Wow – I seriously can’t believe that it is November! I was waiting with baited breathe for October to come around as I was really looking forward to attending my first ever bloggers conference {Eat.Drink.Blog} and then suddenly it was over. It was an amazing conference where I got to meet so many wonderful people in person, that I had come to know online {some of you from this very blog post series}. I love seeing what is in each person’s kitchen each month, whether you write about what is in season at the farmers market, or what you’ve been sent by sponsors, family or friends, or just new things that you’ve tried from the supermarket. As you know, I’m joining link ups this year and this link up is hosted by Celia’s from Fig Jam and Lime Cordial.
In my November kitchen….
I’m seriously addicted to this limited season ‘summer’ dip from Black Swan. I first tried the caramelised sweet potato and cashew dip at my sister’s house in Sydney and I have been adding a pot of it into my weekly shopping ever since. It is just so moreish and is delicious with rice crackers, fresh carrot or celery sticks, or veggie chips alike. I know I should probably have a go at whipping it up myself – but buying it is just so easy. Seeing as it is ‘limited season’, I know a time will come when I need to make it myself as it is no longer on the shelf.
In my November kitchen,
I’ve been ‘playing around’ with this amazing blue corn flour from Wyld Palate. Dianne actually grows the corn in her very backyard and mills it herself – that’s dedication to the end product. And the end product is unlike anything that you’d find in the supermarket. It is well worth the trip to the Southside Farmers Market.
In my November kitchen…
I’m powering my way through this delicious Normandie ‘Chicken with Champagne’ pate {actually this is my second pot as I ate the first one so quick that I didn’t get the chance to grab a snap shot}. During the warmer months, I love to have cheese and pate on hand so that I can create an awesome nibbles board when friends drop in on a whim.
In my November kitchen…
There is an abundance of purple cabbage from the Southside Farmers Markets. There is just something about purple cabbage. It is so crunchy and I use it just like lettuce – it goes so well in Mexican dishes {of which we eat many}, but I also enjoy it lightly sautéed, with some olive oil, on top of a BBQ’ed pork chop with some slices of fresh apple.
In my November kitchen…
We are busy munching on these deliciously dried and lightly spiced with cinnamon apple pieces. Now, sometimes I pick them up on Friday at the Eat Local Friday markets {which you will find in the car park of the National Botanical Gardens} and finish the packet that very evening – thankfully, I don’t have to wait an entire week as you can also find them at the Southside Farmers Market on Sunday morning.
In my November kitchen…
I’m excited to have a play around with these fried shallots from Simon Johnson. Now Simon states that these fried shallots are ‘All natural, golden and crunchy a must to finish off Thai Salads, Laksa for my family-famous laksa recipe and all style of curries. These can be used anywhere you would use onions but always at the end to preserve the crunchy texture.’ – doesn’t that sound good!
In my November kitchen…
I’m going to be cooking up a storm with beautiful fresh and seasonal, line-caught fish from Narooma Seafood Direct. If you’re wondering, this shot is of some delicious Mahi Mahi which I cooked up as a three course meal for HerCanberra – you can find the recipe for fresh, seasonal produce from the farmers market here.
What new things have you picked up and tried lately? Have you been to your local Farmers Markets lately? Do you purchase organic produce? Do you purchase new brands or do you stick with what you have tried and tested? Anything interesting happening with you and your family in November?
This is my first visit to your blog and it is just beautiful!
That cornflour sounds really interesting – how cool that she not only grows it but mills it too! Dedication indeed.
The seafood looks delicious too 🙂
Sarah x
Thanks for stopping by and commenting Sarah! I hope that you’ll be back and join my little foodie community 🙂 Dianne from Wyld Palate is a super dedicated foodie and I actually have some of her wonderful products to giveaway in my Christmas giveaway in December.
Shari, I enjoy blue corn tortilla chips frequently and was thinking that caramelized sweet potato dip would taste great with them — even better on homemade tortilla chips made with honest-to-goodness blue corn flour! I also love your term “nibbles board.” What an inviting way to welcome guests! The rest of your IMK goodies are appealing, too (mahi mahi, swoon…) and I think your “toe shots” are a fun, unique “signature.” Glad you got to attend the bloggers’ conference — sounds like you made some new friends for life! 🙂
Hi Kim, thanks for stopping by and putting so much effort into your comment. I really appreciate when people take the time to comment on the posts that I have carefully crafted each week.
My pleasure, Shari! FYI, I tend to suffer from “verbosity” as a natural consequence of being a “writer” … plus I’m blessed with enuf free time to express myself (oft longer than necessary, LOL) and I can’t HELP myself. It’s simply a heartfelt RESPONSE to what YOU’VE shared! 🙂 I totally understand “carefully crafted” posts… keep it up, kiddo!. I do the same thing for the love of words — AND food.
SHARE your thoughts — the world benefits! If there’s one thing I’ve learned in all o’ my years online, it’s that I probably “say” more than most (in comment sections and my own posts) — BUT the “connections” I’ve made as a result are worth every word. Thanks for your reply, xo!
fried shallots=fabulous. imagine growing and grinding your own flour=dedication. i love to buy and try new produce and food products. it makes me happy. was great to meet you at EDB!!
It was lovely to meet you at Eat.Drink.Blog Sherry.
The purple cabbage is one of my favorites as well. Lovely looking dip and pate as well. The blue corn flour is quite intriguing.
Isn’t it Gretchen – it seems to have caught a few people’s eye.
Lovely selection of goodies this month Shari. And seeing your feet in the photos made me smile too 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration with the red cabbage – I just happen to have some pulled pork roasting in the oven right now to be wrapped in flour tortillas, guess what’s going inside them too? 🙂
Thanks Ania – the purple cabbage is a great addition to pulled pork, YUMMO!
Loads of great finds in your kitchen Shari. I’m just a little bit obsessed with fried shallots.
They are so good aren’t they, Jennifer 🙂
I’ve been trying to remember the name of the gorgeous blond I met across the dinner table at A.Baker at EYB, someone from IMK. It’s you. I love Simon Johnson’s shallots
Yay – so glad that you found me Sandra {and thank you for your compliment}. I look forward to reading your IMK post.
So after you told me at the coffee shop that the toes ‘in shot’ are a signature of the blog – I can’t help but notice them! I’d love to try some of that blue corn flour. Sounds fantastic. Great to meet you in person Shari. cheers!
Haha – notice them in a good way or a bad way? I never have time to get a manicure or a pedicure {or paint my own nails}… but that’s okay. The blue corn is totally amazing and if you’d like a packet I will totally post you some if you email me your address. So nice to meet you in person, and thanks for all your bloggy help 🙂
Love that flour, wow! And the cabbage, isn’t it a vibrant colour.
The flower certainly is something special.
Lots of interesting products Shari in your kitchen this month. I’m curious about the purple corn flour – we’ve been munching on purple corn chips a lot here so yummy!
Thanks Vicki – I love seeing what is in everyone’s kitchens each month. The purple corn flour is something special. You should email me your address and I’ll post you up a packet – it’s pretty awesome!