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In My Kitchen… September 2015

Spring has sprung and it’s about time! Whilst it hasn’t been a very cold winter in Brisbane, we had two extra chilly weeks to make up for the rest of the season and they was quite enough thanks very much. As things warm up, salads have already started appearing on the menu and will be de rigueur in our kitchen over the coming month, due to limited cooking options. In My Kitchen is hosted by our wonderful blogging friend Celia from Fig Jam & Lime Cordial, who always has a lot going on in her own kitchen. Make sure you show her and some of the other participants some love!

In my September kitchen…

Apple cores

…is a growing bag of apple cores that we keep in the freezer. What do I do with the apple cores? When there are enough, I will make Apple Scrap Jelly. I published the recipe a few weeks ago and it has been very popular.

Apple Scrap Jelly

Easy to make and a very pretty gift. I won’t be doing much baking or preserving in the coming months so I’m laying in a store.

 

In my kitchen…

 

Was this excavator. We live on a small block with very narrow side access so the only way to get to the backyard was through the house. The front door came off, the excavator drove through and it was all done in a matter of minutes. Excavation work is now complete so the excavator returned the way it came, through the house and out the front door.

 

In my kitchen…

Fridge

 …is an absent fridge. It is holidaying in the lounge room, to allow the builder to dig the footings for the huge steel beams that will support the top half of our house when the supporting wall is removed.

 

In my holidaying fridge…

Box of Blood Oranges

…are the last of the fabulous blood oranges, a gift from Redbelly Citrus to help promote their fantastic Australian produce. I made a very old fashioned Vanilla & Blood Orange Flummery, tinted a pretty pink by the juice and have enjoyed them in Fennel & Blood Orange salads.

Vanilla & Blood Orange Flummery

I have also just been enjoying in their natural state as they have anusual sweet/savoury quality that is tangy and refreshing. One or two may have gone into cocktails as well….

 

In my kitchen…

Corks Pair

…were some corks. Not just any corks, but corks from bottles of wine from events and meals that are special to us. A particular fave is the JM Gobillard et Fills Champagne from a bottle we purchased during out trip through the Champagne region of France. Typically the corks are stored in the Brisbane Festival Hall ticket holder located in our hall. A piece of Brisbane’s history. With the renovation, the corks have been popped into a couple of large ziplock bags and the ticket holder into the garage for safekeeping. Rare as hen’s teeth these days, it makes the corks all the more special.

So it’s a funny old month in my kitchen. The build has started, the walls have mainly gone yet the kitchen itself remains in tact. By next month, it will be a very different story. I’ll tell you now how much I hate schlepping around choosing finishes, hardware etc There is just too much choice in the world. Marscapone or Eggshell. Who cares? Just give me basic Cream. I’d rather be writing or eating or reading than wasting precious time over kitchen bench tops!

33 comments… add one
  • Mandy September 1, 2015, 9:33 pm

    Can’t say I have had anything as exciting as an excavator go through our house! Renovating can be quite a stressful task – not sure I would want to do it again in a hurry.
    Have a happy day Fiona.
    🙂 Mandy xo

    • Fiona Ryan September 3, 2015, 6:21 pm

      Hopefully this is the only time I will be doing this. I couldn’t face building so a renovation it is!

  • Glenda September 2, 2015, 2:46 am

    Hi Fi. That video is amazing. I couldn’t stop laughing.

  • Misky September 2, 2015, 7:18 am

    We did that sort of renovation a few years ago. It’s not easy to live in the house when all that’s going on. Good luck with it!

    • Fiona Ryan September 3, 2015, 6:22 pm

      We have been pushed completely upstairs though at this stage, the kitchen remains in tact. So, I cook downstairs then bring it upstairs.

  • Liz September 2, 2015, 9:00 am

    The excavator made me laugh, it looked like a dinosaur moving through the house. How clever that he didn’t scratch any walls. I look forward to seeing the progress on your kitchen. I’m with you about choosing hardware and finishes and counter tops, way too much choice.

    • Fiona Ryan September 3, 2015, 6:23 pm

      He was very good with the walls but they’re all gone now. That bench top will be the death of me!

  • Nancy | Plus Ate Six September 2, 2015, 9:18 am

    Oh lordy – that video made me laugh! I would have been a little anxious having that go through the house. Look forward though to seeing the finished kitchen.

    • Fiona Ryan September 3, 2015, 6:24 pm

      He took it very slowly but most of the walls have since disappeared so taking it out was a little easier.

  • Lori September 2, 2015, 10:13 am

    Great post! I have the same fridge as you, it is a bit of a specialty item way up here!

    • Fiona Ryan September 3, 2015, 6:25 pm

      I have that fridge as it was the only size that fit in the cavity. Now I will have all the space in the world but am keeping the fridge as there’s nothing wrong with it.

  • Jan (agluttonouswife) September 2, 2015, 10:51 am

    I feel your pain having just gone through the past few years of doing reno’s – but my kitchen is almost finished (just blogged it on IMK :)) My husband was very impressed with the excavator, not a ding by the looks!! Good luck and remember, it’s not forever and the dust will be back tomorrow so don’t clean!! Jan x

    • Fiona Ryan September 3, 2015, 6:26 pm

      We have very good builders. The dust Jan…. the dust! I did sweep for a few days so we wouldn’t track it upstairs but have given up other than a cursory clearing of a path through the rubble. Wise words.

  • Liz (Good Things) September 2, 2015, 6:55 pm

    Wow, a renovation? How wonderful! Love that apple preserve, Fiona!

  • Francesca September 3, 2015, 12:04 am

    Too true Fiona- cream will do!
    :Love the look of your apple scrap jelly. Great pics too.

    • Fiona Ryan September 3, 2015, 6:27 pm

      Thanks so much Francesca. I’m very happy with the apple scrap and will make another batch before Christmas.

  • Tania | My Kitchen Stories September 3, 2015, 6:53 am

    Hi Fiona….wow so exciting. I cant wait to see your kitchen. Yes there is definitely too much choice in colours and the fun has only just begun for you there. I do love the apple jelly and very thrifty too. Have an exciting month….and thank you for all the nice things you do xx

    • Fiona Ryan September 3, 2015, 6:28 pm

      Tania – thanks for your lovely words. It’s great to make some new friends via our mutual love of writing and food.

  • Shari from GoodFoodWeek September 3, 2015, 4:17 pm

    How delicious does that Apple Scrap Jelly look! Oh and how good were the blood oranges from Redbelly Citrus – I’ve got a few recipes coming up on the blog showcasing them in all their glory!

    • Fiona Ryan September 3, 2015, 6:29 pm

      I love the blood oranges – I wish they would stay red when you cook them but sadly, they usually fade to a blush pink. I have a few more recipes up my sleeve too!

  • Jennifer @Milk and Honey September 4, 2015, 9:11 am

    An excavator through the front door. Now that’s not something you see every day!

    I’ve never eaten flummery. I have a blood orange tree dripping with fruit at the moment and I’m always on the lookout for recipes to use them in. Bookmarked.

    • Fiona Ryan September 5, 2015, 8:42 am

      Oh to have a tree dripping with blood oranges! Fun recipe to make with the kids. Thanks Jennifer.

  • Amanda (@lambsearshoney) September 4, 2015, 9:13 am

    Okay, you win – I don’t know anyone who has ever had a digger in their kitchen!
    Oh, love the flummery recipe. I haven’t had that for many years.

  • Sally - My Custard Pie September 5, 2015, 3:54 pm

    Totally impressed by the thriftiness in apple scrap jelly – magnificent.

  • Maree September 5, 2015, 9:14 pm

    Fiona, what a hoot having the excavator in (literally), got a good giggle. Love watching people who can handle their machines so well. Hope the works progress swiftly and without problems. I’ve seen cork collections turned into pin boards, some looked ok, some didn’t. Cheers 🙂

  • Lisa September 6, 2015, 10:06 am

    Ooh a reno! We are pondering whether to do one. Desperately need more space, not so keen to tackle it all with two small children underfoot though. The excavator sounds quite exciting (probably not so much in reality though I’m guessing!)

    I’ve got your apple scrap jelly bookmarked to make when I get together enough scraps.

    That cork collection is something special 🙂

  • Anne September 8, 2015, 8:35 pm

    Well done Robert indeed!
    Glad to see that other people keep slightly strange things in their freezer.

  • Gretchen September 10, 2015, 7:54 am

    Wow, big happenings with the excavator in the house. My boys would have loved seeing that. Luckily it won’t ever happen in my house! My parents,just went through a complete house reno and my mom never wants to make another hardware, color, tile…decision again! Good luck and looking forward to the progress.

  • Emily (Cooking for Kishore) September 13, 2015, 9:51 am

    Like the look of the jelly, bookmarked for later this month’s Apple picking days. Love the look of those blood oranges. Hope the renovations go smoothly, all the best! 🙂

  • sherry from sherrys pickings September 17, 2015, 11:15 am

    aren’t renos stressful? and there is always masses of dust for some reason. blood oranges are such a treat. so tangy and savoury. what does a ticket holder look like?:)

    • Fiona Ryan September 18, 2015, 9:21 am

      The ticket holder? I’ll have to put it in a future IMK. Wonder if it will be as popular as the spurtle? ; )

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