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In My Kitchen…. August 2013

In my August Kitchen…

…are some bags of Kingaroy Peanuts that Anthony bought on a round trip visit to see Julian, who lives there.  Kingaroy is known for its peanuts and the processing plant in the centre, dominates the townscape.  The Kingaroy Peanut Van has been going since 1969 and is on the outskirts as you drive in to town.  It’s famous throughout Queensland.  There’s also a van in Childers and a couple of market stalls in Brisbane.  Do do not be fooled by clever imitators who try to trade off the Peanut Van’s success.

In my kitchen…

…are Star Fruit or, Carambola that were given to me by a friend when I went to a baby shower at her house. Her tree was laiden with them so she pressed dozens on to each of us as we left for the afternoon.  I came straight home and made a chutney with mine, keeping a few to eat throughout the week.  They are crunchy and juicy, faintly sweet and mildly tart.

In my kitchen…

…is The Little Paris Kitchen cookbook by Rachel Khoo.  I know, I know…..but I won this one from Aga at A Matter of Taste so it would be rude not to have accepted.  Have you seen The Little Paris Kitchen on SBS?  At first I was a little dubious of the premise but Rachel is cute as a button and her general bonhomie and ability to cook delicious meals on what is essentialy a Coleman camping stove won me over.  That and her recipe for Nids de Tartiflette or Cheese & Potato Nests.  Onto the pile it goes….

In my kitchen…

…there’s a bag of Soy Sauce candies.  Yes, Soy Sauce.  I bought them at my guilty pleasure store, Daiso, where everything is $2.80.  So what does Soy Sauce candy taste like?  Salted butter caramel.  A sophisticated Werther’s Butterscotch.  Selecting from the vast range of oddities and the anticipation of what they will taste like far outweighs the actual eating.  Like all of the other wacky candies I buy there, I try a few and then palm the rest off on friend’s kids or stockpile them for trick-or-treaters.

In my kitchen….

…are a stash of cake mixes that were sent to me by Australian (Qld) company, Melinda’s Guten Free Goodies to try out.  I made a couple and tested them on my colleagues but have kept some boxes for when I need to cater for GF at the last minute.  I have Red Velvet and Chocolate Brownie in reserve. Maybe you’ll be a lucky recipient next time I bake.

In my kitchen…

…is this one small, rebellious capsicum.  Whilst it’s technically winter at the moment, and capsicum is a summer fruit, this one appeared on the plant in the last week or so.  It’s a sign that spring is on the way!

In My Kitchen is coordinated on a monthly basis by Celia from Fig Jam and Lime Cordial (great name huh?). It’s an opportunity for bloggers to talk about what’s happening in their kitchen and their lives and maybe include a few things that they haven’t had time to blog about.  If you visit Celia’s blog, you can read about other In My Kitchen enthusiasts.

32 comments… add one
  • passionfruitgarden.com August 13, 2013, 12:12 pm

    Hi Fiona, Wow a capsicum in winter, you are doing very well. You have some very interesting items IYK

    • Fiona Bris-Vegas! August 13, 2013, 6:43 pm

      Yes! Pity I'm not a massive fan of capsicum. Anthony is thougg – we had it on a pizza. Thanks for visiting.

  • I would love to taste your star fruit chutney! Thanks for the peek into your kitchen 🙂

    • Fiona Bris-Vegas! August 13, 2013, 6:45 pm

      It's a winner. I surprised myself. Really, I just use the same recipe over and over and change the fruit. Perhaps I'll blog about it.

  • Gourmet Getaways August 13, 2013, 6:36 pm

    What a great story!
    My dad grows star fruit but I don't have a chutney recipe, you will have to share 😉
    So nice to see inside your kitchen 🙂

  • My Kitchen Stories. August 13, 2013, 6:58 pm

    So many interesting things. I am glad there is something you can make with star fruit because its a little underwhelming. Looking forward to the recipe

    • Fiona Bris-Vegas! August 14, 2013, 9:48 am

      Yes, my kitchen is always full of litle bits and bobs. Thanks for visiting.

  • Hotly Spiced August 13, 2013, 8:18 pm

    You have some lovely things in your kitchen. I love how you were given all the star fruit. I love star fruit and find it very refreshing. And you made a chutney? I wouldn't know where to start xx

    • Fiona Bris-Vegas! August 14, 2013, 9:50 am

      Yes, I really enjoy eating star fruit when they're a little crunchy still. They are very juicy so it's a bit like eating crunchy watermelon.

  • Bizzy Lizzy's Good Things August 13, 2013, 8:18 pm

    What fun that you have a capsicum in winter! I will be interested to see if you cook (and blog) from the Little Paris Kitchen.

    • Fiona Bris-Vegas! August 14, 2013, 9:51 am

      The capsicum went into a western omelette for breakfast and onto a pizza. Little Paris Kitchen…it will be a good read and I determined to make those Tartiflette.

  • Maureen | Orgasmic Chef August 13, 2013, 11:24 pm

    I loved the story about the star fruit and look forward to the recipe too. Lovely meeting you and Anthony, my new friend. 🙂

    • Fiona Bris-Vegas! August 14, 2013, 9:52 am

      Well who'd have thought those star fruit would be so popular?! I'm surprised the soy sauce candies haven't garened a comment. Great to meet you too. Always good to meet in the real world.

  • Gustoso August 14, 2013, 11:01 am

    I love the Peanut Van – they are usually at the city markets on a Wednesday. I'm yet to try star fruit. And that cookbook looks inviting – I'll have to get it out from the library.

    • Fiona Bris-Vegas! August 15, 2013, 6:16 pm

      We've just finished the 'Kurry' variety. When I opened the bag and got my first whiff it was like stepping back to 'Expo 88' where the Peanut Van turned out bags of hot, fresh nuts by the thousands.

  • Kim | a little lunch August 14, 2013, 4:46 pm

    Smiling, Fiona… the item that made me take a second look (and read again) was the soy sauce candy. Never heard of it, but "a sophisticated Werther's Butterscotch" sounds like a fine recommendation. Thanks for your IMK post!

    • Fiona Bris-Vegas! August 15, 2013, 6:17 pm

      They are tasty and never, ever taste like I think they are going to. There's an awful lot of 'cough drops' in the range but I think they're really just candy as well ; )

  • Kari August 14, 2013, 9:23 pm

    I wish my capsicum would rebelliously grow early! When I have tried growing them I've always struggled to get them to do well at all. I love your star fruit pictures too – so pretty!

    • Fiona Bris-Vegas! August 15, 2013, 6:18 pm

      My capsicum was from a small seedling I got at crop swap. It's really past it's prime but who know what spring will bring?

  • Jan Rhoades August 15, 2013, 9:14 am

    Pick me for the soy sauce lollies. I want to try them. And did you have a thought about either drying pickling the star fruit? Just wondering how that would work. Drying and then drenching in sugar (a-la ginger) would be a treat for Christmas.

    And speaking of peanuts – in my garden this morning, I picked (pulled???) a peanut. I was bandicooting to see what might be below the

    • Fiona Bris-Vegas! August 15, 2013, 6:20 pm

      I think the fruit have too much water in them to successfully candy them. As to drying, no I didn't think about it but as I don't have a dehydrator, I think the oven bill would be enormous.

      I didn't know you were growing peanuts. Neither did you it seems. Soy Sauce lollies duly set aside.

  • Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage August 16, 2013, 9:57 am

    Soy sauce candies…hmmm! I just couldn't imagine the taste of soy sauce as a candy, but your description has me wanting to try some.

    Thanks for joining in the fun on Time Travel Thursday!

    Liz @ The Brambleberry Cottage

    • Fiona Bris-Vegas! August 18, 2013, 12:13 pm

      Actually, I just made some nibbles using honey & soy sauce and the taste is similar but not as buttery of course. It seems that sweet/salty is here to stay for a while.

  • celia August 17, 2013, 6:20 am

    Fiona, I LOVE Daiso, but don't go there anymore – I just end up with a house full of stuff! The cookbook looks lovely, as do the star fruit, and I've heard of Kingaroy, but never knew they grew peanuts there! Thanks for the headsup! 🙂

    • Fiona Bris-Vegas! August 18, 2013, 12:14 pm

      I know what you mean Celia. That's why I content myself with lollies only although I did succumb to a pair of those everlasting electronic tea lights that were good value and great at dinner parties.

  • Joanne T Ferguson August 20, 2013, 9:36 am

    G'day! Thank your for allowing me to learn something new today too!
    Never knew soy sauce came in a candy, love star fruit and thank you for your unique kitchen view, true!
    Cheers! Joanne

    • Fiona Bris-Vegas! August 20, 2013, 10:44 pm

      Hi Joanne – always nice to have you drop by. Thanks for your lovely comments. Fiona

  • Jas@AbsolutelyJas August 21, 2013, 6:28 pm

    I've loved star fruit ever since we had a tree in our backyard when i lived in Cairns as a tiny person, and they're one of the fruits I miss the most living down south – they just don't like being transported. Yours look lovely and I bet they tasted fantastic!

    • Fiona Bris-Vegas! August 22, 2013, 9:17 pm

      Oh, they were good Jas. I'm sure my friend wished she could find many star fruit lovers closer to her house! Thanks for visiting.

  • Mel Kettle August 30, 2013, 11:58 am

    I love those peanuts. I was given a bag of the salt and vinegar ones but managed to eat about 3 before S found them and scarfed them all. Luckily he doens't like peanut butter so I can keep that jar to myself 🙂

    • Fiona Bris-Vegas! September 1, 2013, 10:37 am

      He's a fussy one isn't he? Likes peanuts but not peanut butter… Eating the plain salted at the moment. Good too.

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