticky chicken.
On the 21st of June I am flying to Cape Town for the Food Blogger’s Indaba (conference) I really enjoyed last years event and this one is promising to be very exciting, well done to Colleen Grove aka browniegirl for all her hard work and dedication in organising it. Whilst in Cape Town I will also be filmed by Anne Meyers I shall be cooking a 3 course meal for her website I Love Cooking. I have two scenarios in my head, there’s the one where I present a brilliant dish to the camera, batting my eyelids in a Nigella fashion whilst uttering those iconic words “here’s one I made earlier” then there’s the one where I stand in front of the camera opening and closing my mouth like a fish……told you my name used to be Gill! 
Mandy - The Complete Cook Book said on 5 June 2012
I have the last of our peppadews in the freezer – just didn’t quite get around to doing anything with them – oops.
Mandy
I am insanely jealous that you are going to the Indaba – can’t wait to hear all about it, especially the photography workshop.
Well what would you know, our 2 lemon trees produce the same way yours do, except our rough skinned variety often gets a scale thingy on the skin – most unappealing , not that my gin and tonic complains though.
Sous Chef said on 5 June 2012
Micheal has promised me some seeds, so next year hopefully I will have pepperdews as well. I am very excited about my trip to Cape Town, what a pity you aren’t going, I would love to meet you.
Colleen said on 5 June 2012
Healthy Vegetarian Foods By Usha Singh said on 5 June 2012
Hi Sue, love peppadews, however i have to be content with the ones from Woolies & the journal is also beautiful. So looking forward to my trip to Cape Town as well. I am going on the 20th, where will you be staying
Sous Chef said on 5 June 2012
I’m going to be staying with friends in Somerset West, must admit I’m looking forward to my trip as well.
Colleen said on 5 June 2012
Colleen said on 5 June 2012
Thanks so much for the lovely mention Sue. I am very much looking forward to seeing you again. Michael’s pepperdews look awesome! I wish I had a lemon tree. Used to have one where we lived before and I loved to pick my own. Sadly here where we are now there isn’t much in the way of a garden and its right across from the beach and in the teeth of the salt laden south easter so gardening is a disaster. Lucky fish winning a Moleskine……xxx
Sous Chef said on 5 June 2012
It’s a pleasure Colly, I meant every word. One of our trees is about 12 years old the other (the smooth skin one) is only about 18months and it stands in the courtyard outside my kitchen. I am going to write my favourite recipes in the journal over time and eventually give it to Gilly, so it becomes an heirloom in itself.
mitzireddy said on 5 June 2012
You have such a lucky winning streak, Sue – Luv the lemons – how uncanny is that – the enamel dish with your previous surname. Will luv to go to the next Indaba – sounds quite inspiring. Another budding star – on Ann Meyers website – can’t wait to see what u are going to make. Congrats, Sue.
Sous Chef said on 5 June 2012
Thanks Mitzi, not sure I have a winning streak, just a compulsion to enter competitions, I can’t help myself!
heidiannie said on 5 June 2012
Lovely notebook- I always forget to journal- I need to be held to my purpose- that is why I blog.
The peppadews look delicious- and I love balsamic reductions!
Thanks for sharing your kitchen view this month!
Sous Chef said on 6 June 2012
Thanks for the visit Heidiannie
Debbie Haylett said on 6 June 2012
Yah for coming to CT,hope the weather is going to be not too chilly.
Cooking on camera will be nerve racking and exciting.
Sous Chef said on 6 June 2012
I am a bit nervous but I’ve been assured that I will be guided by Anne every step of the way.
celia said on 6 June 2012
Husbands are tough! Fancy calling your stew dog food!
The moleskine journal looks great, as do the pepperdews! Our lemon tree grows thick skinned lemons – Pete thinks these survive the bugs better – what do you find? We have problems with leaf miner, as does just about everyone in our area with citrus trees.
I love old enamelware, so long as it’s not too chipped. It’s wonderful to bake in. Thanks for sharing your kitchen with us, Sue!
Sous Chef said on 6 June 2012
I think Pete is right, the little smooth lemon tree requires far more care from Himself. I have been wanting some little individual pie dishes but I have yet to find any.
celia said on 8 June 2012
Sue, try googling to see if you can buy Falcon Enamelware – they make a small rectangular (16cm) individual pie tin which would match the piece you already have. It’s available here for about $6 from online stores.
Sous Chef said on 9 June 2012
Thanks Celia, but the search revealed nothing. My sister-in-law found some but the shop has sold out. I will be able to source some in the UK when I am there in September I am sure.
Lizzy (Good Things) said on 6 June 2012
Love your lemons… enamelware is great, isn’t it! And what a coincidence that your surname is on the base. Thanks for sharing your kitchen.
Sous Chef said on 9 June 2012
I need to start using them and/or giving some away. Once I saw the name I had to have to bowl, thanks for the visit Lizzy.
Colonialist said on 6 June 2012
Dog food? Is he still alive?
Exciting about the Indaba and the show. For that, go back to your old trademark habits. Cook with wine – lots of it, drunk beforehand!
Sous Chef said on 9 June 2012
He’s very lucky to be alive!
I think that’s an excellent suggestion but doubt that Anne wants me slurring throughout the filming.
rumtumtigger said on 7 June 2012
How dare your man call anything you make “dog food”!? Has he no idea how respected and reknown you are in the blogging world! Lovely post. I love going prop shopping (not nearly often enough). You find such lovely gems
Sous Chef said on 9 June 2012
I also love looking out for props, I am going over to England in September and I find all kinds of things over there in the charity shops.
Glenda said on 9 June 2012
Hi Sue, it all looks great.
What are pepperdews? I don’t think we have them here. I too like old enamel ware, it looks soo rustic doesn’t it?
What variety of lemons are they? I would be interested to know whether you have the same varieties as we do.
You do seem to win a lot of things, so you must have a winning streak.
Sous Chef said on 9 June 2012
Hi Glenda, they are a sweet piquant pepper grown here in South Africa, very yummy in salads, great as snacks stuffed with feta, etc. I know they are available in England, check your better supermarkets.
pinkpolkadot said on 15 June 2012
LOLO @ the dog food! Congratulations on cooking for Anne – I cannot wait to see it!