In My Kitchen December 2019

Squeezing in an “In My Kitchen” post before the year end, which of course is only a few weeks away. Many items passed through my kitchen these past months but only managed to photograph a few. Hopefully throughout the new year this blog won’t be as static as in the past. Also, my computer needs a sort out as it has gotten so slow which is quite annoying, some my fault for accumulating so many images and the woes of an aging computer. 

Before showcasing a few bits and pieces from my kitchen, would like to wish all my lovely readers and followers a wonderful Christmas and a fabulous new year. I am sure some bloggers will acquire some new kitchen gadgets as gifts and look forward to seeing them on your next “In My Kitchen Post”

In My Kitchen…

Managed to organize myself early last month and make a large jar of mince filling for our mince pies and also make my Christmas fruit cake and Christmas pudding. Nowadays you can buy some good quality cakes and puddings but Ive always enjoyed the rituals of making my own, even though I don’t make as much as before.

When baking Christmas fruitcakes I line baking tins with three layers, two parchment paper and one brown paper and depending how long the cake takes to bake, sometimes a newspaper collar round the outside of the tin. My mother did this with her fruit cakes and I continue the same today. An overdone fruitcake really does taste terrible.

Anyone else use cake testers?

Bought these spherical moulds years back and still love them for steaming Christmas puddings. This year didn’t need my last minute Christmas pudding recipe as I’m a little more organized. Handy to have a big pot and was able to steam the three puddings together. 

A baking favourite… sourdough bread. One of the many loaves baked over these past few months and a smaller dutch oven to bake it in as my other one was on the large size and not really suitable. It really is a joy to make bread.

Every now and then we love a boiled egg for breakfast with some toasted sourdough soldiers on the side. Couldn’t pass on these lovely wooden egg holders… a little different from the usual egg cup.

If you follow me on Instagram you may know I run a monthly ingredient challenge and one of the chosen ingredients was cauliflower, made this very tasty cauliflower, caramelised onion and goat cheese pizza from a Donna Hay magazine. Delicious alternative to a bread based pizza but my only grip… the kitchen didn’t smell as good.

Another monthly challenge was parsnips and this velvety smooth parsnip and apple soup tasted very festive indeed, with ingredients such as cider, cinnamon and nutmeg. Perfect soup for entertaining guests… this recipe was from the Soup for Syria cookbook. If I have time I may post this lovely recipe.

Thought I’d try this cake too that also included parsnips, ginger and candied peel, much the same as a carrot cake but for me not as moist. This time I didn’t make candied peel as I had bought some on my travels, We did enjoy the cake but carrot cake still wins. This recipe came from “A Year at Avoca” cookbook, nice to try something different for a change.

That about warps it up for me and I would like to thank Sherry for hosting the monthly “In My Kitchen” posts, which I love participating in.

The “In My Kitchen” monthly theme host is Sherry, from sherryspickings.blogspot.ie If you would like to know what’s cooking or see some kitchen treasures, head over to Sherry’s blog and check out all the other IMK participants.