I finally wrote my Chemistry and Biochemistry exam on Friday (feels as if I have been studying for it for months!) and so this weekend has been my first “free”, non studying weekend in months. We celebrated by taking the boys on a (short) day trip to the Mornington Peninsula. It’s a gorgeous stretch of coast, about 45 minutes from Melbourne, with an abundance of farms with fresh produce, wineries (for another day!) and fields of farm animals. I was determined for the boys to see some farm animals and to get hold of some fresh eggs, fruit and vegetables.
I packed each of the boys a little lunchbox of avocado sandwiches and red and green apple slices, and took a carrot for each of us. I only cut the tops and bottoms off the carrots and left them unpeeled to reap the fiber benefits of the carrot peel.
Our first stop was Nirvana Eggs, for some free range eggs. The chickens usually get to roam the paddocks. Due to the wet, wintery weather we didn’t get to see any actual chickens because they were being kept out of the mud and safe in their shelter. The boys did get to see a pair of cheeky goats though, and they were squealing with delight when the goats approached the fence to take a look at my cheeky little boys. We bought 2 and a half dozen eggs, to see us through a couple of weeks.
I asked at Nirvana Eggs for advice on where we should head next in order to pick up some fresh fruit and vegetables. We were given directions to an nearby farm which sold fresh produce on behalf of local farmers in the area. Took us a couple of wrong turns, but we found it in the end! A large barn full of fresh fruit and veggies – just what we were after!
Being Winter, I was excited to find farm fresh Rhubarb, Parsnips, Apples and Pears and bought bag upon bag of the yummy wintery fruit and vegetables. Best of all, the farm had a paddock full of – chickens! So, the boys may not have seen the chickens at the Egg stop, but that did at Farm number 2. (You can see Mr 2 above admiring the Chickens!) The farmer gave the boys a cup full of chicken feed, which was incredibly kind, and the boys proceeded to throw the chickens a little of the feed each and watch them come in for a peck. They thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle.
This 2nd stop also was also our last stop for the day. The weather had gotten colder and more bitter and the boys were getting just a little too tired. So, we decided to head back home with our goodies. The boys both fell asleep on the journey back home, so we had a little quiet time to enjoy the scenery. Overall, it was a memorable day, we got hold of some fresh eggs, fruit and vegetables and the boys had close encounters with farm animals.
The moment we arrived home, I couldn’t wait to fry up some eggs for lunch. So, I grabbed out my frying pan, popped some toast down and fried up some eggs for us. They were the most wholesome, tasty fried eggs I’ve had in a long time. Such a simple meal, but oh so delicious!
Some of the delicious Free Range Eggs were turned into a family favorite – Egg and “Not” Mayo Sandwich Spread. My Husband doesn’t like Mayonnaise, and as I could pretty much take it or leave it, so we don’t actually keep Mayo in our house. Instead, when a recipe calls for Mayo, I make our own version, a super healthy version, using Plain Natural/Greek Yoghurt instead.
The Egg & “Not” Mayo tastes so good and doesn’t have any of the artificial ingredients/sugars that mayo does. You can add seasoning to taste, we like ours with a little salt, pepper and mixed herbs and store it in a seal-able jar. Although – it doesn’t tend to last too long in our house, so you could just store the Egg and “Not” Mayo, covered, in the fridge, it in the bowl you mixed it in.
I served some Egg & “Not” Mayo Sandwiches to the boys in Muffin Tin Meals, along with fresh apples and red peppers from the farm visit.
Egg & “Not” Mayo Sandwich Spread
4 Hard Boiled Eggs
Plain Natural Yoghurt
Salt & Pepper to taste
Herbs to taste
1. Peel and chop the hard boiled eggs and place in a bowl.
2. Add the yoghurt and seasoning and mash with a fork and mix through until thoroughly combined.
3. Refrigerate and serve (as below) on toast, in sandwiches or as a yummy dip for vegetables.
Makes enough for 4 sandwiches
More Things To Do In Melbourne:
Melbourne Aquarium
Melbourne Zoo
Melbourne City
South Melbourne Market
Prahran Market
