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Crimpy, Pizza or Barbecue – which is the best?

<p><em>Image: Shutter Stock</em></p> <p>Arnott’s is not one to shy away from hard truths. At least, that’s a conclusion that can be drawn from their latest announcement.</p> <p>Known for their delectable sweet and savoury treats, a staple as much as Tim Tams in Aussie childhoods is Shapes – the snack that comes in many flavour variations.</p> <p>The biscuit manufacturer, however, has declared one flavour the ultimate supreme: Chicken Crimpy.</p> <p>Although there exists discourse and debate online surrounding what flavour of Shapes should have the top spot on the picnic blanket, the company’s yearly survey takes no prisoners with its bold results.</p> <p>Coming in a close second are Pizza Shapes, followed by Barbecue Shapes in third place.</p> <p>As for who exactly prefers what oven-baked seasoned delight, the research by Arnott’s indicates the flavour preference mirrors generational divides.</p> <p>Both millennials and those from Gen Z indicate they prefer Pizza Shapes over Chicken Crimpy – 29% of millennials that were surveyed said they loved Pizza shapes and only 20% said Chicken Crimpy were their favourite.</p> <p>Gen Z mirrored millennials somewhat, though the margin of preference was only 6% narrower, meaning only 3% of Gen Z prefer Pizza Shapes to Chicken Crimpy.</p> <p>Arnott’s is nothing if not thorough in its research, having broken down the results on a state-by-state basis.</p> <p>Those residing in NSW and Queensland both agree Chicken Crimpy belongs in the top spot, but those in Victoria prefer Barbecue Shapes overall.</p> <p>Aussies in Canberra, however, threw out a real wild card by choosing Nacho Cheese flavour as an equal favourite alongside Pizza Shapes.</p>

Food & Wine

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Perfect summer meal: Barbecued tuna steaks with walnut sauce

<p><em>Serves 4. </em></p> <p>This quick, simple dish showcases meaty tuna with a walnut sauce based on tarator, a Middle Eastern sauce often served with fish in Lebanon and Syria.</p> <p>Freshness is the key and Californian walnuts work best for this moreish sauce.</p> <p><strong>Ingredients</strong></p> <ul> <li>4 x 180g sashimi-grade tuna steaks (see notes)</li> <li>Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste</li> <li>⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil</li> <li>100g wild or baby rocket, washed and dried</li> <li>1 lemon, quartered</li> </ul> <p><strong>Walnut Sauce</strong></p> <ul> <li>100g shelled walnuts</li> <li>1 clove garlic, finely chopped</li> <li>1 slice stale white bread, soaked in water</li> <li>1 tablespoon white wine vinegar</li> <li>3 teaspoons lemon juice</li> <li>⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil</li> <li>Salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to taste</li> </ul> <p><strong>Directions</strong></p> <ol> <li>Place the walnuts and garlic in a food processor. Squeeze the water out of the bread and add to the walnuts. Pulse until walnuts are finely chopped. Add vinegar, lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper and pulse to combine. Chill until ready to serve.</li> <li>Heat a barbecue or char-grill plate.</li> <li>Brush the steaks with some of the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook the steaks for 3 minutes on one side, then turn and cook the other side for 1 minute, so that they are still pink in the centre, or until cooked to your liking. Rest fish in a warm place for a few minutes before serving.</li> <li>Meanwhile, arrange rocket leaves on plates, drizzle with remaining olive oil.</li> <li>Place a steak on top and spoon walnut sauce over each steak. Serve with a lemon wedge.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Tips</strong></p> <ul> <li>Remove the fish from the fridge 20-30 minutes before you cook it, to allow it to come to room temperature, this is particularly important if it is being served rare in the centre.</li> <li>Sashimi-grade fish is normally sold trimmed, if it is not, trim off any skin and dark muscle before cooking.</li> <li>Alternative species: Albacore, bonito, mackerel, salmon, striped marlin, swordfish.</li> </ul> <p><em>Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/barbecued-tuna-steaks-with-walnut-sauce.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a></em></p>

Food & Wine

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'It's a joke': Ban on backyard barbecue smoke dubbed un-Australian

<p>One state in Australia is receiving backlash after drafting laws that aims to reduce the smoke created by backyard barbecues.</p> <p>The Tasmanian Government has released draft smoke laws that include limiting the number of landholders allowed to burn vegetation and toughening standards around wood-heater emissions.</p> <p>The Tasmanian BBQ Society has spoken out against the changes, which have been labelled as ‘un-Australian’, in fear it will make it easier to fine people if their barbecues produce too much smoke.</p> <p>"When you're talking about the amounts of smoke that some of these permit and controlled burns give off, in comparison to what is an Australian way of life — the barbecue — it's a joke," president Rowan Peterson told the <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-19/barbecue-smoke-ban-dubbed-un-australian/10012644"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>ABC</strong></span></a>.</p> <p>The draft regulations state that barbeque smoke is unlawful it is:</p> <p><em>(a) visible for a continuous period of 10 minutes or more; and</em></p> <p><em>(b) during that continuous 10-minute period is visible for a continuous period of 30 seconds — (i) in the case of a heating appliance or fireplace in a building, or part of a building at a distance of 10 metres or more from the point on the building, or part of the building, where the smoke is emitted; or (ii) in the case of a heating appliance or outdoor heating or cooking appliance or fireplace that is not in a building, or part of a building — at a distance of 10 metres or more from the point where the smoke is emitted.</em></p> <p>Mr Peterson believes that these laws could be maliciously used in spats between neighbours.</p> <p>"If you have a nasty neighbour and/or a grumpy person that lives in your street, in my opinion it's just a tenuous argument that they can use to cause more issues," he said.</p> <p>While much of the Draft Smoke Act is rewording of the rules introduced in 2007, the consequences have ramped up.</p> <p>Under the new changes, barbecuing Tassies could be fined two penalty units if their fire breaks smoke rules. Magistrates will also be able to impose fines of up to $1,600 as a maximum penalty in courts.</p> <p>"There's so many forms of barbecue that relate to so many cultures in Australia," Mr Peterson said.</p> <p>"Not only does it affect your backyard bloke doing chops and snags, it'll affect anyone potentially who wants to cook outdoors."</p> <p>Fellow member of the Tasmanian BBQ Society, Rowan Armitage, said authorities should be "tackling the big end of town".</p> <p>"How much damage does 500 barbecues on a Sunday afternoon do compared to the huge forestry burn-offs?" he asked.</p> <p>On social media, many residents criticised the changes.</p> <p>"Bugger off fun police, a smoking BBQ keeps the mozzies away," Brendon Nowak said.</p> <p>"They can fine me all they like I'll be still having a nice smoking BBQ unless it's a total fire ban," added Quinton Turner.</p> <p>What are your thoughts on the smoke laws? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

Home & Garden

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BBQ herbed pork cutlet

<p>Succulent and tasty, these pork cutlets are both delicious AND healthy. They’ll make a pork lover out of anyone!</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Serves</span>:</strong> 4</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients:</span></strong></p> <ul> <li>4 pork loin cutlets</li> <li>2 tbsp. flat parsley leaves, chopped</li> <li>2 tbsp. mint leaves</li> <li>2 sprigs thyme</li> <li>2 tbsp. tomato paste</li> <li>1 lemon, zested and juiced</li> <li>1 tbsp. balsamic glaze</li> <li>1 tbsp. olive oil</li> <li>Fresh parsley leaves, to serve</li> <li>Boiled new potatoes, to serve</li> <li>Peas, to serve</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p> <ol> <li>Trim pork cutlets to your liking.</li> <li>Combine the herbs, tomato paste, lemon juice and zest, balsamic vinegar and olive oil together in a glass bowl and mix well.</li> <li>Marinate the pork cutlets for as long as possible, up to 24 hours.</li> <li>Cook pork cutlets on a preheated griddle plate on medium heat for 4 - 5 minutes on each side. Remove and rest in a warm oven for up to three minutes.</li> <li>Serve BBQ herb cutlets with boiled new potatoes, mint and peas.</li> </ol> <p>Notes: this marinade is also delicious on a pork scotch roast served with warm potato salad.</p> <p><em>Recipe courtesy of <a href="http://www.pork.com.au/home-page-consumer.aspx" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Australian Pork.</span></strong></a></em></p> <p><em><strong>Have you ordered your copy of the Over60 cookbook, The Way Mum Made It, yet? Featuring 175 delicious tried-and-true recipes from you, the Over60 community, and your favourites that have appeared on the Over60 website, <a href="https://shop.abc.net.au/products/way-mum-made-it-pbk" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">head to the abcshop.com.au to order your copy now</span></a>.</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/06/bbq-pork-cutlet-with-sunshine-salsa/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>BBQ pork cutlet with sunshine salsa</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/06/pulled-pork-coleslaw-mayo-burgers/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pulled pork and coleslaw burgers with chipotle mayo</em></span></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/05/five-spice-pork-salad/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em>Five-spice pork salad with fresh plum dressing</em></strong></span></a></p>

Food & Wine

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DIY barbecue sauce

<p>Whether you’re cooking ribs, steak or sausages, nothing that brings out the kick in barbecued meat like barbecue sauce. Make your own smoky, rich barbecue sauce with this simple recipe.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients:</span></strong></p> <ul> <li>1 cup tomato pasta sauce</li> <li>½ cup treacle</li> <li><span>1/3</span> cup maple syrup</li> <li>¼ cup tomato sauce</li> <li>¼ cup white wine vinegar</li> <li>2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce</li> <li>1 tablespoon Dijon mustard</li> <li>1 teaspoon garlic powder</li> <li>¼ teaspoon sweet paprika</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p> <ol> <li>Prepare a medium sized saucepan.</li> <li>Place all the ingredients in and bring to the boil over a medium-high heat.</li> <li>Reduce heat to medium low and simmer, stirring occasionally.</li> <li>Do this for about 12 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.</li> <li>Make sure you taste and season with salt and pepper.</li> <li>Set aside for at least 20 minutes to cool slightly before serving.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/12/guacamole/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Guacamole</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/12/middle-eastern-lamb-burgers/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Middle Eastern lamb burgers</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/12/pumpkin-chickpea-burger/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Pumpkin, chickpea, black bean, and zucchini burger</strong></em></span></a></p>

Food & Wine

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Barbecued garlic and basil prawns

<p>It is summer and for us here in Australia that means one very exciting thing: seafood is delightful right now. One of our resident community contributors, Anne Taylor, shares this super simple summer-perfect dish for barbecuing one of our national foods – prawns.</p><p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients:</span></strong></p><ul><li>¾ cup olive oil</li><li>1 knob of garlic, crushed</li><li>A handful of basil leaves, finely chopped</li><li>Juice of a lemon</li><li>Salt and pepper&nbsp;</li><li>1 kilo of raw prawns peeled and deveined</li><li>Sourdough bread, to serve</li></ul><p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p><p>1. Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl and then add prawns – let sit for at least about 30 minutes.&nbsp;Don’t let the mixture sit for too long otherwise the lemon juice will cook the prawns.&nbsp;</p><p>2. Throw the prawns on the BBQ to cook.</p><p>3. Serve with sourdough bread.</p><p><strong>TIP: The prawns must be fresh – don’t buy prawns that have been pre-frozen.</strong></p><p><em>To read more of Anne’s recipes you can visit her blog <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://aussie-products.com.au/category/recipes/">here</a></strong></span> or her Facebook page <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/buyaustralianproducts?ref=bookmarks">here</a></strong></span>.</em></p>

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