In My Kitchen, September 2015

While Spring so far has been much colder than I would like, there’s plenty going on in my kitchen to keep my mind off the weather.

In my kitchen I have a birthday cake I made for a very special boy.  He loves the Sydney Swans so I made in a cake in the team’s colours.  It’s decorated with little footballs and boots that I was so thrilled to be able to find in the shops, rather than have to make.

A Sydney Swans inspired cake

A Sydney Swans inspired cake


In my kitchen I have some sausages from Beak and Sons.  These sausages claim to have the highest meat content in Australia and come in lots of varieties including a preservative-free range.  We were able to sample the Tuscan pork, traditional beef, and chicken and mushroom.  My favourite were the chicken and mushroom.  I removed the sausages from the casings then placed the meat along puff pastry, rolled it up and hey presto, had mini sausage rolls for lunch served with a spicy chutney.

Beak and Son's Sausages

Beak and Son’s Sausages

In my kitchen I have a lot of ingredients I purchased from Food Estate to help cater for the upcoming birthday party.  I have a large container of Maldon Salt.  I certainly won’t need all of this for the event but buying in bulk like this is very cost effective.  I also have hundreds of bamboo skewers in different styles and lengths to stab into canapes.

Salt and Skewers

Salt and Skewers

In my kitchen I have a massive and heavy, 5kg block of dark couverture chocolate that I was able to buy from Food Estate for just $25.00.  Apparently the company that makes it had an over-supply so they discounted the chocolate to help move it quickly.  Lucky me.  I’ll use this for Miss Arabella’s cake.

5kgs of dark chocolate

5kgs of dark chocolate

In my kitchen I have cacao, an enormous tub of white fondant, and a 1kg bag of almond meal.  All these ingredients are for the birthday cake.

Cocao, fondant and almond meal

Cacao, fondant and almond meal

In my kitchen I have a 5kg roll of very frozen puff pastry.  It’s currently taking up a lot of freezer space but this week it will be thawing on the bench and used for making canapes.  When catering for so many, buying in bulk is certainly best economically.

5kgs of puff pastry

5kgs of puff pastry

In my kitchen I have a very large tin of pickled and sliced jalapenos.  Now, I certainly don’t need this many jalapenos for the party but there wasn’t a smaller tin.  I can see we will be having a lot of Mexican food after the party.  I also have a large wheel of brie that’s 60% cream.  This is also for canapes and might not be enough – might have to beetle back to Food Estate for another wheel or two.

Jalapenos and brie

Jalapenos and brie

In my kitchen I have pork products.  Here’s 3kgs of bacon, some prosciutto, and 1kg of chorizo, all for the party.

Bacon, prosciutto and chorizo

Bacon, prosciutto and chorizo

In my kitchen I have Rosie being carried around inside of Archie’s jacket.  She could be saying, ‘rescue me’, but at least she’s keeping warm.

Rosie needs a rescue

Rosie needs a rescue

And I haven’t just been chained to the kitchen.  I did get out with two of my boys for a bit of razzle dazzle.  This photo was taken at about 1am by someone who thought you’d like to see a lot of the ceiling.

Out on the town

Out on the town

And now, I had better get back into the kitchen and on with the cooking – I have a bit to do!

If you’d like to show us what’s going on in your kitchen this month, please link up with Celia from Fig Jam and Lime Cordial.

Comments

  1. That’s an amazing amount of groceries for ‘the party’. You’re a smart and economical shopper. The picture … well they wanted to make sure YOUR head was dead center. 🙂 I’m sure Rosie feels warm and secure.

  2. Well you sure have been stocking up. I can’t wait to see what you do with all of this lovely stuff.

  3. I wonder if you’ll be stabbing something other than canapés by the time the party comes around?! You’re super organised and nothing seems to faze you – can’t wait to see what you are concocting.

  4. I don’t believe you’ve previously shared the design for Arabella’s cake! It was great fun to begin to see the ingredients, though. I can’t wait to see what fantastic creation you’re going to craft! I can’t believe you’re going to be making all those canapés yourself. You are incredibly ambitious, but from what I’ve seen you throw amazing parties. 🙂

  5. Love the Swans cake, great imagination.

  6. Good luck with the party prep – Charlie – looking forward to seeing what delicious things you are making with all the fab food. And congrats on the Swans cake – bet your little man loved it.

  7. I can never resist a bargain either, especially when it comes to food! You got some great buys. I’m still ogling that giant roll of puff pastry!

  8. Lots of party food coming up t our house. Is that store similar to Costco?

  9. Loads of party prep in your kitchen Charlie. Can’t wait to see it all.
    Have a happy Sunday.
    🙂 Mandy xo

  10. My kitchen is pretty boring compared to yours lol

  11. Now that’s a block of chocolate and a bucket of salt! Love the cake you made. I don’t envy you catering for 140 people Charlie. I hope you have some help. Good luck!

  12. What a great haul! And best of luck with Arabella’s birthday party. I am guessing we’ll read all about it? 🙂 Lovely pic of the three of you!

  13. So niceto see into your kitchen, there always seems to be a party going on!!

  14. Looks like you are definitely almost ready for the big fiesta! Can’t wait to hear how everything goes… 😛

  15. That cake is absolutely amazing!! I am so glad my boys are older than 8 and didn’t get to see it as they’d want one instantly.

  16. It looks like a busy month in your kitchen Charlie! What an impressive lot of bulk ingredients. I loved seeing the van houten cacao powder – we bought that brand in Australia and have been sad not to find it here (odd given it is European)! It really is the best cocoa 🙂

  17. I want to come to this birthday party!!! I see A LOT of chocolate on the table. 🙂 Looks like you’re going to have as much fun preparing for the party and giving it. Enjoy!

  18. The party is approaching quickly! I can’t wait to see all you prepare and Arabella’s cake! If the Sydney Swan’s cake is an example of what you can do (and I KNOW it is!), her cake will be magnificent!

  19. Cannot wait to see what you do with all of your supplies! And can’t wait for the cake especially 🙂

  20. Good luck with the party – I’m looking forward to seeing the finished products!! Jan x

  21. This party sounds delicious already Charlie! Such great ingredients well certainly make for some delicious dishes indeed. I’m glad Alfie has a great cake as well, although I hope it’s taste is better than his taste in footy teams 🙂 Go the Bombers! Xo

  22. Looks like some interesting dishes coming in the future. Great looking cake. Happy Birthday to the birthday boy.

  23. I just stopped at Rosie’s picture and smiled, what a cutie! Can’t wait to see this party!

  24. Good to see Maldon Sea salt travelling around the world – it’s made not far from where I live.

  25. I can’t wait to see what you’re making for that enormous party. I can still recall Archie’s gorgeous titanic cake said I can’t wait to see how you top that for Arabella.
    What a coincidence, I just bought little gummy footballs too! Mine are going to be used in February for some social media I will write for my marketing company (February is Super Bowl!). That cake you made for Alfie is gorgeous. I just watched an episode of Cake Boss, they made a metre tall dog cake!!! We’re in Chicago and get food network in the hotel, we don’t have cable at home so I miss HGTV and Food Network.

  26. I can’t wait for party pictures of the birthday girl and all the food. You really know how to put on a spread.

    That birthday cake is really cute.

  27. I love these posts! I want some of that chocolate…oh the things I could bake with it! 😀

  28. I can’t believe you’re doing the catering yourself for a party of (at least) 140 people! I hope you have a lot of help. Everything in your kitchen looks delicious. I can’t wait to see all the food for the party!

  29. Charlie, I’m glad you found time to have some fun in between breaking down/utilizing your bulk food finds and planning and cooking for the party. Generally, I can’t help myself from commenting on chocolate-related photos (sigh…), but your Jalapenos & Brie, and Bacon, Prosciutto & Chorizo pics stopped me in my tracks. (Please pardon my drool from afar…) Tremendous variety (and possibilities) in your kitchen this month! You’re a trooper and I admire you greatly.

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