In My July KItchen

Cookies from Australia: Tim Tams, a favorite there since 1964. Purchased at Kroger's supermarket.
Blogger Johanna goes as far as to say: "I think I might claim that Tim Tams are Australia's answer to Oreos."

My friends from Australia sometimes mention Arnott's Tim Tams in their blogs, where they mention not only liking them, but also as an ingredient in other treats like brownies, donuts, and ice cream. So I wanted to share a picture of the package containing my first ever taste of this exotic item, a chocolate-covered crunchy biscuit. We ate almost the entire 7 oz package immediately after opening it, and found Tim Tams quite delicious. However, I suspect we are lacking the right childhood memories that lead to the lifetime of Tim-Tam-love that the Australians seem to lavish on them. The commercial home page for Tim Tams modestly says:

"Go anywhere in Australia and you’ll feel it. That deep, raw, unbridled passion Aussies have for their Tim Tam® biscuits."

These Australian friends speak to me through their blogs -- I haven't met them in real life. I am especially familiar with their food thoughts from the once-a-month blogging event called "In My Kitchen." To see what these bloggers are featuring in their kitchens this month, check their links in Sherry's blog here. And let's continue with what's new or different in my own kitchen at the end of July.

In my kitchen I have this new moose-decorated tea towel from Maine.
Beside it is an older tea towel with a map of London.

Also from Maine: a pot holder with a lobster theme.

And tea from the famous Jordan Pond House, which is better known for
popovers and other breakfast items. 

Evelyn and Miriam brought me the tea towel, potholder, and tea,
as well as this little bluebird tea-bag holder. They spent a week in Maine.

During July, I cooked and prepared food quite a lot. For example, these deviled eggs.

Lots and lots of fresh produce arrives in July -- here's just one plum.

In season, though not necessarily local to Michigan: red & yellow heirloom tomatoes, peaches, avocados.

Chopped tomato & avocado, ready to put on toast to make bruschetta.

Salad including a yellow heirloom tomato, avocado, cilantro, tuna, garlic croutons, bell pepper,
garbanzo beans, Moroccan spices, and a spoonful of tahini.

Fresh ripe peaches baked into a crumble. We have had a few local early-variety peaches already, though most are
from further south or from California. One farmer's market vendor also had a few apricots early in July.

Not in the kitchen, but at the beach -- my sister's peach pie. What a treat!