Quick and easy pasta dish

Quick and easy pasta dish

Pasta dishes make a great dinner to feed the family or a fine meal to enjoy with company. A popular favourite is Orecchiette. It’s a small dishshaped pasta that tastes great and holds its sauce well. This recipe is paired with a saffron cream, seared scallops, crisp chorizo and broccolini. It’s a rich but tasty meal and makes a mouthwatering dinner or lunch. Ingredients Orecchiette Cook less pasta and use half the sauce for smaller gatherings.500g good quality Italian dried Orecchiette 200g chorizo - diced into 1cm pieces. 16 big juicy scallops 2 broccolini – first 2 inches of tops cut and diced through the stems 200g rocket Shaved parmesan to top your dish – optional Lemon cheek to garnish and serve (Serves 4-6) Saffron sauce base Make the base first (this can be made a day ahead if needed).½ tbsp olive oil ½ tbsp butter 1 clove garlic, sliced 2 eschalots, peeled and sliced 1 pinch or ½ g of saffron 1 sprig thyme - whole 1 bay leaf 1/2 tsp fennel seeds 50ml rice wine vinegar 200ml white wine 500ml vegetable...
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Photo contest winner October

Frame that shot

Living Gems has launched a 2023 photo competition to highlight some fabulous destinations, favourite local spots, macro shots, action photos, best pet shots and lots more from our homeowners. So, get your cameras and phones ready this year (or dig through your archives)!As a Living Gems resident, you can submit as many photos of your choice each month and be in the running to be selected as the month’s overall photo winner for the Living Gems community.Each month, one winning photo will be chosen from across all Living Gems resorts and featured on the back page of Thrive magazine and shared on the Living Gems Facebook Page, so get your exclusive bragging rights ready and share your masterpieces with us.Send your submissions, with your full name, resort name and where the photo was taken, to [email protected] October Photo Winner Congratulations to October's winner, David McCormack from Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront for his stunning ‘Stars’ photo, taken at Agnes Waters, in Gladstone Queensland.Submission...
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Frame that shot

Frame that shot

Living Gems has launched a 2023 photo competition to highlight some fabulous destinations, favourite local spots, macro shots, action photos, best pet shots and lots more from our homeowners. So, get your cameras and phones ready this year (or dig through your archives)!As a Living Gems resident, you can submit as many photos of your choice each month and be in the running to be selected as the month’s overall photo winner for the Living Gems community.Each month, one winning photo will be chosen from across all Living Gems resorts and featured on the back page of Thrive magazine and shared on the Living GemsFacebook Page, so get your exclusive bragging rights ready and share your masterpieces with us.Send your submissions, with your full name, resort name and where the photo was taken, to [email protected] September Photo Winner Congratulations to this month’s winner, Sandy Gills from Living Gems Maleny for her stunning photo submission called ‘Sailing Point Cartwright’.Submission GuidelinesPhotos must be:Taken...
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Quick, easy sesame beef skewers for travellers

Sesame Beef Skewers

Quick, easy sesame beef skewers for travellers Are you setting off on a roadtrip throughout the Great Australian Outback and want some quick and easy meals to enjoy along the way?Then why not give this travel-friendly beef skewers recipe a try? The beef is marinated in a mouthwatering blend of soy sauce, sesame oil and a hint of zesty ginger to tempt your tastebuds.Whether you are strolling through the bustling streets of Bundaberg City, lounging on northern beaches, or exploring the vibrant markets of Noosa, these skewers will hit the spot and leave you satisfied but craving for more. Bon appetit! Ingredients (Makes 7-8 skewers)500g good quality steak – sirloin or rump ½ cup soy sauce 2 tsp grated ginger 40g sesame seeds 3 tbsp sesame oil 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar 2 tbsp honey or brown sugar ¼ tsp chilli flakes (optional) 10 wooden skewers (soaked in hot water for 30 minutes) MethodMix all the marinade ingredients together. Mix in the beef and allow to marinate in the fridge for...
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Making light work of travel

Making light work of travel

Travel tips and gadgets guideThe dream of carefree travel shouldn’t become a nightmare of heavy suitcases and lost luggage. We take a look at some great ideas to lighten your load so you can say ‘yes’ to more adventure and less packing.  Start with a plan Few things set your holiday off onto a bad start than the last-minute panic of tossing things into a suitcase before a trip.Start by making a note of the expected weather at your destination. Taking a couple of lighter layering items may be worth more than packing one heavy jacket.Write down your travel wardrobe to see what you have that can do double duty. A shirt, for instance, can be buttoned up to wear with jeans or worn open over a t-shirt. It’s a match! Mixing and matching offers you the ultimate versatility. Choose a neutral colour palette as your base – for example, black, navy, grey or tan and choose enough tops and bottoms to coordinate with...
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All the right moves - dogs

All the right moves – Dogs

How pets communicate. Although dogs and cats can’t physically speak the English language, they may be saying more than you realise. Understanding a pet's body language is key to understanding your furry friend and what he or she wants to tell you. Here’s a list of signs to watch out for and what they mean.   Tail wagging Tail wagging doesn’t just mean a dog is happy, it also communicates interest in his or her current surroundings. Keep a close eye on your pet when around other dogs, in case this interest turns into something more dangerous.   Eye contact Dogs look deeply at you to determine how you are feeling or are looking for reassurance. Keep an eye out for ‘whale eye’ (seeing the whites of their eyes) as it’s a sign of stress and anxiety. For example, they may show the whites of their eyes when they need forgiveness for a misdeed.   Yawning Although your dog might be tired, yawns can occur in times...
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All the right moves - cats

All the right moves – Cats

How pets communicate.Although dogs and cats can’t physically speak the English language, they may be saying more than you realise. Understanding a pet’s body language is key to understanding your furry friend and what he or she wants to tell you. Here’s a list of signs to watch out for and what they mean.    The cat's meow According to animal behaviouralists, kittens will meow to signal to their mothers while adult cats only meow for their owners.A short meow is a call for attention. A series of them is an adamant demand! A long meow indicates worry, while chirruping sounds are made to encourage you or other pets to play. Cats also ‘chatter’ when they’re on the hunt and use a hiss as a warning to you and others.The sound we love most is the purr. The deep-throated rumbling indicates contentment.    The eyes have it Bond with your cat by taking long, slow blinks. When they reciprocate, it is a sign your...
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Frame that shot - August

Frame that shot – August

Living Gems has launched a 2023 photo competition to highlight some fabulous destinations, favourite local spots, macro shots, action photos, best pet shots and lots more from our homeowners. So, get your cameras and phones ready this year (or dig through your archives)! As a Living Gems resident, you can submit as many photos of your choice each month and be in the running to be selected as the month’s overall photo winner for the Living Gems community.Each month, one winning photo will be chosen from across all Living Gems resorts and featured on the back page of Thrive magazine and shared on the Living GemsFacebook Page, so get your exclusive bragging rights ready and share your masterpieces with us.Send your submissions, with your full name, resort name and where the photo was taken, to [email protected] August Photo Winner Congratulations to this month’s winners, Robert and Sharon Druery from Opal by Living Gems for their stunning photo submission called ‘Ceduna Jetty in South...
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July Photo Winner

Frame that shot – July

Living Gems has launched a 2023 photo competition to highlight some fabulous destinations, favourite local spots, macro shots, action photos, best pet shots and lots more from our homeowners. So, get your cameras and phones ready this year (or dig through your archives)!As a Living Gems resident, you can submit as many photos of your choice each month and be in the running to be selected as the month’s overall photo winner for the Living Gems community.Each month, one winning photo will be chosen from across all Living Gems resorts and featured on the back page of Thrive magazine and shared on the Living Gems Facebook Page, so get your exclusive bragging rights ready and share your masterpieces with us.Send your submissions, with your full name, resort name and where the photo was taken, to [email protected] July Photo Winner Congratulations to this month’s winner, Diane Ramsey from Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront for her stunning photo entry of the Kookaburra.Submission GuidelinesPhotos must be:...
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Frame that shot - June winner

Frame that shot

Living Gems has launched a 2023 photo competition to highlight some fabulous destinations, favourite local spots, macro shots, action photos, best pet shots and lots more from our homeowners. So, get your cameras and phones ready this year (or dig through your archives)!As a Living Gems resident, you can submit as many photos of your choice each month and be in the running to be selected as the month’s overall photo winner for the Living Gems community.Each month, one winning photo will be chosen from across all Living Gems resorts and featured on the back page of Thrive magazine and shared on the Living Gems Facebook Page, so get your exclusive bragging rights ready and share your masterpieces with us.Send your submissions, with your full name, resort name and where the photo was taken, to [email protected] June Photo Winner Congratulations to this month’s winner, Isabel Clarke, from Living Gems Toowoomba for her stunning photo entry of majestic clouds over an ocean landscape.Submission...
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Caboolture workshop residents making bar stools

Workshop wizards

Residents invited to explore woodworking talents The establishment of a residents’ workshop at Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront was planned as early as 2017 before it eventually opened in January 2019.Today it boasts a membership of 84, and secretary Graham Saunders, who was there from the start, couldn't be happier with the workshop's progress and popularity."This is something that resort residents really wanted and, with the help of a $20,000 grant from Ruby Developments and donations of tools from generous homeowners, we were able to make it a reality," said Graham, who moved into the resort with wife Sally in 2017.With a committee of eight, as well as two people volunteering to be in the workshop each day to ensure it can stay open for residents who want to exercise their woodworking skills on individual projects, the workshop has become a hive of activity.Many of its members combine their talents to voluntarily undertake resident requests for everything from ramps or steps to...
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