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For the fourth year running, the dedicated folk at Mt Pleasant Farmers Market have pulled together to produce a long-table lunch that showcases the premium fresh, local produce that is available at this rural farmer’s market. After a tour of the market, guests sat down to an enormous feast, with each course accompanied by locally produced beverages such as Croftwood Grove’s delicious kombucha (one of my favourites), Springton Hills Wines, Australian Cider Company Cider, Fleurieu Milk and coffee from The coffee Pot. My favourites were the seeded sourdough toast from Lobethal Bakery topped with hummus, tomatoes from Dogan Farm and free-range eggs from The Natural Egg Co, the Dutch meatballs featuring Pebbly Range Limosin Beef and Dunn’s of Woodside/TDM Free Range Pork, the tempura battered Bonney Flat Pasture Raised Poultry chicken skewers and the very delicious pear salad. If you are looking for a genuine food experience that won’t break the bank, bookmark this post and when next year’s Tasting Australia rolls around head for the Mt Pleasant Farmers Market.

Simple Cake and Magic Little Meals – Excellent New Cookbooks Cake is my favourite food group, and fresh, simple cooking is my go to, so ‘Simple Cake’ and ‘Magic Little Meals’ are two cookbooks I can’t go past! Regular readers will know that I’ve never met a cake I didn’t like – and that fresh, simple food is the way I like to cook. Lolo is the green-fingered author of ‘One Magic Square’ and ‘Outside the Magic Square’ – both reviewed by me way back in 2012 – and Tori created Magic Harvest, an organisation that connects neighbours, helping them to share gardening and cooking skills and to swap produce. Full of gardening tips and children’s garden activities, this practical garden-to-table cookbook shows you how to grow and prepare over 50 different fruits and vegetables, with recipes brimming with simple combinations and fresh flavours.

A day at the zoo isn’t just for kids – the Elephant Mud Fun experience at Bali Zoo gets big kids up close and personal with these gentle jungle giants! While I was in Bali the generous people at Bali Zoo offered to host The Bloke and me for a visit, sharing several of their signature experiences and thoroughly spoiling us. Their driver picked us up early, giving us the chance to get a taste of Bali’s choked peak hour traffic, and getting us to the Zoo (approximately halfway between Denpasar and Ubud) in time for Breakfast with the Orangutans. Bali Zoo, Gianyar, Bali – General admission $25USD Breakfast with the Orangutans – $47USD Elephant Mud Fun (morning experience with hotel transfers) –

I can get carried away by the sight of all the gorgeous produce at farmer’s markets – but my Cherry Tomato and Thyme Tart is an absolute winner! Waking, feeling refreshed and with an empty fridge, on Saturday morning I decided to get myself to one of our regional South Australian farmer’s markets, the Mount Pleasant Farmer’s Market. While pastry is chilling and baking, heat olive oil over moderate heat, add onion slices and a good pinch of brown sugar and cook slowly until soft and caramelised. • Spread base of cooled tart case with a thin layer of mustard, sprinkle with grated cheese and caramelised onions, then distribute cherry tomatoes on top, evenly.