In My Kitchen, April 2012

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In My Kitchen, April 2012

April 1, 2012 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

In my kitchen…

…is an easy mid-week dessert – meringues with microwave custard and frozen raspberries…

In my kitchen…

…is treasure… Cape Grim beef ribs purchased at the markets for a song (they were surplus from an export order)…

A slow four-hour bake transformed them into sticky, tender perfection…

In my kitchen…

…is a large slab of salmon, smoked by our neighbour Ellen. The Neighbour Ware is not only coming back, it’s coming back with food on it…

And speaking of the Neighbour Ware, in my kitchen…

…is the latest addition to the set, from the Johnson Brothers Born to Shop range…

…the plate came with a matching teacup and saucer that says Dieting is Wishful Shrinking. So true, so true…

In my kitchen…

…are dark and light Muscovado sugar. They add a treacly note to my baking…

In my kitchen…

…is Wednesday’s harvest – carrots, Tuscan kale, a perennial leek, white kohlrabi and three eggs…

…and Thursday’s harvest – self-sown endive, cucumbers, a patty pan squash and lots of small eggplants…

In my kitchen…

…are black mussels, cooked with soy, ginger and chilli. An easy and surprisingly economical meal!

. . . . .

Tell me, what’s happening in your kitchen this month?

If you’d like to do an In My Kitchen post on your own blog, please feel free to use this format, and to leave a comment here linking back to your post. We’d love to see what’s happening in your kitchen this month!

. . . . .

Here are this month’s posts…

Shelley @ All Litten Up

Christine @ Food Wine Travel

Sorcha @ xo.sorcha.ox

Rose @ Greening The Rose

Christine @ Invisible Spice

Pam @ Grow, Bake, Run

Sally @ Bewitching Kitchen

Brydie @ CityHippyFarmgirl

Misk @ Misk Cooks

Claire @ Claire K Creations

Karen @ Soul Kitchen Blog

Mandy @ The Complete Cookbook

Matina @ Delicio8

Sue @ Sous Chef

Tandy @ Lavender and Lime

Jane @ The Shady Baker

Lizzy @ Bizzy Lizzy’s Good Things

Glenda @ Passion Fruit Garden

Heidi @ Steps on the Journey

Posted in In My Kitchen | Tagged backyard vegetables, beef brisket, Cape Grim beef, Johnson Brothers Born to Shop, meringues and custard, Muscovado sugar | 89 Comments

89 Responses

on April 1, 2012 at 12:22 am thecompletecookbook

Oh how I wish I was in your kitchen this month Celi!
:-) Mandy
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:36 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Mandy, we always have fun! I wish you were here too! :)
on April 1, 2012 at 12:26 am Kavey

I absolutely love those Billington’s sugars, really beautiful flavours. Great for baking!
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:36 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Kaves, I have to stop myself eating the dark sugar with a spoon… :)
on April 1, 2012 at 12:44 am Norma Chang

That beef rib is just perfect. I love your presentations and how you arrange your harvest, so artfully. I am learning so much from your blogs. Thanks.
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:35 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks so much, Norma! :)
on April 1, 2012 at 12:53 am sallybr

Celia, great round-up…. it seems that life is against me and the “In My Kitchen” write ups… now a freaky accident with Phil’s knee that required surgery 4 days ago sent us into a roller coaster again…

oh, well…. I live vicariously through your wonderful post, and hope to catch you in May (fingers crossed)
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:34 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Sally, I’m so sorry to hear about Phil’s knee! I hope he’s on the mend soon!
on April 1, 2012 at 1:18 am Sally

I could never be a vegetarian when I look at that beautiful beef. Too long since I joined in ‘in my kitchen’. Lovely to have a peek in yours.
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:34 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Sally, if you ever see Cape Grim beef in Dubai, grab it. It’s the best you can buy from Australia! You and me, girlfriend, we’re never going to make it as vegetarians.. :)
on April 1, 2012 at 1:34 am sponge

Nice post as always. :-)
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:33 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Sponge! :)
on April 1, 2012 at 2:04 am Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide

Oh wow, everything is making my mouth water.
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:33 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Greg, I wish you could have come over to share the ribs. I’d have served them with beer for you! :)
on April 1, 2012 at 2:44 am Glenda

Hi Celia
Lovely post. Good news that your neighbourware is coming home, especially laden with goodies.

I have posted my “In my Kitchen” for April. All the best to you and your family.
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:33 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Glenda, you had SUCH interesting stuff in your kitchen this month! Thank you for playing! :)
on April 1, 2012 at 3:04 am bakecakecrumbs

Lovely round up of what’s happening your way. I especially love the way your neighbourware is coming back loaded with goodies! and the latest plate is a great design!
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:32 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Bless my neighbours, I would gladly trade cake for smoked salmon any day!! :D
on April 1, 2012 at 4:58 am April- In my kitchen… - Steps On the Journey

[…] blog Fig jam and Lime cordial and check out all the other blogs, as […]
on April 1, 2012 at 5:05 am heidiannie

Your kitchen is making me very hungry!
What a great collection of meat and vegetables!
And that sugar looks so sweet! I buy my specialty sugar in a bulk store- I like the packaging, but it costs a lot more that way.
When I first saw the mussels, I thought you wrote “cooked with joy” rather than soy. I think I would cook them with equal parts, joy and soy! :)
I put up a post this month, too, Celia- thanks for sharing!
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:31 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Heidi, yes, the mussels were cooked with both soy and joy! They were delicious! :) And it was a joy to see what was in your kitchen this month, especially your gorgeous little man!
on April 1, 2012 at 7:00 am Lizzy (Good Things)

Happy April dear Celia and friends! The beef ribs sparked my interest immediately, as Peter insisted we buy some last week from a new farm butchery that we discovered. I haven’t had much success with them, but your four hour slow bake has given me new hope! Thanks so much. Love your neighbourware, Celia…. such a great idea. The muscovado is yummy, love that range. I popped into Essential Ingredient yesterday afternoon and gave the credit card a hammering with Herbie’s spices, vanilla, muscovado and a few other goodies. Mmmmm to the meringues too, such a delicious, low fat dessert.
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:30 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Lizzy, I browned the ribs in the pan first, and then put them in a roasting tray, added quite a lot of liquid (tomato puree, red wine and herbs), then covered it and put it in the oven at about 140C for ages. By the time I went back to it hours later, they meat was meltingly tender. I poured off the juices and let them rest, then defatted it – quite a lot of fat comes of the ribs as they roast/braise.
  
  I always hammer the old credit card whenever I go to Herbie’s Spices! :)
on April 1, 2012 at 8:21 am Jane @ Shady Baker

So much lovely variety in your kitchen Celia! Mussels are great aren’t they…I don’t cook them very often being so far inland but I have cooked them with similiar ingredients to yours with delicious results. That beef rib looks incredible! Happy Sunday to you and thank you again for this fun game. My IMK post is linked.
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:28 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Jane, thanks for playing! I rarely ever cook mussels, which is daft, as they take just minutes to prepare and everyone in the house loves them! :)
on April 1, 2012 at 10:51 am Claire @ Claire K Creations

What a lovely selection Celia. I’m always so envious of your harvests. You have a very lucky family to be having such luscious looking desserts mid-week. Yum!
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:28 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Claire, thank you, there hasn’t been heaps coming in from the garden – the weather has been too dodgy for that – but it’s lovely to always have a little something to bring in!
on April 1, 2012 at 12:44 pm hotlyspiced

In my kitchen…is nothing as interesting as yours! Those ribs look like they were an incredibly good buy and I love how you cooked them. What treasure! The dieting crockery is cute and gorgeous. And I love your Wednesday harvest – such bounty xx
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:27 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Charlie, thank you, but I’ve seen what comes out of your kitchen, and I KNOW it’s all fabulous! :) Ribs were a bargain – $11/kg for Cape Grim? Unheard of! (I’m still doing a little happy dance about that one)
on April 1, 2012 at 1:36 pm cityhippyfarmgirl

Wonderful garden goodies in there Celia, (and you know I love the sugar ;-))
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:26 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Brydie, I love that if you hadn’t been looking for the sugar, I’d have never figured out that they sell it at our local deli! Thanks, eh. :) xx
on April 1, 2012 at 3:23 pm Lina

So wish I was adopted by you Celia!! haha…Love the ribs….mmmm. Got any good recipes for your eggplants othere than Baba Ghanouj?? I have a couple that stare at me every morning begging”Please cook us cause we’re getting old!!!”’…..
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:25 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Lina, I’ve been grilling and freezing them! :)
  
  https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2012/03/11/freezing-eggplant/
on April 1, 2012 at 4:34 pm Liz

Oh, would I like to trade what’s in your kitchen for what’s in mine! I can smell that beef. In my kitchen are 5 dozen hot cross buns at various stages of proof. I always make them for friends as a pre-Easter gift.
- on April 1, 2012 at 4:38 pm Lina
  
  okay Liz, be nice and pass on your recipe for those hot cross buns you’re making! Cause if you make them for your friends at Easter then they must be legendary!!! Please??????????? :)
  - on April 2, 2012 at 12:24 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
    
    Lina, I doubt they’ll be anywhere near as good as Liz’s, but for what it’s worth, here’s my HXB recipe.. :)
    
    https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2009/04/02/hot-cross-buns-recipe/
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:23 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Liz, I can smell the hot cross buns! I haven’t had any this year – you’re very good – I find them lots of work!
on April 1, 2012 at 4:47 pm mykitchenstories

Oh those vegies Celia. Billingtons is my favourite and I want those ribs so badly!
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:22 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Tania, for the longest time we couldn’t find Muscovado sugar, but it’s back in the stores again now! :)
on April 1, 2012 at 4:54 pm mykitchenstories

Celia, by the way the Organic Bread bar makes lots of sourdough
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:22 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks for letting me know, Tania! :)
on April 1, 2012 at 5:10 pm jcosmonewbery

My kitchen has a new pressure cooking simmering away, full of shanks.
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:21 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Cosmo, we love our pressure cooker, although we mainly use it for stock. I bet the shanks will be super tender when they’re done!
on April 1, 2012 at 6:03 pm Soul Kitchen Blog

Very jealous of all your garden goodies! They are all so shiny and crisp – they almost don’t look real :-)
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:21 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Karen, I promise they are! :) The eggplants are really shiny, like polished onyx! (hehe…how’s that for poetic?)
  - on April 2, 2012 at 8:34 pm Soul Kitchen Blog
    
    Ha … onyx indeed, very poetic !!! ps. I’ve posted an IMK this month x
    - on April 3, 2012 at 5:40 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
      
      Cool, thanks for playing! :)
on April 1, 2012 at 6:51 pm Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

hehe well next month, in your kitchen will be ME hoping for some of those amazing beef ribs! ;) Just kidding…well I still think that they look amazing though :P
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:20 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  I thought of you when I bought them! Ever since you put me onto Cape Grim beef, we’ve been hooked! Thanks Lorraine! :)
on April 1, 2012 at 10:52 pm In My Kitchen – April |

[…] from the blog Fig Jam and Lime Cordial hosts a monthly initiative whereby bloggers from all over the world show & tell what’s in […]
on April 1, 2012 at 10:57 pm Sous Chef

The ribs look great and I bet that salmon was delicious! My IMK is posted.
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:18 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Sue, thanks for playing! Both the ribs and salmon were delicious – my friend Ellen has a really deft touch with the smoker!
on April 2, 2012 at 2:26 am marilynscottwaters

We had an Irish themed potluck on Saturday. I made a Boston Brown Bread recipe that was morish. The hub made corned beef.

C, your meringues looks so fine. Custard and raspberries = win.

Maz.
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:18 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Maz, thank you! Now that I can make custard in the microwave, desserts are always easy! :) Boston Brown Bread sounds intriguing!
on April 2, 2012 at 5:47 am promenadeplantings

Loving your harvests, particularly envious, yes I admit it, of your aubergines!
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:17 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Claire, it hasn’t been a great year for eggplants, but we did end up getting a few. They were quite small – very little sunshine this past Sydney summer has really affected all the Mediterranean crops. We turned all the ones in the photo into eggplant parmigiana for dinner that evening! :)
on April 2, 2012 at 8:18 am teawithhazel

all your goodies look ‘temptational’ but it’s the homegrown stuff that i always love best..
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:16 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Jane, the backyard produce changes all the time, but there’s always something there, and that makes me soooo happy! :)
on April 2, 2012 at 9:41 am In My Kitchen « delicio8

[…] join Celia, who blogs over at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial, by sharing with us what is in your kitchen! I thought this was a fun little “get to know […]
on April 2, 2012 at 9:42 am delicio8

What a fun way to get to know other bloggers! I like your kitchen and I’ve just posted mine.
- on April 2, 2012 at 12:15 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks for playing! :)
on April 2, 2012 at 1:40 pm lambsearsandhoney

So glad to see the whole neighbour-ware thing paying off for you, Celia. And soooo wish I had a neighbour who smoked their own salmon!
- on April 3, 2012 at 5:41 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Amanda, it is such a joy! Sometimes whole rainbow trouts come up the road!
on April 2, 2012 at 2:23 pm Just A Smidgen

Only in Celi’s kitchen could a dessert that beautiful be called easy and mid-week in one breath.. my mid-week dessert are, well, non-existent I’m afraid:) Looks like yours is the kitchen to be in!! xoxo Smidge
- on April 3, 2012 at 5:43 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Smidge, you’re kind, but it really was easy! The hardest thing was stopping Pete eating what was on the plate before the raspberries defrosted enough for me to take a photo.. :D
  - on April 3, 2012 at 10:06 am Just A Smidgen
    
    Hahaha!
on April 2, 2012 at 5:14 pm Tandy

the plate is sooooo cute, and I love the cup and saucer too :)
- on April 3, 2012 at 5:44 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Tandy, the Born to Shop range really is very, very cute. So far it’s holding up well in the dishwasher as well. They’ve been an economical indulgence – I bought the 3 piece set above on special for $12!
on April 2, 2012 at 7:17 pm Anna

I thought the plate read “Dieting is ONE piece of cake” – and I thought that was quite sensible!

All looks delicious – the lamb, the salmon and your vegetables make beautiful still life photographs. I am looking for a small still life of lemons….
- on April 3, 2012 at 5:44 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Anna, it certainly does make more sense to have just ONE piece of cake.. :)
  
  That brother and SIL of yours have a deft touch with the smoker!
on April 2, 2012 at 11:16 pm Tesney Ap

Oh I wish I could find ribs like that in India! It’s so gorgeous :)
- on April 3, 2012 at 5:45 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Tes, thank you! It was delicious!
on April 3, 2012 at 12:09 am Joanna

what a gorgeous set of foodie delights this month, I must try harder, there’s always something to inspire me here xx
- on April 3, 2012 at 5:46 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Why do you have to try harder? Your kitchen is always full of interesting treasures! :) xx
on April 3, 2012 at 10:01 am In my kitchen – April

[…] ps. don’t forget to check out some other In My Kitchen posts over at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial. […]
on April 3, 2012 at 2:24 pm theintolerantchef

So many pretties Celia! I love a new discovery or two.
In my kitchen there are bottles of lime curd and marmalade, a big bowl of quinces, some sprouting ginger and tumeric, and an Inspired-By-Celia batch of beef ribs braising in black vinegar, chinese wine and 5 spice- yummo!
- on April 4, 2012 at 9:32 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Becca, those ribs sound amazing! Hope you’ll be posting the recipe – I have another packet of ribs in the freezer!
on April 3, 2012 at 7:32 pm In My Kitchen, April 2012 « Misk Cooks

[…] Join in the fun of “In My Kitchen”. Write up your post, and then link-back to Fig Jam and Lime Cordial “In My Kitchen”. […]
on April 3, 2012 at 7:36 pm Misky

Mussels …. yum. My favourite. :)

Here’s my contribution, Celia.

http://miskcooks.com/2012/04/03/in-my-kitchen-april-2012/
- on April 4, 2012 at 9:33 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks for playing, Misky! :)
on April 4, 2012 at 11:14 am emily@wellcookedlife.com

Looks amazing. Making your custard this weekend for Passover (serving it with choc-toffee matzo). Thanks!
- on April 4, 2012 at 9:33 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Emily! Hope you enjoy the custard!
on April 5, 2012 at 1:04 pm In my kitchen… « Cityhippyfarmgirl

[…] a look over at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial for other kitchen happenings. Share […]
on April 11, 2012 at 9:34 am rose2007

Hi Celia, I’ve come to play.

http://greeningtherose.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/in-my-kitchen.html
- on April 11, 2012 at 1:20 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Cool! Thanks Rose! :)
on April 11, 2012 at 2:35 pm xo.sorcha.ox

I’m slightly jealous of your eggplants, since I’ve my plants have produced absolutely NOTHING. The plants look great, just no sign of there being any fruit anytime soon. :(

I’ve decided to play again this month: http://sorcha-sidhe.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/in-my-kitchen-april-2012.html.

~S.
- on April 12, 2012 at 5:05 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Sorcha! Our eggplants were very late this year – we didn’t seem to get any sun until April! :)
on April 21, 2012 at 1:53 am Choclette

Good to see all your garden produce – looking good. Also glad to know you can now get hold of muscovado sugar.
on April 23, 2012 at 8:51 pm Shelley

Celia, I am in love with your Johnson Bros china! I just found out that our friend now stocks this range in his shop and am pressuring the LOML to get me a sample!! After all, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know…!

And better late than never, I’ve joined the fun! http://alllittenup.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/in-my-kitchen-april-2012.html