In my kitchen October 2012
I’ve been asked on more than one occasion what it is like to blog for a living. Alas, I cannot give the answer as I don’t. My Custard Pie has brought lots of lovely opportunities my way but I don’t run ads, sponsored posts, sell e-books or anything like that so need to do something else to pay the bills. Dashing off to London last month to Food Blogger Connect (thank you Airmiles), pressure of work in October plus running the Food Photography and Styling Workshop at the Miele Gallery with Meeta has taken its toll on my time in the kitchen. It also made me a bit late in revealing the winners of the Antonio Carluccio book give-away (see below). Sincere apologies *blushes*. All this has brought some interesting things into my kitchen this month:
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- Steenbergs organic koekkruidden from my Food Blogger Connect goodie bag. Must Google what it is!
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- Fresh pistachios from Lebanon – KP can’t get enough of them
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- Organic coconut flour given to me by Claire of the International Fine Food Festival. Suggestions on how to use it welcome.
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- I was very sceptical about this tea – it sounds horrid. Now I’m a total convert to Numi Pu-erh especially this flavour. Thanks Claire.
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- Thanks to Karin from Yum and More for this week’s worth of Nutella for my teens. They loved them!
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- Another gift from Claire – this herb oil is fantastic; so fragrant. Lovely drizzled over fish. Find at the International Fine Food Festival, Dubai.
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- When you find really fresh spices the difference is astonishing. I now buy all mine from Down to Earth. They are organic too.
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- Utter fail for the Fresh From the Oven Challenge – spelt rolls which ended up like concrete. They are now blitzed into breadcrumbs and stored in the freezer.
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- We celebrated our wedding anniversary at Table 9 and had a most fantastic evening. At the end they bring round a home-made sweet trolley with gleaming jars so you can choose your own goodie bag. Nice.
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- I was given some of these lightly pasteurised smoothies from France to try. My teens said they were a bit too ‘banana-ry’ but they disappeared in a flash. You can buy them at the Ripe market in Dubai.
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- My daughter is called Beatrice – Bea for short – and I’m drawn to anything with a bee on it. There’s an excellent selection of real ales at MMI right now.
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- Dima Sharif, who cooked for us all at the Food Photography workshop gave us olive oil from her family’s farm and a special spice rub
The Numi tea, Tropicai organic coconut flour, Organic Herb Company products and Down to Earth will all be at the International Fine Food Festival in Dubai 30 Oct – 2 Nov. I’m moderating the Cookbook Club discussion with Ariana Bundy, Suzanne Husseini and Laila Al Khaja. I’m a bit nervous and excited; do come and say hello if you’re at the festival.
This video of cardamom panna cotta was taken in my kitchen by the very talented Reem for Dubai Media and aired during Ramadan on Noor TV.
In your kitchen
And the lucky winners of the Antonio Carluccio books are Abigail, Amrita, Rupal, Nina and Stuart – you’ll receive an email from me letting you know how to collect your book. Huge thanks to everyone who took the time to enter and left such interesting comments. Let me know what you cook from Antonio Carluccio – love to share recipes. As always you can see what’s in Celia’s kitchen (Fig Jam and Lime Cordial) here.
My Custard Pie 
I’m a little jealous of your kitchen!!
Sounds like you’ll be experimenting quite a bit soon!
Thanks a lot
Will try your Panna Cotta soon 🙂
lovely! Where can I get the coconut flour from? I’ve heard its the best Gluten Free flour for cakes that you can get…
Not sure. Definitely from the International Fine Food Festival. They do organic coconut oil too. Maybe at the Ripe market? I’ll check tomorrow at festival.
You can have some of mine too.
Thanks a ton Sally 🙂
Love the ingredients in your kitchen and I am sure you will put them to good use! Looking forward to using Dima Sharif’s special olive oil and spice rub from the goodie bags we received at the Food Photography Workshop with Meeta! 🙂
I have the same coconut flour, I bought it from Geant. Still trying to figure it out. Sally your kitchen ingredients are fabulous! Thanks for sharing.
Sally, loved seeing all the treasures in your kitchen – and really interested in any restaurant that gives you a goodie bag at the end of the meal! How exciting to have the film cameras in your kitchen! Serendipitously, I was just telling my friend Glenda that spelt is a fickle mistress – some batches have lots of protein and just leap up in the oven, but others are quite low and bake into rocks. I’ve found a difference depending on how it’s milled – the stoneground spelt always seems heavier than the roller milled variety.
Would it be ok with you if I added this post to next month’s IMK listing? The November post is about to go up tomorrow night, and I’d hate for folks to miss seeing your post! 🙂
Sally, loved seeing your kitchen treasures. Looking forward to see the recipes you are going to come up with.
Brilliant way to summarise your new products and great idea to blitz disaster bread into breadcrumbs! Looking forward to how you’ll be using that oil from Dimas Farm
Thank you Sally! Your kitchen pantry is so exciting cant wait to see what delish creation up next
I love what is in your kitchen this month. Especially the jar from Steenberg 😉
congrats to the winners!!! you have been doing quite a lot Sally! kudos
Hi Sally. Love the video. I would love to make it but, alas, I can’t read the instructions. Any chance of an English translation? I love panna cotta.
Always very curious about what’s there in your kitchen… look forward to these posts. I didn’t know you were moderating the cookbook club – had all intentions to attend – even had made the recipe of Adriana Bundy sent over email by IFFF and took a picture in order to get her autograph – but was running really late from a presentation that I couldn’t avoid. My loss completely… Met Claire – a lovely lady with a big warm smile.
I’m really keen to get these oils from Dima’s family farm. And lastly, Congratulations on your anniversary… here’s wishing you many many more years of togetherness!
Hey Busy bee love all the goodies in your kitchen, totally in for the spelt crumbs, will be great for coating cheese balls. I totally missed IFF what shame! my time did not allow 😦 will wait to read about it here
Oh what lovely treasures in your kitchen. The koekkruiden is Dutch…..cookie spice. A bit like pumpkin spice mixes, with warming, autumnal flavours and scents.
I hope you had a great time at Food Blogger Connect – I attended the first one in 2009 in London and LOVED meeting other wonderful bloggers. Wonderful stuff
I have your same problem with some product from London like you… I found that Steenbergs organic koekkruidden is a mix spices to make a Ginger Bread! Greedy kisses, Marica
What lovely treasures in your kitchen! I love seeing products from around the world. As for the coconut flour, you can use it in muffins, quick breads, pancakes, smoothies, granola etc. But it happens to be very dry so there needs to be enough liquid in whatever recipe you’re using (learned that the hard way!) I’ve only played around with it once but it lends a mild, nutty coconut flavor to your recipe. It’s not overpowering. I’m curious to know what you will make 🙂 Thanks for sharing your kitchen 🙂
What a great larder! I bet those pistachios are fantastic! Lovely!
I think KP ate the whole boxful!
Wow, you have some treasures in your kitchen! I love that Carluccio book with the old Italian lady on the cover.
Yes me too – she has kind eyes.