What a fun-filled morning it was! Margie Hyde, a resident of Carinity’s Wishart Gardens retirement village in Brisbane, paid a visit to Carinity Education Southside in Sunnybank.
Here, she joined the students for a unique inter-generational activity filled with cooking and laughter.
Margie brought with her the cherished recipe for her traditional Christmas Apricot Balls, a delightful treat she created decades ago while baking with her granddaughter, Mia.
Reflecting on the inspiration behind the recipe, Margie explained: “I wanted a recipe that was simple to make, one that my young granddaughter would enjoy.
“She always had fun rolling them in the coconut. We made this recipe every Christmas, and now that Mia is all grown up, she continues the tradition by making it for her own family.”
Margie jumped at the chance to spend the morning in the Carinity Education Southside kitchen with the students.
Jasper and Shaylee, both Year 12 students, prepared the mixture under Margie’s guidance, followed by fellow students Kirrah and Chekaela, who rolled the mixture into bite-sized pieces.
Inspired by Margie’s traditional approach, students Alice and Lex joined in to add a modern twist to the bag of Christmas treats.
They baked red velvet cupcakes, which were decorated with Christmas-themed sprinkles and toppers. Margie, a seasoned member of the Queensland Cake Decorating Association, provided tips on icing decoration.
“Make sure you pipe from the inside out,” she advised, “using a consistent pressure on the piping bag.”
Proudly presenting their beautifully decorated cupcakes, the students expressed joy in their newfound skills.
“Look at my perfect cupcake!” Kirrah exclaimed, while Lex remarked, “Mine’s not perfect, but I definitely feel like I’ve improved.”
After the cooking session, the students and Margie gathered around a pot of tea to share their delightful treats. Margie playfully quipped as she took a big bite, “Well, girls, I’ll see how good a cook you are!”
Margie has been a resident at Carinity Wishart Gardens retirement village for over five years and couldn’t speak more highly of her home.
“I live in the independent living part of the village, and at the top, there’s the Residential Aged Care,” she explained. “We love living in that village; it’s a Christian environment, which makes it extra special.”
Curious about the retirement village, teenager Jasper asked if she could rent a house at Wishart Gardens.
“To be a part of the village, you need to be an ‘old bird’,” Margie explained. “In other words, residents typically need to be at least 70 years old to call Wishart Gardens their home.”
Margie’s Apricot and White Chocolate Balls recipe
Ingredients
100 grams white chocolate bits
200 grams of dried apricots, roughly chopped.
1 cup desiccated coconut
1 tsp orange zest
1/2 can sweetened condensed milk
Extra desiccated coconut for rolling.
Makes 24 balls, depending on the size of each ball.
Method
1. Place white chocolate bits and dried apricots in food processor and blend well.
2. Add desiccated coconut and blend to combine.
3. Add orange zest and sweetened condensed milk and blend to combine.
4. Roll approximately 1 tablespoon of mixture into balls and then roll each ball in extra coconut and refrigerate for approximate two hours before serving.
These balls will freeze well for up to 3 months.
