Entries by Debbie Worgan

Brandied Fruit Compote

by Angela Marshall

Every year I make quite a few jars of this so there is something especially delicious to bring out for a quick dessert. Serve with thick cream and/or icecream, with wafers or plain.

125 g pitted prunes
125 g dried apricots (try to find good, slightly leathery, flavourful Australian apricots)
65 g sultanas
2 fresh peaches (tinned peaches will work too)
4 tblsps brandy, sherry or rum
1 cup of water and 2 cloves
130 g sugar
1 orange
… Read more »

Chocolate Strawberries

by Deb Worgan

175 g cooking choc buttons (dark is delicious!)
500 g fresh strawberries stems attached.
Line a pan with baking paper.

Use a double boiler or microwave the chocolate for 30 second intervals, removing and stirring at each 30 second interval, until the chocolate has melted. Stir often to not burn.
Holding a strawberry by the stem, dip into the melted chocolate, lift and twist slightly, letting the excess chocolate fall back into the bowl. Then place the strawberry on the baking paper. Repeat with the … Read more »

Lessons in Chemistry 

by Bonnie Garmus 

Reviewed by Wendy Tucker

Bonnie Garmus was 65 years old when this, her first novel, was published in 2022 and this fact should give hope to all those procrastinating writers out there. She was a senior copy writer and the only woman at a meeting where she was yet again spoken over, interrupted, disregarded and her ideas usurped. That night she wrote the first chapter of Lessons in Chemistry while thinking of her mother, a … Read more »

Bushfire gardening 

by Mark Evans

Plants are the primary source of fuel for a bushfire and, even though all plants burn, the location, arrangement and maintenance of vegetation within a garden has a bigger impact on how a bushfire will spread rather than the flammability of individual plants. The aim of bushfire gardening is to reduce radiant heat, prevent flame contact and minimise ember attack on the house. This can increase the likelihood of the house surviving a … Read more »

Brownies 

Ingredients:
1¼ cups caster sugar
2 cups Corn Flakes
250 gms dark chocolate, chopped
2 cups self-raising flour, sifted
3 x 70 gm eggs
200 gm butter
125 gms pecans, chopped 

Method:
Preheat oven to 180º deg C.
Place butter and chocolate in saucepan and melt over very low heat, stirring until the mixture becomes just smooth.
Place eggs and sugar in a bowl and beat until pale … Read more »

Sweet Pickled Cucumbers

Ingredients:
7 long cucumbers
2 large onions
5 cups white vinegar
5 cups white sugar
1 tablespoon dry mustard seeds
2 teaspoons turmeric
1 teaspoon vegetable salt (optional)
½ cup salt
Method:
Slice cucumber and onion thinly,
sprinkle with ½ cup salt and stand
overnight.
Next day, drain off liquid from onion
and cucumber and discard brine.
Place drained cucumber and … Read more »