WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A RECIPE THAT’S HEARTY AND SUITABLE FOR ALL OCCASIONS, YOU CAN’T GO PAST STUFFED ROASTED PUMPKIN. “Stuffed roasted pumpkin is a beautiful and hearty meal; perfect as a dish for a special occasion or as a Christmas side dish to complement a big spread,” said Chef Matt Conquest. “It makes for an impressive centrepiece and is packed with savoury flavours and textures. This vegan dish is a delicious and wholesome meal. It is also hearty, festive, and can be easily switched up to suit your taste by using different grains, nuts, or vegetables!” Vegan-style Whole Roasted Pumpkin Serves 5-6 Ingredients 1 medium-sized pumpkin (or use 2 small sugar pie pumpkins for different fillings) 2 tbsp olive oil Salt and pepper, to taste For the Filling: 1 cup quinoa or white and wild rice, cooked 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins 1/2 cup walnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds or pistachios, roughly chopped 1 small red onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 tsp ground cumin 1/2 tsp...

TAKING PART IN A MAJOR FUN RUN OR PHYSICALLY CHALLENGING EVENT INSPIRES MANY ACTIVE AND SPORTS-MINDED RESIDENTS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE BUT WHAT HAPPENS ONCE THE EVENT IS OVER? How do you think you would fare after the event wrapped up and what should you do to recover from all that extra training and competing Health and Lifestyle Coordinator Josh Kristenson has some great tips to put you back on the road to recovery after the competition is over. “The fun of competition lies in the thrill of the chase, but the days that follow may leave your body needing a little TLC,” said Josh. He said that recovery is not only essential to get you back to feeling like yourself, but also prepares you for the next exciting activity. The good news is Living Gems has some of the world's best recovery facilities to help you regenerate after a competition. One of the best recovery methods is to spend some time in the...

There’s more to explore in South East Queensland From ancient rain forests, stunning beaches to breathtaking mountains and incredible countryside, the south-east corner of Queensland (and northern New South Wales) has so much to offer. We’ve created a list of favourite destinations, each of which makes a comfortable day trip from Brisbane. However, why not pack up and make a real holiday of it? Make it a multi-day roadtrip north to Harvey Bay, west to Kingaroy, south to Stanthorpe and east to Byron Bay. Spend one day in each location or spend several to really soak up the atmosphere! Noosa This trendy destination is popular for good reason. Noosa is surrounded by stunning beaches, lakes, and the lush hinterland of Noosa National Park. And forget Florida in the USA, you can explore the only other everglades in the world. The Noosa everglades is home to an abundance of birdlife (and no alligators or crocodiles!). The region also boasts unique shopping and world-class dining experiences...

What type of retirement lifestyle would you like to have? What type of retirement lifestyle can you afford?  Those are the two big questions to answer when you’re looking forward to your retirement years.  But where on earth do you begin?  We’ve taken this big topic and broken it down so you can get a better understanding of subjects like:  Superannuation preservation age  Transition to retirement  The aged pension, and  Government incentives to encourage downsizing  It’s important to note that retirement is a big step, so it is wise to seek professional and legal advice before committing to any decision.  A little background on the Australian Superannuation Guarantee  Since 1 July 1992, Australia has had the Superannuation Guarantee, in which employers were obliged to make superannuation contributions on behalf of their employees' compulsory superannuation.   Since 1992 the Super Guarantee has risen from 3 percent to 11.5 percent as of 2024 – and as the percentage increased over the years, so too has the preservation age. Let’s take a...

What to plant in spring?   It’s warming up, which means it’s the ideal time for your gardens to flourish. What you plant in spring though, will depend on the climate and soil conditions of where you live. If you live at Amber by Living Gems in beautiful Logan Village, flowers, fruit trees, vegetables and herbs can all be planted in early spring. You don't need much space to cultivate smaller-sized vegetables if you have a relatively sunny spot. Hanging baskets, pots and small planters, raised vegie gardens, or self-watering courtyard planters are good. Just watch your water upkeep as soil can dry out very fast in the heat, and that will spell the end for your plant quickly. Some homeowners also opt for vertical gardens such as solar-powered, self-watering hydroponic set-ups. September plants ideal for smaller gardens in humid sub-tropical climates of Queensland include: Flowers that bring a spring to your step Spring gardens are a treat for the senses, bursting with colours and sweet aromas. Popular flower...

INDULGE IN THE CHOCOLATEY GOODNESS OF CHEF MATT CONQUEST’S HAZELNUT CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES FOR WORLD CHOCOLATE DAY ON SUNDAY, 7 JULY. Chocolate’s four-thousand-year history began in ancient Mesoamerica (present-day Mexico) where the first cacao plants were found. In 16th Century Europe, chocolatiers added sugar to chocolate to make it the iconic sweet treat it is today. Royals and the upper classes consumed chocolate for its health benefits as well as its decadence. In 1828, the invention of the chocolate press revolutionised chocolate making. This innovative device could squeeze cocoa butter from roasted cacao beans, leaving a fine cocoa powder behind. The powder was then mixed with liquids and poured into a mould where it solidifies into an edible bar of chocolate. And just like that, the modern era of chocolate was born. Hazelnut Chocolate Truffles 20 TRUFFLES Method Set aside 20 hazelnuts. Chop the remaining nuts with a knife or wrap them in a cloth and crush them with a rolling pin. Put 150g of the chocolate...

Friendships play such an important role in our health and wellbeing, and even more so as we get older.   But what happens when you have reduced options to meet new people – particularly after the busy, socialising years of raising a family and being in the workforce are over? And once you’ve settled into a routine, it can be difficult to break out and make the move to expand your social circle. We share some great tips on how to make friends in retirement and increase your enjoyment at the same time. Top tips for making friends in retirement One in five older Australians are socially isolated. Social isolation can lead to increased risk of diseases including heart attacks and strokes as well as harming your mental health. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In this feature we take a look at ways you can increase your enjoyment as well as the number of people you can call on as friends. 1. Foster existing connections When you’ve...

It’s not surprising that many people’s attention turns to taking a big, long holiday as soon as they make their retirement plans. After all, what could be better than travelling your way, taking months to explore your favourite destinations instead of a few scant weeks limited by your holiday leave entitlement? That’s the dream but what about the practicalities? Practical travel tips in retirement Many people plan their longest holidays early in their retirement with the United Kingdom, United States and Europe the most popular destinations on the retirement travel bucket list. Travel is still on the list for older retirees with two-thirds of people still intending to take a holiday in the next 12 months with the percentage jumping to 88 percent for those whose retirement income was more than $100,000. 1. Plan in advance of retirement Before you go running off to the nearest travel agent it’s important to do some planning a little closer to home. While not as fun as checking out destinations and...

Expert energy-saving tips From simple changes around the house to mindful energy consumption habits, there are a range of practices homeowners can adopt to reduce power bills and minimise the strain on the power grid. If you’re looking for some easy, practical tips to put into action straight away, take a look at these seven energy-saving strategies to help empower your household, plus do your bit for a more sustainable future.   Close blinds, curtains and doors during very hot or cold days Sunlight can significantly increase the temperature inside your home. Keep blinds and curtains closed during very hot days, especially during the hottest part of the day, to block out solar heat. The same is true for chilly days when you want to keep warm inside the house.   Use fans strategically Ceiling fans commonly consume less electricity than air-conditioning units and can be effective in cooling down rooms when used correctly during hot days. Ensure they are turned off in unoccupied rooms.   Set air conditioning efficiently If using...

Welcome to another edition of Resort Round-up which gives an insight into some of the fun and fabulous activities, events and special occasions enjoyed by homeowners within our Living Gems communities. Here are just a few: At Amber by Living Gems there were major celebrations held to welcome the opening of the over-50s lifestyle resort’s much awaited $10.5-million Country Club which is set to become the hub of the community. It will also be a wonderful venue for future entertainment and social events, many of which are already in the planning stages and no doubt will feature on these pages in coming months. Games, singing and dancing were enjoyed by more than 80 people attending a recent Saturday Night Live event held at Ruby by Living Gems. The night began with music while residents caught up with friends, neighbours and family. There were gifts for all the women and lucky prizes for different activities. The night’s compere, Michael, had everyone play a Pick-a-Box...

Enjoy a twist on tradition this Anzac Day Anzac Day is a special commemorative event with several traditions observed every year including dawn services, coffee and bundy, two-up and Anzac biscuits. This Anzac Day, Chef Matt Conquest shares some tips on how to make the humble Anzac biscuit even better. “It’s simple! Just by adding your favourite ice cream, like rum and raisin, you can make great little ice-cream sandwiches,” Matt said. “You can make a lovely homemade ice cream using the recipe at right or you can buy a good quality ice cream and get your favourite chocolate bar and crunch them up and fold it through your ice cream for added crunch, chew, and flavour and make ice-cream sangas with that.” Matt says making ice cream takes care and time to ensure a nice smooth texture that doesn’t become icy. “For a smooth and creamy finish, make an anglaise cream and then freeze it down in a beater bowl and stir it during the...