In My Kitchen, August 2019

Well after over eighteen months, last month we finally moved back into our house.  There’s a lot that isn’t finished, frankly I’m not sure we will ever be finished, but at least we are home. And it’s wonderful to be back.  The Small People – who these days aren’t that small and are about my height – initially dubious about how it would all turn out, are loving it.  One of them has taken possession of the attic and set up a bedroom there.  They love its quirky rooms, the sloping ceilings, the nooks and crannies.  Hearing their chatter and laughter trickle through the house is the best bit of it all.

It was great unpacking things I’ve had in boxes all this time away, many of them wedding gifts.  I still remember who gave me each one, and I think of them each time I use them.  Yesterday I messaged a friend because I was folding the placemats she sent me from Ireland almost eighteen years ago when she was living there.  It made her smile that I remembered, likewise she remembered buying them in Dublin.

My bell from the early 1900’s is back in commission.  I need it here – if the Marito is in a corner of the garden, and the Small People are on the opposite side or in the attic, calling out is futile.  The bell is a very effective summons (“I think they can hear it across the river, mum” one of them quipped) as the Small People know it means food, which always results in quick appearance.

We’ve also finally been able to unpack and use the giant coffee “bowls” we bought in Puglia last year (a regular coffee cup next to them for reference!) – we love them.

In my kitchen is a pot filler. These nifty little taps sit above the cooktop for pasta pots, soups, braising.  They’ve been in the USA for years and years and I’ve always thought they were such a good idea.  While I bought a lot of door, window and cabinet hardware from overseas (way more choice and much cheaper), taps is one thing you can’t due to Australian standards. But finally last year a local company started making pot fillers.  It’s funny seeing people walk into the kitchen and look at it somewhat puzzled.  “What’s that?”.

Behind the kitchen is what I call my “prep kitchen” with a long stainless steel bench.  Chopping, pastry, pizza dough – I’m going to have fun here.  The servery doors face the dining room (which doesn’t quite exist yet), so when there’s a dinner party on all the mess can be thrown straight in here.

There is also a long rack of hooks.  So great to be able to hang bags for shopping here so that I won’t forget.  There a collection of aprons – most of them are a memory of some sort.  Among them is one was given to me by a restaurant patron in Florence, another by a friend when we got together for a girls cooking night, another from Christmas volunteering with OzHarvest.

The pantry is well stocked, though with two incessantly hungry teenage boys, nothing ever seems to last long – the Open 24/7 sign is pretty accurate.

In my kitchen are these gorgeous brass measuring cups.  My sister in law saw them at this cute homewares shop when we were down the coast many months ago.  I went back to get a set but they had sold out.  She’d actually bought me one and put them away for the new kitchen. Love them!

It’s been a while since I’ve joined Sherry’s Pickings In My Kitchen series – take a peek at kitchens around the world.