Cook - with Bern the chef

cook

WITH BERN THE CHEF www.bernthechef.com.au

Bern the Chef

is a local caterer who has been in the Lane Cove area for over 15 years. She has worked in many corporate catering positions as well as operating a small business. Bern loves catering and the freedom that clients give her to do what she does best. Cooking is her forte and Bern loves the classics as well as keeping up to date with the latest food trends. www.bernthechef.com.au

Autumn bliss There’s nothing quite like walking into a warm home with aromas of baked puddings and a roast dinner. With more time spent inside, the change of season provides the perfect excuse to try new recipes. BY BERNADETTE KENNEALY.

Cooking is great for so many reasons, whether it be therapy; to crack open that great red wine; or to grab a bunch of friends on a weekend afternoon for nourishment, a laugh and a bowl of comfort. Walking past the butcher’s daily offerings, are there meat cuts you wish you knew how to use? Perhaps skirt steak, pork Soup weather is here, get the big pot out! cheeks or chicken Maryland? Pork cheeks are one of my favourites and my ears prick up every time I hear of a new recipe.

The version below would be delicious with rice noodles and broth and is best made the morning of, or even the day before.

Mandarin and Ginger I will always love pumpkin soup. Always. Chicken Maryland with When was the last time you Pork Cheeks It’s vegetarian, gluten free and easy. Full of vitamins, low calorie and even immune Bacon and Polenta enjoyed luscious hot chocolate? • Oil for frying • 3 onions, finely chopped boosting, I feel virtuous just slurping it :) I choose Jap pumpkin, named as it is Just Another • Spice rub • 1 tblspn sea salt Autumn is superb weather for your customisable sweet slurp. Milo for the classics, is great as it is, adding mini marshmallows for cuteness. For a step up, the stovetop • 4 cloves garlic, peeled and Pumpkin. It’s easy to peel, personally I shave the peel off • 1 tblspn smoked paprika version can include milk, your favourite melted chocolate finely chopped • 2 carrots, roughly chopped. with a knife on the board. Always put the flat surface flush with the chopping board for safety. • 1 tblspn ground cumin • 4 springs fresh thyme leaves bar, even a dribble of alcohol, try frangelico, baileys or rum. Try this chai flavoured version. • 6 pork cheeks - approx 1 kilo (or substitute with beef cheeks) • 2 inches ginger, peel and slice • 1 tspn dry mustard powder • 1 tspn ground white pepper If you have a milk frother, add the milk to the infused spice mix for a creamy version. For 4 serves, in a small saucepan, or Once it’s all peeled and cut into big chunks, place onto a roasting tray with only a tablespoon of olive oil and a little sea salt. Roast on the top shelf at 200 degrees for about 20 minutes. • 1/2 cup light soy sauce • 500mls chicken stock In the big pot, a couple of roughly chopped onions can be browning. I also add two rough chopped carrots, a Any meat cooked on the bone has more flavour. Although it does microwaveable jug mix: • 200 mls of water • 1/4 cup Shaoxing wine couple of bay leaves and a stick of celery. Saute till all take longer to cook, the flavour intensity is worth it! • 2 tablespoons of honey This recipe is based on feeding 6 people. Work on one Maryland per person, skin on. • 3 pieces dried mandarin peel (Asian grocer) • 2 whole star anise • 4 tablespoons of cocoa • 1 stick of cinnamon (or 1 teaspoon ground) • 5 crushed cardamom pods (or half a teaspoon of ground cardamom) golden, then add a tablespoon of garam masala. You can also use cumin, chinese five spice or curry powder. Stir to toast the spice for a couple of minutes, add 2 litres of water, 2 chopped potatoes and bring to the boil. By now • 2 dried red chillies (or to taste) • 2 clovesyour pumpkin should be cooked, add this, then check all • 2 cinnamon sticks • 1 tspn white peppercorns • 2 tblspn dark soy sauce • 2 tblspn brown sugar • 6 mandarins, whole Mix all spice ingredients together in a bowl. Slash the chicken legs, place a couple of slashes on the thigh and then rub the spices into all the nooks and crannies. Place onto a tray in a single layer and refrigerate for a couple of hours. Add a couple of wedge cut Spanish onions, 4 smashed whole garlic cloves, 1 punnet of cherry tomatoes (whole), and one orange cut into quarters. Drizzle with olive oil and place • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract • Peel from one orange For serving, whipped cream & freshly grated nutmeg. • Heat on medium, stirring to infuse the spices. • Add 600 ml of your choice of milk, bring back to a low simmer. Strain into a serving jug. • Warm your serving mugs with boiling water for a minute or the vegetables are soft. Turn off the heat. Blend with a stick blender while still hot. To use a blender or food processor, it’s safer to do this after it’s cooled a little. Season with salt & pepper, a little freshly grated nutmeg, and more water if it’s a little thick. I like to add a can of coconut cream. Try one of the following herbs for a bright lift. sage, coriander, Italian parsley, mint or chives. into a medium hot oven (160 degrees). two, tip out the hot water and pour in the hot chai. 22 TVO Sauté onions in a heavy based pot with oil for 4-5 minutes until translucent. Add the trimmed pork cheeks and brown on each side. Add the ginger, carrot and aromatic spices and cook stirring for another 3 minutes until the whole pot is fragrant. Add the stock and Shaoxing wine, transfer into an oven dish, cover and slow cook on 140 degrees for 2 hours. Add the whole mandarins, the dark soy and brown sugar, Roast for 30 to 40 minutes. As that is roasting, sauté a couple of chopped bacon rashers in a heavy based pot. Add 2 cups of polenta and 1 litre of chicken stock, working quickly until a soft porridge consistency. Turn the heat off and cover. Leave for 5 minutes to absorb and soften, add 100gms butter, freshly chopped parsley and 100gms cheddar cheese. • To serve, dollop over a tablespoon of whipped cream and grated fresh nutmeg.It keeps well in the fridge, or freeze a couple of containers for next week when it’s busy and cold.

Love where you live

Proudly bought to you by Lane Cove Council

Mapping Your Lane Cove

What is it that makes your Lane Cove? What do you love about your neighbourhood? Are there highlights, memories or milestones you attach to our area or your own piece of Lane Cove?

This month you’re invited to participate in a special subjective mapping project that aims to celebrate our community and its unique stories as part of Council’s Neighbour Day activities. Subjective mapping bridges the gap between cartography and storytelling. Sydney artist Peita Blythe explains “these types of maps allow us to create a more personalised cartography that is layered with intimate narratives and emotional connections”.

Council has commissioned Peita to create a blank map ready for locals to complete by exploring and visualising memories, relationships, observations, experiences, perceptions, emotions, ideas and connections. Peita says this process “encourages us to examine our relationship with a place and help us understand the world”.

To be part of this exciting local project you can simply download the blank map of Lane Cove from Council’s website or collect a copy from around the village. This special blank map has been created by Peita Blythe who has also recently hosted online workshops to help locals understand the history of cartography, looking at other examples of subjective mapping projects and artistic reflection to help inspire locals to bring their map to life. You don’t need to have been to a workshop to be inspired - you can illustrate, write, paint or collage the map to tell your story – perhaps a map of your favourite places in Lane Cove, your daily commute, memorable moments, the best walks, historical facts, or perhaps a foodie’s guide to the area.

Maps are to be submitted to Council by the end of April with selected maps potentially featuring in a curated exhibition that is shared with the wider community.

How to map your Lane Cove

• Collect your blank map from the village or download a copy from

Council’s website

• Add as little or as much to the map as you like – you can illustrate, write, paint or collage the map, whatever you need to help it tell your story • Submit your completed map by email or drop to Council’s Civic

Centre by 30 April • You can submit your map anonymously or provide a description to accompany it • For full details and to download a blank map, visit www.lanecove.nsw. gov.au/lovewhereyoulive

Did you know that Lane Cove was the first Council in Australia to become a Very Neighbourly Organisation?

This concept is defined as part of Relationships Australia’s Neighbour Day campaign – the annual campaign that reminds us how important our neighbourly connections are. In previous years Lane Cove has offered BBQ packs for apartment blocks, held events in local parks and given away free tea so you can have a cuppa with your neighbour however with so much changing over the last 12 months this year’s Neighbour Day initiative is focused more on reflection about what makes our neighbourhood what it is today.

Book online: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events

Bushcare

• Wild About Lane Cove Photo Challenge 1-30 April 2021 Take a photo of a local nature space in the Lane Cove LGA, upload them to your Instagram account and tag @lanecovecouncil, #WildAboutLaneCove and the location to go in the draw to win great prizes! Each photo is classified as a single entry – you can enter up to ten times. More information and the terms and conditions can be found at: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/wildaboutlanecove

• Come & Try Bushcare Day Saturday 10 April, 9:00am - 12:00pm, Tennyson Park, Best St, Lane Cove Try something new in 2021 with this hands-on taste of Bushcare, a brilliant way of helping our native plants and wildlife. All welcome, with activities suiting most fitness levels. Book online: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events • Hiking Lane Cove Wednesday 14 April, 9:30am – 12:30pm, meet in Lane Cove Enjoy a fusion of history and nature on this loop walk through the landscape of Lane Cove. From the town centre, a short hike will see you entering the lush green world of Lane Cove Bushland Park. This hike is approximately 5 kilometres long, covering both streets and bush paths, uneven surfaces and several sets of steps. A good level of fitness is required. Book online: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events

• Wildlife of Lane Cove Tuesday 20 April, 7:00pm - 8:00pm, online via Zoom More than 130 animal species were found in Lane Cove’s bushland in a recent survey by consultants Applied Ecology. Enjoy a presentation by ecologist Anne Carey on the fascinating fauna discoveries of our woodlands and creeks and how we can support their ongoing survival. Book online: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events

Lane Cove’s

Small Business Breakfast

Featuring the winner of Australian Executive Woman of the Year Catherine DeVrye.

SERVICE to customers, community and yourself in times of change

Back by popular demand after the October 2020 Small Business Breakfast on resilience, Catherine DeVrye will reinforce some timeless wisdom; plus provide new material to help you and your business in times of change. Combining baby boomer experience with Gen X energy, Catherine’s content and humour will offer a unique perspective on customer focus, change and resilience to help you be of better service to your clients, community and yourself.

Wednesday 28 April, 7:30am – 9:00am Terrace Function Room, LG, Lane Cove Community Hub Free event, breakfast provided Bookings essential at

24 TVO www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events Proudly brought to you by Lane Cove Council

Library

• Wearable Technology for Teens Wednesday 7 April, 3:30pm – 4:30pm, Lane Cove Library Combine technology and craft by making a wearable LED pendant. Use circuitry and papercraft to develop a wearable piece of technology and learn the basics of light-up costuming. Ages 10 to 17 years. Book online: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events

• Grandparent Star in your own Comic Strip Friday 9 April, 10:30am – 12:00pm, Lane Cove Library You and your grandchild will craft a comic together which shares a chapter of your life history. You are welcome to bring your own laptop. Book online: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events

• Velvet Art Monday 12 April or Tuesday 13 April, 11:00am – 12:00pm, Greenwich Library or Lane Cove Library Come along and create your own colourful velvet art wall hanging. Use geometric designed velvet card and ribbons to design a hanging artwork. Ages 4 to 12 years. Book online: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events • Ozobot Mazes for Seniors Tuesday 13 April, 10:30am – 11:30am, Lane Cove Library Experience computer colour coding to design a maze for your Ozobot. Test your technology skills and see your robot obey your commands. Book online: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events

Sustainability

• An Extra Way to Recycle Tuesday 20 April, 12:00pm - 1:00pm, online via Zoom Find out how easy it is to recycle your soft plastics with this free online presentation. Discover how REDcycle soft plastics recycling works, what their program achieves and have all your soft plastics recycling questions answered. Book online: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events

A Lane Cove Gift Card...

The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift

You choose the amount to spend and Mum chooses her gift! Help support your favourite local businesses by having a day out together, with shopping, beauty treatments, lunch or coffee at more than 75 local stores and restaurants.

For participating businesses and details visit lanecoveshopping.com.au

P 0431 959 980 E mayor@lanecove.nsw.gov.au

APRIL 2021

This month our community is celebrating both the young and the young at heart as we mark NSW Youth Week and NSW Seniors Week. In Lane Cove we participate in the ShoreShocked music event as part of regional Youth Week celebrations while at a local level the Lane Cove Youth Team are working on their own video project called ‘I am Lane Cove’. Also taking place this month, the Seniors Week Festival has the 2021 theme ‘It’s In Our Nature’. In Lane Cove it’s in our nature to be resilient, embrace new things and share in the community spirit – I hope this means there will be plenty of locals taking advantage of the free events on offer as part of this popular Seniors program. Seniors Week Festival: If you’ve yet to collect your guide to Lane Cove’s Seniors Week from Lane Cove Library, the Civic Centre or other local venues then visit Council’s website www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/seniors to download your copy today.

Latest News

Celebrating Guy Warren AM: Council has partnered with Gallery Lane Cove + Creative Studios to help celebrate the life and art of Lane Cove local, Guy Warren AM. Aptly held during his 100th year, the ‘Of Man and Nature: The Diverse Journey of Guy Warren: A Centenary Survey’ exhibition opening event will be held on Thursday 29 April and will run through to Friday 29 May. For details visit www.gallerylanecove.com.au

Tantallon Oval Pavilion: Works on the new Pavilion at Tantallon Oval will begin this month. The new Pavilion will include change rooms, a viewing area, community room and disabled access. The latest plans involve a single-level building which removes the need for a lift and helps to simplify the roof structure. To stay updated about the works, visit Council’s website.

Out and about in Lane Cove

Shared User Path: Construction of a new 2.5 metre-wide Shared User Path will be completed this month. The path is located on the east side of Tambourine Bay Road, between River Road West and Burns Bay Road. This project is funded by the Federal Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.

New Street Library: Next time you pass by Kindy Cove on Phoenix Street you can drop off or collect books from our latest street library. ‘Bubble and Pop’ by artist, Karri McPherson, was developed in collaboration with Kindy Cove. Designed to celebrate a sense of community, these mini houses hold books that you can donate, borrow and/or swap for free. To find a street library near you, visit www.lanecove. nsw.gov.au/streetsidegallery

Caring for our community

ANZAC Day, Sunday 25 April, 7:25am Council’s website will feature the latest details about the location and access to the service run in conjunction with the Lane Cove RSL Sub-branch. www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/AnzacDay

Did you know?

Residents can now use Council’s online portal to report graffiti found on Council property, overgrown vegetation that is blocking the footpath and notify Council of abandoned vehicles? There are now more than a dozen services conveniently available online when you visit

www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/ onlineservices