Wednesday 4 February 2015

In My Kitchen - February Kitchen 2015

For a long time I've been an avid fan of the blog Fig Jam and Lime Cordial, written by Celia,  and l love catching the other "In my kitchen" blog posts that she links to.  This month I've finally plucked up the courage to take part as well so here is what's in my In My Kitchen  in February 2015:

Leeks


 


In season at this time of the year they've been featuring a lot in my winter cooking.  Some of my favourite dishes have been when they were paired with Gruyere cheese as a filling for twice baked jacket potatoes; in a homemade chicken and leek pie; and when they were combined with another seasonal vegetable, celeriac, in Celeriac and Leek soup (recipe from River Cottage) which I served with homemade bread sticks.

A new pie dish

I love blue and white enamel ware and this pie dish is the latest addition to my collection.



A jar of Tiptree Mincemeat

This was a left-over from Christmas.  I can't think of mince pies outside of the period between the start of Advent and the end of the New Year holiday so I wanted to use this mincemeat to make something a bit different.   So, I made shortbread mincemeat slices.



The shortbread was buttery and crumbly and the mincemeat was full of plump, juicy fruit (I highly recommend Tiptree Mincemeat to anyone who doesn't want to make their own).  A slice with a cup of Earl Grey made delicious elevenses.

Liquorice Catherine Wheels


I don't venture into Birmingham city centre very often but when I do I like to pay a visit to Mr Simms Sweetshop and treat myself to some old fashioned sweeties.  On my most recent visit I bought liquorice Catherine Wheels, which brought back memories of Christmases when I was a child.  My Christmas stocking always contained a  selection pack filled with assorted liquorice treats including my special favourites,  Catherine Wheels - long, thin strips of soft liquorice wound around a bejewelled aniseed sweet. They are as good as I remember them to be.

9 comments:

  1. This is such a good idea Anne, I might have a go myself. Your shortbread mince slices sound delicious. Thank you for your comment on my last Year in books post.. Must get around to this month now!

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  2. Welcome aboard! Leeks are so versatile, one or two from my last crop are in flower and so beautiful. Love mince, wish someone else in the family did too. Gee i wish I could find liquorice like that, love my liquorice but like to throw it in the cupboard or on top of the fridge till it gets really chewy. My family hates that! Thanks for sharing.

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  3. Leeks are so expensive in Australia. I'm not sure why. When we lived in the UK for 18 months, we ate plenty and now I really miss them. One leek could cost $3! I love liquorice allsorts so I was keen on that photo - I didn't know they were called Catherine Wheels. Welcome to IMK. cheers Fiona xx

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  4. Hi Anne, Welcome to IMK! Lovely leeks, perfect for soup! Thanks for sharing :)

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  5. The River Cottage celeriac and leek soup sounds a perfect wintery comfort food. Thanks for sharing a peek inside your kitchen.

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  6. I have a great weakness for enamel ware - love your pie dish! Your shortbread slices look delicious. We grow perennial leeks in our backyard, but don't use them nearly as much as we should. Thank you for the inspiration! :)

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  7. hi Anne lovely to make your acquaintance through IMK. Your shortbread mincemeat looks delicious. I'm a Welshie, so the leeks appeal too.

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  8. welcome to IMK! love the liquorice catherine wheels. and of course enamelware. i have heaps and i keep buying it. i think a lot of bloggers have the same addiction:)

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  9. Ann, the idea of melting Gruyere, leeks, and twice baked potatoes is stuck in my mind forever now. ;) Welcome to IMK, and thanks for sharing your kitchen goodies and ideas! My Grandma used to make homemade mincemeat (I have, too), but pairing it with shortbread is sheer genius.

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