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As much as I love australian lamb I have to admit kiwi lamb is just that little bit better. Tenderer, and jucier, and generally more lamby. That's not to say I would turn down aussie lamb if it was presented to me.

I have no idea exactly how much lamb is at the moment but I have noticed it getting cheaper each week lately. Which can only be a good thing.

Am I the only one shocked that Ed was in the jazz business?

Oops, sorry.
Over here:
https://docs.google.com/View?id=dd59v66p_139gjpd4s6z

@Cookbook_Junky I am pretty sure the two fat ladies were the very first cooking show I ever watched. they were absolutely wonderful. Everyone in my family loved them.

@Simon I am with Chris Gregory all the way here. Golden syrup is incredibly popular here in Australia, much much more so than molasses, which is considered a 'waste product' of the sugar making process. About the only use we have for that here is to make rum.

@Chris Gregory Pikelets are indeed learnt very early on in a child's cooking lessons, but are you forgetting chocolate crackles? I'm pretty sure even three year olds can make chocolate crackles.

But back to the point. Australian sweets recipe are absolutely rife with golden syrup and for good reason. It is not a particularly sweet or strong flavour but it definitely makes a difference. And it beats the heck out of maple syrup on pancakes.

Mmm I made these tonight and they were fantastic. Two I did exactly as the recipe said and put the sauce on after they were baked, but two I pan fried for just a touch longer, then baked them with the sauce on already. And they were both really, really good. I honestly can't decide which was better. The baked sauce got a lot more caramelisation, which was really nice, but the one baked without sauce got a little more crispy which was also really nice. I have a feeling they would be awesome no matter how you do them...

Having just taken the LA health departments test for my own kitchen, and scoring a 'B' just because I don't always cook meat all the way through until the juices run clear, I am very circumspect about these ratings... I like medium-rare meat, so sue me (or close down my kitchen).

@littlestcapy @ell.victor It seems like roommates like this exist everywhere, which is a shame. And believe me, we are definately looking for our own place. The Boy knows that I am liable to explode if I have to put up with this for much longer... Especially when I take such care with my kitchen stuff, which is by no means cheap.

I've recently moved in with my boyfriend and his room-mates and was initially very willing to share all of my kitchen implements and gadgets. The only line I drew was my KitchenAid, and that only because my bowl has already been scratched and I do not want metal implements used in it ever again.

After being here almost a month, I am seriously regretting this generosity. Despite having explicitly stated that I don't want my stuff put through the dishwasher, because I never check if it's safe or not before I buy it, I constantly find it in there because "i was planning to have it washed and put away before you got home and you'd never notice it." My knives are constantly left either dirty on the counter or sitting in a sink of water for hours. My the colour coding and tabs on my cutting boards are entirely disregarded, despite the fact she knows I am a former vegetarian and therefore cannot stand having meat and vegetables cut on the same board. Pretty much every time I try to cook something, at least one of the things I need has been used and left dirty in the sink or the dishwasher. I wouldn't have as much of a problem with this if she didn't then harp on about how she "obsessively cleans everything" and "hates it when messes are left for more than ten minutes" but then leaves the kitchen full of dirty dishes and food scraps which I have to clean up everytime I want to cook.

I have a policy when it comes to sharing with others, which I picked up from a former roommate, which is to assume that they are going to need what you are using immediately after you are done using it. That is to say, if you are cooking and using their items, then wash it as soon as practicable so it will be available for them. A person should never have to wash someone elses dishes, simply because they couldn't be bothered. Also, I believe you should follow someones request for care as long as it isn't too outlandish, eg don't use metal utensils on my nonstick frying pans, and never, ever leave my knives dirty in a sink of water.

My problem isn't with sharing, because at my parents house everyone was free to use everyone elses stuff (my sister and I both moved back in after living away for quite awhile, so we all had our own stuff), my problem is with careless people who can't follow even the simplest of requests.

/end rant.

Gosh, I didn't know I was so sensitive about this until I started typing.

@lemonfair @CJ McD We live in a very small town so unfortunately no soup kitchens etc to donate to.

@lemonfair We pretty much have fresh all year round, it just depends on whether we plant the next round before the first stops fruiting or if we are lazy.

@everyone thanks for all the great ideas. Does anyone have a really great recipe for salsa? Or know of where I could find one?

Wow, needssalt, maybe you should calm down a little on Cassaendra. She's giving her opinion just like anyone else.

ANy word on international shipping yet? Just wonderin'..