Market Day Training

Me in my kitchen...

For logistical purposes I thought it would be a good idea to have a wee practise round in preparation for the big opening.

I got into the kitchen at around 7pm Friday night. I made Sweet Pastry and Danish Pastry (this is what I was rolling out when mother felt the need to come and give me a little bit of paperazzi treatment)

I was planning on making sample to give out at the market as a sort of - See you next week, tell your friends - incentive. However I wasn't 100% certain about the regulations in regards to that. So the decision was made that if I was only offering friendly purchasers a little cookie who could get upset...? Obviously that was not satisfactory because all my Amaretti cemented themselves to the baking paper and refused so I, disgustedly, threw them in the bin.

The pastries and tarts however were still very much necessary. For the benefit of the large percentage of people who were not raised in Gisborne I shall explain the etiquette of Show Day (A&P Show)

It is a huge event that is very popular with small children, the farming community, and drinking phase teens. The Murphy family as a whole comes into the Farming lot - therefore protocol is to make dainty fingerfoods, bring them to the show and all meet at the back of one family memebers car and have a very social lunch with much bubbly and guffawing.

The pastries and tarts were my contribution to Show lunch.

Left to Right: Orange Custard Tarts, Pain Chocolat, Pain aux Raisin,

Apricot Danish, more Pain aux Raisin, wee Palmiers, Date and Cardamom Tarts.

I was feeling slightly disgruntled, probably just because I am not used to the early start, but seeing them all lined up on a pretty tray with a sprinkling of icing sugar.... oh I was totally chuffed and very pleased with myself. You must admit they do look gloriously attractive.

So I then rushed off to market and left my tray of tasty jewels with Timothy. Market went well, my stall was very pretty but unfortunately I forgot the camera - but next weeks stall will be better, opening stall!

I am just off to do up the cabinet I bought this morning from A1 Mart so when that is done I shall show that off too...