a warm winter's welcome to andy's foodie blog...

wild pine mushrooms abound...

It certainly has been a cold start to Winter here in Myrtle Bank in the Adelaide Foothills. One of the signs of Winter is of course wild Fungi or Mushrooms growing in the Adelaide Hills. My Sister, Sandy, recently mustered up the courage to go and ask some foragers what were they picking and could they show her. how to do it. As Mushrooms can be very deadly and poisonous if the wrong ones are eaten, it is very important that someone who knows what they are doing shows and explains to you how to identify and pick the right sort. The Mushrooms growing at the base of her property in Aldgate under a grove of Pine Trees are Wild Pine Mushrooms or Saffron Milk Caps, (Lactarius Delicosus). My Sister explained the system to me and what you required to forage and pick wild mushrooms and where to find them. As she excitedly exclaimed "It is like fishing on land" as she chuckled in the misty hills air. We were like a couple of school kids catching tadpoles for the first time - it was so much fun. The bonus was getting to eat some delicious mushrooms and now know where to get an abundant supply free instead of paying $24 per kilo when you can find them in the shops. They made the best Chicken and Wild Pine Mushroom Risotto I have ever cooked.

happy birthday andy's organic market...

Well it was the 7th of June 2014 when I started this venture and the year has gone very fast. My little hobby has grown exponentially and shows great potential for the years ahead. This website has had over 30,000 hits in 12 months which isn't that many I know but it tells me that there is some interest out there in what I have to offer. In case you were wondering I started to follow my passion for cooking and my foodie dream after waking from a seven day induced coma due to complications with my surgery for Locally Advanced, Stage 3 Colorectal Cancer at the age of 44. I had six blood transfusions due to internal bleeding. I came out of the experience feeling reborn and given the opportunity to look at my life and live differently. After not eating any solid foods for seven days I was absolutely starving - it was then that I decided that everything I cook and every meal I make from that point on (if I made it out of hospital) was going to be something special. It has been four years since my surgery and I have been cancer free for all of that time. I have just over one year to go until I am in full remission so fingers crossed and with God's Grace I will reach my target.
In the meantime I will keep baking, cooking, experimenting, inventing and living every minute of every day to it's absolute fullest. The Providore is now selling my "Love Muffins" at the Adelaide Central Market as well as my Glazed cronuts and Say Cheese is selling my Guava & my Guava & Quince Jelly. I will be at the Urrbrae Old Barn Market this Saturday Morning if you want to come along to get any of my treats and say hello - hope to see you there (-;

This Blog is dedicated to my mate Willy who recently lost his battle with Bowel Cancer - pls remember that it is not just a disease for the over 50's. God bless y'all...