I haven’t had a huge amount of cooking mojo going on this month – to be honest it’s been a bit of an effort getting back into a routine after barely cooking for the seven weeks of my amazing holiday.
However that hasn’t stopped me from acquiring new kitchen stuff!
In my July kitchen…
… is a fancy pants new kettle. I have wanted one of these Breville Smart Kettles for a really long time. And not just because my name is Kettle and I drink a lot of tea. Well, OK. Maybe that is why. Anyway, I love it. (In case you don’t know, it heats water to different temperatures depending on what type of tea you want to make. Clever innit?)
In my kitchen…
… are many, many cans of Ardmona crushed and chopped tomatoes. I was delighted to see these in my local supermarket recently, as not only are they Australian (yay!!), but they showcase the families who grow the tomatoes – and I absolutely LOVE that. More fruit and veggie brands should do this. Because people like to support other people, and few are as important as our farmers. 
In my kitchen…
… is my morning lemon water. There are soooo many advantages to starting the day with warm water with lemon. Hmmm. Now there is a blog post idea 🙂 Stay tuned…
In my kitchen…
… were these gorgeous leeks, straight from a farmer at the markets (yes, a real farmer, not a re-seller who bought them from a veggie wholesaler…). I used two in a pasta dish with chicken, mushrooms, capsicum, spinach and tomato, and the other two in a chicken, leek and corn soup.
In my kitchen…
… was a bit of a baking disaster. I tried to make macadamia* gluten free shortbread (thanks to Australian Macadamias for the macadamia nut meal), and it was a complete fail in terms of looks. A total win in terms of taste. Served with chocolate ice cream and Maleny Dairies cream. OMG talk about sugar overload. There is a big bag of crumbs in the freezer for a future dessert. 
In my kitchen…
… is one of my favourite breakfasts of the last month. It would be #1 if I’d had some bacon. Leftover cheesy sweet potato mash with a fried egg. Awesomely great way to repurpose food. And filling. Thanks to all the cheese and butter in the mash. Mmmmm. Butter………
In my kitchen…
… is an eclectic collection of books I purchased at the Lifeline Bookfest in Brisbane recently. For the grand sum of about $40. The Accountant laughed his way through Fat, Forty and Fired; Raising Boys was a gift to my brother; Changing Habits Changing Minds is an old fave (I lent my original SIGNED copy to someone and never saw it again – yep, it’s that good!); How to Cook Everything and How to Eat are two books I have wanted for ages and ages; Jane Fonda’s book is an excellent companion while I watch Grace & Frankie (hilarious!); and Menopause, well, let’s not go there. 
What are your favourite book purchases recently? Do you also love pre-loved books??
If, like me, you love having a peek into other people’s kitchens, make sure you check out this month’s In My Kitchen roundup over at Celia’s website, Fig Jam and Lime Cordial.
* Starred items were gifted to me in accordance with my editorial policy. I have not been paid to write about any of these products. All opinions are mine unless otherwise mentioned.
My husband bought me one of the Breville kettles that is either a kettle or a temperature controlled teapot, depending on my mood. I can’t live without it. #teaaddict
I saw those Amanda – but not until after this one was purchased. Love it!
I loved Grace & Frankie. It’s hilarious but the reactions and stories come across as very real. I completely binged one weekend! Hope you enjoy the rest of the show.
I’m savouring it – have 4-5 episodes left. suspect they will all be watched this weekend
i love How to eat. it was my first nigella book and i loved it then and i still do. i have bought or been given more cookbooks lately. i am looking forward to dipping into jane fearnley whittingstall’s recipe book. love that idea of putting the farmers on the tins. such a great way to connect their produce with our dishes.
It’s rare for me to buy books these days – I have too many on the shelves already – but I also recently picked up a copy of Changing Habits Changing Lives (from an op shop in Caloundra). Couldn’t pass it up because it looked like really solid info & recipes.
I love how companies support Aussie farmers and what a great idea!
I don’t think anyone would say, “I have too many cookbooks!” lol
Thank you for this month’s kitchen views too!
I always start my day with lemon water, it never feels quite right if for some reason I can’t. I read a recipe recently that asked for crushed tinned tomatoes and I assumed they meant chopped tomatoes. Now I see they didn’t, what’s the difference?
just more crushed!
Found your blog via ProBlogger.
That leftover cheesy sweet potato mash with fried egg looks healthy and yummy! “Fat, Forty and Fired” and “How to Eat” sound interesting. 🙂
thanks Patricia – it was!!
Those tomatoes are great, what a lovely idea! Such a good IMK this month!
Mel, I love how you “recycled” your dessert near disaster! (Crumbs are yummy on anything — particularly shortbread crumbs.) Also how you “repurposed” your sweet potato mash into breakfast. (Your leek pasta dish and soup sounded fabulous, too!) That’s one of the things I admire about IMK contributors — it’s not just about the “gadgets” (although your new ‘Kettle’ is a wonder, too) — it’s about sharing your knowledge, what worked, what inspired you (yay, farmers!) and how it’s possible to incorporate it into our own kitchens. Thank you!