Farmers' Market

Eat ing fresh!

Around about 7.30 in the morning, I head to the Trash and treasure markets to see Ly, who grows her own vegetables. Whether its choy sum, bak choy or lettuce, they are all lovely and fresh like a wedding bouquet only these are so edible.

I usually get a variety of greens and they stay fresh the whole week.

Then it's off to the Farmers' market for wood fired bread, seasonal fruits and herbs, free range eggs and yummy mushrooms.

The mushroom man I call him leaves his place in Shoahaven at 4 in the morning after doing his pick of Swiss browns before heading to Canberra. I don't think it can get fresher than that. The green labels indicate that the farmers grew them and the white means that they have source them elsewhere.

The range of produce is superb and you can treat yourself to home made cakes and quality chocolates to olive oils, cheeses,organic vegetables,nuts and fresh seafood.

The free range eggs are firm and yellow and such a good source of protein and it feels good to know that they are laid by healthy chickens.

What I love to do is crush some fresh garlic as soon as I get home, fry them in some olive oil and cook a hot breakfast...

First the few cloves of garlic with a tbsp of olive oil,
then in goes the handful of sliced mushrooms cooked on the side with no oil so it has a chargrilled flavour and infusing the smell of the garlic at the same time.
Cook for a minute or so...
Add in a large chopped tomato so that the juices mixes with the garlic.
Then the 3 eggs with a dash of milk, a splash of water, a tbsp of mixed herbs from my garden-thyme,rosemary and vietnamese basil ...
followed by a sprinkle of cracked pepper and salt.
The steam from the water helps make the eggs fluffy.
Cook till it is almost done, then turn off the heat and the warmth of the pan will keep cooking the eggs a little.

Sometimes I add sheep cheese or low fat riccotta,olives and tomato paste so it tastes like a pizza.

Served with warm, crusty wood fired bread like spinach and fetta or sundried tomato or whole grain linseed bread, Ooh La la.

Marcelo would make some Cap. or Latte and we would sit outside our porch listening to Nat King Cole's Spanish crooning or Sarah Vaughn silky, soothing Jazz while the smells of garlic and coffee tantalise the senses.