It doesn’t seem like another month has passed since I shared a peek in my kitchen but the calendar doesn’t lie. It seems the older I get, the faster time passes. I remember thinking it was going to be FOREVER before I could go to school. Then it was waiting for Christmas, my birthday, to date and waiting to drive and waiting to drink. Now I want it all to slow down.

My sister, her two granddaughters and MY granddaughter Jade are coming to visit in August. Carole is bringing more homemade maple syrup so I bought a new waffle maker. My current one makes one waffle and with 3 young girls waiting for breakfast, I needed a bigger machine. With both going, we should be eating in no time.

I have been waiting for this Teatime in Paris book for a while now. My good friend Jill Colonna from madaboutmacarons.com has published her second book. If you’ve been following me for a while, you might remember that I learned how to make beautiful macarons from Jill’s first book, Mad About Macarons.

I’m going to pick something in her book and test it out for you. Her publisher doesn’t permit copying her recipe on blogs but I never follow a recipe 100% anyway. 🙂

I have wanted a spice grinder for a while now and this month I spoiled myself and ordered one. I’m really happy with it.

I was sent samples of this wonderful Sweet balsamic reduction from Jomeis Fine Foods in Melbourne. I’ve tried it with some sourdough, olive oil and dukkah and it gets two thumbs up from me. I’m also going to use this in some strawberry jam so watch for it. I just have to wait for the berries to ripen.

I went ages without a cast iron skillet and now they’re falling from the sky. Okay maybe not the sky. Maybe through the front door from a delivery man from Your Home Depot with this lovely bright red Chasseur cast iron skillet. I’m going to make something wonderful in it this weekend. John’s sister, niece and her son Sam are visiting for the weekend. They’re coming to see the olds and it will be great to see ‘family’.

Harper Collins sent this Slow Cooker Central cookbook by Paulene Christie the other day. It’s been quite chilly around here and meals in the slow cooker are mighty welcome after a long day. I’ll share something from this book soon and fingers crossed that it will be delicious.

Imagine the smile on my face when I opened a box to find 4 bottles of Strawberry Blonde Beer beer from Zeven Lemon. Who can guess what I did with it? It’s coming up on the blog soon.

Now I did just say that I liked slow cooker meals because it’s cold and it’s winter. That’s only at night because I just went outside and it’s a gorgeous day, full of sun.  It does get quite cold at night, down to 8C or 46F. That’s cold enough for comfort food.

Finally, no in my kitchen post would be complete without my best friend, Charles the wonderdog. Jump, Charlie!!

Then he got tired from all that jumping (it takes a steady hand to hold the stick AND focus and click the shutter with the other hand) and he decided to have a nap on the rug by the front door. the postie at Charlie’s house is the most wonderful woman and she always brings him two dog biscuits when she comes to the door with packages. She whispers through the door and says, “Charlie, go get daddy,” instead of ringing the doorbell. He woofs at the doorbell because it’s always for him. (if you ask him). She came last Friday and brought her new puppy to meet Charlie. He was the size of her hand and SO adorable.

Time for a  haircut I think.

This post is part of the In My Kitchen project by Celia from Fig Jam and Lime Cordial. Visit her to see the links to all the other food bloggers from around the world who share a peek into their kitchens once a month.