In My Kitchen posts are hosted by Sherry, from  Sherry’s Pickings. Please visit her site to see what everybody 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, consider 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. 

Starting with gifts…

From my dear friend, and tent-baker Tanya, this gorgeous cup for my evening tea in the shape of my favorite animal! As I always say, I have great friends and they know me well…

From a very dear friend from California this cookie cutter that she sent me when I needed ideas to bake cookies for a special donation box and it really made everything perfect for me…

Here’s what I made with it…

In our kitchen…

Very small wooden boards that are perfect for entertaining! In the picture I give you an idea of their size. They are perfect to offer a small sampling of cheese, crackers, Cristini or dumplings, offering one to each of your guests. Available here.

In our kitchen…

These are silicone trivets that you can use to roast things and avoid making them soggy during baking. In this case, I am showing boneless pork chops, breaded and fried and later finished in a slow oven. I got it at Marshalls in town.

In our kitchen…

One of my favorite vanilla bean pastes. This one comes from Mexico and it is not too expensive. I love the flavor! Available here.

In my kitchen…

A special large Banetton that I bought with a special bread project in mind which in fact I shared with you very recently (click here for post). Banetton available here.

In our kitchen…

A few large stances that I also bought with the same bread project in mind, but that can come in handy for many other uses. I just love their design! Available at etsy.

In our kitchen…

This I offer as a gift to my dear husband. He often makes tacos for dinner and now he has a way to serve them nicely instead of trying to balance them inside some awkward serving dish. We are using them very often. Available here.

In our kitchen…

A small serving tray that I fell in love with when I saw it by accident in a shop at Etsy. I predict it will be used for many cookie pictures in the future!

In our kitchen..

If you decorate cookies, you absolutely totally completely NEED these! A bought a set of three, small, medium and large. Perfect to fill piping bags with Royal icing, they thought about EVERYTHING when designing these containers. Get them here.

In our kitchen…

When it comes to black cocoa, this one is quite a bit more mellow than others I’ve tried. It will be my brand of choice, although I tend to continue exploring possibilities as they show up in my horizon. It is intense and perfect to make Oreos and other cookies with similar “personality”. Available here.

AND NOW IT IS TIME TO HEAR WHAT
OUR BELOVED FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS HAVE TO BARK

Life has been quite awesome, according to the pups. Our humans did not take any trips, so we enjoyed all the amenities of The Kingdom of Tatarrax without nasty interruptions… For us youngsters, it involved daily trips in our favorite vehicle!

Osky, the Grumpy does not dig rides in trucks. He prefers to stay behind and exercise his pseudo-alpha-dominance in the backyard…

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We love our backyard also, but for us Royals and Superstars it is more about playing…

Either with a ball, or even better, K9 X-Games, as narrated by The Queen Mother, check it out:

I don’t normally get in trouble. But, if I am to bark honestly, I do have daily requests that need to be fulfilled. Early, very early in the morning, as The Dad is preparing coffee for the Zenless, I stare at the box of puppy goodies they keep in that area and won’t move until I get my morning treat. And due to The Canine Equality Act, my siblings get one also. After that, we proceed to take our extended version of the morning nap.

Obviously… Sleeping is better with a toy!

Some beg to differ, though….

Who is he trying to fool?

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Wee see you, Grumpiest!.

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This year has also been super special because my little huge sister is getting trained into the complicated game of golf. She has caused a few issues because she insists on running to greet every single group of players in the field, but that’s what superstars do…

At home, we play pretty much non-stop, except when we do stop. It is called The Toy Impasse, and we might stay like that, evaluating each other’s jaw power until one of us gives up. As I am Royal and therefore magnanimous by definition, I often allow my little huge sister to run away with it.

I must confess, though, she recently hurt my royal feelings, by getting all infatuated with another guy. Look at the way she looked at him!

I have to bark, I was not digging it at all, particular not all that kissing!

Once that “gentleman” left, she was despondent and playing difficult with me….

Thankfully that did not last for long. Because who could resist my Royal charm?

Life is now fully back to normal in The Kingdom, the only dark cloud in the horizon: constant disapproving looks by The Grumpiest…

But he is the only one with grievances against us…

That’s all for now, folks, we have squirrels to chase, mailmen to bark at, and bellies to be rubbed!

ONE YEAR AGO: In My Kitchen, Fall 2023

TWO YEARS AGO: In My Kitchen, Fall 2022

THREE YEARS AGO: In My Kitchen, October 2021

FOUR YEARS AGO: In My Kitchen, October 2020

FIVE YEARS AGO: In My Kitchen (and Beyond), October 2019

SIX YEARS AGO: In My Kitchen, October 2018

SEVEN YEARS AGO: In My Kitchen, October 2017

EIGHT YEARS AGO: Little Bites of Paradise

NINE YEARS AGO: Coxinha de Galinha: A Brazilian Delicacy

TEN YEARS AGO: Prosciutto-Wrapped Shrimp Skewers

ELEVEN YEARS AGO: A Simple Dinner

TWELVE YEARS AGO: Brown Butter Tomato Salad

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO:  Spelt and Cornmeal Rolls

FOURTEEN YEARS AGO: Roasted Potato and Olive Focaccia

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO: Multigrain Bread Extraordinaire