In My Kitchen, January 2015

Happy New Year to all my readers!

I can’t believe we’re into another year or even that it’s time for another IMK post but there you go!

December was an absolutely massive month for me as I’m sure it was for so many of you and I still feel very much caught up in the whirlwind of it all but as it does every year, it will settle down.


In my kitchen I have a gift given to me by Liz from Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard.  She made all these gorgeous things, packaged them up so carefully, then sent them from the Gold Coast to me in Sydney.  I was really touched by her generosity and thoughtfulness.  It was so lovely to receive an unexpected gift in the post.

Homemade goodies

Homemade goodies

In my kitchen I have these gorgeous earrings given to me and made for me by Celia.  Okay…so they’re not technically in my kitchen unless I’m in my kitchen wearing them but I wanted to show them to you because this just confirms that when it comes to talent, Celia has a lot of strings to her bow.  These arrived very unexpectedly and I just fell in love with them as I am drawn to anything with a sparkle.

A photo in focus would have been nice

A photo in focus would have been nice

In my kitchen tis the season for chocolates.  I have so many chocolates I can’t see us slimming down any time soon.  Okay…so one box is nougat but I doubt the calorie-count is any lower.  There are some firm favourites here but I particular like the box at the back that contains chocolates in Christmasy shapes given to me by very good friends.  The box with the round flat discs that Em bought in Paris is very special as they’ve traveled from Paris to LA and then to Oz.  So many miles!

A good variety

A good variety

In my kitchen I have a gift given to me by Rebecca, The Intolerant Chef.  This was another very unexpected gift and it’s so amazing because on the morning it arrived, I was reading Lizzy’s blog and she had a recipe for pea and ham soup that sounds so much better than mine so I thought I would make it with my leftover ham bone.  But then the recipe said you needed to add smoked rice and I did wonder where I would find it.  Can you believe an hour or so later there was a knock on the door with a guy delivering the smoked rice!

Smoked rice

Smoked rice

In my kitchen I have some old coins.  I have a sister-in-law who works at the Royal Australian Mint and she gave me these coins that are from long ago.  It was a tradition to put these half-pennies and sixpences into Christmas puddings and so everyone would eagerly await the arrival of the pudding onto the table and hope to be given the slice with the lion’s share of the coins.  I was really touched by this gift as I think it’s a lovely tradition.  I have to confess to have never actually made a Christmas pudding but it’s now on my must-do list for 2015.  Maybe Christmas in July!

Coins for a Christmas Pudding

Coins for a Christmas Pudding

In my kitchen I have new tongs and measuring spoons.  All I asked for this Christmas were tongs that don’t pinch and a complete set of measuring spoons (my old set was missing some vital components).

Something new for the kitchen

Something new for the kitchen

In my kitchen I have two lovely ladies who are looking a tad nervous.  That’s because the suitcases have come out of the closet and they know that doesn’t spell ‘good news’ for them.  We’re going away very soon and I can’t take the girls with me so they’re going on a two-hour car trip back to the breeder who I know will look after them very, very well.  I just hope she’s not shocked at the size of them!  Christmas has affected their girth badly, especially as Arabella left a box of chocolates on her bedroom floor.  They might be deaf but there’s nothing wrong with their sense of smell!

There's a very nervous look in Rosie's eye

There’s a very nervous look in Rosie’s eye

In my kitchen I have a new cashmere wool wrap that came in this lovely paisley bag.  I won it in a competition on Monique’s blog, The Urban Mum.  It’s beautiful and soft and is coming with me on our upcoming holiday.

A cashmere wool wrap

A cashmere wool wrap

And welcoming in the New Year I have a magnum-sized bottle of champagne.  Can you believe this has been in the fridge since Archie’s 21st.  Unbelievable.  I thought a good way to welcome in the New Year would be to share this with friends and family.

Anyone thirsty?

Anyone thirsty?

I hope you all have welcomed in the New Year in grand style and I wish all my readers a fabulous 2015.

If you’d like to participate in an IMK post, please link up with Celia from Fig Jam and Lime Cordial.

 

Comments

  1. So many goodies in your kitchen. It’s as good as presents under the Christmas tree. I bet the girls are going to have fun at the breeders even if they don’t know it yet.

  2. Ah, what a gem Bec is to send you some of the smoked rice! Thanks so much for the shout out… love all the goodies in your kitchen this month. And aren’t Celia’s talents endless xox

  3. What do you use smoked rice for charlie? It sounds wonderful. What a lovely lot of gifts in your kitchen. And so marvellous winning that shawl. You are very devoted to drive your babies so far to the breeder. Have a nice break. Xx

  4. Cheers to all the lovely stories you posted last year! Looking forward to more this year 🙂

    Happy New Year! Thank you for being part of our Blogging Friends!!!

    Julie & Alesah
    Gourmet Getaways xx

  5. Happy New Year Charlie… looks like it is going to be a great year 🙂 I’m glad you liked the present, let me know what you think when you have tasted them! Liz xx

  6. happy new year charlie! wishing you a most delicious 2015!

  7. Great idea to break open the magnum! Happy New Year Charlie and I hope that it has started off well! 🙂

  8. I love everything in your kitchen, especially the elegant ladies. I hope you broke that magnum open with style and flair because you deserve it. You work so hard for everyone. Happy New Year and have the best holiday ever! Don’t do anything, just sit and let people wait on you for a change.

  9. I have never heard of smoked rice! How intriguing. It looks like a fun start to the year in your kitchen – I’m all for starting the year with chocolate as you will see when I get my IMK post up! And those are beautiful earrings. Happy new year Charlie xo

  10. What a lot of lovely items in your kitchen this month. It would be tough to choose a favorite. The earrings are stunning and the perfect color for the holidays.

    The measuring spoons possess that simplistic, basic style that I find appealing.

    Old coins and chocolates and a cashmere wrap…

    Happy New Year to you and your family, dear Charlie!

  11. I was intrigued by the smoked rice, as I haven’t seen that before.
    And I love the old coins for the pudding–I love the idea and the pouch, of course. And the best of all is the pups. Happy 2015!

  12. So many wonderful, lush goodies.
    All that chocolate!
    Puppies!
    Sparkle!
    How FUNNNN.
    Happy 2015!!! xx

  13. I’m very impressed that you have put an IMK post up so promptly – the beginning of the month really caught me by surprise for some reason!
    We celebrated the new year with a bottle of the same champagne as you did, too!

  14. Charlie, great stuff! I just came over from Celia’s In My Kitchen (posted my very first IMK today). Reading about your dog’s travels reminded me of a blogger in Canada who is actually flying halfway across Canada with her cat in a carrier with her at her seat! Doesn’t that sound like a treat?!

  15. Lovely chocolates and Champagne, What else does a girl need?- oh, maybe some earrings and a cashmere wrap. Cheers, Charlie.

  16. Such lovely presents, Charlie! And ooh – a girl can never have too many chocolates can she? 😉
    Happy New Year to you and your family!

  17. We are so lucky Charlie!! Hope you had a great New Year and I am sure you are looking forward to a rest on your holiday. Hope the girls enjoy there break too….

  18. The chocolates would go so well with the champagne. Mist back, relax and enjoy the new year! Everything in your kitchen looks wonderful.

  19. Happy New Year. Starting the year with a magnum is such a good idea… and chocolate.

  20. Yay, glad you liked it sweetie! What a coincidence about Liz ‘s recipe too, glad I could help out 🙂 You have some great goodies in your kitchen to be sure, and the girls are probably plotting how to get their furry paws on the rest of those chocolates! Xox

  21. Ooh a holiday, how exciting! Can’t wait to hear where you’re off to! So glad you liked the earrings, and aren’t our friends generous, we loved Liz’s preserves and Becca’s smoked rice as well! AND your gorgeous cranberry sauce! Happy New Year to you all! xxx

  22. Oooh, you have some great goodies there! I have very fond memories of anxiously chewing the plum pudding hoping I’d get a sixpence or the grand prize of a shilling that was on one serve. Thanks

  23. Oh, your poor ladies – aren’t dogs so funny they know what’s going on – even if they don’t understand English – yeah, right – all dog owners know they really do understand English:)

  24. My grandma still puts threepence and sixpence coins in the Christmas pud she makes every year. When I was a kid, they were the only reason I’d force myself to eat the horrible stuff. Now that we’re older and the coins don’t get traded for real money anymore, I thankfully can skip the pud each year in favour of our alternate dessert 😉

    Happy New Year!

  25. Happy new year Charlie. Such lovely goodies in your kitchen – I would love a glass or 3 of your bubbly, would be great while I’m slowly trying to catch up with everybody.
    Have a wonderful day.
    🙂 Mandy xo

  26. Charlie I just love old traditions, especially around the coins for Christmas pudding. Your family connection to the Royal Australian Mint sparked my hubby’s interest, as he is an avid coin collector and were at the mint on New Year’s Eve and again on New Year’s Day for last coin/first coin strikes. That tends to be our New Year’s tradition!
    I love your paisley bag, so pretty.
    Have a great January, cheers Kirsty xx

  27. What a wonderful range and diversity of Christmas gifts you received! I’m intrigued by the smoked rice! And the champers – yum! Happy New Year!

  28. Happy New Year Charlie – so . . . many . . . chocolates! Oh well, it’s only once a year and the next 😉 I’m loving the old coins for the puddings, I think I may join you in starting that tradition up again – and making puddings! Lets do it together! We can inspire one another 🙂 Enjoy your holiday, where are you off too? Puppies will enjoy the holiday too I’m sure. PS Cute earrings, lucky girl

  29. So many terrific things in your kitchen this month and such wonderful surprises. Those earring from Celia are wonderful & from such a sweet person. I wish I could think of something I needed & have it magically appear at the door like your smoked rice.
    Have an enjoyable trip, and yes, dogs do know what suitcases mean.

  30. I hope you demolished that Magnum in style. I’ve never heard of smoked rice before – I have their liquorice smoked salt and also their chili smoked salt they are very very good. I’m sure the girls will be very happy to see you after your holiday – have a great relaxing time x

  31. Happy New Year, Charlie! 🙂

  32. What a lot of good loot! 🙂 The earrings are gorgeous and the chocolates tempting, but I am really intrigued with smoked rice! I’ve never been formally introduced. I must do some investigation to see where I can find some! Your girls do look nervous and it brings to mind that we are traveling at the end of January and poor Zena cannot come. I’m stressing over that, even though she will be in very capable hands. I’m a bit too attached to my dog…it must have something to do with the empty nest. LOL! I love your ITK posts. Great fun!

  33. Love the coins, Charlie … they bring back so many childhood memories … we all crossed our fingers in the hope that our slice of pudding held the sixpence!

  34. Chocolates and champagne a delicious way to start the celebrations. Love the old coins and the tradition. We also place coins and rings into fruit tea cakes. Happy new year and thank you for sharing. 🙂

  35. Happy New Year Charlie. What lovely gifts you were given! We also put the old coins in our Christmas pud, we are still looking for the culprit who swallowed one a few years ago – nobody is owning up! I hope you enjoyed that magnum!

  36. Happy HAPPY New Year Charlie! You cleaned up, what lovely pressies, especially love the smoked rice and that you cracked that magnum of Mumm! 🙂

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