In My Kitchen – March 2014

Posted on March 3, 2014 by thecompletebook

Here we are again at one of our favourite times of the month, sharing in Celia’s IMK Posts. March came around very quickly. The memories of the festive season are still vividly fresh in my mind as if it was all just last week.

In my kitchen…

Were some chocolate cupcakes. These dairy free morsels are still my favourite and it’s just as well I don’t bake them every week as I would not stop eating them until they were all finished.

In my kitchen…

Is my latest favourite indulgence. This double cream Greek style plain yoghurt from Woolworths is FABULOUS and as addictive as the cupcakes. Don’t think I could go a day without it and buy 2 big tubs at a time.

In my kitchen…

Are non Nespresso coffee capsules. Pete says these are as enjoyable as the Nespresso capsules and work out about R2 cheaper per cup.

In my kitchen…

Are 2 new Tupperware containers. I really didn’t need them but loved the colour and they were very reasonably priced.

In my kitchen…

Is my ever loved fruit bowl, a gift from my Aunty Christine many years ago. It has stood in the same spot on the kitchen counter for the past 11 years and has overflowed with juicy sweet figs this season.

Is my favourite, favourite wooden spoon. I have put a teaspoon next to it so you can see how small it is. I have searched everywhere but sadly I cannot find another one like it. I am starting to think I must find somebody who can turn another one on a lathe for me.

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

72 thoughts on “In My Kitchen – March 2014”

cecilia on March 3, 2014 at 01:27 said:

One of my builders gave me a spoon like that once, it is my favourite too! We are going to have to learn woodwork. I can see it now!

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- thecompletebook on March 3, 2014 at 14:19 said:
  
  I’m off to start pricing classes for the two of us C. 😉 Have a lovely farmy day. 🙂 xo
  
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Leah on March 3, 2014 at 01:30 said:

snap… having a spoon march I see, love your little baby wooden spoon 🙂

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- thecompletebook on March 3, 2014 at 14:19 said:
  
  I really wish I could find another one Leah, no correction another 12! Have a super week. 🙂 xo
  
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Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen on March 3, 2014 at 01:45 said:

I just might be in time for this round of In My Kitchen:) I love those pretty tupperware, I like buying little things like that to brighten up my kitchen! I’ve never seen a wooden spoon that tiny.. it’s a smidgen spoon I think;) I’ll keep my eyes open, maybe they have them here? xx

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- thecompletebook on March 3, 2014 at 14:21 said:
  
  It is definitely a smidgen spoon. 🙂 Wouldn’t it be fabulous if you could find teeny ones like this Smidge! Have a beautiful week and looking forward to seeing your IMK post. 🙂 xo
  
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Kristy on March 3, 2014 at 02:23 said:

Love the color of your tupperware and fruit bowl. So bright and happy! 🙂

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- thecompletebook on March 3, 2014 at 14:21 said:
  
  Thanks Kristy. I too love the colours. Have a super day. 🙂 xo
  
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Liz Posmyk of Bizzy Lizzy's Good Things on March 3, 2014 at 03:11 said:

Those cupcakes look quite divine… and I’m not usually a fan of cupcakes : )

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- thecompletebook on March 3, 2014 at 14:25 said:
  
  Lizzy, I am positive you would enjoy these, although not quite as much as your rhubarb and apple galette. Have a super day. 🙂 xo
  
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heidiannie on March 3, 2014 at 06:35 said:

Hi Mandy!
I love your fruit bowl- and the thought of it filled with juicy figs- well it just makes my mouth water!
I have a spoon just about that small- it came with some spices and a burlap bag from Pampered Chef.
I’m not sure if they are available in your area- and I really don’t buy from them , myself- I received it as a gift.But here is a link if you are interested. http://www.pamperedchef.com/ordering/prod_details.tpc?prodId=30992&catId=179&parentCatId=179&outletSubCat=
And the cupcakes look wicked good! 🙂

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- thecompletebook on March 3, 2014 at 14:26 said:
  
  Hi Heidi, thank you SO much for the link. I am heading over right away to see what they have. The cupcakes are sadly far too moreish. Have a super day. 🙂 xo
  
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Sally on March 3, 2014 at 07:26 said:

Beautiful cupcakes. Reminder to get a move on with my IMK post 🙂

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- thecompletebook on March 3, 2014 at 14:27 said:
  
  Thanks very much Sally. Looking forward to your IMK post. 🙂 xo
  
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Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on March 3, 2014 at 07:35 said:

Mandy, I was given six little wee wooden spoons a while ago, from a company called Dunlin. They were very expensive and fancy, but I think they’re the size you’re after. They’re very fine though – probably not ideal for vigorous stirring. Here’s the link:
http://www.dunlinhome.com/products/set-of-six-tasting-spoons

And double cream Greek yoghurt? How decadent and delicious that sounds! Your wide flat fruit bowl is lovely, as are you cupcakes, which seem to get prettier every time you post a photo! xxx

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- thecompletebook on March 3, 2014 at 14:32 said:
  
  Had a quick squizz at your link. Shew, but they are very expensive although are exactly the shape and size I am looking for. No matter, I will keep my eyes open and sure to find one somewhere when I least expect it. I cannot stop eating the yoghurt, it is absolutely addictive! I am in the kitchen again this afternoon making more cupcakes. I offered to take some with me to an appointment tomorrow. Have a lovely week Celia. 🙂 xo
  
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  - Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on March 4, 2014 at 08:22 said:
    
    Mandy, I think they’re outrageously expensive. I’m going to have a look for you and see if there’s anything at Chefs’ Warehouse next time I’m there.
    
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    - thecompletebook on March 4, 2014 at 19:04 said:
      
      Oh Celia, how very kind of you, thank you! Not sure I can get the money to you though. Let’s worry about that when you find zillions of little wooden spoons. 😀 Have a happy day. 🙂 xo
      
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- Glenda on March 3, 2014 at 14:48 said:
  
  Celia, those tasting spoons are to die for. Wow you are very lucky to own them. Have they appeared in an IMK post?
  
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  - thecompletebook on March 3, 2014 at 19:14 said:
    
    They are gorgeous Glenda. Have a lovely day. 🙂 xo
    
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  - Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on March 3, 2014 at 22:59 said:
    
    Glenda, yes, May 2012:
    
    In My Kitchen, May 2012
    
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    - thecompletebook on March 4, 2014 at 18:54 said:
      
      Hee hee, I commented on your spoons in your 2012 post too! Thanks for the link Celia. 🙂 xo
      
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kathryningrid on March 3, 2014 at 08:05 said:

I do love a good full-fat Greek yoghurt!! But then I think I just might throw it over for some of those tasty little cakes! Oh, yes.
xoxo!
Kath

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- thecompletebook on March 3, 2014 at 14:33 said:
  
  No, no, I think you should enjoy both the yoghurt and the cupcakes, after all, one needs balance in life. 😉 Have a super day dear Kath. 🙂 xo
  
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ela@GrayApron on March 3, 2014 at 08:05 said:

In my kitchen…no-label coffee for my espresso, since the one we bought in Italy is finished and it’s gonna be a couple months till we there again. And it’s not bad…:) ela

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- thecompletebook on March 3, 2014 at 14:33 said:
  
  What a pity you aren’t closer for me to send you some of these Ela. Have a lovely day. 🙂 xo
  
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Sous Chef on March 3, 2014 at 09:23 said:

We also bought a packet of those pods and the coffee wasn’t bad at all.

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- thecompletebook on March 3, 2014 at 14:34 said:
  
  Think I shall have to try one too. Have a lovely afternoon Sue. 🙂 xo
  
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Chica Andaluza on March 3, 2014 at 10:20 said:

My mum has a wooden sppon exactly the same and she loves it – we keep trying to track down another one for her as hers is ancient but can’t seem to find one. She says it’s great for everything! PS. I buy large tubs of greek style yogurt too….love it 🙂

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- thecompletebook on March 3, 2014 at 14:35 said:
  
  Hmm, I cannot believe how difficult it is to source a little wooden spoon, although I have received 2 links today from Heidi and Celia, so kind of them. 🙂 I think I have triple my daily allowance on yoghurt at the moment. Oh well, it could be worse. Have a super day. 🙂 xo
  
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hotlyspiced on March 3, 2014 at 11:45 said:

I need some new tupperware too. I love your blue bowl. It’s amazing how we can become to a favourite utensil or knife xx

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- thecompletebook on March 3, 2014 at 14:37 said:
  
  I used to buy tuppwerare every month when I was working. Have a super day Charlie. 🙂 xo
  
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Glenda on March 3, 2014 at 14:49 said:

Mandy, I think you should get the spoons Celia sent you the link for, they are lovely as is yours.

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- thecompletebook on March 3, 2014 at 19:15 said:
  
  I would love to get a set of them Glenda, but they are extremely pricey, well for a ZAR paying person. Such a pity. Have a happy week ahead. 🙂 xo
  
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Karen on March 3, 2014 at 15:23 said:

I have a favorite wooden spoon too. I’ve looked for another one but they all seem to be bamboo now. Love the color of your fruit bowl.

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- thecompletebook on March 3, 2014 at 19:22 said:
  
  I love that we all have a favourite wooden spoon. I really hope I can find the one I am looking for. I can get loads of wooden ones here – not sure about the quality any more though. Have a super day Karen. 🙂 xo
  
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dianeskitchentable on March 3, 2014 at 15:56 said:

Oh, you made cupcakes! As always almost too beautiful to eat (but of course it wouldn’t stop me if you put one in front of me). I love that piece in the Tupperware on the left – great for things that might have fat that settles on the bottom & very pretty color. But I adore that fruit bowl, it’s such a happy color.
Since I’m late with my IMK post, you made me run into the kitchen to see what sizes I have in wooden spoons. I just put a teaspoon in the wooden spoon & I think mine’s a little bit bigger but now you’ve got me wondering whatever happened to all of my wooden spoons. You see not everything got unpacked when I put the kitchen back together…or maybe my daughter.

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- thecompletebook on March 3, 2014 at 19:26 said:
  
  Would you believe I have just finished icing another batch of these cupcakes. They are definitely my go to recipe – not sure I can find one to beat it! I think I put too many glittery sprinkles on this batch though. Oh well. I absolutely love my fruit bowl. The colour is so calming on the eye. A little bigger isn’t a bad second Diane with your wooden spoon. Hmm, think it’s time to pay your lovely daughter a visit to scrummage through her kitchen drawers. 😉 I hope her training is still going well. I just did a 4.67km run which was fabulous! I wish all runs could be like this one. Have a lovely day. 🙂 xo
  
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  - dianeskitchentable on March 3, 2014 at 22:32 said:
    
    You’re killing me Mandy – you have no idea how I’ve had a chocolate cake craving for at least a week. How can you have too many sprinkles? I just don’t think that’s possible.
    I should first start checking out all of these plastic bins that my daughter stored here. Nothing’s marked but I know there’s tons of kitchen things in there that I know she wouldn’t mind me grabbing. Matter of fact, I have a cute cupcake holder that would look great filled with your cupcakes.
    Excellent running! Niki just did a 16 miles yesterday which she said wasn’t that bad. Now keep in mind though, she runs with a friend and they do take breaks – like a coffee break along the way. Got to stay hydrated you know.
    
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    - thecompletebook on March 4, 2014 at 18:53 said:
      
      Right, there can never be too many sprinkles. What a pity I can’t quickly run a batch over to you. Since our chat yesterday, I have just done a 5km run today. Yippee. Getting there in baby steps. Have a beautiful day Diane and here’s hoping you find lots of fun things in the plastic bins. I would love to come and look with you. 🙂 xo
      
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      - dianeskitchentable on March 4, 2014 at 21:32 said:
        
        5K that’s a milestone! Good for you & I would hardly call that babysteps.
      - thecompletebook on March 5, 2014 at 11:06 said:
        
        Awww, thanks Diane! xo
Judy @Savoring Today on March 3, 2014 at 17:14 said:

We have similar things that beat in rhythm with our heart in the kitchen — beloved spoons, treasured bowls, brightly colored accents, coffee, and gloriously rich yogurt. Love it!

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- thecompletebook on March 3, 2014 at 19:26 said:
  
  Oh wow, how special Judy to share so many similar things. Hope you are well. 🙂 xo
  
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Promenade Claire on March 3, 2014 at 18:45 said:

I’m off to check out your cupcake recipe……

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- thecompletebook on March 3, 2014 at 19:27 said:
  
  These are an absolute MUST make Claire. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do. 🙂 xo
  
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My Inner Chick on March 3, 2014 at 19:11 said:

Love the aqua blue Tupperware containers! Awesome blue bowl.

Can you do a video how to frost cupcakes like that?

Love and Hugs from COLD Minnesota. XXXXXXXXXXXXooo

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- thecompletebook on March 3, 2014 at 19:29 said:
  
  Love my blues Kim. Hmm, I am going to try my level best to do a tutorial for you. Never done one of those before. I will see what I can do for you. Can you believe, I have just come through from icing another batch. I’m sure it won’t be long before I bake another batch. How I would love to come and show you in person! Have a beautiful day. I am sitting here in Kay’s T-shirt. 🙂 xoxoxo
  
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  - My Inner Chick on March 3, 2014 at 22:43 said:
    
    I LOoooooooooooVE that you are sitting in Kay’s t-shirt. Send me a photo so I can share it! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
    
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    - thecompletebook on March 4, 2014 at 18:50 said:
      
      Hmm, well, can’t say that a) I am photogenic b) good at taking selfies, so for what it’s worth, here I am cooling down from my run. https://thecompletecookbook.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/kays-t-shirt.jpg xo
      
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Lisa the Gourmet Wog on March 4, 2014 at 06:58 said:

I think we all have our favourite wooden spoon lol and no matter how many we accumulate, we tend to gravitate back towards our favourite!
I bought mine from my local Asian groceries store, they usually have a great variety of bamboo ones near the woks and other cooking utensils! Hope you find one you love xx

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- thecompletebook on March 4, 2014 at 18:56 said:
  
  So lovely to have you back Lisa. Hope you get over your morning sickness soon! Have a lovely day. 🙂 xo
  
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ChgoJohn on March 4, 2014 at 07:35 said:

Oh! Thoughts of “sweet juicy” figs are flooding my consciousness … It’s clearing now. … Great IMK post, Mandy. Never have seen a wooden spoon so small and can see how it would become a favorite. Like that fruit bowl, too. Uh, oh. Here come those figs again …

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- thecompletebook on March 4, 2014 at 19:03 said:
  
  Right, that’s it. I am going to have to come and visit in October to do the marathon and them again in January to bring you figs. Sorted. 🙂 This little wooden spoon is causing a lots of drama I tell you. I will probably find dozens of them in years to come when I don’t need or want another one any more. Haa haa. Have a lovely day friend. 🙂 xo
  
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Tandy | Lavender and Lime on March 4, 2014 at 08:39 said:

that is my favourite yoghurt as well, and gets used for my rusks. Love the piping on your cupcakes Mandy 🙂

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- thecompletebook on March 4, 2014 at 19:05 said:
  
  I think I will use the yoghurt in my next batch of rusks too. I cannot believe I forgot to take photos of the cupcakes I iced last night before I took them into town today. Think they were my best yet. Have a lovely evening. 🙂 xo
  
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Joanne T Ferguson on March 4, 2014 at 10:10 said:

G’day! You got me with the cupcake and I’d LOVE to have one right now Mandy!
Thank you for this month’s kitchen view!
Cheers! Joanne

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- thecompletebook on March 4, 2014 at 19:09 said:
  
  Hi Joanne. These cupcakes are ridiculously addictive and well worth making over and over again. Have a super month ahead. 🙂 xo
  
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Jessica Maher (@kbelleicious) on March 4, 2014 at 15:14 said:

oh that spoon reminds me of my spoon. I got it when we got married and it is long and heavy and perfect with dents and scratches all over it! I love it and it always helps to make the perfect roux:)

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- thecompletebook on March 4, 2014 at 19:10 said:
  
  Oh how lovely that you also have a special spoon Belle. We are sisters in spoons. hee hee. Have a beautiful day. 🙂 xo
  
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Francesca on March 4, 2014 at 23:29 said:

Those cupcakes look so beautiful. I am hankering after something sweet now.

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- thecompletebook on March 5, 2014 at 11:07 said:
  
  Thanks so very much Francesca. I would love to share these with everybody. Have a lovely day. 🙂 xo
  
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Selma's Table on March 5, 2014 at 12:09 said:

Love your purple bowl – I have a blue one that I keep tomatoes in – it’s all about the visual right? So, I had a little spoon google and found this http://fantes.com/utensils.html. they do a 10 inch Beechwood or a 12 inch olive wood…

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- thecompletebook on March 5, 2014 at 15:29 said:
  
  Hi Selma, thanks for stopping by. Visual is very important, you are so right. Thank you so much for doing some google homework, very kind of you. Sadly living in South Africa, it costs an arm and a leg to buy and ship anything here. I will keep my eyes open. Thanks again Selma. Have a super day. 🙂 xo
  
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  - Selma's Table on March 6, 2014 at 13:29 said:
    
    Well let me know if you see a spoon from a UK site – I can easily get it for you and send it in the post or with friends x
    
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    - thecompletebook on March 7, 2014 at 08:55 said:
      
      Brilliant, thanks very much Selma, that is very kind of you! Have a beautiful weekend. 🙂 xo
      
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shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com on March 7, 2014 at 14:59 said:

I would LOVE some of those cupcakes in MY kitchen 🙂

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- thecompletebook on March 7, 2014 at 15:58 said:
  
  What a lovely compliment Shashi, thank you! Have a super weekend. 🙂 xo
  
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Ali on March 9, 2014 at 06:41 said:

Pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to stop eating those cupcakes if they were put in front of me, they look delicious!

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- thecompletebook on March 9, 2014 at 11:33 said:
  
  Hi Ali, welcome and thanks for stopping by. These cupcakes are truly fabulous. Hope you get to make a batch soon. Have a super day. 🙂 xo
  
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tableofcolors on March 10, 2014 at 22:37 said:

Thanks for the peek into your kitchen…I love IMK as well..such a sense of community. The Greek yoghurt looks fantastic. 🙂

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- thecompletebook on March 12, 2014 at 09:28 said:
  
  Hi Laila, thanks for popping in. You phrased it perfectly, it is a lovely sense of community. Have a super day. 🙂 xo
  
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