Tuesday, June 30, 2020

New and Old in My Kitchen in June

In my kitchen in June, there are a few new things among the old faithfuls.

It's the season for lots of good vegetables that we haven't
enjoyed since last summer. Here's new corn served in a
very old serving dish.
Penzey's Spices is always a good source of new flavors
as well as replacements for spices I've used up.
Here you see my order from earlier this month, including
Bouquet Garni, Tellicherry Peppercorns, and more.
Grilling in the back yard -- which is symbolically part of my kitchen -- is something I've documented often. Grilling vegetables without meat is new, though I've mentioned our reasons for avoiding beef and pork this year. I'll tell you a secret: we have a few packages of meat from before the pandemic and we will be grilling them during the summer!




Cauliflower, eggplant, and red bell pepper on the fire.
The eggplant became babaganoush.
Cauliflower and red pepper salad.

A Retro Style

On the table: new ceramic plates and new cloth dinner napkins, with very classic
Dansk design place mats and Dansk salt & pepper shakers that I've had for a very long time.
In my kitchen, all glasses for water or wine or anything else are the cheapest possible because I'm a terrible breaker of glassware! My recent favorite sources: Ikea and Target. There seems to be a shortage of paper goods, so we have transitioned to mostly washable cloth napkins -- the new ones are from amazon.com, where I'm doing almost all my shopping during lockdown.

Dansk -- meaning Danish -- was the trademark for a wide variety of table
linens, cookware, dishes, furniture, and household accessories. It was very popular
in the fifties and sixties, and now is a retro collectible. 

New and Old Rolling Pins and Other Baking Tools

My mother's rolling pin dates from the 1950s. Before she had this one, she used a bottle to roll out pie dough or cookies.
For some of his bread recipes, Len wanted a French style rolling pin -- his new one is very useful. 
Another practical purchase: three glass mixing bowls, which will be
handy for many bread-making tasks, among other uses.
One of the new bowls in use for making sourdough starter.
The result: a rye-raisin bread from the Poilâne book (reviewed here.)
One of several successful bakes that Len has done this month. 
This month, I also baked a couple of sweets — I talked about
this pan of brownies a few days ago.
I also baked peanut butter cookies from the recipe
in the Joy of Cooking. A classic worth keeping!

"In My Kitchen" is a blog party hosted each month by Sherry, who lives in Australia and blogs at
http://sherryspickings.blogspot.com/ To see what's new in a number of other kitchens belonging to bloggers around the world, check out her post for this month!

Author of this content is Mae's food blog: Maefood dot blogspot.com. © 2020.
Note copyright on photos.

This is the real header of Mae's one and only food blog.
If you are reading this post somewhere else, it's been stolen!

28 comments:

Tina said...

I love baba ghanoush but never thought to make it at home. There were good varieties sold in the markets but now they've stopped carrying tehm. I wonder if this method would work on the gas grill?

I still have my old rolling pin but how I'd love to have my mother's. The only thing
left of her Kitchen items is the recipe box, which I treasure.
Still craving your brownies:-)

Anne (cornucopia) said...

Your food looks delicious. And I like your table place settings. Switching to cloth napkins is a good idea with the ongoing paper goods shortages. Happy T-Day!

Anne (cornucopia) said...

I tried to leave a comment but got an error. Second try: Your food looks delicious. Your table place settings look nice. Good idea to use cloth napkins with the ongoing paper goods shortages. Happy T-Day!

Meggymay said...

Your food looks delicious, I'm pleased I've had lunch or I would be away to raid the pantry. I use an old rolling pin and have my grandmothers mixing bowl, much treasured and I would not part with them.
Stay safe. Happy T day wishes.
Yvonne

Jeanie said...

It all looks terrific, Mae. I haven't seen corn yet this year -- feels early. Was it good? It sure looks pretty! And I love your table setting. Very casually elegant. I love my IKEA glasses -- those things are practically indestructible, at least my drinking and juice glasses. I've actually seen them in restaurants!

I just saw a fun look for a handle rolling pin (I converted to French a long time ago but also have my mom's). A blogger took ribbon or something and tied to both handles and hung it on the wall. I'm thinking of doing that. I like it but don't use it and it would be a fun way to have mom in the kitchen with me.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Everything in your kitchen and your grill look wonderful. This vegetarian would be in heaven if I ate at your house. I also break my good glassware, so I like cheap ones, too. Thanks for joining us and thanks for sharing your kitchen with us for T this Tuesday.

Angie's Recipes said...

I love your new ceramic plates...so gorgeous. That rye raisin bread looks terrific...I am a fan of any rye bread.

Eileen Bergen said...

My mouth waters for fresh sweet corn. Sweet corn won't grow here. Fresh-picked sweet corn was a summer ritual in WI and NJ. The cauliflower and red pepper salad looks delicious too.

Happy T-Day! Eileen xx

Valerie-Jael said...

Hi Mae, I don't know what I would like to eat first after seeing so much food at one go, so much temptation. Love the new plates. My rolling pin is like your Mom's from the 1950s, but I think mine will be from the 40s. If you go out, leave the kitchen door unlocked so I can sample some goodies! Happy T day, hugs, Valerie

Linda Kunsman said...

Nothing like fresh summer corn- and I have now made it twice on the grill-yum! You have a nice selection of dinner ware and glasses. Love grilling all kinds of veggies on the grill, and have even gotten hubby to switch to plant based hot dogs:)But he would love your desserts here especially;) Enjoy and happy T day!

Kate Yetter said...

Your grilled veggies and food look delicious! And that sourdough loaf drew my eye. I read that book but I didn't think the recipes were simple enough for my schedule. maybe eventually I will give one a try. Your bread looks like it turned out well.
Happy Tea Day,
Kate

Lisca said...

Your blogpost is such an inspiration!We will be having cauliflower and red pepper salad later this week with baba ganoush, and I'll make some roti with it.
Your table ware is beautiful. Skandinavisan design never goes out of fashion. I had to smile at the Danish place mats...woven in Finland!
I've never seen a rolling pin like Len's. Does it make it easier to roll round?
Your sourdough bread looks very delicious, and it reminded me that I must have another attempt at making a starter, now that I have bought some rye flour. (They say that making a starter with rye is easier)

Wishing you a very happy T-Day,
Hugs (These ones are allowed, but oh I so crave real hugs),
Lisca

Iris Flavia said...

Corn is just waiting for better weather here, too!

kathyinozarks said...

Everything looks so delicious here and I really enjoy using my vintage kitchen items too, I have some of my Mom's and her Mom's and I collect old rolling pins I have a deep drawer of them-I love the grains in the old wood and how they feel when using them.
I used to love penzeys they have awesome spices I still have allot of them, but now I buy from his sister's spice shop in Chicago When the owner started telling his customers how to vote in the elections a few years ago, I couldn't support him any more. His sister and him had split their parents spice business when they passed. I love the no salt herb blends especially
Enjoy all those delicious foods Happy T

Divers and Sundry said...

You can't beat fresh corn on the cob. We have a Penzy's here, and I regret not having been. Someday I'll get there :) I like your salt and pepper shaker and your flatware design. We use cloth napkins here, and keep a basket of them on the table. Amazon is where I got my last napkins, too. Target didn't have what I needed or I'd bought them there ;) The rolling pins and glass bowls are what we all need since we're not getting out nearly so much. The brownies and cookies are making my mouth water :) Happy T Tuesday!

Let's Art Journal said...

Such yummy food! I love all those veggies and a brownie would be perfect with my cuppa ...lol 😀. Sending you Happy T Day wishes and wishing you well! Hugs, Jo x

My name is Erika. said...

I also have my mom's rolling pin and I do prefer it to my newer ones. You've had a fun month of baking. The bread looks yummy. I haven't tried rye yet. Baking is lots of fun, isn't it? Hope it was a super T day and those brownies and cookies would taste good right now. Hugs-Erika

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Mmmm..peanut butter cookies it has been too long since I’ve enjoyed them! ,.... I like the idea of grilling vegetables .and bet the smoky flavor was delicious in the ganoush. I roast eggplants whole in the oven ....they make the whole house smell heavenly.

Sherry's Pickings said...

i adore baba ganoush but only when it's really smoky. i think it's best homemade. the dish with the corn is very pretty. i love a nice ceramic. i am a glass breaker too, so i don't buy or use the good stuff. i bought a huon pine french-style rolling pin years ago. it is so useful. i don't know how people use the old ones with edges. great looking raisin bread there! have you made those PB biscuits/cookies with only 3 ingredients? amazing. thanks for joining in IMK again. always appreciated!

Tandy | Lavender and Lime (http://tandysinclair.com) said...

That rolling pin looks beautiful. I wish Len lots of years of dough rolling with it.

CJ Kennedy said...

I'm coming to your house for dinner! What time? Your table setting looks so fancy and elegant. My mother had a rolling pin like your mother's. I use one that is made of marble. Take care and Happy T Day

DVArtist said...

Wow what a feast. You have set a beautiful table for all the food. I love the old and new rolling pins. Thank you for sharing all of this.

pearshapedcrafting said...

What a mouthwatering post! The veggies look delicious and the flavourings you used jogged my memory for my shopping order this week! We have been using a lot more herbs and spices since lock down - more time to cook and not going out for meals meant that we can make special meals at home! I love your place settings, fabulous plates!! Hubby keeps saying he must get back to making some bread - I hope he does!!!
Belated T Day Wishes! Chrisx

Debra Eliotseats said...

I got a gift pack of Penzey spices for a wedding present and vowed to keep ordering from them. (That was 20+ years ago.) I love those dinner plates. The grill is definitely an extension of my kitchen. Happy July, Mae!

Debra Eliotseats said...

I thought I had commented here previously....Guess not. Love the idea of roasting a whole eggplant. I can't wait to try it.

Shaheen said...

So nice to see vegetables being roasted outdoors. Baked a couple of sweets :) I have a similar rolling pin like Len's
https://allotment2kitchen.blogspot.com/2012/01/presenting-22-of-my-favourite-kitchen.html

Liz said...

Your table setting is gorgeous Mae, it looks very civilized. I need to look for more cloth napkins, we have been using mostly cloth napkins and dishtowels instead of paper for years and I am getting bored with the patterns. Especially now when we are dining-in every night.

I never thought to look at Target or Ikea, there aren't any stores near us but they do deliver.

Claudia said...

Very inspiring Mae, now the next time Bob is grilling chicken, I'll slap on some veggies, including an eggplant for Babba Ganoush!