In the afternoon Annie, Kate and myself gathered around Sarah’s kitchen bench for a big pastie making session.  We all contributed our ingredients and set to work rolling, chopping, peeling, mixing and creating.

Sarah made the comment that cooking together is an important part of some cultures so why shouldn’t it be something we embrace?  As we went about our pastie business there was a feeling of understanding, quiet listening, laughter, deep thoughts and not so deep thoughts.  In the end we made around four dozen pasties which we divided amongst our families.  The test batch received a big tick of approval!

Within the shearer’s kitchen on the property happens to be an old wood oven dating back at least one hundred years to a time when all of the cooking took place in a wood oven.  The shearer’s cook now has access to modern gas ovens but the old oven remains in place, thankfully.  As the sun began to set we made our way towards the stone shearer’s quarters to prepare pizza for the wood oven.

Once again everyone contributed ingredients and with a flurry of rolling, chopping, flouring and shovelling multiple pizzas appeared.  Experienced pizza people handled the cooking and cutting with style as hot slices were passed around on big wooden boards .

The back of the wood oven.

After toasted marshmallows and conversation around the fire we rolled out our swags  within the thick stone walls of the shearer’s quarters and slept soundly.

This really was a memorable weekend.

Do you ever cook together as a family?