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? 🙂
I know you will love having cast iron again. Heading over to read the story about Ruby – hope you have a great weekend!
Lots and lots of good things in your kitchen this month!! A new cast iron skillet – I’m so jealous!
Oh I can’t wait to see your madeleines! It’s always so exciting to add a new baking pan to the collection ;).
i am happy the storm and wind did not take away so you can share this with us. That’s a sturdy cast iron that can take any form of fry. this is worth checking out. Getting the best cookware set this days could really be difficult a task.
Thanks Maureen
I look forward to see what you will cooking with your new cast iron skillet and madeleines…and yes, I just came from Charlie’s blog…still trying to get rid of my tears…
Enjoy the rest of your week Maureen 🙂
Sounds like you’ve had so much fun this month with new kitchen stuff. I always think I have everything I need and then I find out about something else…
Yes, it’s such a sad day when our little furry friends leave us, life is never quite the same, that’s for sure!
Lovely vanilla products and good bakeware which makes all the difference in the kitchen.
So many good things in your kitchen this month, Maureen… the bake snake and Charlie included! Is there anything nicer than good vanilla? I think not!
Stay safe and dry from the storm! Wow, there’s a lot happening in your kitchen and I’m totally in love. 🙂 Hope I can see those chocolate cakes pictures soon! Now, you’ve got me craving for some.
Love cast iron pans and can’t wait to try out my Snake Bake too!
Love your madaleine pan and my heart goes out to Charlie for her loss!
Thanks for this month’s IMK view!
Let me know if you get it to work 🙂
KitchenwareDirect is great, I’ve bought from there as well. That pan looks awesome!
I use my cast iron skillet all the time. I picked it up second hand at a trash and trash market years ago. It’s so sturdy and reliable. Oh yeah, and I want all the vanilla. It’s right up there on my list of favourite flavours.
Hi Maureen, I love your new toys and Charlie (of course). I just read Charlie’s post. It breaks my heart.
I wish it was smellavision too that coffee all looks great. I will have to check out that shop, might be dangerous though!
Oh no what a shame about the Bake Snake. I was sent one but it does look like leaks might occur! What a nice tribute to Ruby and Charlie.
I can’t believe they’d sell the Bake Snake if it didn’t work. They must have sent them to a few of us so I’m determined to get mine to work. If not, it’s going in the bin. 🙂
A bake snake? How creative is that!! Now I want one, I have several of the Lodge cast Iron skillets, one is divided into wedge segments that makes great cornbread and scones. I want to see a cookie post from your new madeline pan, too.
Hi Maureen, I left a reply earlier but I am not sure whether it worked. I love your new toys, especially your cast iron pan. I read Charlie’s post. It breaks my heart.
I always love your In My Kitchen posts. I’ve only done it once myself. Maybe I’ll manage to do it again in June. Love your new stuff! Isn’t it fun? Kitchen shopping is about the only kind of shopping I enjoy.
All kinds of treasures – but your sweet doggie is still my favorite. Have a lovely weekend, Maureen!
Yes, I was crying too by the time I got to the end of Charlie’s tribute to Ruby.
I only have one cast iron frying pan passed on by my mom and keep saying I want to get another one … but smaller. Lodge sounds like a good brand. As the owner of a mini madeleine pan I have to say that you may get carried away and start trying all sorts of flavours (plain lemon zest, chocolate and orange, matcha, lemon poppyseed which I linked below) once you make your first batch. And if you figure out the secret of the ‘hump’ let me know. 🙂
http://a-boleyn.livejournal.com/88981.html
They DO taste best fresh out of the oven. 🙂
Wonderful things in your kitchen this month!
I love my Lodge cast iron skillets but you got a great deal! Let me know how that pen works.
Thank you for this, I have a gift card on Amazon to spend and you reminded me of the madelaine pan, I have always wanted one 🙂
Love cast iron skillets! We’re lucky — we have two that Mrs KR inherited from her grandmother. Must be at least 100 years old.
I’m a wee bit envious of your haul of vanilla products – it has such a seductive smell doesn’t it?!
that was sad news from Charlie, but it looks like Ruby had a wonderful life in a very loving home.
When you love a dog that much, it’s never enough time I don’t think. The vanilla is wonderful!
You’ve convinced me. I’m getting a lodge skillet right now! It’s been on my “should I?” list for ages. I just got some chasseur cast iron pots and while I LOVE them, things do tend to stick. I really need a good non stick one! 🙂
I bought two and now I want the really big one. 🙂 I use my cast iron pots too but for baking bread and for casseroles.
Ruby was hugely cherished throughout her long and full life: she is now without pain – let’s hope that Charlie’s whole family will slowly recover and just remember the many wonderfully good days! Can’t believe two East Coast lows in a fortnight and in May . . . the Bureau of Met has just said ‘weakening’ . . . hope your rain easing: would you believe have not slept in the Southern Highlands as it just teemed all last night some 900 kms away . . .the best . . .
It’s never easy to lose your best friend but time does ease the pain. The sun is out on the Sunshine Coast after the disastrous rain last night. I’m glad it’s gone from here but wish it had gone out to sea.
Hi Maureen. I can certainly relate to KitchenwareDirect, isn’t it fabulous! I’m all for acknowledging good stores that are value for money, online or not. I’ll have to investigate those cast iron skillets… are they induction friendly? No, wait… don’t answer that , I’ll probably buy one if they are! I should have kept my dads skillets, as he had them so smooth they were actually a joy to wash up when we were growing up, and it was my turn to wash the dishes.
I will also have to look up vanilla caviar… interesting! I love all things vanilla. What a nice gesture from Sunshine Vanilla for you to test out their products. Lucky you! Have loads of fun making all things vanilla. Cheers, Kirsty xx
Hi Kirsty, I’m going to tell you anyway, they work brilliantly on induction cooktops. I have a portable one that I took outside the other day and it worked just fine and kept all the smokey mess outside when I seared the steak on high heat.
I’m so glad you treated yourself to a few new kitchen goodies—nice picks! And thanks for letting me know about Ruby—I knew she was close, but I’ve been out of touch for the past few days. Hope you’re having a marvelous weekend!!! xo
Oh my, warm madaleines, yum. I might have to go and get a pan too! So many lovely things in your kitchen, thanks for sharing. Happy May x
Yikes, Maureen! You make me want to go shopping…I am coveting that icing pen…Thank goodness I’ve got Madeline pans…Now I’ve got to bake some! P.s. I’v got the same iron skillet…Yes, it is a brilliant buy.
Heading over to Charlie’s blog <3
Sounds like you have a dangerous new hobby ordering kitchen goodies online. Great haul of goodies though! What do you have planned for the vanilla caviar? It sounds delicious.
You have some really interesting things in your kitchen this week. I have never made madaleine so I guess I need to get a madaleine mould first. My heart goes out to Charlie as she really has had a rough go over the last few months. Take care, BAM
Dear Maureen, thank you so very much for your kind words and for letting me know you’ve been thinking of me. Yes, it’s been a bleak week and I miss Ruby terribly. She was always at my side and every minute I was at my computer she was at my side making it difficult for me to move my elbows. And like your Charlie, she was a terrific kitchen companion too – a great sous chef! All the things you didn’t have but now do, I also don’t have. I need a skillet pan and a madeleine pan. I’d love to see the cake you make with writing on it. Pleased to hear you have survived the storms. The weather has been appalling in Sydney for weeks! xx
I agree that cast iron makes the best frying pans, once they heat up 🙂 I wish there was smellovision too as all those vanilla products look amazing.
What a beautiful tribute to Ruby and Charlie… I was very teary too!
Thanks for sharing! Liz x
Your poor son, I’m sure you reassured him as soon as the power was back on! I’m so glad you had good service from Kitchenware Direct – how great that you could find cast iron skillets like the ones you left behind! The vanilla sounds amazing! xxx
Love your cast iron skillet and all your vanilla products. Poor Charlie its hard loosing a much loved pet 🙁
My heart goes out to anyone who loses an adored pet. Thanks heaps for coming by!
You always have such great things in your kitchen! I adore cast iron, I only use nonstick for my food styling, I’m going to google that bake snake, it looks cool.
love my iron skillets! I had a collection that was quite complete before hurricane Ivan. Sadly , they’re now at the bottom of the gulf. But I’m working on replacing each and every one! And the madeline pan.. I’m headed out for one of those!
Wow, that’s some great stuff in your kitchen. Loving the cast iron pan. I enjoy my cast iron passed on from my grammy and I always feel curries come out so good in it. Hope you had a great weekend my dear.
Cast iron is king forever and ever Amen ! Yay for the vanilla beans, you finally got some good ones 🙂
RIP to the your friend’s pet, I can not imagine.. I cook with mine as well, we are a team and they are my best taste testers, and really my children.
I am so excited to hear about the cast iron skillet!!! That is the thing I miss most that I also had to leave behind in the States. Thank you, lovely! XO
An iron skillet is definitely a kitchen necessity. They are fantastic and not a bad purchase at $9 freight. I got an email from the cake snake peeps. Never got one to try but maybe thats good?. Look forward to your cake capers and give Charlie a big hug for me with all the love you have while he is here and so adorable. They are like little Angels sent to keep you on your toes. Hope you are well and surviving that nasty rain xxxxx
I’m so jalouse ! You have a lot of new things this month ! Now I would like see your madeleines recipe ! And I think Charlie would like too 😉
Well it certainly looks like you have a lot of terrific things going on in your kitchen. I can’t wait to see what you do with everything. Have fun, and show us your work!
It’s so fun trying new kitchen toys, and a great skillet makes a world of difference! I can only imagine how wonderful your kitchen must have smelled with that vanilla 🙂
I don’t have a cast iron skillet either but now want to buy one 🙂
So glad you got a cast iron skillet – I adore mine – they are so versatile! And an “icing pen”??? Not sure I’ve ever heard of one before! Charlie did write a very sweet post about Ruby – made me tear up and think of my two furballs!
Hope the storms subside soon Maureen, because they seem to be playing mind games on your son 😉
love the madeleine pan. and what a cute photo of charlie. Yes i read charlie’s (not your charlie:=) ) post about ruby. so very sad when our beloved pets die. i bet the vanilla goods smell fab.
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with for madeleines Maureen!
I love those vanilla goodies I will have to google this supplier. Thanks for reminding me about the madeleine trays at the back of my cupboard too, I was so proud to source them at the time. Lucky you survived the recent storms you have certainly had your share. Gorgeous cast iron pan 😀
Great looking pan, I’ll be checking that online store! Your pup is cute!
Maureen, I’m tickled for you that you found those Lodge skillets! There’s something about cooking in cast iron… my favorite Dutch oven is a Lodge, too. Happy baking and meal making with your new stash of kitchen toys! So sorry to hear about Charlie’s Ruby… yup, furry friends are FAMILY.
Vanilla powder? That sounds awesome! Where would you use that? And also, I love her labels. The graphics of the vanilla bean flower is beautiful.
Wow, I’ve never owned a cast iron before, but I want one now, especially if nothing ever sticks 🙂
For the madeleines here’s the recipe I love the most (sorry it’s from a French website!) http://www.mercotte.fr/2008/09/30/pas-de-doute-il-ny-a-pas-de-recette-de-madeleine-sur-ce-blog/
Here’s the translation below in English:
Ingredients: 120g of flour, 10g of baking powder, 120g of sugar, 120g of salted butter (I use lurpak’s), zest of a lemon, 5 tbsp of lemon juice.
Recipe: 1/ Preheat the oven at 200°C (I know the original recipe says 240°C but this is way too much, at least for my oven).
2/ Melt the butter and let it cool.
3/ mix the flour, baking powder, sugar and egg yolks. Lightly beat the whites for 1 minute with a fork and gently mix them with the flour+sugar+egg yolks mixture. Add the melted butter and mix everything well. Add the zest and juice.
4/ Fill the madeleine mould imprints with 1 tbsp of the mix.
5/ Cook for 4 min at 200° and 4 min at 180°.
Madeleines are best eaten out of the oven 🙂
I’m so sorry about Charlie’s loss… Will head to her blog to read her tribute, I love dogs.
I will break my pan in with your recipe, I promise!
Both my grandmothers were French who first moved to Quebec and then to Maine. My maternal grandmother never (or rarely) spoke English. Because it was an immigrant town, nobody wanted to be French so all three of us kids refused to speak French. Ma grand-mère understood us and we understood her. I took French in high school and university but that was a very (very) long time ago. Funnily, when I’m in France I get along just fine. Must be tucked into my brain.
You picked up the same cast iron pan that my mom just got and she loves it! I’ve been wanting to bake a cake roll too! Can’t wait to see yours! Our sweet pups….Charlie’s post really left a lump in my throat too.
My first cake roll was good but I glazed it and I wasn’t happy with how it looked so I brought it to the nursing home and they loved it. 🙂
I’m just a wee bit jealous of your lovely vanilla haul – I love the stuff!
Woow look at all that goodies in your kitchen!!! .. Loved the decorating pen and the madaleines one .. I’ve been wanting to have one too.
Oh Maureen! I think Madelines are the new macarons. Seriously, I have been infatuated by their whimsical beauty and guess what… I found a set of vintage French Madeline trays on eBay. They arrived yesterday and I dropped everything and baked. So adorable, can’t wait to see your creations.
What a find. Mine is new and I overcooked the first batch. They tasted good though!
Hi Maureen! What lovely goodies in your kitchen, I’m particularly envious of that vanilla haul. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Your vanilla haul looks fabulous. Oh, the possibilities! The cast iron pan is great. We have several skillets and a Dutch oven and love them all. Our most recent addition is a HIGE skillet, 17 inch maybe. It seemed too big at first but it recently did well for Mother’s Day brunch frittata. Also great for homemade pizza instead of a stone in the oven.
17″ holy cow! Can you lift it all by yourself?? 🙂
love the madeleine tin. and what a cute photo of your charlie. so sweet. that skillet will be very handy i bet.
I’ve seen Lodge here a few times lately, I think it’s time I finally get one! I haven’t heard of Sunshine Vanilla before, I’ll have to keep them in mind. Thanks for the peek!