In my Kitchen October 2011

Posted on October 3, 2011 by thecompletebook

Wow, another new month already and time for Celia’s “In My Kitchen” post. 😀

A short while back I found out about a gent who drives around the village every Saturday with locally grown veggies to sell to us “locals”. What a treasure chest he has in his trailer! Everything is washed and what can be peeled and cut up are all nicely packaged and sealed in bags. I was very excited to hear that everything has a standard price of just R10 a bag. I went a touch overboard and Pete was a little concerned about the amount of veggies he was going to eat. I would have purchased a lot more but I had just been into town the day before and had already bought potatoes, onions, carrots, tomatoes and a few other goodies. I am very excited to see what he will bring every Saturday. I have my shopping basket ready and waiting.

On chatting with this lovely farmer, he can also arrange a whole lamb at just R45 a kilo! Mutton at R35 a kilo and chicken, which I forgot the price of. Not to worry he will be back on Saturday and I can check with him then.

So…

In My Kitchen – October 2011

In my kitchen…

are 2 bags of beautiful green broccoli

In my kitchen…

are 2 bags of crisp white cauliflower

In my kitchen…

are 2 bags of lovely sweet pumpkin

In my kitchen…

is a bag of sweet potatoes just waiting to be made into a pie 🙂

And just for a bit of fun…

In my kitchen…

is the sweetest serviette holder that my one SIL gave me

and my beautiful ebony wood sugar bowl from Zanzibar which strangely enough has a bullet in it.

What’s in your kitchen this month? Please link back to Celia’s blog Fig Jam and Lime Cordial if you partake in the fun.

56 thoughts on “In my Kitchen October 2011”

Bites Of Sweet And Spice on October 3, 2011 at 08:04 said:

Hi Mandy! 🙂 I’m kind of curious how those ingredients are gonna be used in your kitchen. hmmm.. And sweet potato pie sounds delicious!

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 3, 2011 at 08:25 said:
  
  I am usually quite boring when it comes to broccoli and cauliflower and more often than not steam the veg and add a cheese sauce or just serve them plain with salt, pepper and butter. The sweet potato pie will follow shortly. Have a great week. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
theonlycin on October 3, 2011 at 08:42 said:

I just wrote my draft to post this afternoon and also mentioned how time has flown. I want to ask about the bullet, there must be a story?

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 3, 2011 at 09:03 said:
  
  Sadly, I don’t remember there being any real exciting story around it – probably when this new firearm license thing came in, Pete and I would have taken our firearms out of the safe to clean and chat about how stupid all these changes are and one of the bullets clearly never made it back to the safe and been in that there little bowl for a few years! I should try and make the story more exciting. Have a happy week. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
petro on October 3, 2011 at 09:09 said:

just interested (especially in the mutton prices you mentioned) can you say exactly where this village of yours is situated.- maybe we could take a drive out there for those beautiful vegies too.

Baie dankie

Petro

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 3, 2011 at 11:24 said:
  
  Hi Petro, thanks for stopping by. We are out at Sundays River. I have not had any meat from the Oom yet so can’t vouch for that just yet but his veg are superb! If you do come through I know that he is in the village of Cannonville – not sure if he ventures to Colchester – I am sure he must. He drives around in a white bakkie with a venter trailer. Have a happy week. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
chicaandaluza on October 3, 2011 at 10:03 said:

Aha – I have Bread Man and Fish Man and now you have Veggie Man!! Love your bits and bobs in the kitchen too 🙂

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 3, 2011 at 11:25 said:
  
  Aah, I wish I had a Fish Man! Have a happy week. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
Yvette on October 3, 2011 at 10:10 said:

What a wonderful idea…everything packaged and ready for the freezer or fridge. Look forward to the sweet potato pie recipe! Have a great day!

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 3, 2011 at 11:56 said:
  
  It may work out a little more expensive Yvette, but for the convenience, it is awesome! Have a happy day. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
Angie's Recipes on October 3, 2011 at 12:25 said:

PUMPKINS ;-)) and pears, cabbages..just had lunch with some cabbages (that my husband dislikes to the core)…sighs.

Miss sweet potatoes..

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 3, 2011 at 12:40 said:
  
  It’s always disappointing when our hubby’s don’t enjoy everything we do. Can you not get sweet potatoes? Have a happy Monday. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
kitchenbelleicious on October 3, 2011 at 13:58 said:

How fun to see what you have- I am wishing I was like you and had those amazing veggies on hand, especially those potatoes! YUM! That sugar bowl is too darn cute- wonder how it got that bullet? Hum….

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 3, 2011 at 14:09 said:
  
  HI Belle, I was saying to Cindy earlier that sadly, I don’t remember there being any real exciting story around it – probably when this new firearm license thing came in, Pete and I would have taken our firearms out of the safe to clean and chat about how stupid all these changes are and one of the bullets clearly never made it back to the safe and been in that there little bowl for a few years! I should try and make the story more exciting. Have a happy week. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
ceciliag on October 3, 2011 at 16:37 said:

I love the smug feeling of a fridge full of veg.. and I love your man with his trailer.. and also (I am in a loving mood) I LOVE your serviette holder! c

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 4, 2011 at 09:34 said:
  
  Aah C, coming from a non kitty person, I am feeling all warm and fuzzy *hugs*. have a great day. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide on October 3, 2011 at 16:59 said:

Looks like all the makings for a great meal.

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 4, 2011 at 09:34 said:
  
  Love having all these veggies on hand to pick and choose what I feel like for the day. Have a happy day. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
Tricia on October 3, 2011 at 17:28 said:

I have some beautiful pears, apples and a few more tomatoes. Produce delivered to your door – how awesome is that!!!

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 4, 2011 at 09:36 said:
  
  I don’t think the novelty of it will wear off either Tricia – super cool. Have a happy week. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
Tes on October 3, 2011 at 17:44 said:

I’ve just realised I need some pumpkin in my kitchen 🙂 I always love reading about Celia’s “In my kitchen post” 🙂

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 4, 2011 at 09:37 said:
  
  They are great fun to participate in Tes. Have a great week. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
Kelly on October 3, 2011 at 19:06 said:

A real bullet? how cool is that… (I think you should make up a story if there isn’t one :)) Did you prepare the bags of veggies yourself or buy them like that? – love that they are all set to go… so wonderfully convenient.

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 4, 2011 at 09:38 said:
  
  Hi Kelly, the bags of veggies come like that – super awesome! Such a treat not having to prepare veggies before cooking them. Have a great week. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
Nami | Just One Cookbook on October 3, 2011 at 20:54 said:

This “in my kitchen” is fun game! We can see and imagine what your kitchen is like…..a place where you make wonderful food! I love the unique sugar bowl and it stands out really well. And sweet potatoes…my fav! 🙂 Have a great week Mandy!

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 4, 2011 at 09:39 said:
  
  I can imagine how exquisite your kitchen must be Nami. Have a happy week. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
Kristy on October 3, 2011 at 21:13 said:

Now that is a great conversation piece…a sugar bowl with a bullet hole! That bag of pumpkin looks heavenly as does the bag of sweet potatoes. I’m making a sweet potato soup this week (while hubby is working – he hates them) and I can’t wait to devour it! 🙂 Have a great day Mandy. 🙂

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 4, 2011 at 09:41 said:
  
  It is so weird how people either love or hate sweet potatoes – almost the same relationship people have with brussel sprouts. Have a great day too Kristy. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
Sylvia@peachesanddonuts on October 3, 2011 at 21:52 said:

How I wish I had a veggie man like that too! 🙂

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 4, 2011 at 09:45 said:
  
  I get quite tense at the thought of having to be in town on a Saturday and miss my veggie man! Have a great day Sylvia. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
Geni - Sweet and Crumby on October 3, 2011 at 22:05 said:

What a find! I would love to have some nice local farmer come by with his goods. But I live in the suburbs of Los Angeles and I won’t hold my breath.

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 4, 2011 at 09:48 said:
  
  Oh my Geni, not sure you will be seeing a veggie man any time soon – what a pity. Have a great day. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
My Inner Chick on October 4, 2011 at 00:39 said:

—Dear, Mandy,

I LoooOVE what’s in your kitchen. I’ll be right over for some sweet pie when you make some :))) X Can’t wait.

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 4, 2011 at 09:49 said:
  
  Kim, get on a flight now, I will be making sweet potato pie tomorrow! 😀 Have a great day friend. 🙂 xo
  
  Reply ↓
Tandy on October 4, 2011 at 09:31 said:

send the vegie man my way please!

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 4, 2011 at 09:50 said:
  
  Not sure why people have not thought about doing this in all small villages – it is such a treat! Have a great day. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
Sally on October 4, 2011 at 13:50 said:

Ah my favourite snooping time of the month! The bullet? How did you get it back through customs from Zanzibar?

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 4, 2011 at 14:03 said:
  
  The bullet was already at home before we went to Zanzibar so no customs worries. 😉 Have a super day. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
spicegirlfla on October 4, 2011 at 15:03 said:

This is so fun! I love having a frig of veggies; kinda like an artist’s pallette just awaiting a creative inspiration to pull together a fabulous dish! That’s some service having your veggies arrive all prepped and ready to go!

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 4, 2011 at 15:22 said:
  
  It is absolutely heavenly – I am sure our veg intake has improved just because of the convenience – COOL! Have a happy day. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
Caroline on October 4, 2011 at 20:15 said:

This is a great idea. It’s so fun to work with ingredients you have in the fridge and pantry. I’m always up for the challenge. 🙂 Can’t wait to see what you make!

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 5, 2011 at 08:03 said:
  
  I am thinking that we need a bigger fridge for all the veggies I am buying! Have a great day. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
ChgoJohn on October 5, 2011 at 05:36 said:

Farm-fresh produce delivered weekly to your door, cleaned, trimmed, & bagged. You simply cannot ask for a better arrangement. How lucky for you!

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 5, 2011 at 08:06 said:
  
  I am loving every minute of it! I get all excited to see what he brings each week – have you ever, excitement of what veggies there will be to choose from. Have a happy day. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
pinkpolkadotfood on October 5, 2011 at 16:14 said:

What a bargain!!!

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 5, 2011 at 17:16 said:
  
  Loving it! Have a great afternoon. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
sonsothunder on October 6, 2011 at 02:01 said:

Fresh Fresh Fresh …way to go girl

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 6, 2011 at 07:40 said:
  
  I start getting a bit edgy if the gent hasn’t been here by lunch time! Have a great day Paul. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
bitsandbreadcrumbs on October 6, 2011 at 16:46 said:

I am jealous of that gorgeous broccoli…my favorite veg. I love to roast it in the oven, with cauliflower too sometimes. Just toss in good olive oil, salt and pepper and roast it stirring once or twice until starting to brown…gives it a lovely nutty taste. Great blog…my first time here!

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 6, 2011 at 17:17 said:
  
  Welcome and thanks for stopping by and for your kind words. Have a great day. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
Joanna on October 8, 2011 at 01:20 said:

Lovely veggies, they always look so many and then they get used up so quickly. I love your serviette holder and your sugar bowl, they both look really tactile. Have a great weekend Mandy 🙂

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 8, 2011 at 13:52 said:
  
  Hi Joanna, thanks for stopping by. I thoroughly enjoy partaking in Celia’s monthly ‘in-my-kitchen” – great fun. Have a super weekend. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on October 10, 2011 at 06:17 said:

Mandy, thanks for playing again this month, and I’m sorry I’m so slow to comment! I’m fascinated by your ebony sugar bowl with a bullet in it, what a story that must have.. 🙂

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 10, 2011 at 07:39 said:
  
  Lovely to have you back after your holiday Celia. Have a super week. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
Fired Up Cooking SA on October 20, 2011 at 20:30 said:

Such wealth – a fridge full of fresh veggies! One of my favourite ways with cauliflower is roasting them – arrange the florets in a dish, sprinkle with curry powder and olive oil, cover with tinfoil, roast for about 20 minutes, remove the tinfoil and roast til slightly crispy and brown – YUM!!!! Do you do that too?

Reply ↓
- thecompletecookbook on October 21, 2011 at 07:20 said:
  
  Ooh I love the idea of roasting the cauli with curry powder, never roasted it like that before – will try that soon! Have a great weekend Linda. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓