In my kitchen…
…are Laguiole cheese knives, bought on sale from Everten Online.
Did you know that Laguiole is a style rather than a brand? The good ones are still made in France and stamped accordingly, like these by Andre Verdier…
The bee is traditional, but its shaping varies slightly between makers…
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In my kitchen…
…is the bargain of the month: Udder Delights Organic Triple Cream Brie for $3.97 a wheel. These had an early February expiry date and were heavily reduced at Costco (who usually sell them at the already discounted price of $12.99). I bought three wheels, portioned them up and stashed them in the freezer…
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In my kitchen…
…is an 80s knitting project: a bacon and egg beret, complete with peas. The truly sad thing is that I can actually remember wearing it out to dinner when I was 19 years old…
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In my kitchen…
…is another ricotta cake. They’re getting better with each attempt…
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In my kitchen…
…is my Christmas fossil, a 400 million year old orthoceras slab. The unusual large specimen on the right has a clearly defined propulsion tube (siphuncle). It’s ludicrous that the retail price on this was $45, less than a good dinner in Sydney costs…
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In my kitchen…
…are chocolate wheels, made using the plastic ma’moul moulds I found at Harkola…
Some designs were more successful than others…
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In my kitchen…
…was an ang pow lantern, made for Chinese New Year celebrations with my cousins. I wrote a step by step tutorial on these here…
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In my kitchen…
…was a quick Römertopf dinner, made with our leftover Christmas ham, assorted fridge and freezer vegetables, moghrabieh, tinned chick peas, Herbie’s chermoula spice mix and water…
After a couple of hours, I pulled out the bones and added a handful of small pasta, then put it back into the oven for another 20 minutes…
It was very easy to make, and an ideal way to use up leftover ham…
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Finally, in my kitchen…
…is a new dishwasher.
After the extensive repairs we undertook in 2014, we managed to get another two and a half years from our trusty old workhorse, but we just couldn’t justify fixing it any more. Our old machine was installed on the 15th January 2002, and it lasted fifteen years and one week. I think that’s an amazing run given the heavy duty usage we’ve put it through!
So naturally, we’ve bought another Miele.
Here’s a really big tip for my fellow Aussies…if you’re looking to buy a Miele appliance, check out their Unboxed stores. These outlets are kept pretty quiet, but all the appliances they have on offer come with a full mechanical warranty and sell for about 25% off recommended retail prices. They’re out of their original packaging, and some will have surface marks or scratches, but all will have been fully tested before sale. In January, they had dishwashers starting from just $585!
The retail price on the machine we bought was $1,499 and the Unboxed store had it for $1,050. We went one step further and bought a machine with a blue dot on it (lightly run, usually a demonstration model) and paid just $900. It’s German made, whisper quiet and very water efficient…
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Tell me, what’s happening in your kitchen?
If you’d like to write an In My Kitchen post, please do so by the 10th February and send your link to Liz of Bizzy Lizzy’s Good Things. Thanks for hosting Liz! x
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Laguiole cheese knives are my favorite!
That makes two of us then … :-)
I was worried that my Miele dishwasher (a mere youngster as only installed May 2004) might be on its last legs as it definitely wasn’t washing the dishes properly but thankfully it just turned out to be useless detergent. Excellent way to use up ham – will have to try it out.
Wow, what a bargain on your dishwasher! I would love a store like that here. Even on my own most of the time, I would not be without a dishwasher and hopefully if and or when we ever need a new one, I will still be able to get a white one. So many scrumptious goodies in your kitchen too. Lovely!
Have a wonderful and happy day.
:-) Mandy xoxo
Happy New Year my old friend. I haven’t been writing but had to drop a note to you when you mentioned that you managed to keep your old dishwasher running for an extra 2 1/2 years…because I remember your posts about the problems you were having and can’t believe I’ve been reading you for so long.
I love those cheese knives. I just bought a pretty set with a variety of styles and was wondering what the forked part of the ones on the right are for. Is that for spearing chunks of cheese? I’m probably embarrassing myself but can’t figure what the prongs are for.
Great job on your Miele… we had Miele appliances when we lived in Paris, and fell in love with each one of them!
amazing company!
Happy New Year! And congrats on the new dishwasher. :-)
I have some Laguoile cheese knives too – a Christmas gift from my son.
I also have a Miele dishwasher and I don’t love it anywhere near as much as you love yours. It consistently fails to get a whole load clean, no matter how I stack it. I won’t be buying another.
It might need servicing? Anne also mentioned above that she found changing her detergent made a difference…
I always find your chocolate creations amazing- almost too pretty to eat.
We discovered Udder Delight cheese at the Barossa Farmers Market, priced in multiples very temptingly. So happy that I can freeze soft cheeses… I’m building a freezer stash… like money in the bank 🐭
Now am ‘mad’ at myself! Living rurally and buying 95% of my ‘stuff’ on line had so many wonderful offers for Laguiole implements just recently . . . . looking at yours I am sorry I did not follow my instincts !!! Can’t believe the price of your Brie . . . but then I never knew that it could be frozen: another lesson learnt: since I must be at C303 with you, slow learner . . .
I have a Miele dishwasher in my house in Melbourne and it’s 15 years old – I repaired it once and that’s it. Such great value for money – you got a bargain.
After seeing your success with freezing the brie I’ll have to give it a go when I see discounted here. Oh I forgot to tell you – that brisket recipe I tried with pork over the weekend was outstanding – even better than the brisket. I think you’d like it x
That beret is brilliant!
We have a 20 yr old Dishlex which just needed the drainage bits cleaned when it started to leave me unwashed dishes. Easy to do. I use Aldi dishwashing powder and vinegar as a rinse aid with great results. Thanks for info on Miele, will pass it on.
Great story about the purchase of your Miele. We bought both a Miele dishwasher and washing machine in 1982. Both ran for 25 years, although towards the end of the dishwasher’s life I had to coax it to work by putting a toothpick in the door and giving it a kick every time I wanted it to start. From recollection, I think our machines in the 80’s were guaranteed to run for 25 years, how times have changed. My cousin in England has a Miele dishwasher that is still giving her excellent service after fifty years of use, must be a record.
The beret! This post is all about the beret for me 😄😄😄😄
I still just can’t bring myself to freeze cheese Celia. Just think of all those wheels of cheese I used to throw away when working in the cheese wholesalers!! A lovely bargain on that udder delight though. Ha, I just found a pack of french made couteaux laguiole knifes at the back of my cupboard last week. I could have given them to you you would have loved me! x
C’mon, I already love you. xxx
Belated happy Chinese New Year Celia to you and your family.
Celia, I have been given a never used unglazed Romertopf and just wondering do you know what the difference would be to the glazed and if it needs seasoning etc? I’m really looking forward to trying your yummy recipes and have a duck in the freezer ready to jump in! PS. we love your dumplings, think it’s time I made another batch…
We have been so very fortunate with our appliances, little to no repair and we have never had to replace one. The washer and dryer are on my list, they are old and I just want new ones that don’t kill my clothes. The new ones have so much more tech and I’m so excited to get them! We are also getting a gas dryer because electricity is so expensive here the electric company give lower rates if you use it in less demand times, so I end up only doing laundry after 7 on weekdays or only on weekends which is a pain!
Hi darling, happy new year and happy February. Wow, I’m jumping for joy at your new dishwasher, that’s great news! I have been freezing cheese for ages, but must admit I have yet to freeze soft cheese (mainly because when I buy it in small quantities it’s for dinner/drinks guests and we eat it all). Those chocolate wheels are making my mouth water… I’m eating very little chokky these days, because I’ve still got about 5kg to lose and my absolute (pathetic) weakness is chocolate… one nibble and I cannot stop. He he he. : )
PS My pleasure, thank you for asking me xxx
I what beautiful chocolates. I recently found crème fraîche at a great price and froze it too. Definitely need to get a freezer for the garage as I keep running out of space for all the bargains or mass baking I stash in my freezers.
Loving it all but I feel that you or one of your lovely family should have modelled the beret so that we could fully appreciate it 😀
I did not know that about Laguoile, always thought it was a brand! Must go take a closer look at the ones we have downstairs!
Hi Celia, just loving the beret, how unique and am sure at 19 you were a trend setting foodie. Wouldn’t be without my dishwasher too :)
I’ve had two Miele dishwashers and I agree – top notch.
Everything is wonderful in your kitchen this month but honestly, does ANYTHING compare to the bacon and egg hat complete with peas?? I think not.
speaking of freezing Brie, I freeze packets of pre-grated cheese if I can’t eat it in time. A bit dried out but ok; better than wasting it. You know i adore those fossils; this one is an absolute beauty. I am drooling and what a great price. Love the bees on the knives:)
oh my word! that hat! superb.
Great taste choosing Laguiole knives Celia! Can’t say I have ever heard of an egg and bacon hat, I’m impressed you admit to wearing it. Maybe a remodel pic to share? I think the unboxed stores may not be quite a secret now! I must admit I’m loving having a DW and they are so quiet compared to the old ones. That Römertopf dinner looks great, can you still buy Herbies in store or do you need to mail order? You never cease to amaze me!
It is so good you can get appliances cheaper! I did not know that the Laguiole knives were a style. Thanks for that piece of information. I am coming to visit one day for your chocolate :)
Wow, you have even a fossil in your kitchen! My kitchen looks more zen like, probably because it’s a real tiny kitchen. Great post, thanks.
Another gorgeous looking month in your kitchen. I think that ham/pasta meal looks very tasty, and I envy you finding that inexpensive brie – well done Celia!
That beret is hilarious – you should really have modelled it ;)
(And I love your fossil – you may be pointing me down another interest road here. I need to investigate fossils in the UK…..)
Wow, its amazing how the moulds worked for the chocolate wheels.
The beret made me smile, ain’t seen anything like it ever and I guess I never will again –
Congrats on the new dishwasher! Your chocolate always looks so pretty. I love the mould patterns. Love the knives, too. The colours are great. Hope you are keeping well, Celia!