“In My Kitchen” June 2024

We made it through May and all the tornado outbreaks. (I think I said something similar to surviving April.) Again, I grew up in tornado alley; I remember nights spent in cellars.  We have dodged some crazy weather and have been extremely lucky. Thankful.

This month, I’m just going to revisit May’s posts and some delicious food that we’ve eaten “Out of My Kitchen.”

As the school year was wrapping up, I had a great opportunities to dine out with colleagues as we finished up college enrollment activities and summer planning meetings. Of course, there’s always a lunch or dinner out with co-workers.

Baked pimento cheese with bacon jam (from Society in Tulsa)

I so want to try to replicate this dish sometime.

Everything Burger and Jalapeno-Cheese Tots/Sweet Potato Fries (Society)

Also tried this much hyped NYC pizza in OKC.

From Dado’s in Oklahoma City

That’s the obligatory pepperoni,  a pesto slice, and an al pastor pizza.  All were delicious.

Finally, or local team’s favorite meeting place is a local Mexican restaurant—nothing fancy but always good.

We traveled to Iowa in May for a very special event.

The eldest nephew graduated from Grinnell College and the entire family attended. The college hosted a picnic lunch for all family and friends after the graduation. 

Peter Sagal of “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me” fame was the commencement speaker. I’m not sure what I was most excited for—hearing Peter Sagal or seeing the nephew graduate from college with honors!

After graduation, my sister hosted a party and I wish I had taken pictures of her kitchen and the spread. She made chicken shawarma with a delicious yogurt sauce. (She cooked the chicken in the instant pot and then finished it up by adding some char under the broiler.) There was also a Mediterranean orzo salad, hummus and veggies. I contributed my Spicy Carrot and Chickpea Salad. Gran made some brownies with dried cranberries and some stupendous rhubarb bars.

To revisit what was “In My Kitchen” this month, I tackled a mostly vegetarian timpano for a cookbook review:

I made some Spanish style bread for a movie review for Movies & Munchies:

And, I made Julia Child’s Blender Mayonnaise for Cook the Books:

The only new gadget in the kitchen was a grilling accessory. Mom gave us a new grilling tool while we were in Iowa. Not sure what to call it, but I’ll go with a grilling cage.

We filled it with fresh sweet peas (right) and just rolled them around a while on the grill (finished on the left). No seasoning but the smokiness of the grill made them delicious.

We were smoking a pork butt and I made some horseradish-dijon roasted potatoes to complete the meal.

I’ll add more horseradish next time.

I hope to post some garden pics for July. I have about forty tomato plants planted and about 10 pepper plants. Salsa in the future? Perhaps.

Even though the graduation trip might be considered a curve ball, I want to add one more.

I found this little tree frog while I was weeding.

I’m linking up with Sherry’s Pickings, the host for In My Kitchen. Check out all the posts from kitchens around the world.