Healthy Osso Bucco Recipe

Photography by Ben Dearnley

Try our osso bucco recipe for a healthy, tender and mouth watering meat stew.

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 (650g) beef or veal shanks (osso bucco)
• 2 large carrots, peeled, roughly chopped
• 410g can chopped tomatoes with roasted capsicum
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
• 400g can cannellini beans, drained, rinsed

Method

• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add shanks. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes each side or until browned. Add carrot, tomato and 1/2 cup cold water. Cover. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer for 1 hour or until meat is tender.
• Add thyme and beans. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until heated through. Serve.

(Source.)

2 BIG Weeks of School Holiday Fun!

Dinky Dolphins Activities for September School Holidays 

(Sep 23rd – Oct 4th) 

Week One

Mr Toot Clown Show + Circus Workshop 

Tuesday 24th September | 9am-12pm (Duration 3 hrs) 

This will include a variety clown show with Mr Toot and ‘Charlie the puppet’ who does his own amazing magic tricks, fun illusions and plenty of laughs with audience participation. On offer will be a variety of colourful face painting choices, these will guarantee very happy faces with Ester. Mr Toot will be creating fun balloons, some of the popular balloon choices are flowers, dinosaurs, motorbikes and dolphins. Very exciting for children to watch. This is all before the Circus workshop where the children get to join in on the fun and learn how to juggle with scarves and balls, try making their own balloon animal or using the dress up box to become their own imaginative character of their choice. 

Performances are fun and age appropriate for both girls and boys, with a focus on interaction, laughter, coordination and the building of self esteem. 

$15 first child ($12 each sibling)

Mini Chefs Cooking Classes

Thursday 26th September | 9.30am - 11.30am (Duration 2 hrs)

The children will dress up like mini chefs and get to experience hands on cooking. They will get to make their own individual pizzas with all the choices being their own before getting creative 

And designing their own charlotte cake. From spatulas to spoons this event will not be forgotten with their own yummy lunch prepared and a happy snap shot and Chef Outfit to take home. 

$10 first child ($8 each sibling) 

Sports Carnival Fun Day 

Friday 27th September | 9.30am - 11.30am (Duration 2 hrs)

Games and activities will be prepared for example egg and spoon races, potato sack races, relays, parachute play etc. 

$6 first child ($4 each sibling) 

Week Two 

Wildlife Meet, Greet + Interact Show 

Tuesday 1st October | 10am (Duration 1 hr)

The children will get to meet, interact and learn about 12-15 different native animals. Getting up close and personal with these animals is a rare occasion so very exciting for the children. 

The children’s curiosity about the native animals will be made alive as they come face to face with Possums, bandicoots and small kangaroos. Along with some reptiles snakes, lizards and crocodiles. 

$10 first child ($8 each sibling) 

Wet & Wild Day + Jumping Water Slide

Friday 4th October | 9.30am - 11.30am (Duration 2 hrs)

Different games and fun events will be prepared such as sponge throwing, blow up pools, flipper races, thong throwing, water balloons, sprinkler, slip and slide 

$10 first child ($8 each sibling)  

Combo Ticket price 

All 5 events for $40 

All ticket holders from all events go in the draw to 

 SEE PEPPA PIG LIVE!!

Aqua Rhyme Time (baby watery playgroup) - Last Wednesday of the Month

This WEDNESDAY 28th August... 

New Aqua Rhyme Time Class is just like a watery playgroup! It’s designed solely for play and social interaction which is crucial for babies social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. 

• Duration: 30 minutes 
• 11.30am last Wednesday / month 
• Up to and including 2 years old 
• $5/class (open to anyone, all welcome to play) 
• Crèche open during class 
• Bookings not required 

Hope to see you there!

Cumin chicken and pumpkin with warm chickpea salsa Recipe

Photography by Jeremy Simons

Pump up the flavour of spiced barbecued chicken with a garlicky chickpea salad.

Serves: 4

Time to prep: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp dried chilli flakes
• 2 large (about 600g) chicken breast fillets, halved lengthways
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 850g Kent pumpkin, cut into wedges
• 2 tbs lemon juice
• 1 small brown onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 1/2 tbs currants
• 400g can chickpeas, rinsed, drained
• 1/4 cup fresh coriander leaves
• 1 tbs lemon zest

Method

• Combine cumin and chilli in a bowl. Sprinkle half over chicken with 1 tsp oil.
• Place pumpkin in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover. Cook on high for 6 minutes or until just tender. Pat dry. Drizzle over 1 tsp oil. Season.
• Heat a barbecue grill or chargrill on medium-high. Cook the pumpkin, turning, for 6-8 minutes or until tender. Cook chicken, turning, for 5-6 minutes or until cooked. Drizzle over 1 tbs lemon juice. Keep warm.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Stir in onion, garlic, currants and the remaining spice mix for 4 minutes or until soft. Stir in chickpeas for 3 minutes or until warm. Stir in coriander, lemon zest and remaining lemon juice. Season.
• Cut the pumpkin and chicken into pieces. Serve with the warm chickpea salsa.

(Source.)

Get Your Body Ready For Spring!

Time passes so quickly sometimes that seasons often take us by surprise. Never is that more apparent than the arrival of spring and that first hint of warm weather that reminds us just how long it’s been since we’ve tried on those shorts we have stuffed in the bottom of the drawer. Warm weather also brings a renewed interest in those New Year’s resolutions we made so long ago and, perhaps, stopped working towards sometime during the dreary winter months. As a result, many people find they’re starting all over again, eager to get their bodies ready for spring. While you can’t make drastic changes in just a few weeks, it is possible to get back on the workout track and make some progress before you box up the sweaters and head outside. So here are some tips to get you ready for your best spring/summer yet! 

1. Don’t diet. Yep, that’s what it says. Diets actually slow down your metabolism, which causes you to gain weight. When you lose weight by dieting alone, you also lose muscle mass. The loss of your muscle will slow down your metabolism. Instead, eat at least four to five small meals a day. This will help your body burn the fuel most efficiently. 
2. Don’t drink your calories. Unless you are juicing your own fruits and vegetables, soft drinks and many juices have very little nutritional value. These extra calories are added to your day and the first ones you should drop. If you were to replace just one caloric drink a day with water, you can lose two pounds a month. 
3. Change it up. Chances are you wouldn’t have even started reading this article if what you’re currently doing was working for you. You’ve hit a plateau from doing that same old routine over and over. It’s time to change it up! It is crucial to always confuse your muscles to ensure you get the most out of your workout. If muscle confusion confuses you, you might consider consulting a fitness expert, like the ones at Dolphins Health Precinct. 
4. Incorporate high-intensity interval workouts. We all have busy schedules and group fitness workouts can be an effective way to tone and get into shape, choose RIPPLE EFFX programs two to three times a week. With R.E workouts, you get the most bang for your buck. You’ll get more out of your workout in 20 minutes of interval training than most people on the elliptical for an hour. 
5. Pass on the salt. High-salt foods cause your body to retain water, which gives you a bloated belly. To get rid of excess salt and water weight, actually drink more water. Water helps flush the salt from your system. You can shed that bloat with this one tip. 
6. Make a small change — and stick to it. Make one goal to yourself at a time. Maybe it’s removing soft drink from your lunch or moving for five minutes a day. Just make it attainable and commit to it. Once you master that first goal, you can add another to it, and so on 
7. Be realistic. As much as we’d all love to drop 3 to 5 kilos in a week — especially as summer approaches — it’s not very doable without going to extreme measures. Instead, strive to lose 1 per cent of your body weight a week that’s a healthy goal. 
8. Eat real food. Forget the packaged diet dinners and low-fat snacks. Fresh fruits and vegetables are higher in nutrients than processed meals — plus, they’re rich in fibre, which will keep you feeling fuller longer. Lean meats like chicken and fish are high in protein and will help you burn more fat while building muscle mass. And yes, you can put some steak on the BBQ — just eat it in moderation. The calorie count is higher in red meat, so opt for palm-sized portions instead of the four ounces you would eat of chicken or fish. 
9. Don’t skip carbs. Just remember that not all carbohydrates are created equal: White bread, rice and sweets are nutritionally poor, but sweet potatoes, brown rice, oats and whole-grain bread are both delicious and healthy. 
10. Join a gym. Train at a place with people who care and will support you. Dolphins Health Precinct has programs and variety for all ages and fitness levels. As always, be sure to exercise responsibly and consult with a fitness expert to ensure you use proper form. Summer and warmer weather will be here before you know it, so get started right away to show off your physical fitness and summer-ready body. Call Dolphins Health Precinct now.

Everyone's Goals Met

Dolphins Health Precinct Personal Trainers:
Angela Mitrovic, Aaron Wheeler & Teneka Hyndman

You don’t have to be a movie star or a celebrity to have a personal trainer!

At Dolphins Health Precinct we believe that everyone deserves the right to a healthier you. Dolphins’ experienced trainers will cater to your goals, making fitness and health achievable and fun. Programs are developed with your goal in mind, whether it be weight loss, rehabilitation, getting back into fitness after a break or a baby or on doctor’s advice, Dolphins trainers can assist you. Training can also be flexible and small group or training with a friend is available. 

So why not kick start the summer season with a personal training package at Dolphins Health Precinct.

Learn to Swim with ENJOYMENT!

Through the Dolphins Health Precinct philosophy, Dolphins, with the help of our friend Splash, will give your child the ultimate in fun-based learning. The Learn to Swim teachers’ goal in every lesson is to create an adventure where children will be transported by new and innovative teaching techniques. This will ensure that they will both enjoy their time and learn at a faster rate.

The facilities have been specifically designed with children in mind and cater to their every need, making every lesson an enjoyable experience. To assist children to learn how well they are progressing on their learn to swim journey, Dolphins Health Precinct Learn to Swim program consists of 12 levels. The different levels, each represented by a named Dolphin character, mark a different and significant stage in the learning process.

The learn to swim year consists of four terms to coincide with Queensland school terms. Certificates are awarded to learn to swim students who partake in Safety Week and/or term certificates. Safety Week is a dedicated week each term that is governed by Royal Life Saving. Upon successful completion of the Royal Life Saving Swim & Survive program, each participant is awarded a certificate. Term certificates are awarded to Learn to Swim students who progress up a level in the program.