This weekend seemed to be far less hectic than out last few, though we still got out and about a bit. We’ve had the company of my Mum for a couple of days and just having that extra pair of hands when it comes to getting ready for swimming or that second pair of eyes on Miss Three at the farmer’s market makes a huge difference.
This weekend’s farmer’s market was at Fairfield Primary School, closer to home but not such a fascinating location as some others. Nevertheless there were some great stalls, with some especially interesting meat sellers. If I hadn’t already picked up some lamb and sausages from Aussie Farmer’s I would have been stocking up. My best buys were some gorgeous looking parsnips and pumpkin and a packet of dried nectarines (amazing!) from the stall I usually buy the dried apricots from – Miss Three was distracted so I snuck the nectarines into the basket instead. And two new discoveries, a spicy tomato sauce and 100% natural peanut butter (I feel a satay coming on!)
Saturday night we hosted a family dinner with Mr Good’s mum and aunt – they had just returned from a holiday in Russia – and my mum, sister, brother and sister-in-law. We did a make-your-own-pizza night. We had made up a bunch of bases (we being myself and my siblings), topped with some of the spicy tomato sauce or regular passata and some grated mozzarella and then everyone created their own. I opted for a roasted pumpkin, prosciutto and goat’s cheese. There was also a simple fresh tomato and oregano (I would normally use basil but as it’s not in season dried oregano is a nice substitute), a chicken, mushroom and pineapple (we are definitely fans of pineapple on pizza in this family), and a ham, capsicum, mushroom and caramelised onion. The girls enjoyed a classic ham and pineapple and Mr Good went with a meat lover’s salami, ham and prosciutto. For dessert we enjoyed a delicious banana cake made by Mr Good’s Mum and a sponge cake filled with cream and lemon curd made by me, under instruction. It was a darn site better than my first attempt, this time using Mum’s special recipe (including corn flour and custard powder).
Sunday started off in a VERY special way, a sleep in! Miss Three was up at her usual time but played happily in the lounge room and Miss One (after a interrupted night’s sleep) didn’t rise until after 9am. It was a real and unexpected luxury. The rest of the morning and early afternoon was spent quietly playing with the girls and getting organised for the week. Mr Good then took Miss Three to the footy and Miss One and I cooked (well I cooked, she played in the tupperware cupboard) up the filling for a chicken and leek pie for tomorrow night, watched a couple of cooking shows and had scrambled eggs for dinner. A lovely quiet way to finish off the weekend.
The New Good Life 
I haven’t tried the Farmers Market at Fairfield Primary, actually I must seek out some new ones generally as aside from Collingwood Childrens Farm and occasionally Bundoora I don’t actually go to any at the moment. A sleep in sounds lovely…..
The Fairfield market is the same groups as the Collingwood Children’s farm so much the same in the way of stall, but not the great location. Though I then went to the great continental grocer in Fairfield for supplies for our pizza night – great deli! I haven’t been to the one in Bundoora for ages, which is ridiculous cos it’s right around the corner from us – I run through where they have it a couple of times a week. I’m going to check out the Booroondara one soon I think (it has one on the fifth Saturday as well as the third which is rare). I also feel a day trip one coming soon when there’s a break in the swimming lessons over the school holidays, perhaps the Yarra Valley somewhere.
The sleep was all the most special being unexpected, I’m sure it won’t be repeated for a LONG time!
Oh I bought some of that peanut butter as well, it’s delicious! Although I doubt my use of it will get further than spreading it thickly on my toast for breakfast! My pick of that market though was the sensational Mexican hot chocolate. Did you try it? I’m still craving it a week later!!
I’m keeping that gorgeous peanut butter away from my three year old, she has a tendency to ask for toast and then only eat two bites out of each piece, and the rest goes to the dog. There is no way I’m feeding that peanut butter to the dog! I did see the Mexican hot chocolate stall, but didn’t try it, obviously I missed out. It was probably the shortest trip to the market we’ve ever made, I was trying to squeeze too many things into the day, I’ll make it top priority next time.