I know February is a short month but boy did it ever fly by in the blink of an eye! It’s already a few days into March and I still don’t believe it.
We had another busy month as usual, though I didn’t manage to capture much as far as photos go. Here’s what I’ve got in my kitchen this month….
My sweetie got me two gorgeous wooden bowls for Valentine’s Day. He know the way to my heart! The first is a huge antique bowl which currently holds all our blood oranges and cara cara oranges. It sits on the kitchen table which is currently covered with plastic and acting as a greenhouse with all our seedlings (hey, just keeping it real this month)!
He also got this handmade wooden bowl. It’s long and skinny and perfect for muffins, rolls and other goodies as well as fruit.
Speaking of the seedlings here they are. I “controlled” myself with just seven varieties of tomatoes! Then we have broccoli, several varieties of cauliflower, asian cabbage, brussels sprouts and so much more. We’re desperately hoping for a successful garden year, you just never know what will happen when you plant the garden.
With the kitchen table so crowded most meals are now at the breakfast bar or dining room table. It’s a small sacrifice to make for fresh veg later this summer!
So all those blood oranges in my new bowl, well we are all a bit addicted right now. I frequently peel two in the morning to pack in Sean’s lunch. Josh and I like to squeeze them into some sort of cocktail concoction. This blood orange ginger prosecco cocktail is my favorite, it celebrates the flavor of the juice and isn’t overly strong.
I also got this handmade book stand. It’s perfect for holding cookbooks open as well as my iPad. This is a cookbook that I used quite a bit last month for the Rainy Day Bites Cookbook Club, such great recipes!
Last month I featured my new heart rolling pin, I finally had some success with it for Valentine’s Day. I also used my alphabet stamps to make some conversation heart cookies.
That about sums up some of what’s in our kitchen. I’m linking up with Liz’s Good Things for this monthly party. Check out what is happening in kitchens across the world.
Feeding My 3 Sons 
Love the Valentine’s cookies! So pretty, and I can’t wait to try the cocktail…anything with prosecco has to be good! Why so many varieties of cauliflower?
So glad the valentine cookies turned out! As t the cauliflower, well we like it all. Orange, purple and white!
I have wooden bowl envy, I’d hang on to that man. Isn’t Diana Henry wonderful, I love cooking from her books too.
Josh is definitely a keeper! He asked what I wanted and I gave him a general description. He hunted the two bowls down by himself, heck I was only hoping to get one. I loved that Diana Henry cookbook. We had many delicious dishes from it and there are still many more I’d like to try. I checked the book out from the library, may need it renew it for another 3 weeks or just buy it!
Hello lovely! Ooooooh, those blood oranges. Exquisite! I have enjoyed all your photos on Instagram over the last month or so. I am in awe of all your seedlings, especially as I didn’t plant anything this last season (too busy writing my book). Speaking of which, your bookstand is gorgeous. Thank you for the very kind shout out and happy March, yes March already, I know xxxx
Thank you again for hosting, it is such a fantastic linkup! It has been a busy month, especially with the seedlings in the kitchen! I can certainly understand why you weren’t able to plant a garden last season, you certainly were busy with your book. I can only hope our seedlings continue to grow and I have time to take care of the garden.
How lucky you are Gretchen to receive such thoughtful Valentine’s Day gifts – your man could learn many others a thing or two!
He certainly did do well with his Valentine’s shopping!
LOVE those wooden bowls!!
Me too! They are both gorgeous, looking forward to find various uses for them.
I’d probably just look at them! I love wood and seeing the grain 🙂
I’m jealous that you’re going into tomato season. Its autumn down under, and our tomato crop has just finished until next summer. It was very very bountiful though, I hope yours is too!
I am hoping to have a bountiful season as well. Autumn seems so long ago, though our winter was mild, I’m just glad to see things starting to bloom.
Your new bowls are lovely and Simple is one of my favorite cook books. Good for you getting the seedlings going, I am looking forward to tomato season.
I’m very much looking forward to tomato season as well. Simple was a fantastic book, I’m looking forward to more recipe testing from it. The bowls are the best of the month though!
Your bowls are so pretty – simple, natural and functional. I can’t believe you are growing 7 varieties of tomatoes – I’m wishing you a good summer and bountiful harvest.
Every year I say I’ll cut down and somehow here I am with 7 varieties of tomatoes! The bowls are fantastic, I’m looking forward to discovering many uses for them.
You only needed to show us your seedlings, Gretchen. One photo, no description. Let us fantasize of all the good things to come. On the other hand, 7 varieties of tomatoes?!?!?! I don’t have room for 7 tomato vines! With so many vines, your garden must be the envy of every Italian within miles! 🙂
I think I may have to stake up the seedlings this year, they are getting leggy. I’m very excited about garden season, hopefully all forces will combine properly for a successful harvesting season!
Gretchen, with your upcoming garden, punting at the breakfast bar for meals, and 3 sons vying for the rest of your time and attention (not to mention a very thoughtful hubby), that’s as real as it gets! Thanks for the link to your cocktail recipe. It sounds heavenly! Hope you take a moment to enjoy one this weekend. Cute Valentine cookies, too!
Thanks Kim! Sometimes it takes writing these IMK posts to remember how good life is. At the time it may get stressful but it’s always nice to remember how great it is with the kids and hubby! My sweet boys are getting more active in the kitchen and it warms my heart every time, even if I do have a mess to clean up!
Gretchen, I was just about to take a break at the “halfway point” (lots of lovely IMK posts to read this month!) when I saw your reply come through. Yes, life can be stressful (especially with young ‘uns underfoot) but you’re managing it gracefully and well. Keep it up, kiddo! Sometimes I take a step back, too, to “take it all in”… and I don’t have half the chaos you’re contending with! 🙂 Take good care of yourself and the rest will take care of itself. I just told my hubby this morning that IMK is like getting 40 (or more) pen pal letters every month and it’s such a delight to “write back.” (Sorry for my lengthy comments, lol!) I can’t help but marvel at the varied stages of life everyone’s going through, ones I’ve been through (and survived!) and how much there is to look forward to every day. xo
Oh those wooden bowls are so lovely. What lovely gifts. That cocktail sounds divine. I love blood oranges. And that book stand – fabulous!!
The wooden bowls are wonderful, I love them. The cookbook stand is getting used quite a bit too. And of course I’ve made those blood orange cocktails several times now! Thanks for popping by.
Such a lovely post – full of inspiration. Our kitchen is filled with veggie seedlings too – but definitely will be worth it 🙂
Good luck with your seedlings! It’s always fun to watch them grow.
Thank you Gretchen – you too 🙂
The orange colour is so intense it’s almost blue-violet!! what do they taste like? are they very sweet?