In My Kitchen - September

I've already enjoyed reading a few In My Kitchen posts over at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial and, as always, I am in awe at the vast array of new, gourmet and interesting ingredients people are using in their kitchens. 

Unfortunately such inspiring products haven't been overly abundant in my kitchen recently and so my first thought was to skip my IMK post this month, but instead I decided to share how I've been using more common ingredients in my kitchen.

So, this month, in my kitchen...

I have lots of bananas. With all four of us averaging one banana a day we are going through at least 25 bananas a week!  So although they are relatively cheap I was still excited to get two massive bags (about 4kg) for $2 from our fruit market.  

It made me reminisce with MJ about the time bananas were selling at $15 a kilogram after Cyclone Yasi ruined the banana crop in 2011.  Because they were so expensive we would 'treat' him with a banana when we went shopping.   Lucky they don't cost that much now as JJ has developed a small addiction to his bananas.

So with lots of bananas to use up these Banana, Maple syrup and Cinnamon muffins happened.  Recipe is coming next week.  These are healthy enough to feel good about sending in the lunch box but sweet enough to meet hubby's approval.

And a lot of the bananas were frozen.  I peel them and break them into small chunks to make them easier to pull out to use for cooking or smoothies. MJ still has a big thing for banana smoothies and I've now worked out the perfect ratio of milk to Greek yoghurt to oats to flax seed to honey to banana - it makes for a nutrient packed and filling snack for our skinny man.

I went to get a baby gate for our steps at K Mart and came out with these as well!

Most of my recipes are stored on-line in various places but I still have quite a few paper recipes I would like to organise. I'm also planning on going through my food magazines and taking out my favourite recipes so I don't have to go through each one when I'm looking for a specific recipe. 

The mug was a pure impulse.  At $2, I swear it was an involuntary motion as I put it in the trolley. I'm looking forward to filling it with fruity and fresh summer beverages and using it as a prop for photos.

Some more 'just because' buys.  The cute little spoons were $1 each and will make great photo props. The yellow bowl is from Ikea ($3) and the mixing bowl ($8) and mini pie tins ($5) are from Woolworths.  I love how old-school I feel when I am using the bowl.  It was christened by making the banana muffins.

And with this cheeky monkey now on the move (using his own style of commando crawling) he is now in the kitchen with me much more.  He enjoys opening the draws and getting his fingers caught in them as they close and he is good at pulling heavy fruit tins onto his head from the bottom shelf in the pantry.  But I enjoy his company anyway, how could you not!

So what's happening in your kitchen? Let us know by joining in the 'In My Kitchen' link up hosted by Celia at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial. 

Keep smiling

Dani :)