Food

Free Community Barbecues being Held Across Townsville


Free community barbecues are being held across the city to help lift morale and bring the city together!

The Barbie in the Burbs are family friendly events that will feature live entertainment, children’s activities, food trucks and a free barbecue. 

Townsville Local Recovery and Resilience Group Chair Cr Les Walker said the barbecues are a great way to recuperate and relax after what has been a big month. 

“The Barbie in the Burbs is a way for the community to get together and enjoy a relaxed afternoon after dealing with the flood,” Cr Walker said.

“We’re holding multiple events over two different weekends to make this accessible for all residents.”

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said the barbecue would also include pop-up stalls where residents can access information to help with their recovery.

“There will be a number of Townsville City Council and State Government departments holding pop-up stalls at the barbecues, so residents can find out how to access services and help,” Cr Hill said.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to take stock of the past few weeks, eat some food, relax, and talk to different organisations in the one place.

“This is also a way to thank everyone involved in the rescue and clean-up effort – the Townsville has really come together during a very trying time and I couldn’t be prouder of our community.”

Division One Councillor Margie Ryder said it is fantastic to have the first event out at Bluewater.

“The Bluewater community was one of the first areas impacted by the weather and it has been a tough time for many of them,” Cr Ryder said. 

“This is a good way to show they haven’t been forgotten, and bring the services to them in a casual environment.”

All events will run from 3-6pm on the following dates:

2 March – Bluewater Community Centre 
3 March – Townsville City Netball Association – Murray Sporting Complex
9 March – Townsville Recreational Boat Park 
10 March – Corcoran Park

For more information visit: https://whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au/events/barbie-in-the-burbs-bluewater

A New Monthly Event: Townsville Eats

Townsville City Council yesterday voted to support a new monthly event to be held in the CBD.

Townsville Eats will occur on the last Friday of every month and will be themed to complement other events across the city. 

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said there was a high demand for ongoing events in the CBD. 

“Townsville Eats will happen on the last Friday of every month and will allow our CBD traders to open for late night trading,” Cr Hill said.

“Council is always looking for ways to improve the liveliness of the CBD and an ongoing event Friday night event was identified as a way to achieve this.

“Food and entertainment are a great way to draw in residents and visitors to the city, support local businesses and boost our economy.”

The first Townsville Eats will be held in March with details confirmed closer to the event. 

Local Ann-Maree Greaney Division 3 Councillor, Townsville City Council said Townsville Eats is a fantastic way to partner with businesses to activate the CBD.

“It has been a tough time for the community and business owners, but we want to do what we can to support our locals,” Cr Greaney said.

“There aren’t any regular events of this kind in the CBD and Townsville Eats will bring families and visitors into the city centre.

“I’d really like to encourage locals to come along and support these events and support local businesses.”

Dan’s Pulled Pork Tacos

So I’ve mentioned looking at ways to introduce a little spice to my daughter’s diet (and my wife’s tbh :P). Why? Well when you like spicy foods there’s a whole world opened up, and it can really lift some healthy dishes when you add a bit of heat.

We’ve explored successful and some not so successful ones where she’s throwing it straight onto the floor. But finally I found a couple that she seems to love. This one is a new fave, it’s pulled pork tacos! Also before you are amazed at my 16 month old’s ability to eat whole tacos, she doesn’t eat them as you or I would, the word deconstructed comes to mind. 

But I think that’s even more impressive because it means she was eating the spicy part on it’s own, without the aid of sour cream. That’s enough chit chat, here’s your shopping list and the how to…

Ingredients:
Meat:
 1.5kg Pork Loin chopped in large chunks about 8cm

Sauce:
1 1/2 Cups BBQ Sauce
2 Tomatoes Quarted
1 Large Brown Onion Diced
1/2 Red Capsicum
1 Cup Stock (Chicken or Veg)
4 Cloves Crushed Garlic
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 Tsp Ground Coriander Seeds 
2 Tsp Ground Cumin
2 Tsp Smoky Paprika
1 Tsp Cayenne
Salt and Pepper to taste

Toppings:
15-20 Tortillas
1 Small Pineapple Diced
2 Cups Diced Cucumber 
Shredded Lettuce or Cabbage
Fresh Coriander
Sour Cream
Lime Juice

How to?:

In a medium frying pan at a med-high heat brown your onion and garlic in some olive oil. Throw in the capsicum, cook for 2 minutes. Add all the spices and stir through for a minute or so. Add your stock and bbq sauce and mix until well combined. Take off heat.

Get your slow cooker set to high, place the pork and tomatoes in, pour the sauce over, lid on and forget about it for 4 hrs.

Remove pork pieces to a dish where you can pull it apart. Pour sauce into a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.

Pour about half the sauce into the pan on high heat to reduce to a slightly thicker stickier consistency. In a 20 cm pan this took me 15 min, but it’s dependent on surface area of your pan, larger ones will allow for more evaporation and faster reduction of the sauce. 

Shred the meat and add to reduced sauce.

Cook your tortillas, you can microwave, but why not cook it in a pan or over the flame of your gas stove and get some light char on it, it’s better. Serve topped with pineapple, cucumber, lettuce, coriander, sour cream and squeeze of lime juice.

Enjoy!



Banana Pancakes

By: Susan Joy | The JOYful Table

Serves: 6 pancakes | Prep Time: 00:06 | Cooking Time: 00:15

My favourite way to eat these yummy sweet grain free pancakes, is to top them with coconut yoghurt and fresh strawberries, a drizzle of honey and a sprinkling of cinnamon. For a very special treat or a birthday breakfast, you could add 1/4 cup of dark chocolate chips (no soy, paleo friendly of course), just mix them through the batter by hand before cooking.