Welcome to this month’s “In My Kitchen,” hosted by Sherry’s Pickings. Sometimes, it seems like I struggle a bit to find anything new in my kitchen. That wasn’t the case this month. I found some beautiful and practical items in August.
In hopes of getting invited back to Pieathalon 6 (even after my dismal meringue) and just because it was super cute, I bought this pie dish.
In the same store, I ran across this artisanal looking cheese knife. The store held all sorts of home decor and kitchen items plus they also manufacture concrete statuary which is amazing! (Check out my photos here.) 
(Don’t let the handcrafted look fool you, though. The cheese knife was made in India.)
Ha! I was showing my purchase to The Hubs and he commented on it being a mouse. Seriously, I didn’t see it until he pointed it out. It’s all about perspective.
It’s all about perspective.
I nabbed a crate of green chiles in the middle of August. You can read more about the Green Chile adventure here. Suffice it to say that 25 pounds is a lot!!!
Here’s a new beverage that can help you toast the end of summer with some fresh herbs before the frost takes them away.
Sparkling lemonade (with oregano and basil starts in the background)
I love this lemonade and buy it for the nephews when they are here. The bottles are fantastic to reuse for homemade concoctions like vinegars and liqueurs. (I buy it at Cost Plus World Market—perhaps my favorite store ever!) This time, however, I used it as a base for a cocktail.
Sparkling Basil Gin Lemonade
A light cocktail for late summer sipping on the patio.
Ingredients
- 1 (25.4 oz.) bottle sparkling lemonade
- 3/4 c. Tanqueray Rangpur gin
- 1/2 c. St. Germain
- lemon slices
- 8-12 basil leaves*
Instructions
- Pour lemonade, gin and St. Germain in a large pitcher. Add ice and lemon slices. Stir to combine.
- Crush 2-3 basil le aves and place in individual glasses. Add cocktail mixture.
- Serve over ice. Garnish with more basil and lemon slices.
Yield: 4
*Mint works just as well.
And, speaking of cocktails on the patio, check out these very practical silicon drink-toppers:
These work much better on the patio than the magazines or even place mats that I had been using!
That’s it for this edition of “In My Kitchen.”
IMK is hosted by Sherry at Sherry’s Pickings.
(This is not “In My Kitchen” but I wanted to share this fabulous Oklahoma sunset. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen a true Okie western evening view.)
One more aside, if you will permit me: If you live in the Tulsa area, please travel to Philbrook before September 9 to see the “Summer in France” Exhibit which contains Impressionist prints from the likes of Pisarro, Cassatt and Degas. Then, as you exit the exhibit, make sure you stop and have some local masters aid you in making your own print to take home.
I just loved the snarkiness of this quote!
So many good things here, Debra! That’s a great pie dish! Funny with the cheese knife; I at first, thought it was a mouse, you know, the mice and cheese thing! And now a trip to World Market is in store for me after seeing that fantastic bottle. I love gin so I know what I will make with the lemonade! Thanks for sharing your kitchen finds!
Yep, I’m kind of slow on the mouse and cheese thing apparently. Ha!
That cheese knife does look like a mouse! Fun. And speaking of fun, your kitchen if full of fun this month. Love the drink, too. Thanks!
Yes it does. But, I kind of like it the other way. Looks a bit more hand-crafted. 🙂
I enjoyed this edition of In My Kitchen and so, you inspired me to join in. Fabulous sunset and I sure love my Tanqueray!
I am so glad you are jumping in. (Mae’s the one that inspired me, too.)
I do miss those Oklahoma sunsets.
Thanks for posting one for me.
Love,
Mom
You’re welcome! 🙂
Beautiful sunset! Those silcone lids are great — I have them in larger sizes to use for refrigerating or microwaving dishes that don’t have covers of their own.
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
I’ve got some for pots but I cannot tell you how many times we have put these to use. In fact, I need to get a few more.
That cheese knife is pretty cute! I need to get myself a pie dish too.
I can’t wait to use it. Might give a whirl this weekend. I think it will be great for quiches.
I will have to look out for the Tanqueray Rangpur gin at duty free as we don’t get it here. I love your mouse knife, so perfect for cheese 🙂
Any gin will work.
How good is that- an IMK post with a cocktail recipe. That drink looks really tempting and I plan to make it in summer. What is St Germain?
St. Germain is an elderflower liqueur. I thought it would be too flowery and perfumy but I surprisingly like it. It’s a good complement to the lemon. (I did ramp down the amount from the original recipe.)
That is a lot of green chilis! Love the mouse cheese knife – it is so, so cute. And I can see why you shared that sunset. Just beautiful!
Thanks, Jen.
Would love being in your kitchen right now sipping on that lemonade and smelling that roasted chile. What a life!
Well, I wish you had been here to help peel chiles! 🙂 (I would gladly have given you a lemonade for helping!)
What fun finds! I really like the yellow pie plate – I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you get invited back to the pieathalon.
I doubt my dismal meringue will disqualify me. 🙂 I was not the only failure…. Ha!
I hardly make pies but I would be tempted by that pie plate – and your cheese knife is cute – I have a different one that is like a mouse and I have always found it charming so it is nice to see another style of mousey cheese knife – and your lemonade and cocktail looks very summery – enjoy your autumn
Thanks. I can’t believe I never saw the mouse…
I adore the mouse cheese knife, I have something similar also with a little mouse and rarely use it. I must dig it out this year. Shame to have it and not use it, don’t you think?! The pie dish is cool. I have made some pies recently, but don’t have anything fancy like that to make them in – enjoy. PS The lemonade looks and sounds delicious.
what a glorious yellow pie dish. so pretty and practical too. and that mousey cheese knife is such fun. very cute. love the sunset photo. we’ve had some good ones here in brisbane too lately. those beautiful citrus skies… that gin drink sounds wonderful for our coming summer months. gin is sooooo popular at the moment isn’t it? thanks for joining in with IMK. cheers sherry
Your pie dish is gorgeous. What a beautiful find. I love the summery lemonade recipe too!
That pie dish really is super cute!