In my kitchen is a mix of old and new.
The spoon on the right was my Grandma’s. These days it serves up mashed potatoes and memories. The spoon in the middle was a gift (thanks, sweet sister) that serves as a decoration. The spoon on the left, worn thin from a lifetime of stirring, belonged to my great-grandmother. Now it’s a garlic holder atop my “modern day” microwave.
In my kitchen there is always garlic.
There’s coffee, too… old-fashioned and newfangled.
The Bialetti coffee maker was a gift from me to me. I love coffee! The Dutch oven behind it was another gift from my sister (which has nothing to do with coffee), but I love its constant presence (and hers) in my kitchen.
In the black & white photo, the coffee-themed oven mitt (a gift from my daughter — thanks, Bebe Girl, xo) and the Kahlua coffee mug (a gift from my goddaughter, xo) serve as daily reminders that people care about me. I love my family. I love gifts. I love being in my kitchen!
Color your world and your kitchen in hues that please you.
For me, red is the color In My Kitchen — the color of love — passion — Cabernet Sauvignon — and the quilt stitched by my mother-in-law (xo) that hangs over our front door every afternoon like a Mondrian. Bits and pieces of fabric from her life, filtering Oklahoma sunlight in mine.
In my kitchen are old (new-to-me) cruets purchased at a yard sale for fifty cents.
Why is it that oil & vinegar taste better poured from a cruet?
This unassuming pair resides on a copper serving tray (atop the aforementioned microwave), purchased at a yard sale for a quarter. I love yard sales and kitchen treasures — and, evidently, balsamic vinegar & extra virgin olive oil.
See the picture frame in the background? That was a gift from my Mom (xo), given shortly after we moved here. In cross-stitch below the photo, it says: Home, Sweet Home.
I don’t think that phrase ever meant more to me than it does now.
Every day I cook in a “tree house” on the lake — I see this view from In My Kitchen — and I feel incredibly blessed.
Fall’s a comin’…
Is it really September? In My Kitchen is a glorious bouquet from my hubby, The Man Of Few Words. (Bear in mind, flowers tend to arrive randomly and bouquets are generally few and far between.)
To quote him: “It reminded me of autumn.”
His economy with words and extravagance with “non-verbal romance” continue to astound me. New flowers from an old love…
Last but not least is an old recipe in a new dish, both gifts from my Sis.
(Ditto on everything I said above about love, family, gifts, memories, and treasures in my kitchen.)
This time I revamped the recipe with the last of my Greek yogurt because, well… you know how it is.
Marinated Beef Appetizer
1 c. minced roast beef (a great way to use up leftover roast)
1 clove of garlic (of course), finely minced
1 Tbsp. minced onion (I used Vidalia, but green onions are also good)
Freshly squeezed lemon juice to taste
Dash of Worcestershire sauce
Sea salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
Equal parts mayonnaise & Greek yogurt, enough to bind the mixture together
(Sorry to make you approximate measurements. FYI, the original recipe calls for sour cream — whatever tickles ya!)
Mix together, cover, and chill. Adjust seasonings before serving, as needed.
Serve with (warm) garlic toast or pita chips or crackers.
. . .
So, what’s in your kitchen this month? If you’d like to join in, please visit Celia at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial. Each month, she hosts In My Kitchen (thank you!)
It’s a delight to see what’s going in in kitchens around the world!
Enjoying “old & new,”
~ Kimby
a little lunch 
I like implements with a past. Stirring or serving with a spoon that we know our grandmother used forms a tangible link with the past and is a wonderful thing to be passed down another generation, complete with stories.
Your view is stunning.
Yes, I like to re-use and re-purpose kitchen and dining room items from garage sales and op shops (as they are known here). No point in adding to the landfill. Thanks for the your.
ps: What a view!
Dear, Sweet IMK friends and commentor loves,
Don’t know if you’ll get this or not (unless you subscribed to “comments”), but I’ve been under the weather for more than a week. Aarrgghh! Meant to reply to each and every one of you and THOUGHT I was out of the woods, but today would indicate otherwise. (!) Thank you SO much for sharing your much noticed and appreciated thoughts. I love all y’all!
~ Kimby
Kim, your kitchen is filled with so much love – how wonderful! It must be a treat to sit and enjoy a cuppa with you chatting about all your treasures. I love your melding of old and new – fabulous!
:-) Mandy xo
Hi Kim, I could not agree more, what would we do without coffee? I also love how colourful your kitchen is.
The beef looks tasty I must remember it next time I have left over.
cheers
Jason
Old and new…Dutch ovens and coffee makers…I just know we would get along so well in person. Although I try to detach from material things, it’s items like my Le Creuset Dutch oven in “flame” orange and the matching tea kettle and my coffee maker and my silver spoon that me smile when I use them. And the man of few words? What a charming man, in his non-verbal way.
What an inspiring post. Almost brought a tear to my eye for two reasons… you life full of love and the view of that lake, Nice to meet you Kim
Hi Kim, I echo everyone’s praise of your view. I particularly love your copper serving tray. I would say that was certainly a bargain at a quarter.
love that spoon
I love the old and new in your kitchen, but more than that, I love your view!
I just got a brand new kitchen, about four or five times the size of the former one. I now have room to display my beloved items including my grandma’s wafflemaker.
You must feel such warmth in your kitchen, surrounded by reminders of and love from all your family. Thanks for sharing some of that love with us. I too enjoy mixing the old and the new, with a spice of red!
Dear Kimby,
Your spoons look beautifully rustic and more precious for whom they have been with.
I wished I kept some of my grandma’s stuff from her kitchen and it would be such a joy to cook with and a gentle reminder of her always.
I have this humongous fascination over vintage/antique kitchenettes :) Looks like we are in the same league.
Enjoyed browsing your kitchen treasures and memories and love. Enjoyed reading your poetry-like beautiful post. Loved the honest, warm photos here.
Hugs.
Oh MY! Kimby, You have a very interesting kitchen…I have a special affinity towards old kitchen accessories (like those beautiful spoons you have) and that coffee maker and your mom-in-law’s quilt! And, like you, I love red too! Do you have ceramic or wooden plates with antique design too? If yes, please post the pics some day…thanks for the beautiful recipe and this beautiful post!
Nice homely photos.
Wow you have something from GREAT grandmother… I don’t think I have anything with me from that generation. It’s super cool. I always look for antique props and it’s too bad I don’t have anything from my great grandparents generation. Love “in my kitchen” series a lot. I can peak through your life a little. :)
G’day What a tranquil view!
Love your grandma’s spoon and thanks for this month’s lovely in your kitchen view!
Viewed as part of IMK
Cheers! Joanne
I love this post, Kimmmeee…feel like I’m right there w/you…those treasures you’ve shared show how deep and beautiful your heart is and how well-lived your life is…these are the things that define us, that make us who we are, the things that ground us as we go about our day…what a glorious sharing, my loving friend, and I’ll have a cuppah your java annnneetime….I just know it’s good stuff! xox
What beautiful history you have in your spoons – your great grandmother’s spoon is an absolute treasure! I have a very non-traditional family and we don’t have anything like that – I pine for tradition as a result. Fabulous IMK post!
my kitchen is very much like yours, a combination of old, new, odd (for me anyway) sentimental, bizarre and not always practical. I love yours just like I love mine :)
Have a beautiful day my beautiful Kim!
I’m always overflowing with envious whenever you talk about your lakeside views. Talking about colours, I’ve finally completed my home make-over & just posted a teaser. That red hue is such a romantic colour! While your hubby is buying you lovely flowers, mine is stuffing me with fluffy toys like I’m his daughter. Lol!
So neat that you have your great-grandmother’s spoon! I have an apron and a neckerchief that belonged to my great-grandma but I don’t have either on display. They are very special to me though!
It’s nice to meet another coffeeaholic! I love the way you’ve made me feel I almost know your family when you describe the lovely things in your kitchen.
And as for the flowers ~ well, who needs a man of words when you can have one who brings you random bunches of flowers!
Thank you for sharing.
I think cooking in a tree house with that view would be very special indeed. :) I think as we get older the things we surround ourselves with all have stories or we ditch them.
Kim, what a view! Cooking in a tree house by the lake must be heavenly! I really enjoyed reading about all your new and old pieces, especially the ones that have so much love and so many memories attached to them. Your great-grandmother’s spoon is a priceless treasure. Thank you for sharing them all with us! x
Your photos always warm me, Kim. I love the story in each relic you display and oh, the lake. Always the lake. *sigh* Some day, a little lunch.
Everything in your kitchen seems to have a story my friend, from your family and from your personality :D
I love it :)
Gorgeous recipe as well, thanks for sharing!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru