In My Kitchen ~ January 2015

2015. I am being completely honest here when I say that the fact it is a New Year hasn't hit me yet. I just can't believe that not only are we in a new year, we're back at the start of January, and thus heading into mid summer. The speed at which the year flys is actually easier to follow, I find, when I look at it in four seasons, rather than twelve months. I don't know why, but somehow it makes me feel better about it. I'm trying not to hold onto 2014, trying to embrace the new year that lies before us. I guess maybe in a few days it might sink in. Right now it just feels a little strange though.

Anyway, my very first post for the year is one filled with food. Food that is, or has been in the past week, in my kitchen. I do hope you enjoy.

I had enough of our home-grown capsicums sliced and frozen to make another batch of Tina's delicious Chilli Capsicum relish. It looked so pretty before beginning cooking I just had to snap a photo of it. Our chilli bush is still flowering but alas we are now out of capsicums...perhaps some regular Chilli Sauce will be the answer?

No doubt you remember our Pepato cheese, since I did dedicate an entire post to it. (If you missed it you can catch up here.) Even though it hasn't been aging for quite a month yet, I couldn't resist opening a wedge the other night. And oh my goodness! It was so very, very good. It's a beautiful yellow colour even after the small amount of aging it's had, and has the most perfect texture and tastes so so good. It's just sublime, if I do say so myself. I'm very pleased with the results of our first go at making hard cheese, with our own raw milk no less. The only thing I would do differently next time is perhaps put in a few less peppercorns.

Also in my kitchen were these delightful little mini quiches. The filling included some left over leg ham and our homemade ricotta. They were very scrumptious, I had to photograph them cooling on their rack as I knew they wouldn't take long to disappear...

Another loaf of sourdough. This one was brushed with milk just before baking and sprinkled with poppy seeds. It had a beautiful crisp crust, I wonder if the milk played a part in that?
I'm really enjoying this sourdough making business. It's lots of fun!

And last but not least, a beautiful fresh pizza. Spelt base, topped with zucchini, leek, cheese, fresh tomato, onion and lots of roughly chopped kale, sprinkled with a bit of sweet paprika. Kale and paprika are my currant favourites to put on pizza.


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I'm joining Celia for the In My Kitchen tour, the first for 2015! Make sure you hop over and check out everyone else's kitchens! 
Happy New Year!!

Do you have any food-based New Year's resolutions? I don't normally set any of any kind, but today I will set one. I am determined in 2015 to try my hand at making Spelt puff pastry and crossiants from scratch. I just probably won't make them too close together as I believe both pastries take quite a bit of butter :-)
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How are you spending your first day of 2015? 

Are you treating it the same as any other day or enjoying something special?

I hope the new year is kind to you, and whatever your dreams I hope they are fulfilled, or at least that this year will enable you to get a little closer to your goals. Whatever your wishes or wants for the year, I hope you enjoy today. 

Sarah x