The power of cereal isn’t to be underestimated. Australia’s “muesli magnate” Narelle Plapp went from selling from the back of her car to a $5 million business in a decade.

As winter in Sydney oh so slowly relinquished its chilly grip I made the most of slow cooked food, the type we tend to eat only in the cooler months. And ticked off a few new-to-me ingredients I’ve wanted to try. Hence we’ve eaten slow braised ox-tail, lamb necks and a soupy-stew made with pearl barley.

Late in June the oven in our apartment stopped with a pop; adjourning baking of the G.O.’s rain-checked sausages, bacon & onion gravy birthday dinner to the electric fry-pan.

Having recovered from the flu lurgy that curtailed my Saturday morning farmers market expeditions I was desperate for farmers market eggs, fruit, vegetables, and meat. Despite stocking up there the previous Saturday, when Celia told me that Beth from Burrawong Gaian Poultry would have a stall at my local Eveleigh Farmers Market I didn’t hesitate in agreeing to meet … More In My Kitchen: birthday bits n’ pieces