A month in and it still feels a bit weird writing January 2026 but here we are in February 2026. I am sure the time flies by faster with every year that passes. It’s the first of the month which can only mean one thing, it’s time to link up with Sherry and friends for this month’s In My Kitchen. Let’s get stuck in, shall we?!
It took me a hot minute to de-Christmas the kitchen and as much as I love Christmas, I really feel that order has been restored. I’m pleased to report that healthier eating has also been reinstated. To celebrate the new year, I tried a new recipe this Fish Pie from Em the Nutritionist. It was so good – I’ve made it almost every week since!
I really fell out of love with my Ninja multi cooker. The truth was I only really used it for air frying and occasional dehydrating and as it had been temperamental lately, I rehomed it and and got a more conventional drawer air fryer instead. This is going to be a game changer – it is going to come in so handy especially when cooking for just the two of us.
I was on the lookout for getting a couple of spare bowls for Teddy’s raised feeder when I realised our blue Country Traditionals bowls would fit inside perfectly. I’m not one of those people who likes to share human dinnerware with my dog so I got Teddy two blue bowls of his own. He woofed that his dinner has never tasted so good!
Although I have mastered the art of making my own pot stickers, I still really miss soupy dumplings so praise be to Itsu who have a whole range of soup dumplings. I like to cook them like I cook my pot stickers in the pan – they’re so good! Bonus points for being relatively low in calories too – a packet of 6 is just under 250 calories!
I’m not going to lie, I haven’t been very inspired in the kitchen this year but I did share the recipe for this Easy Apple Cake with Rum Soaked Sultanas. Rest assured, I can always get excited by cake!
I made a few of batches of these Chewy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cookies – they’re so easy and so moreish and went down very well with the friends and neighbours. Nom nom! This recipe was so good, I felt compelled to share it immediately… You’re welcome!
Talking of neighbours, my dear next door neighbours gifted us some home made chutneys. The preserves were meant for Christmas but the festive season was so busy, it passed all of us by. Still, I’m excited to receive homemade goods at any time of year.
Another of our neighbours is a florist and specialises in weddings. When she has left over blooms from a big event, she puts them in big buckets outside her house and pops a message in the street WhatsApp chat inviting everyone to help themselves – what a treat!
And look what I found at my local TK Maxx! Darrell Lea Licorice! Sorry about the terrible photo but I was desperate to get into the bag and take a walk of taste down memory lane. Truth be told, the long journey to the UK had taken it’s toll on the licorice which was a bit sticky to touch but still tasted as good as I remembered. It was a little taste of Australia here in the UK.
Now that I’ve told you about all my kitchen carry ons, I’d love to hear about yours. Tell me everything in the comments!
