Sunday mixtape - chooks, gifts from across Bass Strait and music

As I write this, I am listening to the number one Australian album of all time as voted on Triple J. Odyssey Number Five by Powderfinger. I love this album. It is such a complete album. Listening to it is like being with an old friend.

I took these at their farewell concert last year.

Number two was Frogstomp by Silverchair - I'd have preferred Neon Ballroom.

Seeker Lover Keeper got me through the domesticities of my day.

Seeker Lover Keeper is a band comprising three talented Australian musicians - Sarah Blasko, Holly Throsby and Sally Seltmann. How beautiful is Even though  am a woman?

Woah I
I got a secret
I think I’m in love with missing you
More than I’m in love with you
That’s why I go away all the time
That’s why I travel the world and roam free
There’s a time you leaving me
This is how I feel
I feel like a traveling salesman

Even though I’m a woman
Picking up my bags from the station
Standing there face to face
I’ll be lying if I did not say
I love you more when I’m missing you
That’s why I’m always away
Believe me it’s true

Woah I
I got a secret
I think I was born to be in a state of longing
Born to be wanting wanting
I put in a letter for you
I love the danger in distance
This time I’m leaving you
This is how I feel
I feel like a traveling salesman

Even though I’m a woman
Picking up my bags from the station
Standing there face to face
I’ll be lying if I did not say
I love you more when I’m missing you
It’s why I’m always away
Believe me it’s true
Believe me it’s true
Believe me it’s true

I love the danger in distance
I’d rather be missing you
I love the danger in distance
I’d rather be missing you
I feel like a traveling salesman
Even though I’m a woman
Picking up my bags from the station
Standing there face to face
I’ll be lying if I did not say
I love you more when I’m missing you
It’s why I’m always away

Believe me it’s true
Believe me it’s true
Believe me it’s true
Believe me it’s true
Believe me it’s true

I met my parents for breakfast this morning. We went to the farmers markets. The ABC news was filming a segment for the carbon tax announcement, getting farmers' opinions.

I had my usual - poached egg, polenta and salad with relish. So good!

We walked around the poultry show. Lots of ducks,

Chickens

And roosters.

Some birds were so fat. It was the junior finals, and so the pavillion was full of children nursing chickens and putting vaseline on their beaks. Who knew chicken breeding was so big in the city?

My parents got off the boat from Tasmania this morning. They came bearing gifts.

The salmon and cheese diet is the best for my skin.

Elderflower cordial and apple and quince paste.

And a felted brooch from The Spindle Tree. Beautiful.

I have a new iPhone. The camera is great!

I tried it out last night at the Boom Crash Opera concert.

It was ok - but I was a bit bored, and Dale Ryder wasn't on stage for half of the show - a singer from The Models sang for a lot of it.

I also made a bread and butter pudding using some organic produce. Sourdough fruit rolls from the market, duck eggs, lemon and quince paste. It's cooking in the oven now.

Blogger is playing up. My scheduled posts are prematurely posting. Hmmmm.

Farmer's market, slow cooked beef stroganoff (and leftover pie)

Last Monday - the last day of my long long weekend - I put the slowcooker on and sat and relaxed. Slowcookers are wonderful that way. They cook your food while you do something else, or nothing at all.

I've been going to my local farmer's market on a Sunday, after seeing the cows on Four Corners. I want to eat ethically and locally raised meat. From my parents' property or from the farmer's market. So while I've eaten meat out at restaurants (and spent a full week vegetarian), the only meat I've cooked has been my parents' lamb and local beef from Family Farmed Meats. I also try to buy my fruit and vegies from local grocers - so good to support them, and much tastier!

The market is lovely - in a shed at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds every Sunday from 9.00 am - 1.00 pm. It has fruit and vegies, baked goods, meat, honey and cheese.

 L'Artisan Cheese from Timboon is amazing. Seriously :)

 

 I bought the triple cream brie, the big white one. It's soft, creamy and strong. Better than any supermarket cheese!

 Michael's breaky barbie is fantastic! He has a small menu but so tasty! The hot chocolate is wonderful.

This is the best breakfast ever - poached egg with polenta, fried bread, a salad of greens, fennel and cabbage, topped with beetroot in yoghurt, celeriac and lentil purees. ♥

So, I used the meat I bought at the market, along with some vegies bought at the market and my local grocer to make the stroganoff.  Carrots, beans, mushrooms, eggplant, tomato, capsicum, sweet potato and pumpkin (kindly cut by my grocer due to my thumb). I loved the sun through the window as I took these photos.

I got by with a little help from my friends - convenience seasonings. These eliminated the chopping - my thumb was too sore. And the slowcooker seasoning pack adds lots of flavour.

 Here's the beef. So tasty, and great value.

 All in the slowcooker. This was about six servings.

Towards the end of cooking, I added sour cream and also cooked pasta bows for serving. It was so very yummy!! I had it for dinner once, and two lunches in the week.

I still had a pot of leftovers, so I reheated it on Saturday night and made it into a pie. I love this pot - so vibrant :)

 My pastry was a little broken.

 I pieced them together in the pie dish and hoped for the best.

 And the topping! Not a pretty pie, but a good use of leftovers!!