Food mags – In My Kitchen
Yes folks, it’s that time of the month again and I’m hoping I make the deadline for Fig Jam and Lime Cordial’s In My Kitchen roundup – check out what is in kitchens around the world over at Celia’s blog! In my kitchen this month is a pile of the latest food magazines. About 18 months ago I decided I really couldn’t cope with the growing piles of publications layering every available surface. Deciding which mags to keep and which to discard was simply too agonising, so I let all my subscriptions expire. If I saw a very desirable edition on the newsagents shelves I allowed myself the occasional indulgence, but no longer had the joy of finding gorgeous, glossy periodicals in my post office box – er, periodically. However, I’m currently contracted to do some research work so all bets are off – and all the subscriptions are back on! I’ve had some delicious Easter reading.
Stanley now on – In My Kitchen
Five years ago I introduced you to my much-loved slow-combustion stove, Stanley. While he’s probably not as clean and shiny as he was five years ago (where did that time go?) he’s every bit as effective and gets lit at the first sign of an autumnal chill in the air. The season is well and truly turning in the Adelaide Hills now, so I celebrated Easter by lighting him on Good Friday. The spreading warmth of Stanley heralds the advent of not only winter, but usually a few extra pounds around my middle as I find the lure of a constantly heated oven way too tempting. I think I’ll be baking quite soon.
Steven ter Horst Easter eggs – In My Kitchen
It doesn’t take much to interest me in fine chocolate and Easter is all the excuse I need to eat the good stuff for breakfast. This year I opted to do the Easter shopping at one of Adelaide’s finest chocolatiers, Steven ter Horst. The offspring are older now and they appreciate quality over quantity so I think the extra cost involved is justifiable. And now that I have well and truly passed the half-way mark of my time on this planet I don’t feel inclined to waste calories on cheap and nasty chocolate. Given the bad news in this recent story on cocoa farming it seems there is no joy in cheap chocolate for anyone. Things have been grim for cocoa farmers for some time now, so we had better get used to paying more for what has been a little too affordable.
Quinces – In My Kitchen
In my kitchen is the last sign of summer’s bounty – the quinces. Our tree is always abundant and this year is no different, with boughs resting along the ground from the weight of the fruit. The birds aren’t interested in quinces, so I end up trying to press big bags of them on to anyone who comes near us. Unfortunately a few quinces go quite a long way, so it is rare that I get rid of many in one hit, but at least they tend to last quite a while, giving me time to offer them around and making the kitchen smell divine in the meantime.
Peach & Vanilla jam – In My Kitchen
Taking advantage of the bounty of a friend’s late fruiting peaches, I also have a nice haul of delicious peach and vanilla jam in my kitchen. This jam is so easy to make that it seems a little like cheating, but I’m happy to have a little summer put by for the cooler months. Keep an eye on this space and I’ll share the recipe for any of you who still have peaches to deal with.
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A great collection of magazines there Amanda! I solved my problem of storing magazines by subscribing on my iPad. It’s so much easier, and I have them with me in the kitchen whenever I need to look up a recipe….if only I could easily remember what issue it was in!
Love your gorgeous quinces too! I’d definitely take a lot off your hands if I lived closer.
Mmmmm – quinces – must look our for them I think they are still a few weeks away yet – here.
Lovely! I too have cut back on all the magazines I’ve been buying. They were starting to take over the house. I love your stove and I think it’s great there’s a traditional day for lighting it to launch the new season. How lovely the birds didn’t eat your quinces. I love the look of your jam! And pass me those chocolates! xx
Oh Amanda, can I come and sit by your fire in your kitchen sometime and read magazines over a piece of toast with quince jelly? Just glorious, lovely, thanks for the peek!
That’s sure is one serious oven Amanda.
What a lovely looking oven Amanda and a picture perfect bowl of quinces.
I love the look of your peach jam, looks so luscious! Perfect on scones with cream, I bet!
Kavey (fellow IMKer)
I don’t think I have ever had a quince. I’ve seen quince paste to eat with cheese but I don’t see much else that uses it. Does it make good jam?
Oh Amanda, how very lucky you are with your quinces! I have been trying for few years now to find these locally with no luck… Gorgeous IMK post 🙂
I’m the same re magazines. I let my subscriptions lapse too, and recently threw all but a handful out. And I couldn’t agree more re cheap chocolate. Life is far too short!
I find myself skimming the magazines when they arrive and then feeling guilty that I bought them and don’t take the time to enjoy them. I love your stove – it makes the kitchen the heart of the home.
A beautiful picture of summer turning to autumn, Amanda! I love your stove, my parents had a very similar one , but in Canberra they’re unfortunately now strongly discouraged. I’m also very envious of anyone that has too many quinces – what bliss! And I think I have the exact same quilted preserving jars, they’re so cute….thanks for the tour 🙂
Love ‘Stanley’, I too am enjoying quince ATM. Such an underrated fruit.
Good chocolate is definitely worth it! The peach vanilla jam sounds great. I just opened one of my strawberry vanilla jam jars from last year’s berries.
look at all those lovely mags! i used to subscribe to several but with the advent of bloggers’ recipes and online access to so many other recipes, i decided to save my wallet and the planet and not get any more. i do miss their glossy pages tho:( Love stanley- i bet he keeps you warm:)
Hmm, the name of your stove is cute. I should name mine, too. 😀 I love the color of your kettle. Two weeks ago, I was just thinking of getting a new kettle to replace my electric water heater. I might finally get one at the end of the month. 😀 Have a lovely week and thanks for sharing your kitchen.
Oh how I adore quinces! I can’t imagine how fab it would be to have a tree! Stanley is most handsome! 🙂
I’ve been helping a friend with putting in a new kitchen, this week we have had serious conversations about ovens, I was voting for one just like yours, sending a pic to hopefully win the oven debate of 2015. Weird what I am about to say…. but I am totally crushing on your oven. LOL!