​The cornerstone of Christmas celebrations is food and bad cracker jokes about deer. Festive feasting though is what mainly brings together friends, families and even foes (I acknowledge that those labels can be interchangeable with the same person).

However, not everyone is lucky enough to know when their next meal will be, with a staggering 3.6 million Australians experiencing food insecurity in 2017. This is a 10 per cent increase from the previous year, meaning that the need for food relief is escalating*. 

I’ve been incredibly lucky to eat some fantastic local food throughout the year, and now is a chance to give back. If you feel in any way similar, pledging a packet of food is a great way to provide.

What are the best items to add to your trolley? 

Let’s take a look at the most needed foods that charities are asking our help for this Christmas.
*Source: Foodbank Hunger Report 2017

With the current move towards healthy eating comes its natural successor: healthy drinking.

I don't mean browny-green smoothies and quinoa chia water; I'm talking about fun drinking. The alcoholic kind.

Esprit De Figues is the first fig liqueur to hit the Australian market, and in just a few months it has proven popular among cocktail aficionados nationwide.

I say it's health-conscious because of all the liqueurs out there, Esprit De Figues has one of the lowest levels of sugar. This provides the double benefits of allowing the natural flavours of handpicked Violette de Bordeaux figs to shine, as well as being kind to your insulin levels. 

In keeping its sugar levels down, is this drink something you'd still like to sip on during a night out? Let's find out.  

Life in general is a little bit harder with a newborn. Doing the groceries is harder. Cooking is harder. Loosing weight- pfft, don't even talk to me about that. 

So I was pretty stoked to be able to try the latest offering from the guys at Aussie Farmers Direct- their home delivered WW Freshbox which comes complete with recipes from Weight Watchers. Given that my brain space is currently filled with nap schedules and feeding times, not having to think about what to cook for dinner is an absolute god-send right now. 

It's also great to not feel guilty for running out of food at home and serving up a dinner of chips (guilty as charged). 

So how does the WW Freshbox stack up? Let's find out.

One reason I love pottering around at food markets on the weekend is to see what new, tasty concoctions have been created by clever local gourmets.

Sadly I don’t always make it to the markets though, particularly in winter when it’s a toss-up between a warm bed or an early morning forage in the elements.

This is where a brand new foodie service comes in.

FlavourCrate is the brainchild of Masterchef contestant Ben Macdonald, who has been working with Australian producers to collect a bunch of gourmet treats which can then be delivered to your door.

What kid of flavours do you get in a crate? Let’s find out.

That second Sunday in May is almost upon us again, which means florists and chocolate truffle-makers are working in overtime getting ready for a stream of Mother's Day orders that's sure to come their way.

Often as a special treat for mum, you'll see people out and about at breakfasts, brunches and lunches all throughout Sunday, but this year could be a chance to do a little something different that supports local business and still gives mum a day out that she'll love- take her out to your local market!

While I usually blather on about Queensland markets each week on 612ABC, it really is time I took this round-up Australia-wide. Here then are a range of markets from Cairns to Beaconsfield to Glenorchy for you and your mum to potter through unique arts and crafts, try on handmade clothes, and of course sample gourmet foods.

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Lions Woden Market from 7am - 12pm at Westfield Woden Shopping Centre, Woden ACT 2606
Southside Farmers Market from 8am - 11:30am at CIT Southside Campus, Hindmarsh Drive & Ainsworth Street, Phillip ACT 2606
Tuggeranong Homestead Market from 9am - 2pm at Tuggeranong Homestead, Johnson Drive, Richardson ACT 2905

NEW SOUTH WALES
3 Peas Markets from 8am - 2pm at Teralba Public School, York Street, Lake Mcquarie NSW 2284
Alstonville Community Market from 8:30am - 12:30pm at Alstonville Showground, Alstonville NSW 2477
Bathurst Showground Markets from 9am - 1pm at Kendall Avenue, Bathurst NSW 2795
Blaxland Public School Sunday Market on Sunday morning at Blaxland NSW 2774
Como Markets from 9am - 2pm at Como Public School, Genoa St, Como NSW 2226
Grand View Markets from 9am - 2pm at 174 Great Western Highway, Wentworth Falls NSW 2782
Kirribilli Art, Design and Fashion Market from 9am - 3pm at Kirribilli NSW 2061
Pambula Craft Market from 8am - 1pm at the cnr. Monaro & Toalla Streets, Pambula NSW 2549
Riverside Market Dubbo from 8:30am - 12:30pm at Bligh Street, Dubbo NSW 2830
Tamworth Showground Market from 8am - 1pm at the Tamworth Showground, Tamworth 2340

NORTHERN TERRITORY
Batchelor Market from 8am - 1pm at Batchelor Oval, Batchelor, NT 0845
Heavitree Gap Community Markets from 9am - 12:30pm at Heavitree Gap Tavern, Alice Springs, NT 0873
Mindil Beach Sunset Market from 4pm - 9pm at Maria Liveris Drive, The Gardens NT 0820

QUEENSLAND
Brisbane Marketplace Sunday Discovery Markets from 6am - 12pm at 252 Sherwood Road, Brisbane QLD 4106
Carrara Markets from 7am - 4pm at Manchester Rd, Carrara Qld 4211
Coolangatta Markets from 8am - 2pm at Marine Parade, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Eagle Farm Markets from 7am - 12:30pm at 230 Lancaster Road, Ascot 4007
Holloways Beach Markets from 8am - 1pm at Casuarina Street, Cairns QLD 4878
Noosa Farmers Market from 6am - 12pm at Weyba Rd, Noosaville QLD 4566 (thanks @andyg00d for this one!)
Riverside at the Pier Market from 7am - 3pm at 1 Eagle St, Brisbane QLD 4000
Tamborine Mountain Markets from 8am - 2pm at the Tamborine Mountain Showgrounds QLD 4272
Townsville Cotters Market from 8:30am - 1pm at Flinders St, Townsville QLD 4810

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Angaston Market from 10am - 3pm at Angaston SA 5353
Emporium Plus Markets from 9am - 4pm at Enfield SA 5085
Gepps Cross Sunday Treasure Market from 7am - 1pm at Mainline Drive-In, 588 Main North Road, Gepps Cross 5094
Moana Market from 9am - 1:30pm at Moana Pioneers Memorial Hall, Moana SA 5169
Once Upon A Market from 11am - 3pm at Seaford Recreation Centre, Grand Boulevard, Seaford SA 5169

TASMANIA
Axemans Makers Market from 8am - 2pm at the Australian Axemans Hall of Fame, Bells Parade, Latrobe TAS 7307
Hobart Showground Sunday Market from 8am - 2pm at the Hobart Showground, 2 Howard Rd, Glenorchy  7010
Kingston Beach Handmade Market from 10am - 3pm at 20 Beach Road, Kingston Beach TAS 7050,

VICTORIA
Bittern Market from 8:30am - 1pm at Frankston-Flinders Road, Bittern VIC 3918
Bollygum Community Market from 10am - 2pm at Whittlesea Kinglake Road, Kinglake VIC 3763
Daylesford Market from 8am - 3pm at Daylesford Station, Daylesford VIC 3460
Girgarre Farmers Produce & Craft Market from 8:30am - 12pm at Winter Rd & Station St, Girgarre VIC 3624
Paynesville Market from 8am - 1:30pm at Raymond St, Paynesville VIC 3880
Point Lonsdale Market from 9am - 2pm at the Point Lonsdale Primary School, Bowen Rd, Point Lonsdale 3225
Warrnambool Market from 8:30am - 1pm at the Cattle Pavilion in the Showgrounds, Koroit Street, Warrnambool 3280

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Good Shed Markets from 8am - 12pm at Good Shed, Forrest St, Collie WA 6225
Growers Green Farmers Markets from 8am - 12pm at 171 Lefroy Road, Beaconsfield WA 6162
Lynwood Community Market from 8am - 12pm at Lynwood Senior High School, 436 Metcalfe Road, Parkwood WA 6147
Markets On The Mall from 8am - 1pm at Marine Terrace Mall, Geraldton WA 6530
Perth Home Grown Farmers Markets from 11am - 4pm at Forrest Place, Perth WA 6000

Wherever you are in Aus, handmade crafty items and gourmet treats abounds. 

Have I missed a Mother's Day Market out your way? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Perhaps not 100% associated with Aussie produce, this post at least gives you some unique ideas for your quality bacon purchase from places like Slade Point Meat Specialist in Mackay who took out top prize for Australia's best bacon 2013 in a competition run by Australian Pork Limited.

If you are on the hunt for the best bacon out your way, the below list of butcheries are a good place to start as these guys took out APL's top state prize for full rasher and short cut:

ACT: The Butcher Shop & Meatways Butchery
NSW: Kenthurst Gourmet Butchery & Stapletons Meats Gymea
Qld: Slade Point Meat Specialist & Barrits Butchery
SA: Mathies Meat Shoppe & Balhanna Junction Meats
Tas: Sharman's Butchery
Vic: Wattle City Meats & Bertocchi Smallgoods
WA: Princi Smallgoods & Adrian's Continental Smallgoods

We're all aware of traditional uses for bacon such as pairing it up with some eggs and toast for a satisfying breakfast. However, if you've been-there-done-that and fancy some inspiration on what else to do with your tasty piece of cured pork, here are the top ten most creative bacon concoctions.

Nothing is sacred- not even a can of diet coke.

Seen any other bacon delights? Leave a comment and let us know!