January 2016 – In My Kitchen

Happy New Year to you all!

This post is part of an ongoing monthly blogging party,  In My Kitchen, hosted by Maureen at The Orgasmic Chef. Click on the link to view January kitchens from around the world.

Where did the holidays go? My head is still spinning, but I had a wonderful time and hope you did as well.

From my kitchen I can see into the den where the Christmas tree still stands, we will be taking it down this weekend and calling an official end to the holidays. I’m holding on just a little longer.

My kitchen has been busy, making food to share during the holidays and preparing for our annual New Year’s Day Chili Feast. This year there were three types (they change every year) – beef with black beans, chicken jalapeño popper (made in the slow cooker), and butternut squash/black bean vegetarian. My neighbor brought over a second vegetarian chili that her husband had made.  Delicious! I will be posting the recipes with my changes and the links to the originals.

In my kitchen (rather in my freezer) I have leftover chili, my best friend on a busy night.

The pictures were taken hastily as the crowd assembled. The best thing about the beef and chicken chilis was that the beans cooked in the stock, there was no need for presoaking and cooking the beans.

In my kitchen I have smoked rice.

I first read about this intriguing ingredient in another IMK post several months ago and have been on the hunt. I’m looking forward to testing out some recipes.

In my kitchen I have a lovely stained glass dish shaped like a leaf, a gift from a friend. She knew I was partial to botanical things.

In my kitchen I have daffodils, a reminder that spring is coming. The bulbs are pushing themselves up out of the ground from all the welcome rain. I’m enjoying their cheerful color on the kitchen table.

In my kitchen I have new cookbooks, gifts from my husband.

A look at the Christmas cookbook recommendations from our local paper was frankly disappointing. Many of them were written by chefs from fancy restaurants and aren’t practical for the home kitchen.

There were two exceptions to my rant above, or what could easily become a rant if I let myself go.

Hartwood interested me because of the “back story”. Two restauranteurs from New York who give it all up to start a restaurant without electricity in the Yucatan, an adventure story.

And, I had to have This is Camino because the restaurant Camino is just down the street and one of our favorites. I’ve already modified and made the roast duck  recipe, it was delicious. Interestingly both these restaurants cook over wood…I see some experimenting in my future.

In my kitchen I have roast garlic potato chips which are addictive and dangerous. I made them as a snack to have with champagne for Christmas dinner.

In my kitchen I have Mandarin oranges, a good luck gift on New Year’s Day. Decidedly healthier than the potato chips!

And from my kitchen I can see our four legged friends, just hanging out and waiting for Mom to get off the computer.

I wish you all a wonderful 2016 filled with love, laughter, and prosperity.