Saturday Morning Market

Ever since I moved down to Whangarei I have been attending the Saturday morning Growers Market. I bought fruit, vegetables and meat.  It is only recently that we have started going in earlier to purchase  fish or seafood.  Even going in early the filleted fish is often sold out.  Last week there was only school shark available in the filleted fish but we were able to buy a couple of Sole.  We also buy pottles of shelled mussels and either Doug makes fritters or I make a chowder.

Yesterday morning we got to the market at about 6.40 a.m.  although it cleared it had been raining heavily during the night and early morning and we thought the number of people attending might be down.  All that was left of the filleted fish was 1 1/2 packs of Tarakihi one of my favourite fish.  We usually buy two packs and that gives us three meals for the two of us.  This week I managed to freeze enough for two meals for the two of us which left one meal with slightly less fish than usual.  We had also bought a pottle of mussels and one of oysters.

We had some oysters for lunch but decided to keep some to have with the fish for our evening meal.  I made a mash of agria potatoes, kumara (sweet potatoe) and carrots., creamed leek and sweetcorn and coated the fish and oysters in fine cornmeal before dipping in egg and frying in coconut oil.  The remainder of the egg was fried as well.  Everything came from the market (the sweetcorn was bought over the summer and then blanched, taken off the cobs and frozen in small packs for use over winter).

I think the meal looks a bit bland as everything is quite pale but Doug thought it so delicious that he insisted I take a photo.

From the bottom going clockwise - oysters, egg, tarakihi corn and leeks and the potatoe, kumara and carrot mash.

CHRISTMAS

In spite of everything going on with Max I had a very enjoyable Christmas.  We spent it at Doug's with two ladies who would, otherwise, have been on their own.

I had a lazy day as Doug insisted on cooking the meal.  He usually, no, always, comes to my place for his evening meals and said it was my turn to have a meal cooked for me and delicious it was too.

I visited Max on the way there - he has not been very well lately and the Rest Home has just started to mouli his meals.  He has been their best eater but lately has been holding his food in his mouth and not swallowing hence the mouli.

He is sleeping more and more and it is rare for him to wake up while I am visiting these days.  Because he was unwell I have increased my visiting.

One of Doug's daughters and her children 18 and 19 were going to come for a meal late afternoon on Christmas day but, at the last moment, it was decided that they would come on Boxing Day for lunch - a much better idea so we had a second Christmas meal then.

Yesterday, after walking Sophie at the Town Basin, we did some shopping - I wanted some trousers for Max but could only find 3/4 length ones as he has to have elastic waist.

More shopping today in another part of town and I got just what I was looking for at Farmers - only one pair in his size left  and they will need to be shortened by a good few inches.

My stepson arrives tomorrow to stay for a day or two and see his Dad.  Must get ready for him.  Have just been to Hikurangi to pick up some freshly caught fish from one of Doug's nephews.  Enough for about six meals plus mussels plus a crayfish.  Yummy.

Yesterday, the flowers in the house  needed replacing so I picked this bucket full.

Every year my cousin in Canada sends me a pewter ornament from Amos Pewters in Nova Scotia. Here  is this year's one - a nautilus shell.  I always receive them in November but wait until Christmas Day to open them.  It is on the tree with all the others - must be getting close to 30 now.