The Traveller's Table: March 2011

This blog was meant to be incorporating recipes from our travels... remember! Finally, sitting starring at me at Paronella Park gift shop was a bright orange scroll of paper and a sign screaming at me like Vegas saying "Paronella Park Special Jam Recipe". It was exciting, i had no idea what kind of jam the recipe was for until I purchased the scroll.

I haven't had the chance to make this recipe on my travels, jam making wasn't too high on my list. So Please, If you ever try it let me know how it goes. Enjoy!

TROPICAL JAM

Ingredients:

2.25kg Diced firm Paw Paw

750g Tin Pineapple - drained weight

250g Crystallized Ginger

175ml Lemon Juice

1.75kg Sugar

Method:

Crush pineapple and chop ginger in a food processor.

Place diced paw paw, ginger and lemon juice into a large saucepan and cook slowly for 1-2 hours until fruit is soft.

Place sugar into the ingredients and cook on medium for a further 10-15 mins or until thick.

Watch for burning. Place into warmed bottles and seal.

We weren't south bound for long. Just a short drive south of Cairns we reached our next stop over, Flying Fish Point. It was the name that drew us in really. Neither of us had visited the small coastal town before and the thought of fresh fish and mud crab were way too tempting.

Can you imagine our disappointment when we didn't catch any fish or crabs!! We didn't try very hard though... let's blame it on the windy weather. Casting off the beach I put up a good fight with something that snapped me off right at the edge of the sand but that's as close as we got.

The town itself was very small and peaceful. The caravan park added a nice touch by placing their fallen coconuts in a basket for guests to eat. This kept Ben busy for a while, still keen to be the provider! Even Bear loved eating the coconut.

However, with no fish and windy weather we decided to pack up camp and head for Paronella Park. Wow, Wow & Wow!

Friends of ours highly recommended a visit to Paronella Park, (thankyou Chris & Shantelle) and being something we have driven passed many times before there was no way I was missing it again.

Once the home of Jose Paronella and a venue he first open to the public in 1935, the words to describe the park are MAGICAL & INSPIRING. The certainly didn't call him a dreamer for nothing. The history in the castle like structures, waterfall, homestead and hydro power plant are incredible and truly make you realise that with hard work we can truly achieve anything and create something beautiful. I will let you read about the park in more detail at www.paronellapark.com.au

We chose to camp at Paronella Park for the night so we could experience the day and night tours. I would highly recommend staying for the night tour if you have time. The facilities are basic but the staff extremely helpful, dog friendly and well worth seeing the grounds lit up at night.

Check out the pics!