In My Mother’s Kitchen – September
18 September 2012 in In My Kitchen, Sous Chef, Sous Chef South Africa
Well here I am in England, the weather is holding, sort of, the sun has shone but the wind has been very cold. I thought it would be fun to do an IMK entry from my mother’s kitchen.
In my mother’s kitchen is….
Now I’m a Bovril girl, on Facebook we have ongoing debates about the merits of both these institutions, I even saw in the supermarket that they have limited edition Gold Marmite and extra strong flavour versions. I would have bought me a limited edition had there been one by Bovril…Oi Bovril catch a wake up!
In my mother’s kitchen are…
Herbs, British salad cress (one of my favourite things) and what is called living lettuce, you snip off the leaves and add to your more basic lettuce to pretty up your salad.
In my mother’s kitchen is….
I actually did a double-take when I opened the fridge door, who buys this stuff?….well, clearly my mother! After I’d sung a snatch of Monty Python’s Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam…Wonderful Spam song! I hurriedly closed the door and hoped I wouldn’t have to eat it. No such luck, it was served for lunch with salad the next day, I very gingerly tried a piece and it wasn’t bad…smeared with some Branston pickle! You can take the pom out of England…..
In my mother’s kitchen is…
This lovely old brass ships clock that my father poudly stole liberated from somewhere, it keeps very good time.
In my mother’s kitchen is…
My parents live in a rural environment and there are many immigrants from Poland who work the fields, hence the local supermarkets stock quite a lot of products from their country. No idea what mum is going to do with this shredded celeriac and she’s got 2 jars? Any suggestions are welcomed, just don’t tell me it goes well with Spam! 
In my mother’s kitchen are….
Pears, lots of em, the tree in their garden is loaded and the branches are simply sagging with the abundance.
In my mother’s kitchen are…
These gorgeous olives, which I buy from Lidl every time I visit, 65p a jar is an absolute bargain, wish I could find them in South Africa. I’m on my second jar already!
In my mother’s kitchen is….
My mum!
Now the final pic is nothing to do with my mother’s kitchen but we visited a little market at the weekend and I was very amused by the sign on the Norfolk Royals……..don’t mess with those spuds!
To view other blogger’s happening in their kitchens go to Celia at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial who started this fun initiative.
Sous Chef said on 18 September 2012
My apologies for the strange spacing, I can’t seem to correct it.
janicetripepi said on 19 September 2012
Ola Sue – the living lettuce idea is awesome and I could so chomp my way through a jar of thos olives! Pretty jar too! and of course Viva Bovril Vivaaaaaa! Have a great day angel xxx love to mum and dad xxxx
Sous Chef said on 19 September 2012
I also think the lettuce is a great idea, of course you are a Bovril gal…what else?!
mitzireddy said on 19 September 2012
Lovely post, Sue and the interesting “goodies”. Enjoy your time with your parents. Looking forward to reading your holiday posts.
Sous Chef said on 19 September 2012
Hi there mitzi, thanks for reading.
Debbie said on 19 September 2012
Im also a Bouvril girl.
Love the herbs on the window sill,Mom has violets on hers.
Wish we had such a nice selection of spuds….ours are oversized and a bit ughh at the moment down in CT.
Enjoy the visit with the parentals.
Sous Chef said on 19 September 2012
Totally agree with you re our poor selection of spuds in SA! Thanks I’m having a good time.
rumtumtigger said on 19 September 2012
Lovely post Sue. I didn’t know anyone actually bought Spam but now I do. Miss you! Come home soon xx
Sous Chef said on 19 September 2012
It really wasn’t bad at all, very similar to tinned ham.
Sally said on 19 September 2012
Hi Sue. Glad your having a good time. Didn’t know you could still get Spam, disgusting stuff. Love to Mum and dad. Sally xxx
Sous Chef said on 19 September 2012
Does that mean you don’t want me to bring you a tin?
SidevieW said on 19 September 2012
o love the live herbs and lettuce
Healthy Vegetarian Foods By Usha Singh said on 19 September 2012
Hi Sue, what a wonderful post love the herbs and live lettuce and the pears–enjoy your time with the parents & hope your dad enjoyed your prezzie
Sous Chef said on 19 September 2012
They loved the pressie, I have still to load other pics that they have here, it’s perfect for my dad as it brings back memories for him.
Glenda said on 19 September 2012
Hi Sue what a wonderful post. Say hello to your mum from me:)
You should buy your mum a jar of vegemite then she would have all three. Of course, we only have vegemite down here.
Spam, spam, spam. What can I say? oh dear.
That pear tree looks magnificant. We have two trees but the birds get the lot.
Sous Chef said on 19 September 2012
Hi Glenda, sorry I haven’t visited you recently, life has been very hectic. I’m hoping to do something with some of those pears before I leave but you know how time flies by on holiday?!
adinparadise said on 20 September 2012
Thanks for resending the link.
Ooh, I would be into that pear tree for my pear and blue cheese salad. Love the brass clock, pirated by your Dad. 
Thanks so much for the tour. Have fun. 
I’m a Marmite fan, but see that I’m going to have to relearn how to spell it. Your Mum’s kitchen looks very smart, apart from the Spam.
Sous Chef said on 20 September 2012
I think the way Marmite renamed their product for the Jubeilee was terrific and very clever marketing! Funny I was thinking about you and your pear salad, if the sun shines I think I will make one.
Flee said on 20 September 2012
OOOhhh WOW, Branston Pickle… havent heard or seen that in ages…. MMm num num, could do some on toast right now… Thanks for the nostalgia…
celia said on 21 September 2012
Sue, it sounds like you’re having a wonderful holiday! Thanks for taking the time to post an IMK! Believe it or not, I grew up on Bovril in our Chinese household – my mum would serve it in rice porridge, dip sliced cucumber in it, and when we were sick, we would be given Bovril in hot water to drink! I haven’t had it for years, so I had a lovely little rush of memories when I saw your first photos – thank you!
I’d love to know what your mum is making, slicing all the bread into thin triangles? Melba toast? How great to meet her! And I would love to find celeriac in a jar – those things are a right bugger to grow, and cost a fortune at the supermarket. I’m going on the hunt right now to see if the jarred version is available here!
SidevieW said on 24 September 2012
And where is the blue food post?
Lisa Bradshaw said on 29 September 2012
have you tasted the marmite chips and nibbles in the English super markets…Definitely Bovril needs to catch a wake up!!!