Welcome to In My Kitchen With You

Come on in. The kettle's probably on and there's almost certainly something bubbling on the hob.

I'm Jo, and this is my little corner of the kitchen where I cook, experiment, make far too much washing up and share the recipes and ideas that make me want to get back in the kitchen and do it all again.

You'll find everything from easy family dinners to food for sharing, baking projects, seasonal recipes and the occasional “I wonder if this will work?” experiment.

Pull up a chair. There's always room at my table.

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Nature's Larder

What's In Season In Nature's Larder

Take a peek at what’s growing, ripening, foraging and finding its way into kitchens right now. Follow the seasons, discover something new and see where the ingredients might take you.

BLackberry

Sweet, sharp and ready for picking ... come and see what I’ve been making with them.

FIGS

Fresh figs don't tend to hang around for long in my kitchen. Here are a few delicious ways to make the most of them while they're here.

APPLES

From orchard to kitchen, here are a few delicious ways to make the most of your apples.

Kitchen Recents ...

A few things that have made their way out of my

kitchen recently

Fresh courgette slices, lettuce, and a striped eggplant on a wooden cutting board, with rustic burlap and dark wood background

Courgette Glut? Welcome to the Help Group. For those of us who have lost control of the fridge drawer

I gather you all here today to discuss something on a rather serious note... It has come to my attention that there are people out there, such as myself, suffering from a little-known condition known as CGGOC – Courgette Glut Growers Overload Circumstance. The symptoms are actually very well documented. Sufferers are often left overwhelmed and bewildered as they stare into a fridge drawer full of courgettes wondering what on earth they are going to cook next. In the early sta

Slice of crumb-topped cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on a white plate, gold spoon, served on a wicker table.

The Supermarket Duck Pond House Incident: Mascarpone Spelt Apple Crumble Tart

Sometimes the best recipes are the ones you never meant to make ... This tart was supposed to be an almond-based apple crumble tart with a Mascarpone and cream cheese filling. It was a perfectly straightforward plan, or so I thought! ... Instead, I went to the super in a thunderstorm, waded barefoot through a flooded car park to rescue my car, forgot the ground almonds I had actually gone to supermarket to buy, and ended up making this ... But this is recipe is proof that so

Colorful potato salad with sausage slices, red onion and dill in a patterned bowl, with wooden spoons on a stone ledge.

Bramley Apple Potato Salad - A Somerset Orchard Potato Salad with Dill, Warm Cheddar Jalapeño Hot Links & Creamy Dressing

Nature's Larder It's about this time of year in Somerset that Bramley apples have a habit of appearing on doorsteps .. less cherry knocking, more apple knocking. You certainly can't walk through a Somerset village at this time of year without tripping over a box of Bramley apples. Left hopefully outside a gate with a little handwritten note inviting you to take a few, they're one of my favourite signs that the seasons are beginning to shift. This hearty potato salad is my wa

White-meringue topped berry tart with red filling and edible flower garnish on a floral plate, with two blackberries nearby.

Blackberry Cloud Pie | A Blackberry Curd & Swiss Meringue Tart

Some recipes begin with a shopping list ...This one began with a bucket of blackberries. The sort that arrive in a neighbour's hand with a smile and the words, "I thought you might like these." The sort that stain your fingertips purple before you've even reached the kitchen .. and those very blackberries became a delicious homemade curd, rich with a gentle sharpness and gloriously jewel coloured ( When Life Gives You Blackberries ... Make Blackberry Curd.) Generously spooned

Outdoor picnic with a red Wardy's Cider Rambler can, iced drink, pears and leaves on a board beside a wicker basket.

Orchard Iced Tea – A Refreshing Pear & Elderflower Cider Cocktail

A refreshing taste of summer beneath the apple trees ... There are some places that quietly become part of your story. For us, Wady's Cider Orchard and Taproom is one of them. On warm summer afternoons, it's one of our favourite places to escape for an hour or two. Sitting beneath the apple trees with a chilled drink in hand, watching the light filter through the orchard, you can't help but slow down. There's something wonderfully simple about it all ... the scent of apples

When Life Gives You Blackberries ... Make Blackberry Curd

They say when life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade ... But every now and then, life has other plans ... Not long ago, I mentioned to my husband that we really ought to go blackberry picking. I had a craving to make a blackberry curd and imagined an afternoon spent wandering the hedgerows, returning home with purple-stained fingers and enough berries to fill a basket. About twenty minutes later, there was a quiet knock at the door, and on the doorstep sat a generous

Let Me Introduce Myself ...

dark haired women arranging sun flowers. The vibe is warm and welcoming.

Hi and welcome to
In My Kitchen With You

I'm Jo Garrett, a home cook, Mum of three, and the person usually found somewhere between the flour, the washing up and whatever I've decided to cook next.

I believe food is more than what's on the plate ... it's about connection, conversation and creating memories. My table is a place where everyone is welcome, where simple ingredients become something special, and where sharing a meal brings people together.

Come on in and find out a little more about me →

Jo x

ABOUT ME

Contact Us

inmykitchenwithyou@gmail.com

inmykitchenwithyou

Well my Sunday just improved .... Crisp, buttery, sweet pastry cases, generously filled with my homemade blackberry curd, topped with a cloud of Swiss meringue 💜

This recipe can be found in the Nature's Larder section of my website (Website link in bio) x

#blackberries #preserves #meringue #Nature'ladder #summerdessert

The Orchard Iced Tea ... My pear & elderflower infused cider, inspired by sitting beneath the apple trees at @wadyscider orchard & tap room.

It's become one of our favourite places to escape to on a warm summer afternoon. Sitting amongst the apple trees with a chilled drink in hand, listening to the bees drift lazily through the orchard, you can't help but slow down.

This year, Wady's created their own summer cider cocktail, and it got me thinking...

Could I create one of my own? Better yet... could I create it right there in the orchard?

I've become a little obsessed with infusing flavoured teas into my recipes, so my mind immediately wandered to a box of pear & elderflower tea tucked away in the larder.

A fragrant pear & elderflower tea, paired with Orchard Rambler cider, plenty of ice and a squeeze of fresh lemon ... I could almost taste it before I'd even made it.

So I brewed the tea, packed everything into a basket, and headed back beneath the apple trees to see if my idea really worked ... I think it just might become my drink of the summer 💛

The full Orchard Iced Tea recipe can be found in the new Nature's Larder section of my website (Website link in bio) x

#natureslarder #tea #cider #recipecreator #foodblogger

It's been a bit of a week, and sometimes what the end of a certain type of a week needs is a beer butt chicken... Slow roasted, soft, tender chicken, marinated in salty, lemomy Ponsu, and punchy Miso Paste, Garlic, Ginger & Hpt Honey, sat on a can of Japanese lager infused with Ponsu, Garlic & Ginger ... And suddenly the week feels just a little bit better 🩷

When life gives you blackberries, make Blackberry Magic Curd ...

Yesterday, I mentioned to my husband that I was thinking about making a blackberry curd ... About 20 minutes later, there was a quiet knock on the door ... I opened the door and looked down ... There magically sat a full tub of shiny blackberries left by a friend who bizarrely had no idea of my kitchen plans that day ... Coincidence? Serendipity at play? A little everyday magic? ... I'll let you decide.

Whatever you call it, I'm very glad that my friend left these beautiful blackberries on my doorstep, because this Blackberry Magic Curd might just be my favourite recipe of the summer ... This recipe can be found 7n the Summer section of my website (Website link in bio)

#blackberries #preserves #curd #foodblogger

Brown Butter & Bourbon Ice Cream ... Mmmmm...

Is there anything quite like the smell of brown butter and bourbon together?

Imagine toasted hazelnuts, warm biscuits, caramel... then that gentle smoky background note from the bourbon. It's ridiculously good.

Now fold all of that through soft, cold vanilla ice cream. The result? A rich, creamy no-churn ice cream that tastes far more complicated than it actually is.

I served mine with warm maple syrup instead of caramel, and a handful of homemade kitchen cupboard brittle made from the odds and ends lurking in the pantry ... Walnuts, hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds... whatever needed using up.

Then, because it seemed rude not to ....I poured myself a small glass of bourbon too.

I'm calling this my first little taste of autumn.
Not because I'm wishing summer away, but because the pears are hanging heavily on the trees, the apples are beginning to colour, and suddenly browned butter, bourbon and maple syrup make perfect sense.

So the recipes for my Brown Butter & Bourbon Ice Cream, and the Kitchen Cupboard Brittle can be found in the Autumn section of my website ... The Brownie ... Well, that's in the Winter section, but I feel like I'm barely getting away with mentioning autumn, so I will whisper that last part! 😂 X

Charred Spiced Yoghurt Paneer, flavoured with garlic, ginger, paprika, fenugreek & lemon 🩷

#bbq #vegetarian #summereats

Stuffed courgette flowers ... A simple, elegant and seasonal lunch 🩷

This recipe can be foundl in the Summer section of my website (Website link in bio) x

#courgetteflowers #seasonaleating #elegantlunchideas #foodlover #foodblogger

The Fairy Tale of the Fig Leaf & Gooseberry Spritz... 🍃🫐

Like every good story ... Every recipe has a beginning. Sometimes it's a scribbled idea in a notebook. Sometimes it's inspired by a memorable flavour. And sometimes it's inspired by a stroll through a Somerset lane by someone with an entirely overactive imagination. This is one such recipe ..

'Tis a true tale of grit and determination. A tale of courage (or slight stupidity, depending on who you ask), fiery dragons, mysterious smoky lanes, internet wizardry, knights in cherry-coloured armour and, eventually... victory.

Queen Jo of the Kitchen awoke convinced that what the lands far and wide desperately needed was a Fig Leaf & Gooseberry Spritz. There was just one small problem ... Gooseberries. Her own bush had produced approximately ... None.

The villagers searched. The Queen searched. She even ventured down one of the local lanes beneath the fierce Somerset Dragon (otherwise known as the midday sun) because she heard tale of an ancient gooseberry bush overhanging a garden wall in the village.

On the way she stumbled upon a mysterious knave behind a hedge sending curls of rather dubious-smelling smoke drifting across her path.

"Not my fool. Not my court," thought the Queen, making a rather swift retreat.

And what awaited her at the end of her quest? A thoroughly empty gooseberry bush. Defeated, she turned to the ancient magic of the Interwebby.

The very next day, Sir Dave of the Cherry Van, a brave knight from the Kingdom of @ocadouk arrived bearing the precious green jewels.
The Fig Leaf & Gooseberry Spritz was finally born.

That evening, the Queen telephoned her mother and recounted every perilous moment of her great adventure.

Her mother's reply?

"Why didn't you say? I've got loads of gooseberries in the garden."

There was a long silence throughout the kingdom, as the Queen stared regretfully off into the distance.

Honestly...

You couldn't make this stuff up.

(Well... perhaps it has acquired a little extra sparkle in the retelling.)

This recipe can be found in the Cocktail section of my Website (link in bio) x

#cocktailhour #figleaf #gooseberries #recipecreator #foodwriter

Nine thousand of you have found your way into my kitchen ... and I still can't quite believe it!

Whether you've been here since the beginning or have only just pulled up a chair in my kitchen, thank you. Thank you for every like, every comment, every recipe you've cooked, and every little conversation we've shared.

Over the last few months, this little corner of Instagram has become more "me" than ever, especially since The Road to Wanda (@theroadtowanda) became part of the story too. Thank you for coming along for the ride.

I'm so excited to see where it takes us next. Here's to many more recipes, and conversations around the kitchen table 🩷

With love

Jo x

#inmykitchenwithyou #somersetfood #foodcreator #recipedeveloper #seasonalcooking

So I've been busy working on a little project for a local Mangelwurzel event .. It's this kind of old fashioned strange looking beet that has very similar taste notes to beetroot, but millder ... The challenge was to create a few recipes with them .. There's a whole story in there for another day, but I just wanted to leave this little delight here and say happy Friday everyone ... Baked Goats served with a Blackberry & Mangelwurzel Jelly sandwiched between two crisp water biscuits ... .Mmmmm, perfect weekend food 🩷

#preserves #mangelwurzel #goatscheese #foodporn #foodlover

Not all nachos need to play by the rules ... These are loaded with smoked chicken, smoked sausage, brie, homemade smoky onion chutney, crisp apple slices, and fresh sage.

A little sweet
A little savoury
A little smoky

These aren't delicate nachos ... They are generous, slightly over the top, and designed for sharing ... These nachos are exactly the sort of food I love to serve when people gather around the table. No fancy presentation, no complicated techniques, just layers of flavour and plenty to share 🩷

This recipe can be found in the Summer section of my website (Website link in bio) x

#sharingplatters #nachos ##easyentertaining #weekendfood #comfortfood

Fig, Kale & Goats Cheese Salad with a Savoury Granola ... Sweet, ripe figs with creamy, salty goats cheese on a bed of honey & mustard dressed kale, topped with a delicious rosemary savoury granola that has become my new favourite crunchy topping 🩷

This recipe can be found in the Summer section of my website (Website link in bio) x

#kale #figs #salad #healthyfood #foodlover

Sweet Potato, Kale, Black Bean & Cauliflower Tacos with Chipotle Sour Cream, fresh coriander, crumbled feta and plenty of lime squeezed over the top just before serving. Crispy, creamy, smoky, fresh – all the things a good taco should be 🩷

This quick andy eas recipe, perfect for midweek meals or weekend eats, can be found in the Summer section of my website (Website link in bio) x

Just playing in the kitchen ... Honey, Paprika & Sumac Halloumi on a bed of Spicy Filfel Chuma, Tomato-ey Puy Lentils, served with Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables & crumbled Feta 🩷

#easymeals #summereats #foodlover

Imagine slices of courgettes, aubergines, and tomatoes arranged over a creamy cauliflower cheese puree. Add a layer of caramelized onions and garlic for sweetness and depth. Top everything with a scattering of parmesan and gruyere cheese, then bake slowly until bubbling and golden ... Mmmm, summer on a plate 🩷

This recipe can be found in the Summer section of my website (Website link in bio)

#easyentertaining #courgettes #summereats #gratin #foodblogger

Mini burgers ... Hmmm, but which one to choose?? 🤔🤔 ... Apple, Fennel & Lemon Pork Burger, or Chickpea & Sun Dried Tomato Burger, and then there's the Cauliflower Cheese Burger,, or maybe the Lamb, Carmelised Onion and Feta Cheese Burger ... This seemed like a good idea at the time ... Only problem being is that one mini burger generally leads to another, and then another .. 🩷😂

Nothing but #foodporn 🩷

#cheeselover #sharingboard #camembert #foodphotography

An easy summery lunch ... Greek salad with quick pickled red onions on a garlicky crouton ... Perfect for when it's just too hot to be in the kitchen 🩷

Casual little sharing platter piled with Rib Eye, Garlic Hasselback Potatoes, Pan Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Asparagus & Garlic Toast 🩷

Some days in the kitchen are carefully planned ... Others involve a wedge of cheese, some ripe figs, a handful of walnuts and a vague idea that sounds good at the time.

This was one of those days.

Everything carefully arranged in the oven dish, music on, perfect afternoon for playing in the kitchen. By the time it came out of the oven, it had gloriously slumped into the cider and chutney, mingling with the figs, walnuts, and sage in the most deliciously messy way possible.

Meanwhile, the kitchen was filled with the delicious aromas of the baked dish, Olivia Dean was playing in the background, and I was happily dancing around the kitchen ...

... Unfortunately, the postman arrived at precisely the wrong moment ... Now,
once you've been caught dancing in your own kitchen, there's really only one option: maintain eye contact, style it out and continue the shimmy ... Smile and wave 😂 ... Happy Friday everyone 🩷

#theroadtowanda #inmykitchenwithyou #Fridayfeeling #bakedcheese #delicious

A little taste of what we've been working on this weekend...

Introducing one of my latest creations... The Smokery Board: thick slices of warm smoked chicken, smoked chicken & watercress sausage, creamy smoked Somerset brie, smoked butter, local chutney, fresh apple, radish and walnut pavé bread.

The result is food that's simple, generous and full of flavour – exactly the kind of food I love to serve to friends and family.

We've been spending our weekends exploring local producers, tasting incredible ingredients and bringing together the flavours that make Somerset so special. Every visit seems to spark another idea, and this board is a perfect example of that journey.

The best part? The leftovers became today's lunch – a warm flatbread stuffed with smoked chicken, sausage, melted brie, apple chutney and crisp apple. Safe to say it didn't last long!

One thing is becoming clear: smoke, apple and Somerset cheese might just be our love language.

#smokedmeat #smokery @brownandforrestsmokery #localproduce #somersetfood #wanda

Still a work in progress, but I wanted to share
one of the pizzas I've been developing for Wanda, our Wandering Kitchen ...

Sweet earthy Roasted Beetroot , fabulous local Granulated Honey, Walnuts for a little warmth and crunch, along with a little scattering of Herbaceousness ... And then there's the all important cheese...

Over the last few weeks I've been tasting my way through some wonderful local Somerset goat's cheeses, searching for the one that brings everything together.

The challenge? Finding a cheese that's creamy enough to complement the beetroot and honey without overpowering them.

I've tried some fantastic cheeses so far, but I haven't found the one just yet.

The good news is that the search continues (which is a pretty good excuse to eat more cheese!!!). When I finally find the perfect Somerset cheese, I'll et you know, but until then, I'll just keep testing that cheese, such a struggle, think of me won't you? 😂

Until then, what do you think? Should The this pizza stay true to goat's cheese, or would you be tempted by a different local Somerset cheese?

#Somersetfood #supportlocal #cheese #wanda #FoodWithAStory

Fresh Tomato Curry, perfect as a stand alone vegan curry served with steamed jasmine rice, or as a side for Keralan Spiced Coconut Coated Rack of Lamb 🌶🩷🌶

The recipe for this fresh and vibrant, quick, easy midweek Tomato Curry can be found in the Summer section of my website (Website link in bio) x

Whilst Wanda – our Wandering Kitchen – is being built, our minds have already started to wander to the menu…

It’s still very much in development, but we’re taking inspiration from the landscapes, farms, and flavours of the county we call home to build a true taste of Somerset.

We’re passionate that every dish should be made from local ingredients that have earned their place, each one telling its own story.

This particular pizza starts with one very special ingredient:

Ogleshield Cheese
Produced at Manor Farm, North Cadbury. A rich, washed-rind cheese made with Jersey cow’s milk, Ogleshield is buttery, nutty, and deeply savoury ... Somewhere between the comfort of Cheddar and the elegance of alpine cheeses. When it hits the heat, it becomes something truly special.

We’re pairing it with carefully chosen Somerset ingredients:
🍎 cider-caramelised apple
🌿 herby pork sausage
🌿 crispy sage

A combination that absolutely feels just like a bite of Somerset. This one's sure to become a signature dish of ours 🩷

@montgomerys_cheddar #cheese #somersetfood #ogleshield #tasteofsomerset #wanda

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With love

Jo x

“Can not recommend this lovely lady highly enough. Jo recently made me some lemon tarts for a special occasion and they were beautifully presented and tasted delicious. Jo puts a lot of love into her creations and that shows in the taste. Thank you so much xx”

Natasha Anthony