In My Kitchen January 2013

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Happy New Year and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas filled with good things!Welcome to another little tour of my kitchen, I can barely believe I have just typed 2013 into this blog title.  Thank you once again to Celia at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial for hosting this fun kitchen tour.

Firstly, a plate of smoked salmon that some friends caught and then smoked themselves.  The meat is very dense and smoky and tastes completely different from the smoked salmon that you would normally buy.

Tromboncino zucchinis, some small capsicums, cherry tomatoes and basil all from the garden.    This summer is not proving to be my most successful vegetable season but I am still managing to pick something most days.

My grandmother has been baking this simple shortbread topped with almonds or glace cherries for as long as I can remember.  We were lucky enough to receive a tin full of this buttery goodness for Christmas.  I hope that when I am in my eighties I can still bake for my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and make it look easy.

My mother in law gave me this cheerful vintage Willow picnic tin for Christmas.  Just looking at it makes me want to go on a picnic!  We snapped up this vintage chrome table from Lifeline recently for $20.00.  It is now our official pizza making table positioned within easy reach of the wood oven.

A simple bunch of fluffy flowers from some carrots that have gone to seed in the vegetable garden.

Some new Christmas reading material.  This book is American based and contains instructions on everything from dealing with common meat such as beef and lamb right through to raccoons, fish and other small game.  A good read for anyone with an interest in home butchering.

What is happening in your kitchen this month?
Did you cook up a storm at Christmas?

Welcome to some new blog visitors who have called in recently, lovely to meet you.

January 8, 2013

47 Comments

  1. Reply

    Lizzy (Good Things)

    January 1, 2013

    Dear Jane, happy new year my friend! So many lovely things in your kitchen at the start of the year…. love the biscuits by your grandmother, how beautiful. And that vintage table… oh, I love it. Wishing you a great 2013, with many hugs, Lizzy

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 5, 2013

      Thanks Lizzy, best wishes for 2013 to you too!

  2. Reply

    Amy

    January 1, 2013

    oooh, that book has caught my eye! Happy New year to you too! Just got distracted by that butter in your earlier post – must get back to seeing what you've been up to. Love your simple Christmas. Looks like it was lovely. Best for 2013!

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 5, 2013

      Lovely to hear from you Amy, all the best for 2013 to you too!

  3. Reply

    Zara

    January 1, 2013

    The book looks like a good one. My other half was gifted the Gourmet Farmer deli book, which seems similar and it's full of great recipes.
    The willow picnic tin is a lovely one.
    x

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 5, 2013

      Thanks Zara, I would like the Gourmet Farmer book too…so many books on my list!

  4. Reply

    Kate @ Kate Writes

    January 1, 2013

    Love that shortbread! Kx

  5. Reply

    zirkie

    January 1, 2013

    Lovely thingies in your kitchen, Jane!! I love the shortbread!! I hope 2013 will be a wonderful and happy year for you!

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 5, 2013

      Thanks for calling in zirkie!

  6. Reply

    heidiannie

    January 1, 2013

    Hi Jane,
    Happy New Year!
    The carrot blossom looks like Queen Anne's Lace- I don't think I've ever seen a carrot bloom before.
    Grandmother cookies must be better than all others. Both of my sets of grandparents died before I was born- and I've always mourned them- such a blessing to have Grandma AND her cookies!
    Thanks for sharing.

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 5, 2013

      Thanks Heidiannie, yes grandparents are very special people aren't they?

  7. Reply

    Sarah Jane

    January 1, 2013

    I forgot how much I love carrot flowers – we'll be able to plant our vegie garden soon and hopefully we can have carrot flowers again!
    Everything in your kitchen looks and sounds great at the moment!
    xox

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 5, 2013

      Thanks Sarah Jane, I look forward to hearing about your vegie garden soon!

  8. Reply

    Missy Piggy

    January 1, 2013

    I'd love to try that homesmoked salmon – I adore smoked fish! Happy NY to you and your family. Hope 2013 is a ripper for you all! And your garden haul looks amazing – so jealous of those zucchinis and tomatoes.

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 5, 2013

      Thanks Miss Piggy, best wishes for 2013 to you too!

  9. Reply

    lucent imagery

    January 1, 2013

    Your grandmother sounds awesome! And those carrot flowers are beautiful. I'm not sure I've ever seen those before. Happy happy new year Jane!

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 5, 2013

      Thank you Lucent, I have only recently discovered carrot flowers too!

  10. Reply

    Kylie

    January 2, 2013

    Oh Jane, just look at that gorgeous esky/picnic tin. What a lovely Mum you have to give you something so special for Christmas. It's a beauty! Those biccies look delicious they are very similar to those my Godmother used to bake. (Her name was Kit, she was practically ancient when I was born so I didn't get to know her really, but I do remember those biscuits…) I am letting my parsley go to seed – for new parsley, yes, but mainly the flowers, which I love. Love and best wishes for the year ahead x

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 5, 2013

      Thanks Kylie, I might have to let some parsley go to seed too!

  11. Reply

    aj.bart

    January 2, 2013

    Oh Jane, I was immediately transported to my childhood/youth when I saw the vintage Willow picnic tin! Granny Crozier had one just the same. Now I am wondering what came in them if anything, and where those ladies got them in the 1960's. Mum's was also red. Happy New Year xox

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 5, 2013

      Thanks Annie, Mum remembered the tin too! x

  12. Reply

    passionfruitgarden.com

    January 2, 2013

    Hi Jane
    Wow look at all those cherry tomatoes! Your shortbreads look great.They are quite similar to what my mum used to make.

  13. Reply

    Mama Smith

    January 2, 2013

    I love seeing those fresh tomatoes and zucchini blossoms, I usually love winter but this year I'm already longing for spring! Looks delicious as always, happy new year!

    xox Lilly

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 5, 2013

      Thanks Lilly, hard to believe it is winter in your part of the world when it is so hot here! x

  14. Reply

    e / dig in

    January 3, 2013

    happy new year jane! those carrot heads look like some queen anne's lace flowers i have in my front garden (as another reader has said). They are so delicate and pretty.
    Your garden harvest looks good – better than mine at the moment. i don't think it's a good summer anywhere.

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 5, 2013

      Thanks e, happy new year to you too!

  15. Reply

    look see

    January 3, 2013

    Yum – love the look of that smoked salmon! 🙂

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 5, 2013

      Thanks for calling in Naomi!

  16. Reply

    celia

    January 3, 2013

    Happy New Year, Jane! Lovely things in your kitchen this month, thank you for sharing! Our trombies have taken off all of a sudden and I keep looking at them with big eyes, wondering what I'm going to do with all the fruit. I'm trying to pick them smaller, as you suggested.

    The smoked salmon look fantastic, and I hope you're still baking cookies when you're in your eighties as well! 🙂 xx

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 5, 2013

      Thanks Celia, my latest way to use the monster zucchini is in chocolate cake! Happy zucchini days to you 🙂

  17. Reply

    tea with hazel

    January 3, 2013

    happy new year jane..i'm always love to see what goodies you have in your kitchen..your grandmother's shortbread are so sweet.i've not seen them made like that before but they are very pretty..x

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 5, 2013

      Thanks Jane, so good to see you back in blog land x

  18. Reply

    Benlovesting

    January 4, 2013

    Yummy!!:)

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 5, 2013

      Thanks for calling in Ben and Ting!

  19. Reply

    My Kitchen Stories

    January 5, 2013

    Happy New Year Jane
    How lucky to have such an inspirational grand mother. I have seen those trombonchinis on Celias blog. very interesting vegetable that you wont find at the green grocers. we had one of those picnic tables when i was a kid. have a great blogging year , tania.

    • Reply

      Jane @ Shady Baker

      January 8, 2013

      Thanks Tania! Yes, the tromboncinos are interesting…and very vigorous!

  20. Reply

    trishie

    January 7, 2013

    I love the look of the home-smoked salmon, so curious about the taste. I wouldn't mind having a go at smoking fish at home too.

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 8, 2013

      Thanks trishie, I would also like to try smoking fish at home one day!

  21. Reply

    Catherine Bedson

    January 7, 2013

    Happy New Year Jane. Your Grandmothers biscuits look so good and I also love the vintage picnic esky, fantastic gift! We have lots of berries and fruit in our kitchen at the moment. Trying to start of the year healthy, hopefully it'll last.

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 8, 2013

      Thanks Catherine, I am still dreaming about your ice cream!

  22. Reply

    Michelle

    January 7, 2013

    I always love visiting your kitchen Jane! So much deliciousness!

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 8, 2013

      You are very kind Michelle!

  23. Reply

    JJ - 84thand3rd

    January 7, 2013

    What a relaxed and lovely collection for a new year! Also, you said vintage picnic tin, vintage chrome table and wood oven in one paragraph – I am drooling with jealousy at all three! Best wishes for a very happy 2013 🙂

    • Reply

      Jane S

      January 8, 2013

      Thanks JJ, really those 3 things just came together by accident! Happy 2013 to you too 🙂

  24. Reply

    Kate Norris

    January 26, 2013

    Those biscuits were the first thing I ever learned to cook Jane! But I swear Granny's version taste so much better than mine do.

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