I’m glad my computer is still connected to the Internet as we’re having huge storms and the power has gone on and off and the winds are howling outside.  I was talking with my son on Skype and I disappeared when the power went out and he was convinced he’d said something to hurt my feelings and I hung up. It’s amazing how the flat screen can often make us assume things that aren’t real.

I’ve mentioned before and in comments on blogs around the world that I didn’t own a cast iron skillet. I couldn’t find the ones I wanted that look like the ones I had in the states that I’d inherited from my grandmother. I should have brought them but the weight issue found me leaving them with the kids. Problem has now been solved. I found these wonderful cast iron skillets from Lodge on KitchenwareDirect and it cost me $9 to get them shipped up here.  This is not a sponsored post but I think when a shop, either bricks and mortar or online, do a good job for you, it’s okay to tell others about it.

They work so well and nothing sticks, even a sticky balsamic onion and apple marmalade to go with the pork we had last night.  I was so impressed with my order that I went back to the online shop when my mother-in-law asked for a cake with her name on it. I bought this cute icing pen and some cake boards and I’ll try to get her cake done this weekend.

I was watching Rachel Allen’s baking show the other day while stuffing my face with a sandwich and she made the cutest chocolate madeleines dipped in white chocolate so back to the store I went and ordered a madeleine pan. I’ve been saying I wanted one of those every time a blogger friend makes a lovely post on madeleines.

I’ve been craving a chocolate cake roll too so I bought a heavy duty little baking sheet to make one of those. Fingers crossed that I can get the cake photographed before I eat it all.

From the folks who created the ‘Bake Snake’, I received one to try out. I’m going to have to go back to the instructions because my first attempt failed. That probably has way more to do with the user than the product.  I think my batter was too thin and I had major leakage that took ages to scrape off the oven.

Recently I told you about meeting one of the owners of Sunshine Vanilla for coffee and she gave me some samples to test. Look at the haul. I’ve cracked them all open and I wish this was smellavision.

Finally I want to pay tribute to Ruby, Charlie Louie’s 15 year old dachshund who died yesterday. She wrote the nicest post about Ruby’s life from puppy through to the last moments that made me cry. If you’re a dog lover, it’s a must-read. I can only imagine the heartbreak when my best friends heads over the bridge. Who will help me cook by picking up all the crumbs on the floor?

This post is part of the In My Kitchen group of posts started by Celia from Fig Jam and Lime Cordial. Visit her site and in her sidebar you’ll see new kitchen things from heaps of food bloggers from around the world. If you’re not there, why not?  🙂