In My Kitchen - IMK Sept 2025

I'm happy to be joining the In My Kitchen (IMK) monthly roundup, kindly hosted by Sherry over at Sherry’s Pickings!

We had friends visiting from Florida who stayed with us for six days, which meant lots of meals, laughter, and impromptu get-togethers with mutual friends. It was busy—but in the best way!

 Almost every guest who dropped by to visit brought flowers. At one point, I had four vases full, all blooming at once. The kitchen felt extra cheerful with all those fresh flowers around!

(I gathered them in one place for the picture, but of course I displayed them in different places.) 

 I personally don't eat dairy, but I made a lovely caprese platter for the guests with luscious baked fresh figs in the center (drizzled with honey and balsamic vinegar). Baking figs brings them to a whole new level and it must be fig season somewhere because I am seeing  fresh figs at a decent price in all the stores.

I also made a crudités platter with hummus.

My friend Miriam (she and her husband were our 6 day guests) made a beautiful challah for Shabbat. (It was not gluten-free or vegan) but she says she is working on a recipe to make one for next time that I can eat.

Instead of baking the challah free form on a cookie sheet, she baked it in a silicon mold that I have that is made for specifically baking challah! 

We have been enjoying farm fresh local peaches from the farmer's market.

 

We made a fruit salad using the peaches with some additional fruit.

We are all big vegetable fans, so we roasted a tray of veggies each night for the 4 of us. (seasoned with garlic powder, turmeric, salt and pepper) 

After meals, Miriam jumped up to put the leftover food away and to clean up - I didn't protest! She was so helpful and the perfect guest.

What's new? I purchased a new white 70 inch round tablecloth which I will use for the Jewish holidays that start this year on September 22. We invite the whole immediate family of 30 for dinner! We have multiple long tables are aligned together.

My New York kids and grandkids came to visit over Labor Day Weekend. The weather cooled off from the high 90's, which we had been having, to the mid 70's - so we were able to eat lunch out on the deck- again lots more food which accommodated the 4 out of the 10 of us who eat gluten-free! 

 At night we went to see the fireworks at a nearby farm where they host fun events. 

The temps dropped to 60 by 9:00PM  

and we were actually chilly while watching the fireworks. Of course we did go to our Yardley water ice house for homemade water ice before the fireworks which kind of made us cold. If you are ever in Yardley, Pa. gotta have it!!!

 

It was a great weekend (my other son and family live nearby so we were all together) ..

And now it's September!!!