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Social media snaps map the sweep of Japan’s cherry blossom season in unprecedented detail

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adrian-dyer-387798">Adrian Dyer</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alan-dorin-12573">Alan Dorin</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carolyn-vlasveld-1442834">Carolyn Vlasveld</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/moataz-elqadi-1442833">Moataz ElQadi</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> Social media contains enormous amounts of data about people, our everyday lives, and our interactions with our surroundings. As a byproduct, it also contains a vast trove of information about the natural world. In a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0367253023001019#sec0024a">new study published in Flora</a>, we show how social media can be used for “incidental citizen science”. From photos posted to a social site, we mapped countrywide patterns in nature over a decade in relatively fine detail. Our case study was the annual spread of cherry blossom flowering across Japan, where millions of people view the blooming each year in a cultural event called “hanami”. The flowering spreads across Japan in a wave (“<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_blossom_front">sakura zensen</a>” or 桜前線) following the warmth of the arriving spring season. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529000/original/file-20230530-15-mix84k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529000/original/file-20230530-15-mix84k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529000/original/file-20230530-15-mix84k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529000/original/file-20230530-15-mix84k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529000/original/file-20230530-15-mix84k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529000/original/file-20230530-15-mix84k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529000/original/file-20230530-15-mix84k.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="ALT TEXT" /><figcaption>Celebrating the cherry blossom is a centuries-old tradition in Japan. Shutterstock</figcaption></figure> The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanami">hanami festival</a> has been documented for centuries, and research shows climate change is making <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ac6bb4">early blossoming more likely</a>. The advent of mobile phones – and social network sites that allow people to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1574954116302321">upload photos tagged with time and location data</a> – presents a new opportunity to study how Japan’s flowering events are affected by seasonal climate. <h2>Why are flowers useful to understand how nature is being altered by climate change?</h2> Many flowering plants, including the cherry blossoms of Japan (Prunus subgenus Cerasus), require insect pollination. To reproduce, plant flowers bloom at optimal times to receive visits from insects like bees. Temperature is <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0200549">an important mechanism</a> for plants to trigger this flowering. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2008.01269.x">Previous research</a> has highlighted how climate change may create mismatches in space or time between the blooming of plants and the emergence of pollinating insects. <iframe id="rtiQ0" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/rtiQ0/2/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> It has been difficult for researchers to map the extent of this problem in detail, as its study requires simultaneous data collection over large areas. The use of citizen science images deliberately, or incidentally, uploaded to social network sites enables <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_data">big data</a> solutions. <h2>How did we conduct our study?</h2> We collected images from Japan uploaded to <a href="https://www.flickr.com/">Flickr</a> between 2008 and 2018 that were tagged by users as “cherry blossoms”. We used computer vision techniques to analyse these images, and to provide sets of keywords describing their image content. Next, we automatically filtered out images appearing to contain content that the computer vision algorithms determined didn’t match our targeted cherry blossoms. For instance, many contained images of autumn leaves, another popular ecological event to view in Japan. The locations and timestamps of the remaining cherry blossom images were then used to generate marks on a map of Japan showing the seasonal wave of sakura blossoms, and to estimate peak bloom times each year in different cities. <h2>Checking the data</h2> An important component of any scientific investigation is validation – how well does a proposed solution or data set represent the real-world phenomenon under study? <figure class="align-right zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528702/original/file-20230528-21-4fxpkv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528702/original/file-20230528-21-4fxpkv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528702/original/file-20230528-21-4fxpkv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=591&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528702/original/file-20230528-21-4fxpkv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=591&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528702/original/file-20230528-21-4fxpkv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=591&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528702/original/file-20230528-21-4fxpkv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=743&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528702/original/file-20230528-21-4fxpkv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=743&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528702/original/file-20230528-21-4fxpkv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=743&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption>Blossom dates calculated from social media images compare well with official data. ElQadi et al., Author provided</figcaption></figure> Our study using social network site images was validated against the detailed information published by the <a href="https://www.japan.travel/en/see-and-do/cherry-blossom-forecast-2023/">Japan National Tourism Organization</a>. We also manually examined a subset of images to confirm the presence of cherry flowers. Plum flowers (Prunus mume) look very similar to cherry blossoms, especially to tourists, and they are frequently mistaken and mislabelled as cherry blossoms. We used visible “notches” at the end of cherry petals, and other characteristics, to distinguish cherries from plums. Taken together, the data let us map the flowering event as it unfolds across Japan. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528769/original/file-20230529-17-wmgf5g.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528769/original/file-20230529-17-wmgf5g.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528769/original/file-20230529-17-wmgf5g.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=619&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528769/original/file-20230529-17-wmgf5g.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=619&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528769/original/file-20230529-17-wmgf5g.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=619&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528769/original/file-20230529-17-wmgf5g.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=777&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528769/original/file-20230529-17-wmgf5g.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=777&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528769/original/file-20230529-17-wmgf5g.gif?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=777&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="An animated map showing cherry blossom flowering across Japan" /></a><figcaption>Images uploaded to social media over a ten year period 2008-2018, let us map the cherry blossom front as it sweeps across Japan. ElQadi et al., Author provided</figcaption></figure> <h2>Out-of-season blooms</h2> Our social network site analysis was sufficiently detailed to accurately pinpoint the annual peak spring bloom in the major cities of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo">Tokyo</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto">Kyoto</a>, to within a few days of official records. Our data also revealed the presence of a consistent, and persistent, out-of-season cherry bloom in autumn. Upon further searching, we discovered that this “unexpected” seasonal bloom had also been noted in <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45898333">mainstream media</a> in recent years. We thus confirmed that this is a real event, not an artefact of our study. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528832/original/file-20230529-25-wonef0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528832/original/file-20230529-25-wonef0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528832/original/file-20230529-25-wonef0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528832/original/file-20230529-25-wonef0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528832/original/file-20230529-25-wonef0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528832/original/file-20230529-25-wonef0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528832/original/file-20230529-25-wonef0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528832/original/file-20230529-25-wonef0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption>Cherry blossom photographs from Flickr taken within Japan from 2008 to 2018 show an April peak as well as an unexpected smaller peak in November. ElQadi et al., Author provided</figcaption></figure> So, even without knowing it, many of us are already helping to understand how climate change influences our environment, simply by posting online photographs we capture. Dedicated sites like <a href="https://wildpollinatorcount.com/">Wild Pollinator Count</a> are excellent resources to contribute to the growing knowledge base. The complex issues of climate change are still being mapped. Citizen science allows our daily observations to improve our understanding, and so better manage our relationship with the natural world.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/206574/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adrian-dyer-387798">Adrian Dyer</a>, Associate Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alan-dorin-12573">Alan Dorin</a>, Associate Professor, Faculty of Information Technology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carolyn-vlasveld-1442834">Carolyn Vlasveld</a>, PhD candidate, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/moataz-elqadi-1442833">Moataz ElQadi</a>, Adjunct Researcher, Faculty of Information Technology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/social-media-snaps-map-the-sweep-of-japans-cherry-blossom-season-in-unprecedented-detail-206574">original article</a>. Images: Getty

Technology

Ed Sheeran shoots for the stars with daughter’s name reveal

When Ed Sheeran and his wife Cherry Seaborn announced the birth of their second child in May 2022, they kept things simple. In a post to social media, Sheeran shared a picture of socks on a crochet blanket, with a caption reading “Want to let you all know we’ve had another beautiful baby girl. We are both so in love with her, and over the moon to be a family of 4”. The couple shared no ‘face reveal’ - opting to keep their children far removed from the public eye - and did not share their youngest daughter’s name with Sheeran’s 42.8m followers. But in a March interview with Rolling Stone, the 32-year-old singer-songwriter took everyone by surprise, opening up about his family life, and revealing the out-of-this-world moniker bestowed upon their youngest, Jupiter. “Me and Cherry were talking earlier about how it’s so lovely,” he told the publication, opening up about the little things in life that he and his family cherish the most. “We had an entire day. We did nothing but this. It’s so nice and wholesome having family on tour. “On the last tour, I’d party till 7 am, sleep till 4 pm, get up, and do the gig. But I was like, 26. It’s very different.” Jupiter’s birth, and establishing their new “lovely” life, were no easy feats for the couple. In February 2022 - a month that was already proving determined to knock Sheeran down - when Cherry was six months along in her pregnancy, she was diagnosed with a tumour. Surgery was required, but couldn’t be performed until she had given birth. As Sheeran wrote in a post outlining plans for his album Subtract, “Within the space of a month, my pregnant wife got told she had a tumour, with no route to treatment until after the birth. My best friend Jamal, a brother to me, died suddenly, and I found myself standing in court defending my integrity and career as a songwriter. “I was spiralling through fear, depression and anxiety. I felt like I was drowning, head below the surface, looking up but not being able to break through for air.” “There’s nothing you can do about it,” he confessed to Rolling Stone. “You feel so powerless.” Over the course of his interview, Sheeran toyed with a chain bracelet - one gifted to him by his wife, with their daughters’ name engraved. “It felt symbolic,” he said of the swap to the silver from the rubber bands that had previously adorned his wrist, “to take off those bracelets and put on one for my family.” After the slew of tragedies to hit Sheeran in such a short span of time, it was Cherry who realised that he was in need of professional help, leading to the singer seeking out a therapist. “No one really talks about their feelings where I come from,” he said. “People think it’s weird getting a therapist in England … I think it’s very helpful to be able to speak with someone and just vent and not feel guilty about venting. Obviously, like, I’ve lived a very privileged life. So my friends would always look at me like, ‘Oh, it’s not that bad.’ ” “The help isn’t a button that is pressed, where you’re automatically okay,” he added. “It is something that will always be there and just has to be managed.” And as Sheeran himself <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/writing-songs-is-my-therapy-ed-sheeran-reveals-further-heartbreak">wrote in his Subtract post</a>, “Writing songs is my therapy. It helps me make sense of my feelings … in just over a week I replaced a decade’s worth of work with my deepest darkest thoughts.” Images: Getty

Family & Pets

"Writing songs is my therapy": Ed Sheeran reveals further heartbreak

In the wake of the tragic news of the <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/tragedy-strikes-ed-sheeran-tour" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heartbreaking loss</a> suffered by his co-writer and touring partner, Ed Sheeran has taken to Instagram to share his struggle following a series of life-changing events – and how this has altered the course of his new album, Subtract. The singer shared how he “spiralled” into depression last year after his wife, Cherry, was diagnosed with a tumour during her second pregnancy, which couldn’t be treated until after she gave birth. The star explained that he was "trying to sculpt the perfect acoustic album" for almost a decade, when the series of events changed everything. “Writing songs is my therapy. It helps me make sense of my feelings. I wrote without thought of what the songs would be, I just wrote whatever tumbled out. “And in just over a week, I replaced a decade’s worth of work with my deepest darkest thoughts," he captioned. “Within the space of a month, my pregnant wife got told she had a tumour, with no route to treatment until after the birth. “My best friend Jamal [Edwards], a brother to me, died suddenly and I found myself standing in court defending my integrity and career as a songwriter. I was spiralling through fear, depression and anxiety. “I felt like I was drowning, head below the surface, looking up but not being able to break through for air". <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpPY7qyI6XB/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpPY7qyI6XB/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Ed Sheeran (@teddysphotos)</a> </div> </blockquote> The four-time Grammy award winner shared that this album was a "trapdoor" into his soul, and a way for him to make sense of everything he's been through. Sheeran announced the birth of his second daughter, Jupiter, in May of last year.Subtract will be released on the 5th of May 2023, through Asylum/Atlantic. Image: Getty

Caring

Top tips for growing tomatoes

Nothing beats the flavour of home-grown tomatoes, so start your own crop today with our top tips for growing tasty tomatoes. Don’t crowd seedlings – Crowded conditions inhabit growth so be sure to give your seedlings plenty of room. For each plant, prepare at least a 60 centimetre by 60 centimetre plot. Prime location – Tomatoes need at least eight hours of direct sunlight daily and shelter from strong wind. Plant a few varieties – There’s so many different types of tomatoes available so grow a few varieties. You’ll soon find that some types just suit your garden better, while others may be susceptible to disease. Staking – This is essential for tall-growing varieties of tomatoes. Add the stake at planting time and as the plant grows, tie it to the stake. Use soft ties, such as old stockings rather than string. This trains your plant, keeps it stable, takes up less space, prevent damage from strong winds and escapes the adverse effects of damp soil. Water well – Tomatoes need regular deep watering, especially during the warmer months. Even letting plants go thirsty for a few days will affect the quality of fruit. Water the soil, not the plant. Inspect often – Check daily for signs of pest or diseases. Remove dead leaves, unwanted shoots and harvest anything that is ready. Companion plant – Plant marigolds around tomatoes to reduce whitefly infestations. Or sacrifice some basil which will attract white flies away from your tomato. Garlic, nasturtiums or tagetes will repel aphids. Pot plants – Tomatoes grown in pots are more likely to dry out than those in the ground. However, if that’s not possible, the small bush type do best in pots. Use a big pot and water well. Yellowing leaves – Once tomato plants reach around a metre tall, the leaves at the bottom might turn yellow and die. This is normal so just snip them off. When to give up – If there are many yellowing leaves and the plant on a whole looks unhealthy, it may have contracted a bacterial, fungal or virus disease. The plant generally won’t flourish now and it’s best to be pulled out and disposed of. Don’t attempt to grow tomatoes in the same spot for at least a couple of years. Image: Getty

Home & Garden

Enchanting Cherry Blossom Festival returns to Sydney

The wildly popular Cherry Blossom Festival is returning to Western Sydney following a two-year hiatus, promising two weeks of live entertainment, delicious food, and the iconic pink blossoms. The festival, held in Auburn’s Botanic Gardens, will run from August 20-28 and ring in the start of cherry blossom season, all while paying homage to Japanese culture. According to the <a href="https://www.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/sydneycherryblossomfestival" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cumberland City Council website</a>, the festival will include a return of the popular ‘Cherry Trail’ and the Japanese fusion food village, as well as plenty of spots to take photos. Tickets are expected to cost just $10 and can be booked via the council’s websites, where you can also find the latest updates on what’s in store. Image: Cumberland City Council

Domestic Travel

Healthy and easy recipe with the grandkids: Tomato seaweed lady beetles

Fills: 1 buzzing belly Ingredients <ul> <li>3 cherry tomatoes, cut in half</li> <li>5 basil leaves</li> <li>1 sheet of roasted nori seaweed</li> </ul> Tools <ul> <li>1 plate</li> <li>1 pair of scissors</li> <li>1 glass of water</li> </ul> How to make 1. Place five tomato lady beetles on their basil tree leaves on the plate. 2. Now to add the spots and a head, ask Mum or Dad to help you use the scissors to cut circles out of the seaweed, then attach them with a little water. 3. Gobble them up before they fly away! Recipes &amp; Images taken from <a href="http://www.booktopia.com.au/kindy-kitchen-jessica-rosman/prod9780733334382.html">Kindy Kitchen by Jess Rossman &amp; Nettie Lodge</a>, ABC Books, RRP: $16.75 – <a href="http://www.booktopia.com.au/kindy-kitchen-jessica-rosman/prod9780733334382.html">GET 16% OFF* The RRP – Order your copy now.</a> Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/entertainment/healthy-fun-with-kids-in-the-kitchen">Wyza.com.au.</a>

Food & Wine

Woman’s INSANE tomato hack goes viral

It has always been considered a perilous task to peel back the skin of tomatoes, however one chef on TikTok has shown a simple, three-step hack to peeling them with your fingers. British home chef Jax Hamilton revealed her "quick skin tomatoes" hack to people online, and claims her method results in "no mess" or "watery toms". "Let's get the skins off these bad boys — nice and quick," she says in her video, filming a dozen, robust tomatoes. First slicing the tomatoes in half, Hamilton says to drizzle olive oil in a pan over medium heat. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842543/daily-6.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6c5b02a80f1c4bb59c63ed3f00e0df28" /> "When your oil [is] warm, you want to pack all your tomatoes in and pop on the lid," she adds. She says that within five minutes of sizzling on the stove, the skin melts off the tomatoes with her method. She then goes on to pinch the loosened flesh between two fingers, and lifts off the shiny skin and discards it to the side, revealing soft, warmed tomatoes. "And there we have it, check it out — skin free!" she said. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842542/daily-5.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8199922710c848e684721c6bc79da8b5" /> The hack has been viewed over five million times. "This is amazing — tomato skins always make me stop eating when I find them in my sauce and it bothers me so much," one user wrote in the comments. Another added: "This video relaxes me so much.”

Food & Wine

Chocolate sour cherry slice

A sultry taste sensation for those who love sweet things with a touch of cherry sour. Ingredients: For the base <ul> <li>2 cups raw cashew nuts</li> <li>2 cups unsweetened desiccated coconut</li> <li>1/2 cup raw cacao powder</li> <li>Pinch of sea salt</li> <li>1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil + 1/4 cup cacao butter* (or 1/2 cup extra virgin coconut oil)</li> <li>1/2 cup rice malt syrup</li> <li>1 x 20ml tablespoon pure vanilla extract</li> <li>3/4 cup unsweetened dried sour cherries</li> </ul> For the topping <ul> <li>200g dark chocolate</li> <li>2 x 20ml tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil</li> </ul> Method: 1. Line a 22 x 11 cm loaf tin with baking paper or cling film. 2. Process the cashew nuts and desiccated coconut in a food processor until you get fine crumbs. 3. Add the cacao powder and salt and process until well combined. 4. Melt the coconut oil (and cacao butter, if using) in a large saucepan over the lowest heat on your stove. 5. Add the rice malt syrup and vanilla extract and stir to combine. 6. Take the saucepan off the heat, tip the dry ingredients from the food processor and the sour cherries into the saucepan and stir everything together until well combined. Press the mixture into the prepared tin, smoothing the surface with the back of a spoon (and your hands, if need be). Place the tin in the freezer to chill. 7. To make the topping, melt the chocolate and coconut oil together in a double boiler or in the microwave. Remove the slice from the freezer and pour over the topping. Return the slice to the fridge for a few hours to set. Once set, remove the slice from the tin and cut into squares. Store in the fridge or freezer. Tips: The recipe uses 1/4 cup coconut oil + 1/4 cup cacao butter for the smooth and creamy texture that cacao butter provides. You can buy cacao butter at health food stores or online, or just use 1/2 cup coconut oil if you prefer. Recipe originally appeared on <a href="https://www.rfhb.com.au/blog/chocolate-sour-cherry-slice/">Real Food Body Health</a>. Republished with permission of <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/chocolate-sour-cherry-slice.aspx" target="_blank">Wyza.com.au</a>.

Food & Wine

Cherry choc chip ice-cream sandwiches

These are the heavenly ice-cream sandwiches of your childhood. Even better – the ice-cream recipe doesn’t begin with a custard, and so avoids the ‘will it or won’t it?’ curdling fear. Ingredients: <ul> <li>2 cups (500 ml) thickened cream</li> <li>1 cup (250 ml) full-cream milk</li> <li>¾ cup (165 g) caster sugar, plus 1 teaspoon extra</li> <li>1½ cups (225 g) frozen cherries, partially thawed</li> <li>85 g dark chocolate (70 per cent cocoa), roughly chopped</li> <li>36 plain chocolate biscuits (Choc Ripple biscuits or similar)</li> </ul> Directions: 1. In a large bowl, whisk together the cream, milk and sugar, and stir until the sugar dissolves. Churn in an ice-cream machine according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 2. Toss the cherries with the extra teaspoon of sugar. Add the cherries, along with any juice, and the chocolate to the ice-cream mixture. Transfer to a container with a lid and freeze until firm enough to scoop. 3. To assemble the sandwiches, spread 1/3 cup (80g) of ice-cream over a biscuit and top with another biscuit. Repeat with the remaining biscuits and ice-cream. Wrap tightly in baking paper and freeze until ready to serve. Tip: The sandwiches will keep for 24 hours in the freezer. <a rel="noopener" href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/71095/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fthe-edible-city-indira-naidoo%2Fprod9781921383816.html" target="_blank">Recipe from The Edible City by Indira Naidoo, published by Penguin Books.</a> Republished with permission of <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/cherry-choc-chip-ice-cream-sandwiches.aspx" target="_blank">Wyza.com.au</a>.

Food & Wine

Feel fuller for longer with a roast sweet potato and cherry tomato omelette

A perfect breakfast after an early morning walk or workout, this omelette is sure to leave you feeling full and satisfied. Serves: 1 Ingredients <ul> <li>3 eggs</li> <li>½ small sweet potato (cubed)</li> <li>¼ bunch of fresh parsley finely chopped</li> <li>6 cherry tomatoes</li> <li>2 large handfuls fresh spinach</li> <li>½ tsp smoked paprika</li> <li>Salt and pepper</li> </ul> Directions <ol> <li>Cut the sweet potato into small cubes and lay onto an oven tray and roast until soft at 180°C. They should only take about 10-12 minutes. Half way through cooking throw the cherry tomatoes onto the tray and roast for the remaining time.</li> <li>Microwave the spinach in a bowl for 30s.</li> <li>Whisk the eggs then season with salt and pepper and smoked paprika, pour into a pan on medium heat. Stir the eggs quickly once or twice then evenly scatter the sweet potato and cherry tomatoes across half of the omelette, sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top then carefully fold the other half over the top.</li> <li>Slide onto a plate and serve. I love a little squeeze of spicy sriracha sauce over the top.</li> </ol> Recipe courtesy of Richard Kerrigan, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rkthebeachlife/">The Beach Life</a>, Qualified Chef and Personal Trainer. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/roast-sweet-potato-and-cherry-tomato-omelette.aspx">Wyza.com.au</a>.

Food & Wine

Indulge yourself with chocolate coconut porridge and poached cherries

Wake up with a treat and whip up this quick chocolate porridge for breakfast - it's the perfect end-of-week indulgence (without the guilt)! Serves: 2 Ingredients: For the poached cherries 160g cherries, de-stoned and halved ½ a vanilla pod, split 100ml water For the porridge 80g coconut flour 60g desiccated coconut 40g coconut flakes 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder 300 ml coconut milk 50 ml double cream, to serve 2 tablespoons grated 85% dark chocolate or 20g cacao nibs, to serve Directions: 1. Place the cherries, vanilla pod and water into a small saucepan and put over a low heat for 20 minutes. The poaching process should be gradual so the fruit releases its natural sugars and juices. 2. While the fruit is poaching, place all the porridge ingredients into a medium-sized saucepan and place over a low heat. 3. Gently cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring regularly, until the porridge starts to thicken and become creamy. Continue until the porridge has reached your preferred consistency. 4. To serve, divide the porridge between two bowls, add the fruit and syrup, drizzle with cream and top with cacao nibs. This is an edited extract from <a rel="noopener" href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/69171/1880?u=https://www.booktopia.com.au/pioppi-diet-dr-aseem-malhotra/prod9781405932639.html" target="_blank">The Pioppi Diet by Dr Aseem Halhotra & Donal O'Neill</a>, Penguin Books, RRP $24.99.

Food & Wine

Enjoy a tasty cherry tomato, macadamia, walnut & silverbeet pasta

Up your nut intake with this easy and simple recipe. Preparation time: 5 mins Cooking time: 15 mins Serves: 4 Ingredients <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">2 Tbsp olive oil  </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">2 cloves garlic, crushed  </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">1/2 cup raw walnuts, roughly chopped (60g)  </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">1/2 cup raw, unsalted macadamias, roughly chopped (70g)  </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">1 cup fresh breadcrumbs  </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">400g dry spaghetti  </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">500g cherry tomatoes, halved  </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">1/2 bunch silverbeet or kale leaves, torn  </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">zest of 1 lemon  </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">1/4 cup chopped parsley  </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">sea salt and fresh cracked pepper  </li> </ul> Method   <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Warm half the olive oil and half the garlic in a large skillet over medium heat. Add all the breadcrumbs, and half the walnuts and macadamias. Cook, stirring regularly for 5-6 minutes until fragrant and toasted. Tip into a bowl, season with salt and pepper, and set aside.  </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Cook spaghetti according to packet directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup cooking water.  </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">While pasta cooks, return the large skillet to medium-high heat and drizzle in remaining olive oil. Add cherry tomatoes and remaining garlic. Sauté for approximately 5 minutes, until tomatoes begin to break down.  </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Add reserved pasta cooking water, silverbeet, and remaining walnuts and macadamias to pan with tomatoes. Cook for a minute or two, until greens are just wilted. Remove from heat and stir through lemon zest.  </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Add parsley to cooled breadcrumb mixture. Serve pasta with generous spoonfuls of sauce, and plenty of nutty breadcrumbs on top.  </li> </ol> Tips You can find fresh breadcrumbs at good grocery stores, or make your own by pulsing a slice or two of day-old sourdough in a food processor. Recipe and images by Jennifer Jenner for <a href="https://www.nutsforlife.com.au/">Nuts for Life</a>

Food & Wine

Delicious roast tomato and capsicum soup with crispy chorizo and fresh basil

Packed with flavour you’ll be making this soup again and again, it’s perfect for the whole family and really cheap to make. Ingredients <ul> <li>4 large capsicums</li> <li>6 large vine ripened mixed tomatoes (yellow, purple, red etc)</li> <li>1 punnet cherry tomates</li> <li>2 garlic cloves</li> <li>2 celery stalks</li> <li>1 red onion</li> <li>1 tbs tomato puree</li> <li>120g chorizo sausage (cut into cubes)</li> <li>½ bunch basil</li> <li>1 tin kidney beans</li> <li>Olive oil</li> <li>Salt and pepper</li> </ul> Directions 1. Cut the top off your capsicums and scoop out the seeds then place upside down onto an oven proof tray lined with greaseproof paper. Slice the large tomatoes into ¼s and place on the tray with the whole cherry tomatoes. Slice your red onion into ¼s and add them to the tray. 2. Drizzle with olive oil and season well with salt and pepper and make sure all the veg is coated. Roast in the oven at 220°C for 15-20 mins until they start to colour and the skin from the capsicum blisters. Once cooked remove and leave to one side. 3. In a pan slowly fry the chopped garlic and sliced celery. Remove the thin skin from the chorizo and dice then add ½ of the sausage and some finely chopped basil stalks to the pan. Cook for 2-3 mins until golden brown. 4. Next add the tomato puree to the chorizo and cook for another 2 mins, add a little water so the tomato puree doesn’t burn. 5. Once the capsicum has cooled, carefully remove the skin then roughly chop. Add the capsicum, roasted tomato and onion to a large thick bottomed pan along with the chorizo mix in the pan. 6. Add 1 litre of boiling chicken stock to the pan and bring back to the boil. Whilst the soup is coming to the boil fry off the other half of the diced chorizo until really crispy then tip onto some kitchen roll to remove some of the grease. 7. As soon as the soup starts to boil remove from the heat. Blend until smooth and adjust the seasoning, careful not to add too much salt. Add ½ bunch of basil leaves and blend once more. 8. Finally mix in a tin of drained kidney beans into the soup and serve. Top with crispy chorizo. Tips Double the batch and freeze it until you need a quick dinner one evening. Remember this has meat in it so make sure to remove from the freezer the night before and heat until piping hot before serving. Recipe courtesy of Richard Kerrigan, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rkthebeachlife/">The Beach Life</a>, Qualified Chef and Personal Trainer. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/roast-tomato-and-capsicum-soup-with-crispy-chorizo-and-fresh-basil.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a>

Food & Wine

Zesty tomato salad

Seek out the most delicious tomatoes available, preferably sun–ripened on the vine, and you will be rewarded with an incomparable flavour. Lemon, fresh coriander and mint add freshness and zest to the tomatoes in this tangy salad, which can easily be varied with other fresh herbs and flavourings. <div id="ingredients">Ingredients: <ul class="no-bullet"> <li>500 g ripe tomatoes, sliced</li> <li>pinch of caster sugar, or to taste</li> <li>1 lemon</li> <li>3 spring onions, thinly sliced</li> <li>1 tablespoon chopped fresh coriander</li> <li>1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint</li> <li>sprigs of fresh mint to garnish</li> </ul> </div> Preparation: <div> <ol> <li>Place the tomatoes in a large shallow dish and sprinkle with the sugar.</li> <li>Cut the lemon in half lengthwise.</li> <li>Set one half aside, then cut the other half lengthwise into 4 wedges.</li> <li>Holding the wedges firmly together on a board, skin side up, thinly slice them across, including the peel.</li> <li>Discard the pips.</li> <li>Arrange the pieces of thinly sliced lemon over the top of the tomatoes, then sprinkle with the spring onions, coriander and mint.</li> <li>Squeeze the juice from the remaining lemon half and sprinkle it over the salad.</li> <li>Serve immediately or cover and chill until ready to serve.</li> <li>Garnish with sprigs of mint just before serving.</li> </ol> This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/recipes/zesty-tomato-salad">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRN87V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" /> </div>

Food & Wine

Top 5 places to see the world's best cherry blossoms

No matter where you are in the world, it’s always nice to enjoy the view of cherry blossoms when they are in season. Here are some of the best places in the world to see the beautiful flowers in bloom. 1. Arakurayama Sengen Park, Japan This scenic gem in Yamanashi shines in April when cherry blossoms are in full bloom, complemented by a classic five-storey pagoda from the Arakura Fuji Sengen-jinja Shrine and majestic views of Mount Fuji in the distance. 2. Kungsträdgården, Stockholm, Sweden While Stockholm is lined with pink trees every spring, Kungsträdgården is where you can see the flowers form a cotton candy canopy over the entire park. In mid-April you can also stroll through the stands and get some snacks from the annual Japanese festival taking place at the site. Expect the peak around mid-to-late April. 3. Jerte Valley, Spain Located between Salamanca and Cáceres, the valley has two million white cherry trees that create a stunning, snow-like panorama. As the locals tell it, Valle del Jerte comes to life every March in three stages: despertar el valle (the valley wakes), cerezo en Flor (cherry trees in bloom), and lluvia de Pétalos (shower of flower petals). 4. Washington DC, US Cherry blossoms first arrived in DC in 1912 as a gift from Japan. To commemorate the occasion, the city celebrates the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, allowing visitors to enjoy the sea of pink and white from the 3,000-plus trees around the Tidal Basin from late March to mid-April. 5. Pingba, Guizhou, China According to local media, the region boasts more than 500,000 cherry trees along with azalea and apricot trees. When they blossom in late March to early April, the aerial view of the region shows a lush display of white-pink petals covering the county. Click through the gallery above to see the cherry blossoms at these spots. Will you be visiting any of these places? Let us know in the comments.

International Travel

Prawns, asparagus and cherry tomato linguine

This deliciously light pasta dish is so quick and easy to whip up but also special enough for company. Serves: 2 Ingredients: <ul> <li>150g linguine pasta</li> <li>135g cherry tomatoes</li> <li>200g green prawns, peeled, deveined, tails intact </li> <li>1 bunch of asparagus, trimmed, cut in half</li> <li>2 tablespoon olive oil</li> <li>2 cloves garlic, finely chopped</li> <li>Half a lemon</li> <li>1 red chilli, deseeded, finely chopped</li> <li>⅓ cup dry white wine</li> <li>Fresh oregano, chopped</li> <li>Salt and pepper to season</li> <li>Shaved parmesan to serve</li> </ul> Method: 1. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to boil. Add pasta and follow packet instructions. Drain. 2. Meanwhile, heat oil in frypan over medium heat. Add tomatoes and cook and cook for two minutes or until softened. 3. Stir in garlic, chilli, asparagus and prawns. Cook for two minutes or until prawns turn pink. 4. Add white wine and season with salt and pepper. Leave to simmer for three to five minutes or until sauce thickens and reduces. 5. Add pasta to pan. Squeeze half a lemon and sprinkle with oregano. Toss to combine. Serve with parmesan. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/05/beef-and-barley-stew/">Hearty beef and barley stew</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/05/tuna-and-olive-pasta/">Tuna and olive pasta</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/05/bolognese-stuffed-eggplant/">Bolognese stuffed eggplant</a>

Food & Wine

Cherry Pie

Try out this delicious, easy dessert classic yourself to bring sweetness and colour to your tabletop. Ingredients: <ul> <li>1 cup of sugar (adjust according to the sweetness of your cherries)</li> <li>4 cups of sweet cherries, pitted</li> <li>¼ cup of flour</li> <li>½ teaspoon of cinnamon</li> <li>One double-crust pie crust</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>In a large zip-loc bag, add cherries, flour, sugar and cinnamon and toss.</li> <li>Preheat oven to 220°C.</li> <li>Place pastry in pie pan. Add tossed filling.</li> <li>Place top crust over pie. Cut ventilation slits and flute pie edges. Bake for 25 minutes.</li> <li>Reduce heat to 175°C and bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes.</li> <li>Let cool – length of time with depend if you want to serve warm or cool. Cut and serve.</li> </ol> Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/08/pumpkin-pie/">Classic pumpkin pie</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/07/apple-butterscotch-pie/">Apple and butterscotch pie</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/07/pecan-pie/">Pecan pie</a>

Food & Wine

Tomato, spinach and cheese frittata

A flavourful frittata combination that’s easy to put together and tastes delicious served hot or cold. Ingredients: <ul> <li>1 tablespoon olive oil</li> <li>6 cherry tomatoes, halved</li> <li>½ brown onion, chopped</li> <li>100g baby spinach, roughly chopped</li> <li>8 eggs, lightly beaten</li> <li>50g shredded mozzarella</li> </ul> Method: 1. Preheat oven to 220°C. 2. Heat oil in over-proof frying pan over medium heat. Add onions and cook for 5 minutes until softened. Add spinach cook for 2 minutes or until just wilted. 3. Pour eggs evenly over pan. Scatter tomatoes and mozzarella over top. 4. Reduce heat to low and continue cooking until eggs are mostly set, around 5 minutes. Transfer to oven and bake for a further 5 minutes until frittata is cooked through. Remove from oven and cool. Cut into slices and serve, or refrigerate until ready to serve. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/05/breakfast-burrito/">Breakfast burrito</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/05/baked-banana-chips/">Baked banana chips</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/08/breakfast-smoothie-bowls/">Healthy breakfast smoothie bowls</a>

Food & Wine

Moroccan tomato salad

This traditional Moroccan salad is actually more like a dip, and makes a great addition to mezze plates alongside Turkish bread, garlicky hummus and good olives. Serves: 6 Ingredients: <ul> <li>2 red capsicums</li> <li>2 red chillies</li> <li>10 medium tomatoes</li> <li>1 teaspoon cumin seeds</li> <li>5 cloves garlic, crushed</li> <li>1 teaspoon sea salt</li> <li>½ teaspoon sweet smoked paprika</li> <li>1 teaspoon regular paprika</li> <li>¼ cup olive oil</li> <li>1 tablespoon sugar</li> <li>Turkish bread, olives and hummus to serve</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Preheat the oven to 230°C. Cut the central cores from the capsicums and sit the capsicums, base down, in two holes of a muffin tin. Make a few slits in the chillies and sit them in two more holes.</li> <li>Put in the oven and roast, removing the chillies carefully after 12 minutes and putting in a glass bowl. Leave the capsicums to roast for 6 more minutes or until the skins are blackening, then remove from the oven and add to the bowl with the chillies. Cover with plastic wrap and leave to steam for half an hour.</li> <li>Use a small, sharp knife to peel the skins off the capsicums and chillies. Split the chillies lengthwise and scrape out the seeds then roughly chop. Roughly chop the capsicums.</li> <li>With the tip of a sharp knife, make a small x in the base of each tomato and put into a baking dish. Half fill the sink with cold water and drop in a cup of ice cubes. Fully cover the tomatoes with boiling water, leave for 30 seconds then transfer to the iced water for 5 minutes.</li> <li>Use the tip of a sharp knife to peel the skins from the tomatoes. Quarter the tomatoes and put in a medium saucepan with the roasted capsicums and chillies, the cumin, garlic, salt, both types of paprika, oil and sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, over a gentle heat for 1¾ hours until it is thick and rich.</li> <li>Serve as part of a mezze platter with warm Turkish bread, olives and hummus, or as an accompaniment to roasted meat such as the lamb shoulder.</li> </ol> Written by Sarah Tuck. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Image credit: Aaron McLean/Stuff.

Food & Wine

Slow-roasted lamb shoulder with Greek tomatoes

The flavour and texture combination in these roasted tomatoes is outrageously good – fragrant, sweet, salty and crunchy… magic. They make the perfect accompaniment to slow-roasted lamb shoulder. Serves: 6 Ingredients: <ul> <li>2.2kg lamb shoulder on the bone</li> <li>2 red onions, thickly sliced</li> <li>4 large sprigs rosemary </li> <li>5 sprigs thyme, or 3 sprigs thyme and 2 sprigs oregano</li> <li>13 cloves garlic, peeled</li> <li>1½ cups (375ml) white wine</li> <li>18 ripe, vine-ripened tomatoes</li> <li>3 tablespoons olive oil</li> <li>1 teaspoon cumin seeds</li> <li>Finely grated zest of 1 lemon</li> <li>¼ teaspoon chilli flakes</li> <li>1 cup black olives (not pitted)</li> <li>½ cup currants</li> <li>150g soft feta, crumbled</li> <li>½ cup lightly toasted pine nuts</li> </ul> Method: 1. Remove the lamb from the fridge half an hour before cooking to bring it to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 150°C. 2. Put the onions, 2 sprigs of rosemary and 3 sprigs of thyme in the base of a medium-sized roasting pan. Put the lamb on top, fat side up. Make 8 slits in the flesh and poke 8 cloves garlic into the holes. Pour the wine into the base of the dish and season the lamb really well with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cover with foil and cook for 4¼ hours, then remove the foil and cook for another hour. 3. Meanwhile, snip the tomatoes into bunches of three or four and place in a medium oven dish. Drizzle with the oil and sprinkle over the cumin seeds, lemon zest and chilli flakes. 4. Lightly squash the remaining 5 garlic cloves and tuck in around the tomatoes. Tuck the olives around the tomatoes with the remaining 2 sprigs thyme or oregano. Sprinkle over the currants. 5. After the uncovered lamb has been in the oven for an hour, crank up the heat to 180°C for a further 30 minutes, then add the tomatoes to the oven and cook for another 15 minutes. Remove both the lamb and tomatoes from the oven, crumble the feta over the tomatoes and return them to the oven for 7 minutes before sprinkling with the pine nuts and serving with the lamb. Written by Sarah Tuck. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Photo credit: Aaron McLean/Stuff.

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