Placeholder Content Image

Social media snaps map the sweep of Japan’s cherry blossom season in unprecedented detail

<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adrian-dyer-387798">Adrian Dyer</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alan-dorin-12573">Alan Dorin</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carolyn-vlasveld-1442834">Carolyn Vlasveld</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/moataz-elqadi-1442833">Moataz ElQadi</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em></p> <p>Social media contains enormous amounts of data about people, our everyday lives, and our interactions with our surroundings. As a byproduct, it also contains a vast trove of information about the natural world.</p> <p>In a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0367253023001019#sec0024a">new study published in Flora</a>, we show how social media can be used for “incidental citizen science”. From photos posted to a social site, we mapped countrywide patterns in nature over a decade in relatively fine detail.</p> <p>Our case study was the annual spread of cherry blossom flowering across Japan, where millions of people view the blooming each year in a cultural event called “hanami”. The flowering spreads across Japan in a wave (“<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_blossom_front">sakura zensen</a>” or 桜前線) following the warmth of the arriving spring season.</p> <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529000/original/file-20230530-15-mix84k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529000/original/file-20230530-15-mix84k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529000/original/file-20230530-15-mix84k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529000/original/file-20230530-15-mix84k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529000/original/file-20230530-15-mix84k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529000/original/file-20230530-15-mix84k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529000/original/file-20230530-15-mix84k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="ALT TEXT" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Celebrating the cherry blossom is a centuries-old tradition in Japan.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure> <p>The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanami">hanami festival</a> has been documented for centuries, and research shows climate change is making <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ac6bb4">early blossoming more likely</a>. The advent of mobile phones – and social network sites that allow people to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1574954116302321">upload photos tagged with time and location data</a> – presents a new opportunity to study how Japan’s flowering events are affected by seasonal climate.</p> <h2>Why are flowers useful to understand how nature is being altered by climate change?</h2> <p>Many flowering plants, including the cherry blossoms of Japan (<em>Prunus</em> subgenus <em>Cerasus</em>), require insect pollination. To reproduce, plant flowers bloom at optimal times to receive visits from insects like bees.</p> <p>Temperature is <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0200549">an important mechanism</a> for plants to trigger this flowering. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2008.01269.x">Previous research</a> has highlighted how climate change may create mismatches in space or time between the blooming of plants and the emergence of pollinating insects.</p> <p><iframe id="rtiQ0" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/rtiQ0/2/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <p>It has been difficult for researchers to map the extent of this problem in detail, as its study requires simultaneous data collection over large areas. The use of citizen science images deliberately, or incidentally, uploaded to social network sites enables <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_data">big data</a> solutions.</p> <h2>How did we conduct our study?</h2> <p>We collected images from Japan uploaded to <a href="https://www.flickr.com/">Flickr</a> between 2008 and 2018 that were tagged by users as “cherry blossoms”. We used computer vision techniques to analyse these images, and to provide sets of keywords describing their image content.</p> <p>Next, we automatically filtered out images appearing to contain content that the computer vision algorithms determined didn’t match our targeted cherry blossoms. For instance, many contained images of autumn leaves, another popular ecological event to view in Japan.</p> <p>The locations and timestamps of the remaining cherry blossom images were then used to generate marks on a map of Japan showing the seasonal wave of sakura blossoms, and to estimate peak bloom times each year in different cities.</p> <h2>Checking the data</h2> <p>An important component of any scientific investigation is validation – how well does a proposed solution or data set represent the real-world phenomenon under study?</p> <figure class="align-right zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528702/original/file-20230528-21-4fxpkv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528702/original/file-20230528-21-4fxpkv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528702/original/file-20230528-21-4fxpkv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=591&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528702/original/file-20230528-21-4fxpkv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=591&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528702/original/file-20230528-21-4fxpkv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=591&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528702/original/file-20230528-21-4fxpkv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=743&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528702/original/file-20230528-21-4fxpkv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=743&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528702/original/file-20230528-21-4fxpkv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=743&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Blossom dates calculated from social media images compare well with official data.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">ElQadi et al.</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span></figcaption></figure> <p>Our study using social network site images was validated against the detailed information published by the <a href="https://www.japan.travel/en/see-and-do/cherry-blossom-forecast-2023/">Japan National Tourism Organization</a>.</p> <p>We also manually examined a subset of images to confirm the presence of cherry flowers.</p> <p>Plum flowers (<em>Prunus mume</em>) look very similar to cherry blossoms, especially to tourists, and they are frequently mistaken and mislabelled as cherry blossoms. We used visible “notches” at the end of cherry petals, and other characteristics, to distinguish cherries from plums.</p> <p>Taken together, the data let us map the flowering event as it unfolds across Japan.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528769/original/file-20230529-17-wmgf5g.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528769/original/file-20230529-17-wmgf5g.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528769/original/file-20230529-17-wmgf5g.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=619&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528769/original/file-20230529-17-wmgf5g.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=619&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528769/original/file-20230529-17-wmgf5g.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=619&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528769/original/file-20230529-17-wmgf5g.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=777&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528769/original/file-20230529-17-wmgf5g.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=777&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528769/original/file-20230529-17-wmgf5g.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=777&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="An animated map showing cherry blossom flowering across Japan" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Images uploaded to social media over a ten year period 2008-2018, let us map the cherry blossom front as it sweeps across Japan.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">ElQadi et al.</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span></figcaption></figure> <h2>Out-of-season blooms</h2> <p>Our social network site analysis was sufficiently detailed to accurately pinpoint the annual peak spring bloom in the major cities of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo">Tokyo</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto">Kyoto</a>, to within a few days of official records.</p> <p>Our data also revealed the presence of a consistent, and persistent, out-of-season cherry bloom in autumn. Upon further searching, we discovered that this “unexpected” seasonal bloom had also been noted in <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45898333">mainstream media</a> in recent years. We thus confirmed that this is a real event, not an artefact of our study.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528832/original/file-20230529-25-wonef0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528832/original/file-20230529-25-wonef0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528832/original/file-20230529-25-wonef0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528832/original/file-20230529-25-wonef0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528832/original/file-20230529-25-wonef0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528832/original/file-20230529-25-wonef0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528832/original/file-20230529-25-wonef0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528832/original/file-20230529-25-wonef0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Cherry blossom photographs from Flickr taken within Japan from 2008 to 2018 show an April peak as well as an unexpected smaller peak in November.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">ElQadi et al.</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span></figcaption></figure> <p>So, even without knowing it, many of us are already helping to understand how climate change influences our environment, simply by posting online photographs we capture. Dedicated sites like <a href="https://wildpollinatorcount.com/">Wild Pollinator Count</a> are excellent resources to contribute to the growing knowledge base.</p> <p>The complex issues of climate change are still being mapped. Citizen science allows our daily observations to improve our understanding, and so better manage our relationship with the natural world.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/206574/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adrian-dyer-387798">Adrian Dyer</a>, Associate Professor, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alan-dorin-12573">Alan Dorin</a>, Associate Professor, Faculty of Information Technology, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carolyn-vlasveld-1442834">Carolyn Vlasveld</a>, PhD candidate, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/moataz-elqadi-1442833">Moataz ElQadi</a>, Adjunct Researcher, Faculty of Information Technology, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/social-media-snaps-map-the-sweep-of-japans-cherry-blossom-season-in-unprecedented-detail-206574">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Technology

Placeholder Content Image

Ed Sheeran shoots for the stars with daughter’s name reveal

<p dir="ltr">When Ed Sheeran and his wife Cherry Seaborn announced the birth of their second child in May 2022, they kept things simple. </p> <p dir="ltr">In a post to social media, Sheeran shared a picture of socks on a crochet blanket, with a caption reading “Want to let you all know we’ve had another beautiful baby girl. We are both so in love with her, and over the moon to be a family of 4”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The couple shared no ‘face reveal’ - opting to keep their children far removed from the public eye - and did not share their youngest daughter’s name with Sheeran’s 42.8m followers. </p> <p dir="ltr">But in a March interview with <em>Rolling Stone</em>, the 32-year-old singer-songwriter took everyone by surprise, opening up about his family life, and revealing the out-of-this-world moniker bestowed upon their youngest, Jupiter. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Me and Cherry were talking earlier about how it’s so lovely,” he told the publication, opening up about the little things in life that he and his family cherish the most. “We had an entire day. We did nothing but this. It’s so nice and wholesome having family on tour. </p> <p dir="ltr">“On the last tour, I’d party till 7 am, sleep till 4 pm, get up, and do the gig. But I was like, 26. It’s very different.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Jupiter’s birth, and establishing their new “lovely” life, were no easy feats for the couple. In February 2022 - a month that was already proving determined to knock Sheeran down - when Cherry was six months along in her pregnancy, she was diagnosed with a tumour. Surgery was required, but couldn’t be performed until she had given birth. </p> <p dir="ltr">As Sheeran wrote in a post outlining plans for his album <em>Subtract</em>, “Within the space of a month, my pregnant wife got told she had a tumour, with no route to treatment until after the birth. My best friend Jamal, a brother to me, died suddenly, and I found myself standing in court defending my integrity and career as a songwriter. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I was spiralling through fear, depression and anxiety. I felt like I was drowning, head below the surface, looking up but not being able to break through for air.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“There’s nothing you can do about it,” he confessed to <em>Rolling Stone</em>. “You feel so powerless.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Over the course of his interview, Sheeran toyed with a chain bracelet - one gifted to him by his wife, with their daughters’ name engraved. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It felt symbolic,” he said of the swap to the silver from the rubber bands that had previously adorned his wrist, “to take off those bracelets and put on one for my family.”</p> <p dir="ltr">After the slew of tragedies to hit Sheeran in such a short span of time, it was Cherry who realised that he was in need of professional help, leading to the singer seeking out a therapist. </p> <p dir="ltr">“No one really talks about their feelings where I come from,” he said. “People think it’s weird getting a therapist in England … I think it’s very helpful to be able to speak with someone and just vent and not feel guilty about venting. Obviously, like, I’ve lived a very privileged life. So my friends would always look at me like, ‘Oh, it’s not that bad.’ ”</p> <p dir="ltr">“The help isn’t a button that is pressed, where you’re automatically okay,” he added. “It is something that will always be there and just has to be managed.”</p> <p dir="ltr">And as Sheeran himself <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/writing-songs-is-my-therapy-ed-sheeran-reveals-further-heartbreak">wrote in his <em>Subtract</em> post</a>, “Writing songs is my therapy. It helps me make sense of my feelings … in just over a week I replaced a decade’s worth of work with my deepest darkest thoughts.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Family & Pets

Placeholder Content Image

"Writing songs is my therapy": Ed Sheeran reveals further heartbreak

<p>In the wake of the tragic news of the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/tragedy-strikes-ed-sheeran-tour" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heartbreaking loss</a> suffered by his co-writer and touring partner, Ed Sheeran has taken to Instagram to share his struggle following a series of life-changing events – and how this has altered the course of his new album, Subtract.</p> <p>The singer shared how he “spiralled” into depression last year after his wife, Cherry, was diagnosed with a tumour during her second pregnancy, which couldn’t be treated until after she gave birth.</p> <p>The star explained that he was "trying to sculpt the perfect acoustic album" for almost a decade, when the series of events changed everything.</p> <p>“Writing songs is my therapy. It helps me make sense of my feelings. I wrote without thought of what the songs would be, I just wrote whatever tumbled out.</p> <p>“And in just over a week, I replaced a decade’s worth of work with my deepest darkest thoughts," he captioned.</p> <p>“Within the space of a month, my pregnant wife got told she had a tumour, with no route to treatment until after the birth.</p> <p>“My best friend Jamal [Edwards], a brother to me, died suddenly and I found myself standing in court defending my integrity and career as a songwriter. I was spiralling through fear, depression and anxiety.</p> <p>“I felt like I was drowning, head below the surface, looking up but not being able to break through for air".</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpPY7qyI6XB/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpPY7qyI6XB/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Ed Sheeran (@teddysphotos)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The four-time Grammy award winner shared that this album was a "trapdoor" into his soul, and a way for him to make sense of everything he's been through.</p> <p>Sheeran announced the birth of his second daughter, Jupiter, in May of last year.</p> <p>Subtract will be released on the 5th of May 2023, through Asylum/Atlantic.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

Placeholder Content Image

Cherry choc chip ice-cream sandwiches

<p>These are the heavenly ice-cream sandwiches of your childhood. Even better – the ice-cream recipe doesn’t begin with a custard, and so avoids the ‘will it or won’t it?’ curdling fear.</p> <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p> <ul> <li>2 cups (500 ml) thickened cream</li> <li>1 cup (250 ml) full-cream milk</li> <li>¾ cup (165 g) caster sugar, plus 1 teaspoon extra</li> <li>1½ cups (225 g) frozen cherries, partially thawed</li> <li>85 g dark chocolate (70 per cent cocoa), roughly chopped</li> <li>36 plain chocolate biscuits (Choc Ripple biscuits or similar)</li> </ul> <p><strong>Directions:</strong></p> <p>1. In a large bowl, whisk together the cream, milk and sugar, and stir until the sugar dissolves. Churn in an ice-cream machine according to the manufacturer’s instructions.</p> <p>2. Toss the cherries with the extra teaspoon of sugar. Add the cherries, along with any juice, and the chocolate to the ice-cream mixture. Transfer to a container with a lid and freeze until firm enough to scoop.</p> <p>3. To assemble the sandwiches, spread 1/3 cup (80g) of ice-cream over a biscuit and top with another biscuit. Repeat with the remaining biscuits and ice-cream. Wrap tightly in baking paper and freeze until ready to serve.</p> <p><strong>Tip:</strong></p> <p>The sandwiches will keep for 24 hours in the freezer.</p> <p><a rel="noopener" href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/71095/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fthe-edible-city-indira-naidoo%2Fprod9781921383816.html" target="_blank"><em>Recipe from<span> </span><span>The Edible City by Indira Naidoo</span>, published by Penguin Books, RRP $45.00.</em></a></p> <p><em>Republished with permission of </em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/cherry-choc-chip-ice-cream-sandwiches.aspx" target="_blank"><em>Wyza.com.au</em></a><em>. </em></p>

Food & Wine

Placeholder Content Image

Chocolate sour cherry slice

<p>A sultry taste sensation for those who love sweet things with a touch of cherry sour.</p> <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p> <p><strong>For the base</strong></p> <ul> <li>2 cups raw cashew nuts</li> <li>2 cups unsweetened desiccated coconut</li> <li>1/2 cup raw cacao powder</li> <li>Pinch of sea salt</li> <li>1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil + 1/4 cup cacao butter* (or 1/2 cup extra virgin coconut oil)</li> <li>1/2 cup rice malt syrup</li> <li>1 x 20ml tablespoon pure vanilla extract</li> <li>3/4 cup unsweetened dried sour cherries</li> </ul> <p><strong>For the topping</strong></p> <ul> <li>200g dark chocolate</li> <li>2 x 20ml tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil</li> </ul> <p><strong>Method:</strong></p> <p>1. Line a 22 x 11 cm loaf tin with baking paper or cling film.</p> <p>2. Process the cashew nuts and desiccated coconut in a food processor until you get fine crumbs.</p> <p>3. Add the cacao powder and salt and process until well combined.</p> <p>4. Melt the coconut oil (and cacao butter, if using) in a large saucepan over the lowest heat on your stove.</p> <p>5. Add the rice malt syrup and vanilla extract and stir to combine.</p> <p>6. Take the saucepan off the heat, tip the dry ingredients from the food processor and the sour cherries into the saucepan and stir everything together until well combined. Press the mixture into the prepared tin, smoothing the surface with the back of a spoon (and your hands, if need be). Place the tin in the freezer to chill.</p> <p>7. To make the topping, melt the chocolate and coconut oil together in a double boiler or in the microwave. Remove the slice from the freezer and pour over the topping. Return the slice to the fridge for a few hours to set. Once set, remove the slice from the tin and cut into squares. Store in the fridge or freezer.</p> <p><strong>Tips:</strong></p> <p>The recipe uses 1/4 cup coconut oil + 1/4 cup cacao butter for the smooth and creamy texture that cacao butter provides. You can buy cacao butter at health food stores or online, or just use 1/2 cup coconut oil if you prefer.</p> <p><em>Recipe originally appeared on <a href="https://www.rfhb.com.au/blog/chocolate-sour-cherry-slice/">Real Food Body Health</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Republished with permission of <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/chocolate-sour-cherry-slice.aspx" target="_blank">Wyza.com.au</a>. </em></p>

Food & Wine

Placeholder Content Image

Feel fuller for longer with a roast sweet potato and cherry tomato omelette

<p>A perfect breakfast after an early morning walk or workout, this omelette is sure to leave you feeling full and satisfied.</p> <p><strong>Serves: </strong>1</p> <p><strong>Ingredients</strong></p> <ul> <li>3 eggs</li> <li>½ small sweet potato (cubed)</li> <li>¼ bunch of fresh parsley finely chopped</li> <li>6 cherry tomatoes</li> <li>2 large handfuls fresh spinach</li> <li>½ tsp smoked paprika</li> <li>Salt and pepper</li> </ul> <p><strong>Directions</strong></p> <ol> <li>Cut the sweet potato into small cubes and lay onto an oven tray and roast until soft at 180°C. They should only take about 10-12 minutes. Half way through cooking throw the cherry tomatoes onto the tray and roast for the remaining time.</li> <li>Microwave the spinach in a bowl for 30s.</li> <li>Whisk the eggs then season with salt and pepper and smoked paprika, pour into a pan on medium heat. Stir the eggs quickly once or twice then evenly scatter the sweet potato and cherry tomatoes across half of the omelette, sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top then carefully fold the other half over the top.</li> <li>Slide onto a plate and serve. I love a little squeeze of spicy sriracha sauce over the top.</li> </ol> <p><em>Recipe courtesy of Richard Kerrigan, <u><a href="https://www.instagram.com/rkthebeachlife/">The Beach Life</a></u>, Qualified Chef and Personal Trainer. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/roast-sweet-potato-and-cherry-tomato-omelette.aspx">Wyza.com.au</a>.</em></p>

Food & Wine

Placeholder Content Image

Indulge yourself with chocolate coconut porridge and poached cherries

<p>Wake up with a treat and whip up this quick chocolate porridge for breakfast - it's the perfect end-of-week indulgence (without the guilt)!</p> <p><strong>Serves: </strong>2</p> <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p> <p><strong>For the poached cherries</strong></p> <p>160g cherries, de-stoned and halved</p> <p>½ a vanilla pod, split</p> <p>100ml water</p> <p><strong>For the porridge</strong></p> <p>80g coconut flour</p> <p>60g desiccated coconut</p> <p>40g coconut flakes</p> <p>2 tablespoons raw cacao powder</p> <p>300 ml coconut milk</p> <p>50 ml double cream, to serve<span> </span></p> <p>2 tablespoons grated 85% dark chocolate or 20g cacao nibs, to serve</p> <p><strong>Directions:</strong></p> <p>1. Place the cherries, vanilla pod and water into a small saucepan and put over a low heat for 20 minutes. The poaching process should be gradual so the fruit releases its natural sugars and juices.</p> <p>2. While the fruit is poaching, place all the porridge ingredients into a medium-sized saucepan and place over a low heat.</p> <p>3. Gently cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring regularly, until the porridge starts to thicken and become creamy. Continue until the porridge has reached your preferred consistency.</p> <p>4. To serve, divide the porridge between two bowls, add the fruit and syrup, drizzle with cream and top with cacao nibs.</p> <p><strong>This is an edited extract from <span><a rel="noopener" href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/69171/1880?u=https://www.booktopia.com.au/pioppi-diet-dr-aseem-malhotra/prod9781405932639.html" target="_blank"><em>The Pioppi Diet</em>  by Dr Aseem Halhotra &amp; Donal O'Neill</a></span>, Penguin Books, RRP $24.99.</strong></p>

Food & Wine

Placeholder Content Image

Enjoy a tasty cherry tomato, macadamia, walnut & silverbeet pasta

<p>Up your nut intake with this easy and simple recipe.</p> <p><strong>Preparation</strong> <strong>time</strong>:<span style="font-weight: 400;"> 5 mins</span></p> <p><strong>Cooking</strong> <strong>time</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">: 15 mins </span></p> <p><strong>Serves</strong>:<span style="font-weight: 400;"> 4 </span></p> <p><strong>Ingredients</strong> </p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">2 Tbsp olive oil </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">2 cloves garlic, crushed </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">1/2 cup raw walnuts, roughly chopped (60g) </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">1/2 cup raw, unsalted macadamias, roughly chopped (70g) </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">1 cup fresh breadcrumbs </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">400g dry spaghetti </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">500g cherry tomatoes, halved </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">1/2 bunch silverbeet or kale leaves, torn </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">zest of 1 lemon </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">1/4 cup chopped parsley </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sea salt and fresh cracked pepper </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>Method</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></p> <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Warm half the olive oil and half the garlic in a large skillet over medium heat. Add all the breadcrumbs, and half the walnuts and macadamias. Cook, stirring regularly for 5-6 minutes until fragrant and toasted. Tip into a bowl, season with salt and pepper, and set aside. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Cook spaghetti according to packet directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup cooking water. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">While pasta cooks, return the large skillet to medium-high heat and drizzle in remaining olive oil. Add cherry tomatoes and remaining garlic. Sauté for approximately 5 minutes, until tomatoes begin to break down. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Add reserved pasta cooking water, silverbeet, and remaining walnuts and macadamias to pan with tomatoes. Cook for a minute or two, until greens are just wilted. Remove from heat and stir through lemon zest. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Add parsley to cooled breadcrumb mixture. Serve pasta with generous spoonfuls of sauce, and plenty of nutty breadcrumbs on top. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></li> </ol> <p><strong>Tips</strong> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can find fresh breadcrumbs at good grocery stores, or make your own by pulsing a slice or two of day-old sourdough in a food processor. </span></p> <p>Recipe and images by Jennifer Jenner for <a href="https://www.nutsforlife.com.au/">Nuts for Life</a> </p>

Food & Wine

Placeholder Content Image

Top 5 places to see the world's best cherry blossoms

<p><span>No matter where you are in the world, it’s always nice to enjoy the view of cherry blossoms when they are in season. Here are some of the best places in the world to see the beautiful flowers in bloom.</span></p> <p><strong><span>1. Arakurayama Sengen Park, Japan</span></strong></p> <p><span>This scenic gem in Yamanashi shines in April when cherry blossoms are in full bloom, complemented by a classic five-storey pagoda from the Arakura Fuji Sengen-jinja Shrine and majestic views of Mount Fuji in the distance.</span></p> <p><strong><span>2. Kungsträdgården, Stockholm, Sweden</span></strong></p> <p><span>While Stockholm is lined with pink trees every spring, Kungsträdgården is where you can see the flowers form a cotton candy canopy over the entire park. In mid-April you can also stroll through the stands and get some snacks from the annual Japanese festival taking place at the site. Expect the peak around mid-to-late April.</span></p> <p><strong><span>3. Jerte Valley, Spain</span></strong></p> <p>Located between Salamanca and Cáceres, the valley has two million white cherry trees that create a stunning, snow-like panorama. As the locals tell it, <em>Valle del Jerte</em> <span>comes to life every March in three stages: <em>despertar el valle </em>(the valley wakes)<em>, cerezo en Flor </em>(cherry trees in bloom)<em>, </em>and<em> lluvia de Pétalos </em>(shower of flower petals). </span></p> <p><strong><span>4. Washington DC, US</span></strong></p> <p><span>Cherry blossoms first arrived in DC in 1912 as a gift from Japan. To commemorate the occasion, the city celebrates the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, allowing visitors to enjoy the sea of pink and white from the 3,000-plus trees around the Tidal Basin from late March to mid-April.</span></p> <p><strong><span>5. Pingba, Guizhou, China</span></strong></p> <p><span>According to local media, the region boasts more than 500,000 cherry trees along with azalea and apricot trees. When they blossom in late March to early April, the aerial view of the region shows a lush display of white-pink petals covering the county.</span></p> <p><span>Click through the gallery above to see the cherry blossoms at these spots.</span></p> <p><span>Will you be visiting any of these places? Let us know in the comments.</span></p>

International Travel

Placeholder Content Image

Prawns, asparagus and cherry tomato linguine

<p>This deliciously light pasta dish is so quick and easy to whip up but also special enough for company.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Serves:</span></strong> 2</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients: </span></strong></p> <ul> <li>150g linguine pasta</li> <li>135g cherry tomatoes</li> <li>200g green prawns, peeled, deveined, tails intact </li> <li>1 bunch of asparagus, trimmed, cut in half</li> <li>2 tablespoon olive oil</li> <li>2 cloves garlic, finely chopped</li> <li>Half a lemon</li> <li>1 red chilli, deseeded, finely chopped</li> <li>⅓ cup dry white wine</li> <li>Fresh oregano, chopped</li> <li>Salt and pepper to season</li> <li>Shaved parmesan to serve</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method: </span></strong></p> <p>1. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to boil. Add pasta and follow packet instructions. Drain.</p> <p>2. Meanwhile, heat oil in frypan over medium heat. Add tomatoes and cook and cook for two minutes or until softened.</p> <p>3. Stir in garlic, chilli, asparagus and prawns. Cook for two minutes or until prawns turn pink.</p> <p>4. Add white wine and season with salt and pepper. Leave to simmer for three to five minutes or until sauce thickens and reduces.</p> <p>5. Add pasta to pan. Squeeze half a lemon and sprinkle with oregano. Toss to combine. Serve with parmesan.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/05/beef-and-barley-stew/">Hearty beef and barley stew</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/05/tuna-and-olive-pasta/">Tuna and olive pasta</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/05/bolognese-stuffed-eggplant/">Bolognese stuffed eggplant</a></strong></em></span></p>

Food & Wine

Placeholder Content Image

Lyndey Milan’s perfect pasta with quick cherry tomato sauce

<p>For perfect pasta it is imperative to have plenty of salted boiling water. Do not add oil to the water as it stops the sauce adhering to the pasta.</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>250g pappardelle pasta</li> <li>2 punnets (500g) ripe cherry tomatoes, halved</li> <li>100 g black olives, stoned (optional)</li> <li>2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped</li> <li>1 tablespoon red wine vinegar</li> <li>½ to 1 teaspoon chilli flakes (optional, to taste)</li> <li>1 bunch fresh basil, leaves picked and torn</li> <li>½ cup (125ml) extra virgin olive oil</li> <li>Sea salt</li> <li>Freshly ground black pepper</li> <li>½ cup shaved parmesan</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p> <ol> <li>For the sauce, place tomatoes, olives, garlic and vinegar (and chilli if using) in a large bowl and break up with a potato masher. Mix in the basil and olive oil. Season to taste. Leave for flavours to develop. This can be made up to an hour in advance.</li> <li>For the pasta,Bring at least 3 litres water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Add a good tablespoon of salt and then ease in the pasta until it is all submerged. Stir until the water comes back to the boil. Then give another good stir, remove the lid and cook 4-5 minutes only (time is indicative of homemade pasta, please refer to the cooking instructions on the back of the pasta packet).</li> <li>Drain pasta (reserving ½ cup cooking water) and toss with the tomato mixture. Add reserved liquid if you want a wetter sauce. Sprinkle with parmesan and serve immediately.</li> </ol> <p><strong><img width="188" height="205" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/43600/image__188x205.jpg" alt="Image_ (24)" style="float: right;"/>Tip:</strong> If preferred you can toss the sauce ingredients in a pan to warm through before tossing through pasta.</p> <p><em><strong>Lyndey Milan is an acclaimed Australian Chef and Philips Kitchen Appliances ambassador.</strong></em></p>

Food & Wine

Placeholder Content Image

Cherry and cardamom cake with honey cream cheese

<p>When I was in India last year I saw cardamom growing and that provided inspiration for this recipe. Topped with fresh cherries, this creation should impress everyone.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Serves:</span></strong> 12</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients:</span></strong></p> <p>Cake</p> <ul> <li>200g butter, softened</li> <li>200g caster sugar</li> <li>4 organic eggs</li> <li>1 teaspoon vanilla extract</li> <li>100g plain flour</li> <li>150g ground almonds</li> <li>2 teaspoon ground cardamom</li> <li>24 cherries, halved and pitted</li> </ul> <p>Icing</p> <ul> <li>250g cream cheese</li> <li>Vanilla extract</li> <li>4 tablespoons of honey</li> </ul> <p>To decorate</p> <ul> <li>15 fresh cherries with stalks intact</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p> <ol> <li>To begin, preheat the oven to 180°C fan bake. Grease and line a 22cm cake tin.</li> <li>In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until pale, light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then vanilla. Gradually fold in flour, ground almonds and cardamom.</li> <li>Pour batter into cake tin and dot with cherry halves. Bake for about 40 minutes. The cake is ready when it is golden in colour, springy to the touch and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Allow cake to cool for around 10 minutes before turning out onto a rack.</li> <li>Meanwhile, make icing. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth and continue to add the other ingredients.</li> <li>Once cake is cool, apply a generous layer of icing and decorate with fresh cherries. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to three days.</li> </ol> <p>Mmm, doesn’t that sound delicious?</p> <p><em>Written by Jorden Rondel. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>. Image credit: Emma Boyd / <strong><a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></a></strong>.</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>

Food & Wine

Placeholder Content Image

Italian cherry tomato and roasted capsicum salad

<p>This simple salad uses a classic combination of Italian ingredients.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Serves:</span> </strong>Six to eight</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients:</span></strong></p> <ul> <li>Three red and three yellow capsicums, cored, quartered</li> <li>Three tablespoons plus 75ml extra virgin olive oil</li> <li>500g cherry tomatoes, halved</li> <li>handful rocket leaves</li> <li>Two tablespoons capers</li> <li>Eight anchovy fillets, halved (optional)</li> <li>Three tablespoons balsamic vinegar</li> <li>Handful basil leaves</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p> <ol> <li>To begin, preheat the oven to 200°C.</li> <li>Toss the capsicum quarters in the three tablespoons oil and place side by side on oven trays. Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper.</li> <li>Roast in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until tender, slightly shrivelled and browned.</li> <li>Remove from the oven and cool.</li> <li>Put capsicums, tomatoes, rocket, capers and anchovies in a wide salad bowl or platter.</li> <li>Whisk 75ml oil with the balsamic vinegar, taste and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add this dressing to the salad and toss.</li> <li>Sprinkle the basil leaves on top and serve.</li> </ol> <p>How tasty! Have you tried anything like this?</p> <p><em>Written by Ray McVinnie and Dixie Elliot. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a></em>. <strong>Image credit: Stuff.co.nz / Keirin Scott.</strong></p> <p><em><strong>Have you ordered your copy of the Over60 cookbook, The Way Mum Made It, yet? Featuring 178 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"><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="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/12/chicken-mango-coriander-cabbage-lime-chilli-salad/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Chicken mango coriander cabbage lime chilli salad</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/12/carrot-quinoa-and-haloumi-salad/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Carrot, quinoa and haloumi salad</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/12/salmon-and-beetroot-salad/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Salmon and beetroot salad</strong></em></span></a></p>

Food & Wine

Our Partners