Tuesday 20 January 2015

This week in my kitchen :: Reclaimed :: No more sand in the sink




It was there, tantalisingly out of reach at the tip of my fingers.  Just when I thought I could grab hold for a big hug it would toddle off like a two year old with a mischievous giggle. 

As the talented craftsmen left the kitchen at night, we would clean and mop and claim the counters and window sills back from the tools and debris. I'd cook supper and wash the dishes and sigh a happy sigh. Next day we'd leave it behind to buy door knobs or hinges, or tootle off to Bristol, the car brimming with boxes of books and kitchen tools for Hannah's new flat. 

That's when the mini revolutions would occur.  More-than-mini volcanoes spewing out more sawdust than you could imagine, making the kitchen look like a 1930's butchers shop. Not just a gentle powdering but full-on Vesuvius's. That was fine, it could soon be swept and mopped again...All part of the process. But the big power tools, the drills and chargers would creep back onto the window sills or the counter top and the nails and bits of dirty wire mingle in with the fish slice or ladle. Maybe I was being impatient and should have waited to re-claim my little domain. 

But the worm turned. There's room for everyone, other surfaces to use, lots of sockets to charge those tools. It feels a bit like a small insurgence.  I am not by nature a fighter but a peacemaker. I choose my battles carefully and even then they are not usually for me, but for someone else. But this weekend after we had cleaned and mopped again and tweaked and painted and filled the cupboards with tea and mugs; pots and pans. We decided that a gentle protest may be required. 

So today I am going to sit tight. At least at the working end of the kitchen. There's room for everyone. Me with my spatula and others with their saws and hammers. No more sand in the sink...

What I've been making in my kitchen this week...

  • Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's Kale and Mushroom lasagne
  • My vegan coconut milk rice pudding with vine fruits and maple  syrup and yoghurt (non vegan)
  • Ob Ghoost, Persian lamb and chickpea broth
  • Pan fried river cobbler with roasted root vegetables, spinach salad and puy lentils
  • hearty tomato soup made with seasonal vegetables and barley
  • spicy cray fish tails with spaghetti and brocolini
  • my version of toss kabab, Persian casserole with tomatoes, potatoes and dried limes. I substituted the requisite lamb with chicken and added capsicum for extra flavour. Serve English style with mashed potatoes and peas. Frozen because I miss them and the season for fresh ones is miles away. 

Oh and have you seen this yet...He's so cute. I can empathise with his dilemma...


What's been happening in your kitchen this week?





13 comments:

  1. nothing nearly as exciting as in yours!!!!! just about ready to launch in to a veggie lasagne, though, for supper. :) zucchini, yellow squash, carrots, onion, mushrooms in mine....no kale.

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  2. It sounds delicious steph and all the colours of the rainbow too!
    dx

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  3. sounds like you are slowly reclaiming your space and I know how much you love to cook!! Love the foods you prepared this week while still having renovations going on.

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    1. It's good feeling to be able to do more cooking. Like knitting I find therapy in chopping vegetables and combining ingredients and making comfort food. There is still a lot more to do but hopefully by the weekend it will be mostly our jobs to do, decorating making cushion covers sourcing lampshades etc. Then it will really feel like home and I'm sure we'll be spending lots of time there.
      dx

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  4. I really like look of that Lasagne. I'm new on here and have really enjoyed looking back and reading and seeing the different kinds of foods you have been making. Your home looks wonderful and cosy, such lovely country side. I did as a question on on of your posts from a previous year about a jar of dark liquid, not sure if its a home made dressing. Just wondered if it was pomegranate and if you have the recipe for it. x

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    1. Hello Sharon. Thank you for nice comments. I'm sorry that I missed your question. I will just check which one it was and get back to you.
      Be back soon,
      debx

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  5. Good for you, Deb, reclaim your space! My husband is a building contractor, and he and his employees always try very hard to respect the home owner's living space...it's hard when they are living there, but there always shoumd be a happy compromise. Fight that sand in your sink!;)
    Your menu always looks amazing, and I always seem to view your kitchen posts when I am hungry. The lasagna looks and sounds delicious!

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    1. I lost most of it again this week and at the moment there is scaffolding taking up half of it but it means that we can hopefully paint all of it this weekend...Then I think we will have it back for good. Hurray, I'm determined to make my Christmas cake even though it's almost February.
      debx

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  6. It looks so delicious! And good for you to reclaim your space!

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    1. Thank you. It's so good to get back most of it. Hopefully fully this weekend and I bake the first cake in the new oven.
      debx

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  7. Loved your post, dear Deb.. So miss the week in the kitchen..Yours, that is.. smile.. Your kitchen is going to be awesome.. Just like a restaurant.. Take care...xo

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  8. Loved your post, dear Deb.. So miss the week in the kitchen..Yours, that is.. smile.. Your kitchen is going to be awesome.. Just like a restaurant.. Take care...xo

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  9. Hi Faye. Thank you. I miss everyones too. I love my Thursday peep into everyone's kitchen, especially yours. But I know that I can always come and see yours and it will be homely and full of delicious food and tips.
    debx

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