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Coconut strawberry jam drops

<p>These strawberry jam droplets are like the perfect, golden biscuit, filled with the perfect sweet treat. The coconut gives these traditional sugary snacks the richness they’ve been missing.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Serves:</span> </strong>32 biscuits</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients:</span></strong></p> <ul> <li>125g butter, chopped, at room temperature</li> <li>⅔ cup caster sugar</li> <li>1 teaspoon maple syrup</li> <li>1 egg yolk</li> <li>1 ¼ cups self-rising flour, sifted</li> <li>⅔ cup desiccated coconut</li> <li>⅓ cup strawberry jam</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p> <ol> <li>Preheat oven to 180°C. Line two large flat baking trays with non-stick baking paper.</li> <li>Using an electric mixer, cream the butter, sugar and vanilla essence in a mixing bowl until pale and creamy. Add the egg yolk and mix well. Add the flour and coconut, and mix on low speed until just combined.</li> <li>Using a heaped teaspoon of mixture, roll into balls. Place onto baking trays, allowing room for spreading. Flatten slightly with a spatula. Using the end of round handled wooden spoon, make an indentation in the centre of each biscuit. Fill the hole with a 1/4 teaspoon of jam.</li> <li>Bake 1 tray at a time for 12-15 minutes or until light golden. Stand for 5 minutes on tray before transferring to a wire rack to cool.</li> </ol> <p><em>Images: Shutterstock</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Strawberry lovers rejoice! Berry season is finally in full swing

<p dir="ltr"> Following a devastating start to the season due to abnormally wet weather, prolonged sunny spells at last see Queensland growers picking an abundance of strawberries, with great value punnets now in supermarkets.</p> <p dir="ltr">With high quality strawberries available from around $2-3, now is the time to pick up a few punnets whilst they’re at their most affordable and bursting with sweet flavour. Every punnet helps support hard working farmers and their families who have had an astoundingly challenging time growing these berries. </p> <p dir="ltr">Heavy rains at planting time in February and March saw some strawberry fields completely flooded not once but twice, and planting schedules pushed back later than ever. Supplies of the much-loved winter fruit are set to increase dramatically throughout September thanks to recent sunny conditions and longer dry spells.</p> <p dir="ltr">TSL Family Farms  Co-owner Laura Wells comments: “With 41% of all strawberries in Australia coming from Queensland and the state’s 100+ farms, the persistent rain in February, March and again in May pushed the start of the strawberry season out and caused huge shortages of fruit for us and other growers across the state. With the recent sunnier conditions we’ve been experiencing, we’re expecting to see a really strong end to the winter season and large volumes of quality berries hitting supermarket shelves imminently.”</p> <p dir="ltr">President at Queensland Strawberries Growers Association and LuvaBerry Owner & Farmer, Adrian Schultz said: “Despite a very challenging start of the season, we’re committed to getting our delicious strawberries out there at affordable prices for everyone to enjoy. We’re urging consumers to go out and purchase a few punnets of these sweet berries and support local Aussie farmers who’ve had it very tough indeed this year.”</p> <p dir="ltr">To find more about Queensland Strawberry growers head to <a href="https://qldstrawberries.com.au">qldstrawberries.com.au</a>.</p> <p><em>Image: Supplied</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Strawberry and Apple Crumble

<p dir="ltr">All it takes is just one bite of this fruity delight and it'll instantly become a cereal favourite.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">Ingredients</h2> <p dir="ltr">600g apples, peeled, cored, thinly sliced</p> <p dir="ltr">2 Tbsp water</p> <p dir="ltr">2 tsp CSR LoGiCane Sugar</p> <p dir="ltr">300g pkt frozen strawberries</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Oat and pistachio crumble</h3> <p dir="ltr">50g (½ cup) rolled oats</p> <p dir="ltr">40g (1 cup) Special K cereal, roughly crushed</p> <p dir="ltr">2 Tbsp unsalted pistachio kernels, finely chopped</p> <p dir="ltr">¼ tsp ground cardamom</p> <p dir="ltr">1 Tbsp honey</p> <p dir="ltr">1 eggwhite (from 50g egg), lightly whisked</p> <h2 dir="ltr">Method</h2> <ol> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Put apple, water and sugar in a medium saucepan over a medium heat. Cover and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, covered, for 7 minutes or until apple is almost tender. Remove pan from heat and set aside, covered, for 5 minutes or until apple is tender.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Meanwhile, to make oat and pistachio crumble, put rolled oats, cereal, pistachios and cardamom in a small bowl. Add honey and eggwhite, and stir until well combined.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Preheat oven to 170°C (fan-forced). Put a 2L (8-cup) ovenproof dish on an oven tray. Add apple mixture to the dish. Sprinkle strawberries over apple mixture. Sprinkle crumble over strawberries. Bake for 15 minutes or until the topping is golden brown. Serve immediately.</p> </li> </ol> <h3 dir="ltr">Nutrition Info PER SERVE</h3> <p dir="ltr">750kJ, protein 4.5g, total fat 3.5g (sat. fat 0.5g), carbs 30g, fibre 4.8g, sodium 47mg. Carb exchanges 2. GI estimate low.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-bed95ef2-7fff-3430-796d-c1311ae67159"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"> </p>

Food & Wine

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See the strawberry moon that shone around the world

<p dir="ltr">Stargazers across the world had plenty to see this week, as the strawberry supermoon lit up the sky.</p> <p dir="ltr">The moon appeared slightly larger than usual with an orange tint, reaching its peak size on Wednesday night for Australia and New Zealand.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though called a strawberry moon, the name has nothing to do with colour, instead coming from the Native American Algonquin nations and meaning it is the last full moon in spring or first of summer in the northern hemisphere, per <em><a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/strawberry-supermoon-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CBS News</a></em>. </p> <p dir="ltr">According to <em><a href="https://www.almanac.com/content/full-moon-june" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Old Farmer’s Almanac</a></em>, it was named the strawberry moon to mark the ripening of strawberries that would be ready to gather in June.</p> <p dir="ltr">Since it is a supermoon, defined as a full moon within 10 percent of the closest distance it can be to Earth, the moon appeared full in the days prior and will for a few more after, according to <em><a href="https://www.space.com/strawberry-supermoon-full-moon-2022-what-to-expect" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Space.com</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Here, we've compiled a collection of the most stunning shots of the supermoon from all corners of the world for your viewing pleasure.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-078ba00d-7fff-a754-5303-e6fee130564f"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Gary Hershorn (Getty Images)</em></p>

International Travel

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Woolworths under fire after mother finds something sharp in daughter’s strawberries

<p>Supermarket giant Woolworths has come under fire after claims a 12-year-old girl found a nail in a strawberry sold in one of their northern Adelaide stores.</p> <p>Her mother is furious that the brand has not been pulled from shelves after the incident.</p> <p>Sylvia, 12, wanted some strawberries on Saturday night, but after cutting the fruit, she found a horrific surprise.</p> <p>“I got the knife and I started cutting, then I actually saw (it) in there… I picked it out to see what it was and it was a nail,” Sylvia said to<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/woolworths/woolworths-under-fire-after-nail-allegedly-found-in-driscolls-strawberries-c-713807" target="_blank">7NEWS</a>.</em></p> <p>The nail was about an inch long and wedged deep inside one of the strawberries.</p> <p>“I was terrified,” Sylvia said.</p> <p>“I never thought that would happen to me.”</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7834752/strawberries-body.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fb765b13fa944c28865c35c24753433c" /></p> <div class="body_text "> <p>Sylvia’s mum Suzy explained that after the 2018 strawberry contamination issues, Sylvia always cuts up her fruit.</p> <p>“If she swallowed it… straight to emergency,” she said.</p> <p>“It could’ve pierced something inside her.”</p> <p>Suzy furiously brought the strawberries back to Woolworths after reporting the issue, but was surprised to find Driscoll’s strawberries still on the shelves.</p> <p>“I would’ve assumed that they would’ve took just a precaution to take the strawberries off the shelf just until they can say what actually has happened,” she said.</p> <p>Woolworths has said that the incident is an isolated case and after found no issues after checking the stock in store.</p> <p><em>Photo credits: </em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/woolworths/woolworths-under-fire-after-nail-allegedly-found-in-driscolls-strawberries-c-713807" target="_blank"><em>7NEWS</em></a></p> </div>

Food & Wine

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Relax with some French toast with balsamic strawberries and macadamia crumble

<p>Start your morning with this delectable French toast recipe topped with a delicious crumble and an oh-so-tempting strawberry sauce.</p> <p><strong>Serves: </strong>4</p> <p><strong>Ingredients</strong></p> <div class="article-body"> <p><strong>Macadamia crumble</strong></p> <ul> <li>35g (¼ cup) plain flour</li> <li>2 tablespoons caster sugar</li> <li>50g chilled unsalted butter, chopped</li> <li>40g (½ cup) shredded coconut</li> <li>40g (¼ cup) crushed macadamia nuts</li> </ul> <p><strong>Balsamic strawberries</strong></p> <ul> <li>55g (¼ cup) caster sugar</li> <li>1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar</li> <li>300g strawberries, hulled</li> </ul> <p><strong>French toast</strong></p> <ul> <li>4 free-range eggs</li> <li>80ml (⅓ cup) milk</li> <li>80ml (⅓ cup) thin (pouring) cream</li> <li>30g unsalted butter</li> <li>1 brioche loaf, about 400g, cut into 8 slices about 2cm thick</li> </ul> <p><strong>Directions</strong></p> <ol> <li>To make the macadamia crumble, preheat the oven to 180°C. Put the flour and sugar in a bowl and stir to combine. Add the butter and use your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour mixture. Stir in the coconut and macadamias.</li> <li>Spread on a baking tray and bake for 20 minutes, or until the crumble is golden and crisp. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. The crumble can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week.</li> <li>To make the Balsamic Strawberries, put the sugar, balsamic vinegar and 2 tablespoons cold water in a small saucepan. Stir over low heat until the sugar has dissolved. Add the strawberries and increase the heat to high. Bring to the boil and cook for 3 minutes. Set aside to cool, then refrigerate until needed.</li> <li>To make the French Toast, whisk together the eggs, milk and cream in a wide bowl. Melt half the butter in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Dip four slices of bread, one at a time, in the egg mixture until soaked, then drain off the excess.</li> <li>Fry the bread for 2 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Remove from the pan and keep warm while you cook the remainder of the slices.</li> <li>Serve topped with the strawberries and crumble.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Tips</strong></p> <ul> <li>Start this recipe the day before, so your crumble and strawberries are ready to go, and all that needs to be done in the morning is to cook the French toast.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Serve this with ice-cream, even for breakfast, so look for the best vanilla ice-cream you can find or have a go at making some yourself. Alternatively, serve with vanilla yoghurt or mascarpone.</li> </ul> <p><em>Image and recipe from </em><a rel="noopener" href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/69171/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fall-day-cafe-stuart-mckenzie%2Fprod9781743368404.html" target="_blank">All Day Café</a><em><a rel="noopener" href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/69171/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fall-day-cafe-stuart-mckenzie%2Fprod9781743368404.html" target="_blank"> by Stuart McKenzie</a> (Murdoch Books RRP $39.99). Photography: © Armelle Habib 2017.</em></p> </div> <div class="social-media-column"> <div class="addthis_sharing_toolbox" data-url="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/french-toast-with-balsamic-strawberries-and-macadamia-crumble.aspx" data-title="French toast with balsamic strawberries and macadamia crumble | WYZA Australia " data-description="Start your morning with this delectable French toast recipe topped with a delicious crumble and an oh so tempting strawberry sauce. | wyza.com.au "> <div id="atstbx3" class="at-share-tbx-element addthis-smartlayers addthis-animated at4-show" aria-labelledby="at-edac2ffe-731f-44bc-aaa5-ab0be52335b6"><em>Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/french-toast-with-balsamic-strawberries-and-macadamia-crumble.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a></em></div> </div> </div>

Food & Wine

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Arnott’s makes Tim Tam using “beautiful” Australian strawberries supermarkets rejected

<p>A new Tim Tam biscuit is boosting a Queensland couple’s bid to save tens of thousands of tonnes of Australian fruit rejected by supermarkets at the peak of growing seasons.</p> <p>Stuart and Allison McGruddy have launched an initiative that fights against the war on waste by freezing fruit. But after further research, they were disheartened to know that many major companies use imported, rather than local Aussie ingredients.</p> <p>But that’s slowly changing, as biscuit maker Arnott’s has used 20 tonnes of the fruit the couple saved in their new limited-edition Sunshine Coast Strawberries and Cream Tim Tam.</p> <p>Mr McGruddy who is a chef, and wife Allison left London eight years ago to work on his family’s farm, and were taken aback at the amount of perfectly ripe Australian fruit being rejected because it didn’t live up to supermarket standards.</p> <p>According to FoodWise, approximately 20 to 40 per cent of fruit and vegetables are rejected before it even reaches supermarket shelves due to not meeting aesthetic requirements.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Featmyberries%2Fposts%2F2877213695663865&amp;width=500" width="500" height="390" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></p> <p>“I’ve been to farms in the local area with strawberries that dump multiple tonnes a day, and I take photos of it, and it just blows me away,” said Mr McGruddy.</p> <p>“Like after the needle incident a couple of years ago, people got to see just how much strawberry waste happens in the industry, and it is the same with bananas and mangoes.”</p> <p>Ms McGruddy added: “We were seeing lots of beautiful raspberries that might be rejected by supermarkets at the time, and Stuart’s dad said, ‘What can you do with these beautiful berries, Stuart – c’mon, you can do something with them’.</p> <p>“Not long after that we had the 2015 outbreak of hepatitis A that was caused by contaminated berries produced in China, and we thought we need to do something about this, let’s get an Australian offering, so that’s basically the premise behind our business.”</p> <p>They founded My Berries, and freeze and bag a growing range of Australian-farmed fruit in a small factory near Bribie Island.</p>

Home & Garden

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Has this happened to you? Woman's horrifying discovery in punnet of strawberries

<p>A South Australian woman has found a sharp nail in a punnet of strawberries.</p> <p>Kate-Rose Pittam made the horrifying discovery just as she was making a smoothie yesterday.</p> <p>The punnet was purchased from Coles at Gawler-Green, Evanston last Thursday.</p> <p>“I didn’t actually see it when I cut it,” the 26-year-old told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/nail-found-in-strawberry-bought-at-gawler-green-coles-sa-news/37f4a4a4-2789-4889-a0e3-52afee91d1dc" target="_blank"><em>9News</em></a>.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7829804/nail.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/89fb4f0197184cf794e1440eff42ba31" /></p> <p>“When I threw it in, I kind of noticed something shiny and that’s when I was like ‘what was that’.”</p> <p>The incident occurred nearly a year after a national contamination scandal, where dangerously sharp objects were placed inside punnets of strawberries around the country.</p> <p>Farmers faced detrimental setbacks as supermarkets stripped their shelves bare for safety reasons.</p> <p>The suppliers of the punnet released a statement to<span> </span><em>9News</em>, saying they are devastated and are looking to stricter safety measures regarding their packaging.</p> <p>“I think it’s important people keep eating them because I know strawberry farmers struggled a lot last time this happened,” said Ms Pittam.</p> <p>Coles has lodged a report to the police who are currently investigating the matter.</p>

News

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Strawberry pound cake

<p>This sweet cake features strawberries, which are rich in both vitamin C and folate to optimise your immune system.</p> <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p> <p>Cake</p> <ul> <li>250g unsalted butter, softened</li> <li>2 cups plain flour </li> <li>½ cup almond meal </li> <li>3 teaspoons baking powder</li> <li>1 teaspoon salt</li> <li>1 ½ cups raw caster sugar</li> <li>1 lemon, finely grated zest &amp; juice for glaze</li> <li>125ml thick Greek yoghurt</li> <li>5 large eggs</li> <li>¼ cup light flavoured oil (light olive, grapeseed or rice bran oil)</li> <li>250g fresh Queensland strawberries, finely chopped</li> </ul> <p>Glaze</p> <ul> <li>1 cup sifted icing mixture</li> <li>2-3 tablespoons liquid – try a mix of strawberry syrup, passionfruit and lemon juice</li> </ul> <p><strong>Method:</strong></p> <ol> <li>Preheat oven to 175 degrees C (fan-forced). Grease and line 1.5 litre loaf tin.</li> <li>Sift dry ingredients together, mixing to combine.</li> <li>Using a stand mixer or electric hand mixer on a medium setting; beat butter &amp; sugar until pale and fluffy, about 4 minutes.</li> <li>Reduce the speed of the mixer to low, add eggs, one by one, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Add yoghurt, then oil &amp; mix until just combined. Gradually add flour, mixing on low until just combined (do not over mix).</li> <li>Fold in chopped strawberries and lemon zest, spoon into prepared loaf tin and bake in the centre of the oven for 50-60 minutes. The cake is done when a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.</li> <li>Cool in tin for 20 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.</li> <li>To ice, mix icing to desired consistency (thin glaze to thick drizzle) and spoon over cake.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Notes:</strong></p> <ul> <li>The plain flour and almond meal can be substituted with 2 ½ cups wholesome blend (a supermarket pre-packaged blend of wheat, millet, oat and coconut) or 2 ½ cups of cake flour.</li> <li>The acidity in passionfruit and lemon juice work perfectly as a glaze with this cake.</li> </ul>

Food & Wine

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Thick and fluffy strawberry pikelets

<p>These fluffcakes are thick, soft, and easy to prepare, making for a perfect morning delicacy.</p> <p>Serves 2-4</p> <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p> <ul> <li>½ cup wholemeal self-raising flour</li> <li>½ cup white self-raising flour</li> <li>3 large eggs</li> <li>300g thick unsweetened Greek yoghurt</li> <li>200g fresh Queensland strawberries, ½ smashed &amp; ½ sliced for serving</li> <li>Butter or rice bran oil for frying</li> <li>To serve - strawberry butter, strawberry syrup and loads of fresh chopped strawberries</li> </ul> <p><strong>Method:</strong></p> <ol> <li>In a medium bowl, beat the eggs and then add yoghurt and beat gently together. Gradually sift in the flour, mixing gently until just combined.  Fold in the smashed strawberries. For maximum fluffiness, rest the mixture for 15-30 minutes at room temperature.</li> <li>Heat a heavy based frying pan over a medium high heat. Add a teaspoon of butter or a tablespoon of Rice Bran oil. When the pan is hot, ladle batter into pan (approx. 1/4 cup per pancake), reduce heat to medium low and cook for 3-4 minutes until bubbles form on the surface. Flip, cook for a further 2-3 minutes until golden and cooked through. Repeat.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Notes:</strong></p> <ul> <li>These are thick pancakes, so it will be important to regulate your heat to make sure they both stay golden and cook through.</li> <li>Serve with strawberry butter and strawberry syrup and lots more fresh Queensland strawberries!</li> </ul> <p><strong>How to make easy strawberry butter</strong></p> <p>Process 150g softened unsalted butter with a large handful of chopped Queensland strawberries.  Using baking paper or cling wrap, roll the butter into a log and refrigerate or freeze until required.</p>

Food & Wine

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Shopper's horrifying discovery in her Coles strawberry

<p>A shopper has been left shocked after she found a maggot with a cluster of small eggs in her strawberry.</p> <p>The woman from Menai in Sydney’s south west shared a video to Facebook showing her discovery after slicing open a strawberry she purchased from Coles. In the clip, a white maggot could be seen along with a collection of black tiny eggs.</p> <p>She said she bought the Delightful Strawberries punnet on Tuesday, two days before cutting them up. “I purchased these two days ago, thank god I cut them. I was eating them whole yesterday. Thanks Coles,” she wrote in the post.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7829449/strawberry2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6be2aa6f400f4080b7a164bdd36476ae" /></p> <p>While some shoppers expressed their disgust at the woman’s finding, others said it was an indicator that the fruits had not been treated with “bucketloads of pesticides”.</p> <p>One wrote: “We don’t live in a perfect world, people need to remember that. There will always be impurities in some aspects of our living and it sure as hell wont kill you.”</p> <p>A Coles spokesperson told<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/woman-horrified-at-discovery-inside-strawberries-045515104.html" target="_blank">Yahoo News Australia</a><span> </span></em>that the supermarket was “investigating” the case.</p> <p>“Food quality and safety is paramount at Coles. We have been in contact with the customer and are currently investigating the matter.”</p>

News

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Girl arrested: Confesses to needles in strawberries "prank"

<p>A 12-year-old has reportedly admitted to inserting needles into strawberries in what police believe to be a copycat prank.</p> <p>New South Wales Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Stuart Smith said the child was caught in recent days but refused to release any further details.</p> <p>While the youngster was reported as a male due to Mr Smith addressing the child as a “he” at a press conference, it is now discovered that the police commissioner misspoke.</p> <p>After inserting the needles into the strawberries, the girl then showed her friends at school in the NSW Blue Mountains, reported<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/" target="_blank">The Daily Telegraph</a></em>. One student informed staff and the police were immediately called to the scene. They reportedly interviewed the girl at her home and she eventually confessed.</p> <p>“Obviously, in the last few days we found a young person has admitted to a prank, including putting needles in strawberries,” Mr Smith told reporters in Sydney.</p> <p>Mr Smith said the child would be dealt with under the youth cautioning system.</p> <p>He further went on to say that while some may believe the behaviour could be “called a prank”, he warned that any copycat cases would be dealt with the full extent of the law.</p> <p>“What we’ve seen in the state (of NSW) we believe is the work of copycats and pranksters, we’ve got to deal with it though, the way we deal with any crime,” he said.</p> <p>The event comes as the Attorney-General said there have now been over 100 reported cases of sabotaged fruit across the country, with the scare initially starting in Queensland then spreading to Tasmania and Western Australia.</p> <p>The most recent incident occurred at a primary school in Newcastle today, where a student discovered a needle inside the banana that they packed for lunch.</p> <p>The child, a pupil at St Paul’s Primary School, alerted teachers after biting into the banana and finding the sharp object lodged inside.</p> <p>Detectives were sent to the school to investigate the incident and have removed the banana for further tests.</p> <p>A spokesman for NSW Police said authorities will not comment on individual cases as they had a “duty of care.”</p>

Legal

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Urgent recall: Woolworths shoppers warned to throw out this product immediately

<p>Woolworths has warned Australians to throw out two brands of strawberries after sewing needles were found in three punnets sold in Queensland and Victoria stores.</p> <p>The recall was issued in Woolworths stores yesterday for Berry Obsession and Berrylicious strawberries purchased in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.</p> <p>It is believed the sewing needles were placed inside the strawberries by a disgruntled employee, with at least one person being hospitalised after eating the sabotaged strawberries.</p> <p>Queensland Police Acting Detective Chief Superintendent Terry Lawrence said investigators were looking at "all options and avenues of the packaging and processing of the strawberries".</p> <p>However, he would not comment on the claim made by the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association (QSGA) that the needles were planted by an ex-employee.</p> <p>"We're not going to speculate at this stage. We are in the early stages of the investigation," he said.</p> <p>"That is a comment by the Queensland Strawberry Growers and we will talk with them to see if they have any information to assist us."</p> <p>In a statement yesterday, the QSGA said: "The association is waiting on more information from Queensland Police on this matter and will update the Australian public as news becomes available to us.”</p> <p>The incident was made known after Queensland’s Hoani Hearne, 21, discovered half of a needle inside a strawberry he had bitten into.</p> <p>On Sunday, he bought the punnet from Strathpine Centre Woolworths, which is located 20km north of Brisbane.</p> <p>His friend, Joshua Gane, shared a photo of the contaminated strawberry to Facebook.</p> <p> "Driving up to the coast when Hoani Hearne bites through a strawberry and swallows half a sewing needle,” he said.</p> <p>"We then checked the other strawberries and found another sewing needle lodged inside one of them.</p> <p>"We are now at the emergency room because he subsequently started experiencing severe abdominal pain.</p> <p>"Just being a helpful member of the community and making sure your children don’t have to endure what we have had to experience. Please make your family and friends aware."</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 374.88284910965325px; height:500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820782/1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f76be3f37b814df7ae3215e53016cfe5" /></p> <p>So far three punnets of strawberries have been found with sewing needles hidden inside, including two in Victoria’s Yarram and Sebastopol.</p> <p>It is believed the strawberries all came from a farm in Queensland’s south-east.</p> <p>Queensland Health issued a warning to the public regarding the dangerous contamination.</p> <p>"I'm out here today to advise people if they've bought any strawberries in Queensland, New South Wales or Victoria since early last week, that they should dispose of them," Queensland Health's chief health officer Jeanette Young said.</p> <p>"If someone were to swallow a sewing needle it could get caught up in their gut."</p> <p>A Woolworths spokesperson said the supermarket took “food safety very seriously” and was working with authorities to investigate the incident.</p> <p>“We have withdrawn Berry Obsession and Berry Luscious branded strawberries from sale while this incident is being investigated with our suppliers,” the spokesperson said.</p> <p>“Customers are advised to return these products to their local Woolworths for a full refund.”</p> <p>Mr Lawrence would not say at which point in the supply chain the berries had been contaminated and declined to name the farm involved.</p> <p>"It's been some time for us to look at this sort of investigation, quite some time," he said.</p>

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Roasted rhubarb, strawberry and rose conserve

<p>Roasted rhubarb, and rose conserve, made with sweet strawberries that have been kissed by the sun is a delightful taste of summer.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Makes:</span> </strong>2 x 300g jars</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients: </span></strong></p> <ul> <li>500g strawberries, washed and leaves removed</li> <li>5-6 rhubarb stalks leaves removed, about 300g</li> <li>½ cup (100g) sugar</li> <li>Juice of ½ a lemon, about 2 tablespoons</li> <li>2-3 teaspoons rose water</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p> <ol> <li>Preheat oven 180 degrees Celsius.</li> <li>Cut the strawberries into halves, and rhubarb into 3cm lengths. Place on a lined baking tray and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the sugar. Mix well and arrange in a single layer. Bake for 20 minutes until the fruit is tender and fragrant.</li> <li>Scoop fruit and juices into a shallow saucepan, and add the remaining sugar and lemon juice. Bring to a gentle simmer over a moderate heat.</li> <li>Cook uncovered, stirring regularly until thickened – about 20 minutes. Keep in mind the conserve will thicken some as it cools. Add the rose water to taste. Remove from the heat and cover.</li> <li>Sterilise 2 x 300g jars. Place clean jars in a 120C oven for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, boil lids for 10 minutes, drain and air dry. Carefully remove one jar from the oven, place on a wooden board and fill immediately with the hot conserve (reheated if needed). Wipe the rim and secure the hot lid. Repeat with the second jar. Cool completely, then check lids are sealed.</li> <li>Store in a cool dark pantry and use within six months. Once opened keep in the fridge and consume within four weeks.</li> </ol> <p><em>Find comprehensive home preserving guidelines in my new cookbook, </em>Homegrown Kitchen – Everyday Recipes for Eating Well<em>. For more of Nicola's recipes visit, <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.homegrown-kitchen.co.nz/" target="_blank">Homegrown-Kitchen.co.nz</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em>Written by Nicola Galloway. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz.</span></strong></a></em></p>

Food & Wine

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Is this the most controversial pizza topping ever?

<p>For the longest time, pineapple was the most divisive pizza topping in the world. While some praised the sweet layer of flavour it added to Hawaiian and Supreme-style pizzas, others would sooner see a lump of coal served on their next slice.</p> <p>The pineapple on pizza debate may never ever be settled, but for the moment it must sit on the backburner as a new controversial pizza topping has entered the fray.</p> <p>And this one’s a real doozy.</p> <p>The following photo was shared on Twitter, prompting a massive response:</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">strawberries&gt;&gt;pineapples <a href="https://t.co/VfTJQ2WjhF">pic.twitter.com/VfTJQ2WjhF</a></p> — 𖤐🎃𖤐 (@MoonEmojii) <a href="https://twitter.com/MoonEmojii/status/924709544151994368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>The pizza in question, which featured strawberries served on top of a greasy, cheesy savoury pizza has the internet in a frenzy, with many users registering their disgust.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Pizza is canceled since y’all don’t know how to act <a href="https://t.co/Hk5JPk6a8T">https://t.co/Hk5JPk6a8T</a></p> — The Don (@JackedYoTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/JackedYoTweets/status/924722625850560518?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2017</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Pineapple and non-pineapple pizza eaters must put our differences aside and join forces to defeat this evil <a href="https://t.co/WE59N20UJ5">https://t.co/WE59N20UJ5</a></p> — ali (@lebaenesepapi) <a href="https://twitter.com/lebaenesepapi/status/924712653704126464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>What are your thoughts? Could you ever cop strawberries on a pizza?</p>

Food & Wine

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Dark chocolate macaroons with strawberry dust

<p>Macaroons, not to be confused with macarons, are one of my favourite types of cookie. They consist mostly of coconut, aren't overly sweet and have a lovely crumbly texture.</p> <p>When they're dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with freeze-dried strawberry powder, these become next-level treats.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Serves:</span> </strong>15</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients:</span></strong></p> <ul> <li>3 cups fine desiccated coconut</li> <li>1/3 cup caster sugar</li> <li>1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract</li> <li>Pinch sea salt</li> <li>Whites from 3 large eggs</li> <li>1 cup 70 per cent dark chocolate chips</li> <li>10g strawberry powder</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p> <ol> <li>Preheat oven to 170°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.</li> <li>In a large bowl, combine coconut, sugar, vanilla, salt and egg whites. Use your hands to form balls (about the size of golf balls) and place on the baking tray.</li> <li>Bake for about 15 minutes or until slightly golden. Cool before transferring to a rack.</li> <li>Meanwhile, melt chocolate. Place chips in a small bowl over a small pot of boiling water.</li> <li>Stir until completely melted.</li> <li>Dip base of each macaroon into melted chocolate and place directly on the lined baking tray.</li> </ol> <p><em>Written by Jonathan Rondel. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>. Image credit: Emma Boyd / <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>. </em></p>

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