Sunday, December 8, 2013

In my kitchen - December 2013 (the birthday edition)

I am linking this post in to Celia's monthly In My Kitchen event at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Thank you so much for your birthday wishes. It seems we are all in agreement that life only gets better with age - which is fortunate because we all benefit from that conclusion ;) I had a lovely day and am pleased to use this In My Kitchen post to showcase some birthday items!


In my kitchen, there is a new (my first) vegetable spiraliser.



I tested it out with a cucumber and the spiralising process was every bit as fun as I had hoped it would be. I've since turned a carrot into spaghetti, and am looking forward to trying out zucchini noodles this week.

Cucumber in spaghetti spiral and twist spiral form

In my kitchen, there is also a measuring spoon cross spatula. It does wonders at getting nut butter remnants out of near empty jars!


In my kitchen, there is the No Meat Athlete book. I have only read the first few pages but can't wait to work my way through it. It is divided into general information and guidance on plant-based eating (including recipes), and then the same on running / activity as fueled by a plant-based diet.


In my kitchen, there is a hardback illustrated edition of The Secret Garden. It's one of the few classic books from my childhood that I didn't own, and that gap has now been filled.


Just outside my kitchen, there are new bike panniers on my bike.


Even with buying just fruit at the local markets, my bike basket was struggling to cope on the journey home. I'll still keep my fortnightly vegetable box delivery, but it is wonderful to know I can now buy as much produce as I like and get it home safely.

To fuel the riding and reading, my kitchen also holds new chocolates. These Pana chocolate and Koko Black blocks are amongst my all time chocolate favourites. They were well chosen!


Not pictured but also in my kitchen are tickets to the West Australian Ballet's Ballet at the Quarry next February. These are a gift from my darling husband, who has never attended a ballet in his life, but knew I would like to go and go with him. As a bonus for him, this modern twist on Romeo and Juliet is set to Radiohead music, so there is a good chance we will both enjoy ourselves!

My kitchen has also held leftovers from my birthday dinner. As always, my parents excelled in providing food and the weather cooperated so that we could eat outside.

I will miss this view when we move to England

When asked for meal ideas, I sent my Mum a few of my bookmarked recipes. To my delight, she made Angela's Thai sweet potato veggie burgers with a spicy peanut sauce, from Oh She Glows. One of the reasons I hadn't made these burgers myself is their rather lengthy ingredient list - so I was very grateful to my mother for making the effort on my behalf.


The burgers were wonderful and good enough to motivate me to make them again at home. Stuffed peppers, side salads, and vegan cupcakes were also wonderful.


Now that my birthday is over, the kitchen is starting to show some signs of Christmas...but I shall leave details of those preparations for another post.


What is happening in your kitchen this month?

32 comments:

  1. What a lovely birthday. Your birthday meal sounds fantastic. (Did the rest of your family eat meat? Mine always do.) I am excited by everything in your post but most of all your panniers. I loved my days of riding a bike with panniers and I think panniers are more sophisticated now and easier to carry about when off the bike. They are also a great bright colour for safety and cheer. And the spiraliser looks like fun

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    1. I certainly felt very sophisticated when I took the panniers out :-) They also have little rain covers hidden in an inner pocket and they are bright fluro yellow - less sophisticated but very safe, and good for UK weather I imagine!

      My family did indeed have meat ;) Although just chicken, and they took part in the veggie options too!

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  2. Happy Birthday Kari, sounds like you had a wonderful day! Do I spy a 30 card? If so, welcome to the 'Dirty Thirties' ;)
    Love the look of your veggie spiral, I'd love one, do you mind if I ask where you got it from? It's so cool!

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    1. Thank you Lisa! Yes, I am officially into my 30s - I'm liking the decade so far!

      I adore the veggie spiral and highly recommend this one - you can get it http://www.kitchenwaredirect.com.au/Kitchenware/Fruit-Vegetable-Tool/Betty-Bossi-Vegetable-Twister :-)

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  3. Aww your husband and mother are very special to treat you like that for your birthday. I'm pretty sure I know why - you're pretty special yourself.

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  4. You got some great pressies! I recently got a veggie spiraller with some knives I bought but am yet to try it out.

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    1. I'll look forward to seeing what you get up to with yours! They're definitely fun toys.

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  5. Kari, your birthday celebration looked like a hit -- and what a blessing, from the meal to the gifts to the table setting -- all tailored to you. I agree. Life gets better with age. xo!

    LOL, my first thought at seeing "Veggie Twister" was the ol' "Twister" game. (Shows ya how old I am, ha!) That device will create some terrific pasta alternatives. So glad you had a lovely time!

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    1. Thank you Kim! And don't worry, I remember the old Twister game too - always good for some awkward hilarious moments :-)

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  6. I always preferred A Little Princess toThe Secret Garden, but both are lovely and I highly approve of you completing your childhood classics collection. Also, so crazy envious of the ballet tickets. I hope to one day be at a point in life where I can afford ballet tickets.

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    1. I preferred A Little Princess too :-) I do have that book, albeit not as nicely bound as this one, and am glad you understand and endorse childhood book collecting. As for the ballet...yes. One day you shall come to London and we shall both have jobs that support ballet attendance and we shall go and it will be excellent.

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  7. YES! All great things, Kari! I look forward to seeing what you make with your spiralizer. I really like mine.... and Yay for panniers! I had big panniers in Toronto but got a more classy looking pannier when I moved to Houston. Sadly, it is not as functional, so to prevent it from swinging into the wheels, I wear it on my back now.. which means it isn't really a pannier anymore. lesigh. But it is still pretty classy looking :)

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    1. I'm glad you've enjoyed your own panniers (and now pannier slash back pack ;) )! I do feel very sophisticated cycling with them, although I am deluding myself really because sophistication and I are not friends when I'm on a bike. Still, I feel classy!

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  8. Happy Birthday Kari - sounds like you've had a lovely day!
    The spiraliser is great! I have the same one!

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    1. Excellent! I know it must be good then :-)

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  9. That cross spatula sounds like a great idea, especially for getting to those hard to get places in jars! Hope you had a great birthday, belated wishes!

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    1. Thank you Pamela :-) And the spatula / measuring spoon is the most incredible aid at getting at peanut butter remnants I'd usually have to give up on!

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  10. What a beautiful table- and the menu sounds delish, too!
    Happy Birthday, belated!
    I like the measuring spoon/spatula- I'm always going for that last little bit at the bottom of the jar!

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    1. Then you need one of your own I think! Thanks very much Heidi Annie :)

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  11. Wow what a lucky hall you have there Kari. Happy Birthday and good luck filling up those panier bags

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    1. Thank you! I think I shall have great fun with their filling :-)

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  12. It looks like you had a great birthday. How kind of your mother to go to the trouble of making that recipe for you - the burgers sound fantastic. I love how you can now manage to get all your produce home with those panier bags xx

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    1. She was extremely kind, and happily loved the burgers too - so there is even a chance she might make them for me again!

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  13. Lucky you on all those lovely prezzies! Kitchen equipment, chocolate and tickets to the ballet would all make me very happy indeed :) Fantastic to have such a fabulous vegan meal all made for you too.

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  14. looks like it was a wonderful birthday!

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  15. Happy belated birthday, Kari! What a gorgeous alfresco dining area you have! The veggie twister looks like great fun, and I'm impressed Koko Black has made it all the way to WA! I don't buy from chocolate shops any more, but they were definitely one of my favourites - we used to pop in whenever we were in Melbourne.. x

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    1. Thank you Celia! Koko Black definitely has some strong WA followers (me included!)...they just have one store, but it is always busy :-) The outdoor dining area is actually my parent's, but I do adore it.

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  16. G'day Kari! Happy belated birthday, true!
    I would miss your stunning view!
    Love the veggie twister, brings back lots of memories for me too!
    Thanks for welcoming me into this month's kitchen view!
    Viewed as part of Celia's In My Kitchen
    Cheers! Joanne

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