CRISTINE CASTLE IS WINNING PRIZES — AND HEARTS — WITH
HER GRANDMOTHER’S RECIPE FOR A CLASSIC DATE LOAF.
WWO R D SO R D S SASARRAAHH N NE I LE I L P H OTO G R A P H Y A N D ST Y L I N GP H OTO G R A P H Y A N D ST Y L I N G CCHHI NI NAA S Q S QUUI RI RRRE LE Lprized possession
IT’S A TYPICAL FRIDAY MORNING for Cristine Castle. She’s about to ice three chocolate cakes for a cake
stall put on by the Port Douglas branch of the Queensland Country Wstall put on by the Port Douglas branch of the Queensland Country Womomen’s Association (QCWen’s Association (QCWA). A).
This week she has also mThis week she has also made three limade three lime and coconut cakes, three orange cakes, a passionfruit slice, e and coconut cakes, three orange cakes, a passionfruit slice,
a fruitcake and four date loaves. “I cook ma fruitcake and four date loaves. “I cook madly during the 24 hours before our cake stall,” she says. adly during the 24 hours before our cake stall,” she says.
ComCome 1pme 1pm, the trestle tables at the CW, the trestle tables at the CWA HA Hall on Blake Street are covered with pretty blue and all on Blake Street are covered with pretty blue and
white tablecloths, and laden with cakes, mwhite tablecloths, and laden with cakes, muffins, slices, jamuffins, slices, jams and pickles. And it’s not just locals s and pickles. And it’s not just locals
who frequent the cake stall, mwho frequent the cake stall, many of the customany of the customers are tourists who stop by for a cup of tea, a chat ers are tourists who stop by for a cup of tea, a chat
and somand some home home cooking. “One me cooking. “One man alman almost cried when he saw a bottle of rosella jamost cried when he saw a bottle of rosella jam,” says Cristine. ,” says Cristine.
“H“He said it reme said it reminded himinded him of his grandm of his grandmother. Food touches a nerve.” other. Food touches a nerve.”
One of the mOne of the most popular itemost popular items at the stall is Cristine’s date loaf, a recipe that won her first prize at s at the stall is Cristine’s date loaf, a recipe that won her first prize at
last year’s district QCWlast year’s district QCWA cooking comA cooking competition. “It’s such a wholesompetition. “It’s such a wholesome cake,” she says. “It’s some cake,” she says. “It’s something ething
you can have for myou can have for morning or afternoon tea, or smorning or afternoon tea, or smoko. It sustains you.” The recipe camoko. It sustains you.” The recipe came frome from Cristine’s Cristine’s
grandmgrandmother, Elsie Leadbeater (pictured right with husband Reginald Fraser in 1930), who taught other, Elsie Leadbeater (pictured right with husband Reginald Fraser in 1930), who taught
her granddaughter to cook on a fuel stove in the kitchen of her homher granddaughter to cook on a fuel stove in the kitchen of her home at Eight Me at Eight Mile Plains in Brisbane. ile Plains in Brisbane.
“Lots of things cam“Lots of things came out of that oven —e out of that oven — m my grandmy grandmother’s sponges were legendary,” recalls Cristine. other’s sponges were legendary,” recalls Cristine.
“I spent a lot of tim“I spent a lot of time with Elsie and have very fond me with Elsie and have very fond mememories. She was a very kind and gentle lady.”ories. She was a very kind and gentle lady.”
Cristine, now 63, has passed on her love of cooking to her four children, including her two sons. Cristine, now 63, has passed on her love of cooking to her four children, including her two sons.
“I put m“I put my boys in the kitchen and they’re better my boys in the kitchen and they’re better men for it,” she says. “It never fails to amen for it,” she says. “It never fails to amaze maze me e
how mhow many many men can’t cook. It’s a life skill.” Now her grandchildren —en can’t cook. It’s a life skill.” Now her grandchildren — eight-year-old Victoria and eight-year-old Victoria and
six-year-old Hsix-year-old Harrison —arrison — are learning to cook. “They both love it. H are learning to cook. “They both love it. Harrison is very keen. As soon arrison is very keen. As soon
as he sees mas he sees me come coming, he says, ‘Can we cook soming, he says, ‘Can we cook something today, Nanna?’”ething today, Nanna?’”
The Port Douglas branch of the QCWThe Port Douglas branch of the QCWA have a cake stall on Fridays fromA have a cake stall on Fridays from 1pm 1pm–4pm–4pm at the at the
CWCWA Hall, 8 Blake Street, Port Douglas, Queensland. Visit facebook.comA Hall, 8 Blake Street, Port Douglas, Queensland. Visit facebook.com/PDQCW/PDQCWA/A/FOOD PREPARATION AND RECIPE TESTINGCHINA SQUIRRELFOOD PREPARATION AND RECIPE TESTINGCHINA SQUIRRELSHARE YOUR FAMILY FAVOURITES Do you have a recipe that has been passed down through
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Bag 5030, Alexandria NSWBag 5030, Alexandria NSW 2015. Note: recipes m 2015. Note: recipes may also be published online at homay also be published online at homelife.comelife.com.au.au