Thursday, February 6, 2014

In My Kitchen - February Food

Is it really February already?!?!?
  
This month In My Kitchen I'm going to share some food items that are new, or relatively new to our home. Most of them I haven't even opened yet or tried before so I can't actually give you an opinion on taste/texture/flavour....... yet!

In My Kitchen is this Black Bean 'Oyster' Sauce.
Of course its not really 'oyster' sauce. Its 100% vegan.
I picked it up at a local Asian grocery store.
I am yet to actually open it and try it - but I'm looking forward to it.

In My Kitchen is also this Liquid Smoke from the Asian grocery store.
 I have never actually tried liquid smoke at all before, and have always just substituted molasses in recipes that call for this ingredient.
No more substitution - bring on the 'tofu bacon' I say!!!

I must admit that I have never actually tried whole buckwheat before. I've only ever tried it as flour or noodles. Don't let the name fool you - there is actually no wheat in buckwheat and it is gluten free. 
Buckwheat is a rich source of magnesium, iron, and of course being a whole grain it is full of fibre. It's very good for helping control blood sugar levels, cholesterol and blood pressure.
 I picked this organic pack up from our local Woolies store. Another packet that I'm yet to open, but looking forward to it.
I am yet to source some recipes that I actually want to try so if you have any feel free to share them!

 Inca berries - another unopened packet to try! I also picked these up at Woolies.
I have heard all about them but have never tried them. 
Inca berries are full of Vitamins A, C, B, and flavonoids.
I have a few recipes marked that I'm hoping to try these protein-rich beauties for!

We haven't been buying much bread lately. We find that it goes mouldy before we eat it. We hardly get through half a loaf a week! So when I saw these rice cakes at Woolies I thought I would give them a try. 
The ingredients list looks like this: "Whole Grain Brown Rice".
Now that's what I call convenience without being overly processed! 
They look like they would make a great alternative to a sandwich for my daughters lunchbox on days when I haven't filled it with other delicious food.
They come in thick or thin slices.  

So here's the first food item on my list that I have actually tried before...
I just HAD to add a picture of this HUGE jar that I bought. It isn't opened yet purely because there is about a tablespoon left in our current jar!
I love this macro one that uses only peanuts- no added oil, salt or sugar.

Next stop in my kitchen comes from the Health Food Store.

Here are two types of grain that are fairly new to me. They both cook like rice, and as such I intend to make good use of our rice cooker
Amaranth is similar to quinoa in that although it is eaten like a grain it is actually the 'seed' that we eat. It is also full of protein, calcium, iron and potassium.
Farro is a form of wheat. It is also loaded with calcium, iron and magnesium.
Looking forward to trying them both.

Along with the puffed rice that I regularly buy to make various muesli bars/slices for lunchbox snacks, I also thought we would try puffed amaranth too.

Also In My Kitchen is a huge range of spice blends and dip mixes.
I have signed up to be a consultant for Your Inspiration at Home. Its an Australian Company that has a huge range of gourmet spice blends, dip mixes, vinegars, oils, baking spices, dukkahs, meat rubs, flavoured salts and sugars, chocolate powders, coffees and teas.
I love their products and am thoroughly enjoying experimenting with them. They are all free from artificial preservatives, MSG, gluten, colours/numbers, and anti-caking agents.
If you'd like to check out the range visit this website.



Do you have anything new in your kitchen to try this month?

Share what's in your kitchen this month on the Fig Jam & Lime Cordial Blog.
Thanks for hosting Celia :-)

12 comments:

  1. I had no idea Woolworths now stocked buckwheat! They are providing more and more previously hard to find ingredients...I'll have to check out the stores near me to see if that has appeared. I'm also really excited for you having liquid smoke to play with. It's a great ingredient!

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    1. Yeah I am constantly surprised by the wonderful things I'm finding in regular grocery stores! Our Coles even has nutritional yeast now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
      Can't wait to experiment with the smoke!

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  2. Wow lots of exciting ingredients that I haven't tried yet either. I'm intrigued by the liquid smoke and inca berries as I have never seen either of them for sale.

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    1. I'm also intrigued by the liquid smoke I must admit lol!!!!!!

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  3. I am looking forward to you experimenting with these ingredients . Have a great February cooking!

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  4. What interesting things you always have, Sandy! The vegan market is obviously so well catered for these days! I came across an amazing vegetarian sambal belacan recently, but it doesn't say too much about what's in it, just "vegetarian belacan". :) Good luck with your new business! :)

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    1. Yes it sure is amazing how much we can buy and the range is constantly being widened too!
      Thanks Celia! :-)

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  5. I have yet to find liquid smoke. You have so many wonderful new products in your kitchen and Your Inspiration at Home sounds like they have fabulous products - best of luck with that.
    :-) Mandy

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    1. Thanks Mandy :-)
      I must admit it was hard to find the smoke. A friend especially asked it to be ordered in, so I'm grateful for that!

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  6. G'day! Raw buckwheat has been on my list to do Sandy, true!
    Woolworths has quite an extensive organics ranges now and thanks for this month's kitchen view!
    Cheers! Joanne

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    1. Yes I'm continually impressed by Woolies new products and their ever-growing organic range :-)
      Let me know how you go with the buckwheat!

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