Joyce Recommends Brigadeiro Brazilian dessert

Photo credit: iheartbrazil.com

Brigadeiro Recipe (Brazilian Fudge Balls)

Brigadeiro is one of the most classic Brazilian desserts and party treat. This simple recipe is ready in no time and will satisfy all your sweet cravings!

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Cooling Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 16 brigadeiros

Ingredients:

•  1x 14oz can of sweet condensed milk
•  1/2 cup chocolate powder, such as Nescau or Nesquik
•  1 Tbsp margarine or butter (plus more for hands)
•  Sprinkles

Instructions:

1.  Add the condensed milk, the butter, and the chocolate powder to a medium saucepan and stir.
2.  Cook over medium heat, for approximately 10 minutes, stirring repeatedly and scraping the sides and the bottom of the pan with a spatula to avoid burning.
3.  The brigadeiro is ready when you scrape the bottom of the pan, and the brigadeiro takes 2-3 seconds to come back to its place, or when the mixture reaches 205F-208F – You can use a candy thermometer, or just a regular food thermometer to check.
4.  Pour the hot brigadeiro into a dish or a plate, and let it cool – about 2 hours.
5.  Meanwhile, pour sprinkles in a deep plate or bowl.
6.  When the brigadeiro is cooled, butter your hands, and scoop 1/2 Tbsp to Tbsp portions and roll little balls.
7.  Roll the little balls in the sprinkles.
8.  Keep them in a cool place or in the refrigerator until serving time.

Bon Apetite!!

Credit to Brazilian Kitchen Abroad for this recipe, and thanks to Joyce for sharing!

If you are interested to share a recipe to the community, please email contactus@integreatqld.org.au

Meet Deb: our dedicated volunteer English teacher!

Meet Deb, our dedicated volunteer English teacher!

Our English classes have been running for more than 7 years and our cherished volunteer, Deb Soper, has led them for around two years. Countless students have gained confidence through these classes, allowing them to secure employment and pursue study.

Deb’s work at TAFE in 2006 led her to connect with students with English as their second or third language. She underwent more Cultural Diversity training to improve her understanding of the people she worked with.

Deb has fond memories of students who have come through the class at Integreat in Gladstone.

“Seeing familiar faces in Gladstone over the years reminds me of how far they have come. Everyone has their own success stories. It makes me happy to see past participants gaining employment and be more confident in their conversations.”

Many funny moments have happened over the years as Debs says “Australian slang is generally difficult to understand”. Even within our office here in Gladstone, we have had some moments where everyday phrases for Australians have led to some hilarious conversations.

Thank you Deb for your commitment and for making a difference in the lives of our multicultural community, building up their confidence and helping them succeed.

We offer FREE Conversational English classes every Thursday (during school term) from 1-2.30 pm at 7 Goondoon St. Come meet Deb, learn and grow.

Crystal Shines at Mindcare Moments

Crystal Shines at Mindcare Moments

Crystal Bellert completed our Certificate III in Hospitality in 2023 and was an absolute delight as her sparkling personality lit up our office in Gladstone.

Crystal is now shining at Mindcare Moments: a café offering Coffee for a cause that matters. She manages the café and says she gained a great deal from her time at IntegreatQLD, learning from Rina Lim.
“Everything I learnt is being used in this position and I don’t think I could have taken on this big of a role if I hadn’t completed that course,” Crystal said.
“Watching the trainees gain skills and confidence and knowing I’m making it possible for them, makes me smile every day.”

Regarding the accomplishment she has achieved, Crystal says “I feel awesome and a big part of that is thanks to IntegreatQLD for being so supportive of my journey.”

Every coffee sold at Mindcare Moments helps promote improved mental health and well-being of people experiencing mental health challenges in Gladstone.

Mindcare Moments is supported by Rio Tinto Yarwun, Queensland Alumina Limited, & Boyne Smelter Limited as they recently contributed to Mindcare Moments Cafe’s new coffee machine.

In alignment with its mission, Mindcare Moments sources its products locally while it serves coffee from Australian Warfighter, an Australian non-profit organisation that directs all profit towards supporting veterans and first responders dealing with mental health challenges.

You can meet Crystal yourself at this wonderful café!
Open 7.30 am – 3.30 pm, Monday to Thursday.
147 Goondoon St, located in the Mindcare building.

From Micro Food Business Training to Big Opportunities

From Micro Food Business Training to Big Opportunities

Devlin Bain, Integreat Queensland’s Micro Food Business trainee, has some exciting things happening, as he and his wife embark on a journey to deliver fish and chips here in Gladstone. This is a true testament to the power of hard work and determination.

In 2022, Devlin lost everything in the floods that severely affected Lismore in NSW. Moving to Gladstone for a fresh start, he has become part of the community.

With the help of our highly experienced trainer, Pierre, Devlin was able to seize a great opportunity and is now the proud owner of Devlin’s Old Time Fish and Chips.

Devlin has over 20 years’ experience in hospitality, starting as a volunteer, and helping to serve functions serving over 500 people. “We moved so fast. The waitresses would come and carry out 4 plates at a time and we would just keep going,” Devlin said.

He has clear ideas about what he wants to serve his customers now. “I cook with real butter, and I toast the buns for the hamburgers on the hotplate. My hamburgers will have beetroot too. Real burgers have beetroot.”

By extending the opening hours, Devlin hopes to attract more customers. Being open until 9 pm along with DoorDash available, everyone will be able to support this new local business.
Kristy Niemand, our Program Coordinator, is excited to see Devlin’s progress. “Pierre worked with Devlin to make this happen and we are all so impressed. I’m looking forward to lunch on Wednesday.”

Devlin’s Old Time Fish and Chips officially opens Wednesday, 1st May, from 9am. Find the shop at 281 J Hickey Ave, Clinton, at the Airport Village shops. Phone orders are available by calling 0473 300 358.

Old Time Fish and Chips opening hours are:
Wed to Sunday – 10 am to 9 pm

The Micro Food Business training program is proudly support by Gladstone Regional Councils Elevator Fund.

Meet Aurora: ATQLD’s Admin trainee!

Meet Aurora: ATQLD’s Admin trainee!

Aurora is currently doing her placement as Business Administration trainee at IntegreatQLD. Although she enjoys her time at Integreat, she confesses that she still has some reservations about answering the phone due to the language differences she has encountered from most Australians. Nonetheless, she remains committed to learning and assimilating into the Australian culture. She is delighted to be a part of IntegreatQLD and to contribute to our multicultural community.

She is originally from the Philippines, where she was a store manager at Guess store for 14 years. Aurora resigned from her job when she became pregnant with her youngest child. Together with her husband – an OFW who was often far from home – they started a business catering to pets and animals. They also owned a truck business for hire.

In 2019, Aurora and her family received approval for their PR (Permanent Residency) in Australia. They came to the country for the first time in May 2019, just for three weeks, to put the first entry in their passport. In December 2023, Aurora and her two children, aged 12 and 18, moved to Gladstone, to start a new life with her husband who had been living in Australia since 2011.

The most surprising thing for Aurora since moving to Australia is the people’s friendliness and the cleanliness of the place and surroundings.
In her free time, Aurora loves to cook for her family, watch movies, and go on walks with her daughter in the shopping malls. For her son, they enjoy walking and jogging at the park in the late afternoon.

Aurora’s family has had a positive experience since moving to Australia. Her youngest child was accepted into Gladstone State High School as a Year 7 student, while her eldest child found out that she could still pursue her chosen career in Forensic Science.

Congratulations to Aurora and her daughter for recently passing their driving test and getting their driver’s licenses, which they consider a great achievement to start a new life in Australia!

We look forward to working with Aurora in the next few weeks and hoping to share our diverse culture here at IntegreatQLD.

Thank you, Apprentices and Trainees Queensland (ATQLD) for providing opportunities for people wanting to enter the workforce or upskill through Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.

Kristy Recommends Malva Pudding dessert

Photo from ImmaculateBites, africanbites.com

Malva pudding is a South African sweet pudding made with apricot jam and has a spongy caramelised texture. It is served warm with cold custard and/or ice-cream, and a cream sauce is poured over it while hot.

Course dessert:
Cuisine South African
Servings 10 people
Prep Time 10 min
Cook Time 35 min

Ingredients for the Pudding:

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• pinch salt
• 2 large egg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 tablespoons smooth apricot jam
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 3/4 cups milk

For the Sauce:

• 2 cups boiling wate
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 10 ml vanilla essence
• 2 tin (380 gr) evaporated milk

Instructions For the Pudding:

1. Sieve the flour, baking powder, brown sugar and salt into a medium mixing bowl.
2. Add the eggs, baking soda, jam, butter and milk.
3. Mix thoroughly until all the ingredients are incorporated. Transfer batter into a baking
   dish.
4. Bake for 35 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius. The pudding will be baked brown and
   when tested, the knife will come out clear.

For the Sauce:

1. While the pudding is in the oven, prepare the sauce by combining the water, sugar,
   vanilla and evaporated milk in a microwavable bowl.
2. Microwave these ingredients until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Pour the hot sauce over the pudding little by little. You will see that the sponge will
   just suck up that sauce, so keep on adding a little sauce at a time.
4. This can take several minutes for the sponge to absorb all the sauce; it helps if you
   poke a few holes in the pudding with a knife to ensure more sauce is being absorbed
   in all the good places.
5. Serve hot with custard or vanilla ice cream.
   Recipe Notes

If you prefer a less drenchy pudding, I recommend you halve the sauce ingredients.
You will still enjoy a sticky and sweet pudding, just more firm.

If you are interested to share your recipe to the community, please email contactus@integreatqld.org.au