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Thursday, March 8, 2012

In My Kitchen - March 2012

While I would love to be able to showcase a shiny new food processor this month, I haven't got one yet. Maybe next month. In its absence, here's a peak at what you'll find in my kitchen this month.

My dad is Portuguese, and the Rooster of Barcelos was always present in my home growing up. I particularly remember having a wooden letter holder, and several china ornaments. When I first moved out of home, my brother gave me this Portuguese-made rooster as a housewarming present. It lives on the glassware shelf in my kitchen and reminds me of my heritage.



With my recent interest in raw food and higher protein, lower calorie snacks, I found myself stocking up on a whole host of interesting ingredients over the last few weeks. I bought some quinoa flakes to make a quinoa porridge. Quinoa is a complete protein source, so it contains a whole set of essential amino acids. It's also low GI which is great for sustained energy needed for lots of exercise and chasing my little lovelies.




I am a little ashamed to admit that we eat a lot of Nutella at our house. We all love it. I've read a bit about macadamia nut butter lately, and think that I could make a version of Nutella from macadamia nuts. I still need to get my food processor, but I thought maybe if I bought some macadamia nuts that it might start the ball rolling. If I get it to work, I'll be sure to write a post.




I love cranberries and like to throw them in muesli bars or biscuits, but struggle to buy dried cranberries that haven't been sweetened. I thought I'd try some goji berries as an unsweetened replacement. That and they have a very cool name.




My girls both love dairy and thankfully have no intolerance to cow's milk protein. They eat a lot of yoghurt and about a year ago I bought an Easiyo System for making "our own" yoghurt. I put that in quotations because it's not really our own. I buy the sachets of yoghurt powder and let it do its thing in the big plastic insulated container. It makes beautifully smooth yoghurt. I mostly make natural yoghurt which gets used in baking, cooking and dressings, or flavoured with fruit puree, but occasionally we indulge in the boysenberry flavour sachet which is really quite nice. My Easiyo System is a well loved addition to my kitchen.



Hopefully next month I'll be able to show case a new appliance in my kitchen, then in May my kitchen will change dramatically. Stay posted.

Take a look at what's going on in other people's kitchens around the world. Follow Celia's link at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial.

13 comments:

  1. Do the quinoa flakes make nice porridge? Recipe? I've got a recipe for choc hazelnut spread very much like nutella if you'd like it, although I'm sure the macadamias would come out nice. A kitchen reno on the cards? I will be all ears because we will be doing one later this year :)

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  2. Teresa Cutter has a quinoa porridge recipe at The Healthy Chef website. I haven't tried it yet, but will be doing soon. I'll let you know. The hazelnut spread recipe would be great! Not a kitchen reno Amber, just a "change". No more clues!

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  3. hiya - is the quinoa porridge recipe raw or cooked?

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    1. The quinoa porridge is cooked. I haven't made it yet, but the recipe follows similar methodology to regular porridge.

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  4. Change is good! Look forward to the details :-). Spread recipe on its way.

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  5. I had a rooster like that one... so cheerful! I think I accidentally left it behind when I left my ex years ago! I love those roosters. The yoghurt maker sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. I do like having the rooster in the kitchen :) The yoghurt maker was only about $20 from a supermarket, and if you go down the pre-made sachet path it's literally a case of adding water, shaking and waiting 12 hrs. Super simple Lizzy.

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  6. Snap! I have an identical-looking rooster to the one in your picture (mine is 16cm high) which I bought only last week....at of all places St. Vinnies for the grand sum of $2.00. I love it.

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  7. Thanks for playing, Pam! :) Love your rooster, and I'm sure he'll have a great spot in your kitchen! We make yoghurt too using the Easiyo thermos, but we just use UHT milk and milk powder rather than the sachets. And I'd love to know if you get the nut butter to work - my food processor is pretty old, and really not up to scratch. Can't wait to see which one you end up getting! :)

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    1. It's fun to play Celia! I'll look up your yoghurt recipe. UHT milk and milk powder sounds easy enough.

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  8. Love the rooster. I give chickens and roosters to my niece- it is an old tradition for which we can't remember the reason.
    I've never seen the flakes- quinoa is not a family favorite- but I like it a lot.
    Thanks for the quick peek- hope your kitchenaid is all you hope for it to be.

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    1. Thanks Heidiannie! I haven't used the quinoa yet, but I am always excited to try new ingredients, and desperate for breakfast inspiration.

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