“In My Kitchen” September 2018

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

Debra (based on Sparkling Tarragon 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

  1. Pour lemonade, gin and St. Germain in a large pitcher.  Add ice and  lemon slices.  Stir to combine.
  2. Crush 2-3 basil le aves and place in individual glasses.   Add cocktail mixture.
  3. 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!

 

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