I’ve been on the road again. Of course I went shopping and have some gorgeous North American treats in my kitchen this month!
I’ve just arrived home from a couple of weeks in North America (more about those adventures later) and have come home with a few treasures that I’m excited to share with you. Don’t forget – check out a wealth of other bloggers from all around the world at the In My Kitchen headquarters over at Bizzy Lizzy’s Good Things.
I wanted to get hold of some US and Canadian food magazines to bring home with me. That wasn’t quite so easy as I expected, with a disappointing lack of news stands and newsagents stores. Still I managed to get a few and am looking forward to comparing them with what is on offer here.
I always find room in my luggage for Canadian maple syrup when I travel to Canada. This time I added some maple butter and a couple of packs of whole, dried cranberries – the latter a product I find very difficult to find here in god’s own country.
The Bloke and I spent a few days in San Francisco where we caught up with my friend Dianne Jacob and her husband. Some of you will be familiar with Dianne’s work – she is the author of the bloggers bible “Will Write for Food”. However, Dianne is a very talented lady, with more than one string to her bow, and she very kindly sent me home with a copy of one of her other books, the delicious “United States of Pizza”. I can see some great pizza nights in our future.
One afternoon Dianne and Owen, her husband, took The Bloke and I out for an afternoon of wine and food in Sonoma. After we’d been lubricated with some seriously excellent northern Californian wine, we popped into a fantastic kitchen shop for a browse. Naturally I did not leave empty-handed and one of my purchases was this clever butter container. I’ve heard about these, but had not seen one. They work by using water to form a natural seal to prevent butter from going rancid and, in theory, mean that you can enjoy spreadable butter all the time. Here’s hoping the theory works!
In my kitchen this month is this gorgeous set of Laguiole cheese knives, a Christmas gift from my son. He knows the way to my heart, with this fine cutlery, but I know he’ll be wielding them as soon as the cheese comes out.
I came home to find this delicious selection of great South Australian Tuckers Natural products had been delivered for me. Tuckers make a wonderful range of natural snacks, crackers and fruit pastes and I’ve long been a fan of their range. These will all go rather nicely, on this handsome Tuckers cheese board, with the knives above. I’ll be featuring them in some Tuckers #crackerup Instagram posts very soon, so stay tuned!
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What treats. I am impressed with that butter crock as hardness is the only down side of butter, an ingredient I adore.
Snap! I’ve got new Laguiole cheese knives as well! And I have the same maple syrup in my kitchen! Look forward to seeing how the butter bell goes.. 🙂 xxx
It looked a wonderful trip Amanda and I love your purchases, especially the Maple Butter, cranberries and magazines.
Welcome home and happy new year to you, Amanda. How does the maple syrup compare from other brands? Love the cheese knives.
Totally agree, Canadian maple syrup rocks
Good choices! We Americans all love maple syrup and cranberries, though I had a bad experience with maple syrup in luggage once, so I wouldn’t do what you did!
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
I am so glad you had a wonderful time in my neck of the woods, hope it was not too rainy. What a wonderful and thoughtful gift those cheese knives are, love the butter crock. I have seen them and am interested in your thoughts about them. So far I have resisted.
Looking forward to reading more about your North American adventures! Canadian maple syrup is so good and I always stock up too.
Mmmm, real maple syrup. Yum.
What lovely treats! Of course you brought back maple syrup lol. Enjoy!
I just love that maple syrup. I brought home some creamed stuff from the New York Food show. she is a talented woman indeedy Amanda and what a treat to be able to visit her. i have English friend ( in Aus) who have the bell and it works just fine ( when it isn’t 40C)
I love the sound of the maple butter. I use my butter crock all the time. They really work 🙂
I’ve never heard of a butter bell but I’m curious now to see how it works. Although Tandy says she uses hers all the time – I’m going to have to buy one I think!
How lovely to spend some time with Diane Jacob & spouse. I’ve heard her speak at conferences and found her sessions to be entertaining and full of useful information. Next time you visit B.C., visit a liquor store and pick up a free copy of their quarterly Lifestyle and food magazine, TASTE, or read it online. It’s terrific!
ooh i am drooling with envy. i LOVE maple syrup! i wonder if that butter crock would work in sunny humid queensland?:) yay to the mags. I used to love reading Bon appetit and other American mags when i worked in libraries. (can’t afford to buy them myself). and oooh those gorgeous knives. wonderful stuff in your kitchen. X