April Stockpile Challenge - Thai Fish Cakes

It is the last week of the challenge and this week shopping consisted of carrots, apples, potatoes and corriandar.

Something I have noticed during this challenge, that I really love, is the fact I can see everything that I have in my fridge from the second shelf down.
The reason I say the second shelf down is because we use the top shelf for condiments and things with long expiry dates.  I am finding we are wasting less just because things do not get lost at the back of the fridge.  Does this happen to you as well?

One of the meals on the menu this week was fish cakes.  I had some fish in the freezer that I swapped for some eggs a while back and it needed using up.

I teamed this up with my Sweet Chilli Dipping Sauce

Thai Fish Cakes (Tod Man Pla)

500gm White Fish Fillets chopped into pieces
1 Cup Snake Beans (I used purple king climbing beans)
1 Cup Corriandar roughly chopped
2 Stalks Lemon Grass (If you have never used watch this)
4 Cloves of Crushed Garlic
2-4 Red Chillies roughly chopped
4 tsp Fish Sauce
2 Eggs
Oil

Place all ingredients except oil into a food processor and process for 30 seconds or until mix comes together.  Chill for 1 hour.
Shape into 5 cm patties and fry till golden brown.

Do you have an inactive bank account? Use it or lose it

The below message was passed on to me by a mortgage broker I know and I think it is something really important that everyone should know.  This really ticks me off and I cannot see the governments justification in doing this.

Our Federal Government has just passed legislation that gives them the power to take your money from your bank account if you have not used it for 3 years.

Yes, you did read this correctly.

From the 31st of May this year, the Federal Government will have the power to transfer your bank balance to their coffers.

The definition of "using" a bank account involves either withdrawing or depositing.

Note: Interest payments are not considered to be deposits and fees are not considered withdrawals under this legislation.

What to do NOW?

1. Check all of your bank accounts and make sure you have transacted over the last 3 years. If you haven't used your account during this time, make a withdrawal or deposit. Otherwise you will lose it.
2. If you cannot remember where a long lost account may reside, use this ASIC tool to conduct a search https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/tools-and-resources/find-unclaimed-money 

If, for some reason, your money is taken by the Government under this law, you will be able to apply to ASIC to have it returned. However, this in not likely to be a quick process.

Someone commented on this post that I was presenting this as a "conspiracy by the government to defraud its citizens of their hard earned cash...::

And that:

There has been legislation in place for many many years under which financial institutions are required to remit "unclaimed money" to ASIC. The rules for this are stipulated within the terms and conditions for your account. The latest legislation merely reduced the timeframe from seven years to three, otherwise the rules haven't changed. The rule is intended to protect money in people's accounts from being slowly eroded with fees and charges applied by financial institutions.

Regardless of the reasons I am passing this information on the basis that if there is nothing to hide why does the government not promote the change widely and educate the public on how to protect their money.

Also if this is "intended to protect money in people's accounts from being slowly eroded with fees and charges applied by financial institutions." 

 Then why doe the government not just pass legislation  that addresses the issue of bank fees and charges?

I hope this message saves your money.

Please pass this on to everyone you know in case they are not aware of this.

Rosella Tea

This year I am determined to make better use of my rosella's than in the past couple of years.
I have discovered that the fruit is at it optimum for jams, sauces and stewing when it is young and when the fruit gets a bit older it gets a bit stringy.  Then when it is stewed you end up picking them out of each mouthful.
The optimum time for picking the fruit is between 3 and 6 days after the flower drops off.  Then from there the longer you leave them the tougher and thicker the flesh gets.
So I decided that I some would dry some in a friends dehydrator for use as herbal tea.  As I mentioned the other day these are some of the reported health benefits:

Health Benefits:

• Lowers Blood Pressure
• Lowers Cholesterol
• Maintains healthy blood lipid levels
• Very High source of active Anthocyanin Antioxidants shown to fight cancer and abnormal cell growth

They dried really well and make a great (tart if you add too many) cuppa,  You could add a bit of honey like my friends did but I really liked the tart flavour.

I am really glad I have found a use for the older fruit so they will not go to waste.  I am also thinking of a few more uses for rosellas that I want to try.  I will keep you posted.

What home made herbal teas do you make?

The Coal Seam Gas Debate

Over on ABC the 4 corners program aired a documentary on Coal Seam Gas a little while ago.

If you have not seen it you can watch it by clicking on the link below.  Having fought against a proposed sand mine in our community I  know how these people feel.  At least we were only fighting a private company and not a massive company.

ABC 4 Corners - Gas Leak

Queen of the Show Pavilion Strikes Again

Since moving to the country I have tried to immerse myself in the community.  Hubby would say I have done that too well with all the committees I am on but that is another story.
For the last few years I have entered a few different things in our local show and I have won a number of prizes.
This year I entered some preserves, craft and produce and check out the results.
Bread and Butter Pickles - First
Strawberry Jam - Second
Chutney - No Place
Cards - 1 x First 2 No Place
Scrap-booking - 1 x Second 2 No Place and
Rosella's First and Second AND Champion Fruit Exhibit.
I was absolutely shocked.  I spoke to the show steward and he said that not only were my rosella's really fresh but they were in excellent condition.
I think it is really important to participate in activities like the local show when you live in a small community.  Many small towns struggle to keep these sort of events going as they compete for the disposable income of families and in recruiting the manpower to and volunteers to run the event.
I believe that if everyone entered just 2 or 3 entries then that is the difference between a small town show surviving or not.  And if you have a few hours to help out then all the better.

 Here are a couple of the cards I entered.  The first one was the winner.

I would love to know if you have a local show and if you enter or maybe you volunteer.

If you enter what do you enter?  Do you make a mean sponge or fruit cake?