Crackle and crunch, it’s the first of the month! Can you believe we’re already into the second half of the year? Because I definitely can’t! As it’s the first of the month, I’m joining Sherry and friends for the monthly edition of In My Kitchen. So, before I get stuck into all the awesomeness of August, come with me on a whistle-stop tour of what went down in my kitchen in July, otherwise known around here as birthday month.
David and I have a tradition where we make each other a birthday cake every year. I actually bake all the cakes and then David decorates mine and I decorate his. This year I made him a biscuit cake and loved it so much (and had so many biscuits left over) that I asked for the same birthday cake in pink!
I always use Nigella’s recipe for Buttermilk Birthday Cake and it never lets me down – it’s such a moist sponge and holds it’s shape so well. We shared the cake (including biscuits) with friends and neighbours and it went down a right treat. I even shared all my tips on how to make this showstopping cake in a blog post!
It was Teddy’s birthday too and don’t worry, he didn’t miss out on the cake action. Keeping with tradition, he had his own healthy homemade dog cake.
I finally shared the recipe for my Apple, Rhubarb and Shortbread Crumble – using biscuits for the crumble topping really is a game changer!
I continue to cook my way through my Emily English cookbooks. This Cottage Cheese Pizza toast has been on high rotation.
I also made Em’s tuna cucumber bites as a slightly healthier addition to a grazing platter. They were so quick, easy and really tasty. It might be the first time I’ve made them but it won’t be the last.
Our friends went away for the weekend to Herefordshire which is apparently the cherry capital of England. They very kindly gave us this big bowl of cherries and they were absolutely delicious! Cherries are my fave!
The same neighbours gifted me these planters full of herbs for my birthday – what a great gift! I just hope I can keep them alive! For those of you following along at home, my counter top herbs are still alive – just about!
We got so many lovely foodie gifts for our birthdays. Our lovely friend/dog sitter sent us this Cornish hamper – everything was yummy and delicious, especially the scones.
But that wasn’t the only Cornish hamper we received! Other friends went on holiday to Cornwall and put together this beautiful birthday hamper of Cornish deliciousness – it was so thoughtful and generous.
My friend Jazz who I’ve been friends with since I was 3 got me this shimmer syrup which you can add to your (non) alcoholic drinks.
I am very much in my iced coffee era so we invested in a couple more Nespresso glasses. They’re the perfect size and really solid!
I made a few additions to my Country Traditionals collection this month. I had been coveting this water carafe/vase for ages and my birthday seemed like the perfect excuse to bring it home. Friends gave me this soap dispenser for my birthday – I love it so much!
So that’s a wrap on July! It was a month full of birthdays, good food, great gifts and plenty of reasons to celebrate. I’m looking forward to seeing what August has in store, both in and out of the kitchen.
How was your July? What have you been cooking, baking or eating lately? And do your family and friends have a designated birthday month like we do?!
