2 months, 11 days since our beloved friend left us…
In My Kitchen posts are hosted by Sherry, from Sherry’s Pickings. Please visit her site to see whateverybody else is sharing this month. I join four times each year, on the first day of January, April, July and October. If you are a food blogger, considering taking part of this fun event. It is chance to share those little things you bought or received as gifts and that make your life in the kitchen easier.
In our kitchen…
The most delicious lettuce leaves known to mankind, or so we think… thanks to the work of my beloved husband who years ago built a planter and keeps it going every Spring…
The picture above is a couple of weeks old, the planter looks like a little jungle now…
In our kitchen…
A very simple gadget to slice butter (available here). Normally people would buy it to serve pats of butter to guests, but I use it to slice a stick and use in baking. It comes to room temperature a lot faster and it’s so much easier than slicing with a knife.
In our kitchen…
Another simple gadget, this one works magic to get kernels off corn cobs (available here). Super efficient and again, easier than any other method I’ve used.
In our kitchen…
A silicone mold that is used for fondant, but as you can read about in my cookie blog, it also works for baking cookies.
In our kitchen…
Fermented black beans (douchi), small bombs of flavor used in traditional Chinese cooking. I am learning my ways with it. They will be featured in a great recipe very soon. In a food blog near you!
In our kitchen…
Two little platters found at Marshall’s. When you bake the right cookies, they can be little matches made in heaven…
In our kitchen….
Dried kaffir lime leaves… I investigated quite extensively before getting this product. Normally nothing beats fresh leaves, but they are hard to find where we live. These got excellent reviews by consumers, so I caved. And they are indeed great. Stay tuned for future adventures…
In our kitchen…
Tomato powder, a new product from Spice House. I saw it advertised by the company and could not resist it. So far I’ve used it to add flavor to rice, and it works wonders for that. I just add 1/2 tsp to the amount of rice I normally cook (1 cup of Basmati).
In our kitchen…
Another great product I got recently, this one after my friend Karen blogged about it. Stay tuned for my “experiments” with it…
In our kitchen…
A small plastic knife that does wonders to cut cakes with a lot of moisture such as a brownie. Available here. Used to cut a batch of banana bread brownies, works like a dream!
So that wraps up what I had to share as far as new gadgets and goodies for you… Moving on, it’s time to let the pups bark a little bit… Starting with very important news…
It is Buck’s Birthday today, my little Bucky Boy… Last year, when he turned 14, my heart was already getting a bit heavy, wondering how long would we have together. One year later, he is still around, dealing with his almost total deafness as best as he can. His hearing is gone as far as voice commands go, but he hears clapping and that’s how we communicate.
For his Birthday he’s got a toy…
He’s got a ball…
But, truth is, his favorite “gift” is the one he stole from the trash can (sigh)…
And that seems to be totally fine with this brother…
The rivalry is real, but not too serious. Buck and Bogey were great buddies, and we worried about Buck without him. He seems fine, adjusted well, and now explores the backyard with Oscar, following his lead, for the most part.
This time of the year, we are back having our evening tea outside, watching the sunset, admiring the fireflies, listening to the birds, the owls, the distant coyotes. Like before. But the difference is the huge absence of our Black Spotted Capeless Hero… The emptiness he left is impossible to put into words.
ONE YEAR AGO: In My Kitchen, July 2021
TWO YEARS AGO: In My Kitchen, July 2020
THREE YEARS AGO: In My Kitchen, June 2019
FOUR YEARS AGO: In My Kitchen – July 2018
FIVE YEARS AGO: In My Kitchen, July 2017
SIX YEARS AGO: Secret Recipe Club: Falafel and a Bonus Recipe
SEVEN YEARS AGO: Chocolate Toffee Banana Bread
EIGHT YEARS AGO: In My Kitchen, June 2014
NINE YEARS AGO: Strawberry Frozen Yogurt
TEN YEARS AGO: Baked Coconut and “The Brazilian Kitchen”
ELEVEN YEARS AGO: Honey-Glazed Chicken Legs
TWELVE YEARS AGO: French-Style Rolls
THIRTEEN YEARS AGO: Chicken Breasts, Coffee, and Serendipity
Bewitching Kitchen 
Love the garden, naturally ! Am interested in the spices, naturally ! The biggest hug to sexy Buck, naturally – wish I was there with a hug and a really tasty lamb shank, naturally ! But am looking up to the heavens and saying a loving hello to the boy we shall never forget . . . just as naturally . . . just adore the bikkie your Mom made, Buddy . . . I hope you haven’t quite ‘quit that’ . . . hugs to all . . .
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needless to say, writing the post involved quite a few tears….
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Virtual hugs!
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Your cookies are amazing.
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thank you so much!
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Happy Birthday lovely Buck 🥰🥰🥰
Love their photos, and so many things to love in your kitchen this month, I’m making a list! The plates, the spices, the butter cutter – I’ve never ever seen one of them before! Thank you xx
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glad you liked the post… yes the butter slicer is pretty amazing, one of those gadgets that now that I own, I wonder how did I do without! 😉
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😄😄
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Happy birthday Buck! hugs to both you and Oscar.
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Thank you, Ann!
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The cookie that matches the plate is really impressive. So are all the spices and condiments.
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
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yes, that plate was an amazing find!
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Losing a fur baby is so difficult! I wish my lettuce leaves looked like yours, and have fun with the black bean paste. I use mine sparingly. That butter cutter looks like something I need!
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actually the black bean is not a paste – it is the real “bean” but in fermented state – pretty interesting ingredient. I’ve seen the black paste in stores, but honestly don’t know exactly how to use it. Must investigate further
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hi sally – so sorry to hear about your fur baby. always so hard to bear. so many good things in your post tho. love the platters, and the butter cutter. and all the doggy photos are such fun. I miss our dog, even tho it has been some years now. Happy birthday Buck! a great age to get to. Your produce looks deliciously fresh. Due to the floods here, fresh produce is a bit hard to come by lately. Interesting that the packet still says kaffir leaves. It is very non-PC apparently as they are now meant to be called makrut. Something about racism; kaffirs being slaves i think… anyway take care and have a great month. thanks for joining in. cheers sherry
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wonderful to see you here!
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Oh Sally, I’m so very sorry to learn about Bogey (I went back and read your dedication post as well) – he was such a beautiful dog and companion to Buck, I always got a kick out of reading about their shenanigans. The loss is so very real and deep and I resonate completely with the backyard landscape not looking the same without him (we lost our girl Stella in Jan and we still cry). My heart is with you, sending you so much love as I know these losses are not fixed in time; grieving is non-linear but our love and sweet memories endure. Hugs to you & Phil, friend, x
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yes, there is nothing as painful as that day in which we know it will be their last. I cannot even think about it without tears forming all over again….
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I have to have that corn peeler, and immediately ordered it. I usually end up with the kernels all over the counter or floor (much to the delight of the furry ones). Your new plate is perfect for the frosted cookie. I look forward to your new recipes. Our Casey only hears claps now as well and is having ‘night terrors’ which is a sign of doggie dementia. It’s so difficult watching them get old and anticipating their loss.
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dementia in old dogs is soooo sad…. it is hell to see them going down. I think they should stay as puppies for 25 years. Minimum
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