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 a 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 Monique, my friend and volunteer of all things homeless and meals-on-wheels, a set of kitchen cloths that celebrate the loves of my life, Dalmatians! My heart flipped, thank YOU, Monique!
In our kitchen…
Black lime powder, something I had about online, and decided I had to bring home to play with. Stay tuned for my first recipe using it, if all goes according to plan, should be the next post in the blog. Available here. You can use it anytime and anywhere you want a sharp citric taste without adding any liquid.
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In our kitchen…
A huge pizza peel, which we bought after visiting my stepson in San Diego. He and his wife make pizza often, and I was in love with their peel, so I ordered one for us. Pretty big and very efficient! This brand is truly the best.
In our kitchen…
I splurged. Bought this super cool set of bamboo steamer + steamer pan. I want to learn and make Chinese dumplings and steamed bao, as part of the expansion of my horizons after retirement, and I firmly believe you need the right tools for the job. So that’s that. I got mine on eBay, but it is not available anymore, so I found the exact same product on Evil Empire, in case you are interested (click here).
In our kitchen…
If you love Nutella, but hate the potential harm that industry causes to the environment, here is an alternative for you that is equally delicious, but environmentally-friendly: SOOM Sesame Spread. You might be able to find it in stores such as Whole Foods and Marshall’s, but of course, it is “there” too (click here).
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In our kitchen…
Shiitake mushroom powder, a great product to add to sauces, stir-fries, meatballs, for that added funky-umami flavor that can be quite pleasing to the palate. Available here.
In our kitchen…
A blend of grains and seeds sold by King Arthur Flour (click here). I’ve been adding it to sourdough, in my basic formula of 500g total flour, adding about 25g of this product. It does not affect the texture and I love the taste, slightly richer than a plain sourdough bread.
In our kitchen…
Little sugar decorations I bought for cookies a couple of months ago, but had a few leftover. They came in handy to celebrate the beginning of the World Cup of Soccer with chocolate-covered pretzels… Available here.
In our kitchen….
These are low-carb lupin flakes that can do the job of bread crumbs. I don’t follow a particularly strict low-carb approach, but often will search for ways to reduce them without compromising taste. I was intrigued by this product and very recently bough it, but have not tried it yet. Stay tuned I am just worried that there will be some after taste, but the reviews online seem quite stellar. We shall see…
In our kitchen…
Something new to me, just like vanilla paste can substitute for vanilla extract, this is a lemon version. Very good, I’ve used it in cookies and buttercream. Highly recommend it, I think Nielsen-Massey is the only company that makes it, I love their stuff.
But now, it is time to get our furry friends to bark hello, they have been anxiously waiting, so without further ado, let’s go over their shenanigans.
Life has been pretty awesome, now that our humans are retired… they hang out with us more often, take us for longer walks, and even golfing is back in our routine…
Prince is a model golfing companion, but unfortunately the same cannot be said about his sister. She often runs wild after squirrels, bunny rabbits, birds, loose leaves blown by the wind, and the eventual lonely golfer trying to practice putting. We only take them when the golf course is closed, but she manages to generate chaos no matter what.
What if I give you kisses????
Well, I guess it is impossible not to forgive her, who can stay mad at that sweet face?
Even if sometimes she chooses the goofy path?
Star really gets a pass on a lot of naughtiness that girl… She defaced a poor pig that used to squeak when gently squeezed, turning him into a horror freaky creature, silenced for eternity.
And what was the consequence of this act of unparalleled brutality?
Full disclosure: Phil went on a shopping expedition to find the exact same piggy,
because “she needs a new one”.
Prince wants to know what does he get for being such a good boy?
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Well, he gets to be the Official Kitchen Helper!
He is also the official golf-watching-TV-companion for Phil, and will sit and watch the longest of games like the very best buddy…
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But maybe better than all that? They both get Homemade Puppacinos!
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What can we say? Life has been good at The Kingdom of Tatarrax, even if Star gets into heavy tantrum mode when she finishes her chewy way ahead of her brother (sigh). Not sure where she gets the Drama Queen personality….
She is also expert at catching food mid-air, something Mr Picky Eater Prince does only reluctantly.
We are indeed very different,
but here’s is how our life is going to be….
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See you in the Fall, friends! Until then, enjoy each minute of your life, we’ll do the same…
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Bewitching Kitchen 
You DO know what I am going to do for the next 1/2 hour, don’t you 🙂 ! Give my computer mouse a workout scrolling up-and-down, up-and-down 🙂 ! Prince may be Daddy’s exemplary helpmate . . . but Star lives up to her name – right? And AI has done regal wonders, hasn’t he, she . . . whatever? BUT, I do like quite a few on your ‘practical’ list also – must see whether we can get something similar to your ‘Soom’ sesame spread (you know I go viral-negative over Nutella!) and I would love some of that Shiitake powder and black lime and the seeds & grains . . . have always been a steaming afficionado have had literally dozens of those steaming baskets, often using them 4-5 high 🙂 ! Great collection, can’t wait for the next one . . . love to all of you . . .
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Glad you enjoyed this little write-up, which is probably my favorite kind of post to write… 😉
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I’m really interested in that lemon paste. I’ve read about it but haven’t been able to find it here in Australia. Mostly, though, I adore your pics of the pooches.
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I am really enjoying the lemon paste, hope that maybe you can find it….
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I love that steamer set! Nice find.
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I was lucky, I’ve been searching on eBay again, but apparently it was a very rare offer!
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Now sure if I look forward to what’s new in your kitchen more than I look forward to what the dogs have been up to 😉 I am going to look for black lime powder as that sounds divine. And the lemon paste should be so good in so many sweet treats 🙂
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I adore lemons in any shape, so having the black lime powder and the paste in the same post is kind of cool… 😉 Pups say thank you very much, we wish Mom would have us bark more often… we have a bigger following than she does, she just hates to admit it……
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The black lime powder, and the lemon paste sound like marvellous additions to any kitchen, you find so many amazing culinary shortcuts. Your dogs are gorgeous with such individual personalities. I really enjoyed all you wrote this month, and will be googling to find where to buy your new products.
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so many interesting things in your kitchen! you are right about the steamers, you actually really do need them for steaming baos and it’s quite hard to “replace with another method” (I have tried many); good luck for that project, it sounds like such a cool one!
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oh yes the lemon paste sounds wonderful! Loving the dog photos. they are such gorgeous beasties… And i am intrigued by the chocolate/sesame paste. I haven’t seen it here in australia but who knows? it could be around. Thanks so much for joining in this month. Always lovely to have you here for IMK. Have a great quarter till we see you again in October!
cheers
sherry https://sherryspickings.blogspot.com/
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