WHAT AN ENTRANCE!

Seasons come, and seasons go...

Everyone here in the Land of Oz is aware spring has already sprung with an almighty bang while winter departed with barely a whimper, giving little or no warning - which was rather rude of winter, in my opinion.  We would have to be on another planet not to have noticed its absence, though. 

Sadly, spring has made its presence known in an unpleasant way.

Spring is supposed to be the season of rejuvenation, renewal, regrowth, and rebirth, rewarding us with a burst of colourful blooms; but...oh, no! This year spring sprung something completely perversely different upon us, and we don’t like it! 

My heart goes out to those affected by the disastrous bushfires; to those living on a knife’s edge; those who have lost so much; to those, here in Queensland and New South Wales, who are having to, somehow, deal with the destruction left behind.  Their heartbreak is unimaginable. May their way of life, and their properties, large and small, be back on track very soon...a smooth, even track. 

An endless thank you to the volunteers; to the fire-fighters, and the police; to all who generously gave of his/her time....each and everyone is a selfless hero. For the sake of others...for strangers...they put their lives on the line.

Where did the past almost nine months go?  Why the rush to get to their destination?  What’s waiting for them there? Is it, perhaps, that ever-elusive pot of gold? 

I’ve not seen any rainbows, but if I do, I’m off to see what I can find.  I’ll try to beat the months in reaching the rainbow’s end, and the awaiting pot.  To succeed in the feat, rather than go by foot...or feet...I’d be better off grabbing a golf cart, or ride-on mower. 

On second thoughts...give us the rainbows, but preceding the rainbows, loads of rain would be far better than pots of gold, in my opinion! 

It is spring....we should be singing and dancing in the rain; not crying because of the devastating drought and fires; not angry because of the brainless actions of those juvenile arsonists/idiots who started the raging Sunshine Coast inferno at Peregian Springs. 

I’m not alone in the anger I feel towards the clowns responsible.   They will receive only a rap over the knuckles for lighting the fires.  Those wastes-of-space should be made fight on the front-line of the fires...allowed no rest breaks!  Our weak “justice” system won’t punish them accordant with the crimes committed.

Where has common decency....respect...common sense gone?  And, where are the parents?  What are parents teaching their children these days?  It is apparent too many parents don’t have a clue how to parent!

Over the past months I’ve been surrounding myself with gold...golden mandarins.  I love mandarins. I’ve been devouring mandarins like they’re going out of fashion.  They will be out of season soon, worse luck.  Like a kid in a candy store, when they’re available I make the most of them.  I’m a glutton for mandarins, depleting IGA’s stocks without apology.  In private, at home so as not to offend anyone, I make a pig of myself on the delicious fruit.  Who cares if the juices run down my chin?  I don’t, nor do my two furry roomies, as long as the juices don’t drip on their fur.  They’re not impressed when that happens. 

Whoopee! Now, golden mangoes have arrived on the scene!  Man! Oh! Man! Where the mangoes...I go!

Now spring is here, my wish is... many springs uncoil, and break loose from the ground, allowing moisture to run free. In the meanwhile, rain springs forth from above, breaking the drought - dousing the fires, once and for all.   

May happiness, and peace of mind, rain upon those who have suffered, and continue to suffer in the aftermath. For those who’ve lost their homes...had their properties decimated... may rain come soon.  For the past seven days fires have been raging....

And, again, also caught in the middle are our farmers...their livestock, and crops...they deserve a fair go.  Haven’t they gone through enough already?

And, let’s not forget our native wildlife...many lives have been lost among those poor, defenceless creatures, too...

Sadness abounds...

Let us hope... hope reigns eternal...and it rains....


PS....To date as at 13th September

In the Scenic Rim region, which Tamborine Mountain is a part, more than 55,000 hectares have been burned out.  Touch wood...up here on the hill we are okay...I hope the status quo remains.

In the Granite Belt...around the Stanthorpe area in South-West Queensland...4,200 hectares

Peregian Springs....More than 5000 people from 2500 homes in the Peregian area were evacuated due to the fire, as firefighters worked tirelessly to protect properties. Thousands of hectares have been burned.

In New South Wales....A fire in Bees Nest, north-west of Dorrigo in the Armidale area, is currently over 66,500 hectates and out of control. A fire in Drake has burnt more than 40,000 hectares and is out of control. A fire in Legume, in the Tenterfield area, has been contained after burning more than 1,600 hectares, while a Share Creek fire in the Yuraygir national park is not yet under control.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-09/queensland-bushfires-in-pictures-stanthorpe-binna-burra/11491780
 

Mandarin Chocolate Cake:  In saucepan; cover 3 large mandarins with cold water; bring to boil over high heat; drain; repeat (to take the bitterness out of the peel). Return mandarins to pan; again cover with cold water; bring to boil; reduce heat to medium; simmer 30mins, or until very tender; drain; cool. Preheat oven 180C. Grease and line a 22 cm spring-form pan. Coarsely chop mandarins; process until smooth. Whisk 6 eggs and 1c caster sugar until double in size; add mandarin puree, 1-1/2c almond meal and ½c S.R.flour; gently fold to combine. Fold in 200g melted 70% dark chocolate until combined. Pour into pan; bake 50-60mins. This can be served warm with cream and/or ice cream as a dessert; or cold as a cake.

Mandarin Buttermilk Cake: Preheat oven 175C. Spray 10-inch cake pan; sprinkle raw sugar into pan, coating evenly. Lay mandarin slices on base, layering.  In bowl, with whisk, combine 2-1/2c plain flour, 3/4c granulated sugar, 1tsp baking powder, 1tsp baking soda, and 3/4tsp salt; add 2 large eggs, 1 egg yolk, 1-1/2c buttermilk, 3/4c cooled, melted unsalted butter, 1tbs mandarin zest and 2tbs mandarin juice; stir with fork until just incorporated, but still lumpy; don’t over-stir. Pour into pan; bake until top is golden, 35-40mins. Transfer to rack; let cool 5mins before inverting out of pan on to rack, or plate.

Spring Salad: Peel and dice 1 pawpaw, 1 mango, 1 avocado and 1 rockmelon; transfer to bowl. Combine gently. Heat 1tbs olive oil in pan over med-heat. Add minced garlic clove and 200g peeled green prawns; fry 4-5mins, stirring occasionally, until prawns turn pink; add to fruits. Whisk together 2tbs chopped mint leaves, 2tsp lime juice, 1tsp honey and 3tbs x-virgin olive oil; season to taste; pour dressing over salad; gently mix; serve on rocket or lettuce...or in the scooped-out shell/skin of the pawpaw (papaya).