Cooking with Cooper

Following on from a recent post, Family Gatherings, Memories and Food

After we had finished our delicious brunch, having well and truly overindulged, I quietly mentioned to Olivia, that given it was school holidays, if Cooper would like to come for a visit, we would love it!  We could pick him up the following day and return him on the Wednesday.  There was no pressure at all – I really did not want him to feel pressured.  She rang later that evening to say he was very excited to be visiting with us – I must admit that we were very excited too!

The following morning we went to Olivia’s mum and dad’s home, and from there Cooper joined us for the trip to our home in country Victoria. This was all impromptu – there was nothing planned, so for dinner we just had to wing it and use what we had on hand. We decided on beef noodles with broccoli, carrots and snow peas, and for dessert, custard, mango, berries, and at Cooper’s suggestion, meringues.   Cooper helped, using his fabulous knife skills to chop mango and veg, then got to work with the noodle dish.  While not really to his liking, I was super proud of the fact that he was willing to give it a try.

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The Farmer, The Huntress & The Cook

Last weekend I was blessed to collaborate with two truly amazing women, Lucy of Metaphorically Speaking and YIntarini Farm, and Daniella of Danniella Hogarth – Wellness and Energy.

After a great deal of planning we gathered on Yintarini Farm, which sits on Gunaikurnai country, in Gippsland, Victoria, on what was a very brisk Saturday morning.  When I left our home we were engulfed in a very thick fog, on arrival at the farm, the sky was clear and blue and the sun was shining down upon us – it was destined to be a beautiful day.  Yintarini Farm is the home base for …Metaphorically Speaking…, a counselling and eco-therapy practice where nature is key to improving people’s health and wellbeing.

We had come together to share our collaborative knowledge, with those keen to learn the skills of ethically processing, preparing and cooking meat grown on the farm, the whole paddock to plate experience. Continue reading

Family, Gatherings, Memories & Food

Plans were in place, everything was in the diary, I’d been in touch with those we were to visit, but as seems to happen, the phone rang, and plans had to be changed!

I worked, cooking and baking ready to be with Christopher, Olivia and our grandchildren.  I made meatballs in tomato sauce, a real family favourite, topless cottage pie (didn’t have time to do the potato), sausage rolls, meringues, choc chip biscuits and crisp coconut biscuits.  Jars were filled and everything packed.

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Taking time…

Four days without any commitments – it was a little luxurious!

The last five months has been hectic, chaotic, and more.  Race in the door from one thing and begin working on the next, with barely anytime to stop and take stock!  I had classes to run in different towns throughout the region, events to attend as a guest, study to try and keep up with, assignments to write, meetings to attend, precious family events to join in, planning to do, produce to be preserved, and a book to begin working on!

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Beans, beans, beans!

When you go away, the weather is beautiful, and the veg patch greets you with a surprise on your return!

I grow climbing beans every year, they generally produce abundantly right through autumn, they are perfect for braising in tomato sauce, but they are also fabulous pickled too.

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