Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2017 i Australian Women’s Weekly NZ

From all of us at The Australian Women’s Weekly, thanks for being with us this year, and our very best wishes to you and your families this Christmas. Have a safe and happy holiday. There’s been a lot of excitement in The Australian Women’s Weekly office this month. We’d been happily caught up in the festive spirit, poring over the pages of Christmas recipes, crafts and gifts to make in this issue… and then came the announcement we’d all been waiting for. The engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. After months of speculation, Kensington Palace officially confirmed the couple were engaged and set for a May 2018 wedding. With Kate’s third baby due the month before Harry and Meghan walk down the aisle, we’re likely to experience a level…

“ As soon as I gave birth, something happened. ” Seven years ago, Julie Walters almost called time on her career. “When I reached 60, I thought, ‘What would that be like, to actually retire?’ It gave me a great feeling of relief, that I’d got here now and I could actually stop. And I didn’t do anything for about a year. I wanted to find out what I really wanted.” Turning work down, she only shot two weeks on the final Harry Potter movie, playing Mrs Weasley. It was bliss. “I was thinking, ‘I’m really happy being at home, I’m not bothered about working.’” Then she was offered The Last of the Haussmans at London’s National Theatre and the beloved British actress jumped at the chance. “I thought, ‘It…

Suzie Denize, Hairy Feet Tours If anyone had asked a school-age Suzie Denize what she envisaged in her future, it’s highly unlikely she would have replied “film-set tour owner/operator”. Just as she would have no doubt shaken her head at any suggestion that an entire film crew, including world-famous actors and an Oscar-winning director, would one day be tramping over the 121ha she calls home, filming scenes for what would become a billion-dollar box office hit. But that’s exactly what’s happened. The upshot of filming part of Sir Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey on a farm situated 14km west of Piopio, in the King Country, has resulted in Suzie’s own unexpected journey. These days, more often than not seven days a week, you’ll find Suzie taking fans of…

“There are 365 empty pages and 12 unwritten chapters ahead of me.” Hooray for summer and my kind of white Christmas – white sand between the toes, that is, and warm waves and gentle breezes wafting the tantalising smell of barbecue cooking through the air. I quite like to celebrate Christmas Day itself at home, but come Boxing Day I’m off to the water’s edge. Actually, it doesn’t need to be a beach either; I’m very relaxed and at home on the banks of a river or at a lake, on a boat or even around a pool. Somehow it’s the water part that is the essential ingredient for my personal unwind process. Summer holidays provide the time to unplug, pull up the sun-lounger, lie back and relax after a…

Summer blues Explore different hues of blue this summer with Sheryl May. The eponymous Gisborne-based brand offers a range of styles in beautiful colours and patterns. Made in limited numbers, a Sheryl May piece is sure to be a show-stopper. For stockists, visit sherylmay.co.nz/stockists. One to watch The SL Collection from Auckland designer Samuel Levi offers stylish watches priced at $99 or $129. Designed to be unisex, the collection’s two elegant designs, Classic (above) and Minimalist, come in a range of colours. Find one to suit you at styledlevi.com. NECK LINE Add a timeless accessory to your summer outfit with a Bird and Knoll 100 per cent silk scarf. The Italian-made Silk Skinny range features fabric designs based on memories of Paris, Morocco and Africa. $174 each, birdandknoll.com. WORKOUT MUMS…

1. Pure Fiji Coconut Milk Bath Soak, $46. After a long day outdoors give your body a break in this comforting, calming and creamy concoction. 2. Tom Ford Mandarino de Amalfi Acqua, 50ml EDP, $358. Deskbound for the day? Transport yourself to the azure sea of the Amalfi Coast via this fresh mix of citrus with a twist of basil and spearmint. 3. Hask Hawaiian Sea Salt Shampoo, $15. Get that effortless wavy texture left after a beach dip, but without the drying effect. 4. Redken Frizz Dismiss Rebel Tame Smoothing Cream, $35. Use a touch of this to smooth coarse, unruly locks and stave off humidity-induced frizz. 5. Colorescience Sunforgettable Tint Du Soleil SPF30, $78. A light foundation that blends suncare and water-resistant colour for an easy on-the-go option.…

Q My best friend recently lost her 44-year-old husband to a heart condition called long QT syndrome. Should she get her teenage children tested for the condition? K.D. Long QT syndrome can be inherited and can cause sudden death in children and young adults due to abnormal heart rhythm. A sign may be fainting with stress or exercise, or for no reason. Treatment may involve medication, a surgical procedure or an implantable defibrillator. The children should see a cardiologist for testing and advice. QI have a problem with my nails peeling and flaking. It seems to start in the nail bed and has been happening for 12 months. Betnovate ointment didn’t help and tests found it wasn’t a fungal infection. What could it be? J.V. Peeling nails may be the…

Traditional roast turkey SERVES 8 OR 16 AS PART OF A BUFFET PREP AND COOK TIME 3 HOURS 15 MINUTES The stuffing can be made a day ahead; keep covered in the fridge. Stuff and roast the turkey close to serving. 4.8kg turkey 1 quantity turkey stuffing (see overleaf) 75g butter, melted ¼ cup fresh thyme leaves 1.5 litres (6 cups) salt-reduced chicken stock, approximately ⅓ cup (50g) plain flour 1 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). 2 Discard neck from turkey. Fill cavity with your chosen stuffing (Step 2, below). Tie legs together with kitchen string; tuck wings under turkey. Place turkey on oiled rack in a large flameproof roasting pan. 3 Combine butter and thyme in a medium bowl. Brush half the butter mixture over turkey (Step…

Spiced kumara tart SERVES 8 PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR 30 MINUTES 40g butter 2 medium (300g) onions, sliced thinly 2 cloves garlic, chopped finely 1 medium (200g) red capsicum, chopped finely 1 cup (120g) almond meal (ground almonds) ¼ cup (20g) grated parmesan ½ teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary 1 egg, beaten lightly 3 large (1.5kg) orange kumara 5 medium (600g) zucchini ¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon ras el hanout 2 tablespoons currants 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, extra baby coriander, to serve 1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). Grease a 27cm (top measurement) enamelled frying pan or a 22cm springform cake pan; line base and side of cake pan with baking paper. Place on an oven tray. 2 Heat butter in…

Three tips for cherry season • Always check the stems first. A greener stem generally means the cherry was likely to be have been picked recently, so it will be fresher. • If possible, always keep cherries refrigerated. It takes less than an hour for cherries at room temperature to lose their quality. Also try to keep them in a plastic bag while in the fridge. • Only wash your cherries as you use them. Washing cherries in advance will cause them to spoil more quickly. Subscribe to chocolate! Do you know someone who loves craft chocolate? Give them the ultimate gift this Christmas with a monthly subscription for The Chocolate Bar. Boxes will contain four hand-picked chocolate bars with tasting notes for $49.50 a month. See thechocolatebar.nz. BURGER STYLE…

Stick it on Love the look of wallpaper but not the fuss of hanging it? With no water, paste, or tradesman required, the bespoke range of self-adhesive, removable fabric wall coverings from BC Magic Wallpaper is the ultimate quick fix. Find a wealth of inspiration at magicwallpaper.co.nz. COASTAL CLASSIC These vintage-look, fringed beach umbrellas are made to be an essential part of the sun-drenched days ahead. Perfect for shade on the sand, the 2m-diameter canopy will also look good by the pool, on the deck or in the garden. Available in five fabrics, $300. paper planestore.com Fun find THE GREAT OUTDOORS Instantly transform an outdoor area with a gorgeous decorative steel screen from TheOutside. Choose from a range of New Zealand designed and crafted pieces or customise your own to…

Gardens just don’t understand the term “holiday season”. It’s the busiest, hottest time of year and they insist on growing and needing tending to stay green – just when you want them to look their best. Luckily, lazy gardeners have strategies to help you keep your cool, and keep your garden. Lawns: Either water, allow them to turn brown until it rains, or install artificial grass. A better answer? Offer small children pocket money, a book or their choice of luxury fruit in return for watering every afternoon. Pruning and planting require skill. Watering can just be wet, messy fun. Weeds: Mulch 60cm deep with fine bark mulch or pea straw, loose enough so that showers can penetrate. Scatter slow-release fertiliser on top and water well. Then forget it for…

READY TO FACE THE DAY Avène Hydrance Optimal aqua cream-in-gel intensely and lastingly hydrates the skin, thanks to the combined action of lipomucine and meiboserine. Protecting the skin against free radicals, it unifies the complexion. More than an all-in-one, this complete care product protects the skin against daily environmental aggressions, hydrating and soothing. RRP $59.99. Visit eau-thermale-avene.co.nz. PAIRS PERFECTLY Delightfully appealing, this Mission Estate sauvignon blanc from the Awatere Valley in Marlborough delivers attractive fruit intensity, showing characters of ripe nectarine, passionfruit and zesty citrus. It’s perfect for that summer barbecue with friends. RRP $16. Available at selected retail stores and online at missionestate.co.nz. SUMMER SKIN SAVIOUR Bio-Oil has been clinically proven to help improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks, uneven skin tone, ageing and dehydrated skin. The formula…

World record breaker Handy hint“ Have some pork or chicken sausages in the freezer, which can be added to Christmas dinner if you have unexpected guests.” What a truly wonderful inspiration Irene O’Shea [Christmas issue] is! At 101 she is the oldest female tandem skydiver in the world. Irene has lived through the heartbreak of losing her daughter, yet she carries on with her dream of breaking another world record – to become the oldest person, male or female, to tandem skydive – and continues bringing joy to others’ lives with her happy smiles. What strength of character and spirit. Thank you for sharing this amazing woman’s story. Irene is an example to all of us with her resilience and love of life. ISABEL ASHMORE Babies’ first Christmas How…

It is the news the world has been hoping for. The lovable Prince Harry – who we watched, with heartbreak, deal with the loss of his mother, Princess Diana, at the age of 12, and go from a mischievous young prince to a tireless charity campaigner – has found “the one”. Royal officials announced on November 27 that the 33-year-old prince and his girlfriend of 16 months, Meghan Markle, are engaged and will marry next year. After the announcement, Prince Harry confessed that he had long known he would propose to actress Meghan, star of the TV series Suits. “When did I know she was the one?” Harry said in response to a reporter’s question at Kensington Palace. “The very first time we met.” Harry proposed in the couple’s Nottingham…

“A good tree is always a little troublesome.” Family Matters Christmas 2017 Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree I fear you’ll be the death of me Why do your branches droop and break? Why do you never stand up straight? Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree You might just be the end of me. Where are the lights that once did blink? I must sit down. I need a drink. Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree This year you’ll be a test for me. Ornaments from years ago Faces in the lights aglow Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree You’re looking pretty good to me. The tree’s complete, just as I planned Tell me who turned on the fan? The tinsel flies around the room I’ll be right back, I’ll…

“The risk is more common with age.” Are you one of the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who have high blood pressure that’s either untreated, or treated but still at an unsafe level? The frightening news is that at least 20 per cent of us are in this situation. Over time, the consequences of untreated hypertension could be a potentially devastating stroke or heart attack, dementia or kidney disease. Even among those already taking medication, many still have dangerously high blood pressure. In Australia, recent analysis by the Heart Foundation found that city people are the worst culprits for not keeping their high blood pressure in check. While people in the country are more likely to have hypertension – 39 per cent compared to 31 per cent – they…

GETTING ORGANISED 1 DAY AHEAD Make cheesecakes Make cake Refrigerate pork uncovered Make stuffing 3 HOURS AHEAD Prepare and cook pork Prepare fruit for punch 1 HOUR AHEAD Make potatoes Assemble picky platter Assemble punch Christmas lunch menu Pimm’s punch My favourite picky platter Crispy crackling pork with sweet onions and plums Lemony roast potatoes Little lemon curd cheesecakes Hazelnut espresso drizzle cake Pimm’s punch SERVES 6-8 PREP TIME 10 MINUTES It’s no secret that I love Pimm’s and will use any excuse to share a jug with friends! 2 cups (500ml) Pimm’s No 1 cup 3 cups (750ml) lemonade, chilled 3 cups (750ml) dry ginger ale, chilled 6 stems fresh round mint, torn into sprigs 3 baby (120g) cucumbers, sliced 1 medium orange, sliced 250g strawberries, halved 4 cups…

GETTING ORGANISED 1 DAY AHEAD Make pavlova Make dips Prepare barbecued prawns Prepare corn Prepare capsicum salad 1 HOUR AHEAD Make lime cream; prepare fruit 30 MINUTES AHEAD Assemble dip platters Barbecued prawns and asparagus with chilli lime dressing SERVES 8 PREP AND COOK TIME 35 MINUTES 2kg uncooked king prawns 500g asparagus, trimmed 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil ¼ cup fresh coriander leaves CHILLI LIME DRESSING ⅓ cup (80ml) lime juice ⅓ cup (80ml) lemon juice ½ cup (125ml) extra virgin olive oil 2 cloves garlic, crushed 2 teaspoons caster sugar 2 teaspoons sea salt flakes 1 fresh jalapeño chilli, seeded, sliced thinly 1 CHILLI LIME DRESSING Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl. 2 Split the body of the prawns lengthways along the back, being careful…

Chocolate Irish cream mousse cake SERVES 12-16 PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR (+ REFRIGERATION TIME) This recipe is best made a day ahead. 200g plain chocolate biscuits ⅓ cup (45g) slivered almonds, roasted 100g butter, melted 3 bamboo skewers 200g dark chocolate Melts gold and silver cachous, edible gold glitter 200g Ferrero Rocher IRISH CREAM MOUSSE 200g milk chocolate, chopped 100g dark chocolate (70% cocoa), chopped 2½ level teaspoons powdered gelatine ¼ cup (60ml) water 2 cups (500ml) cream 4 eggs ⅓ cup (75g) caster sugar ¼ cup (60ml) Irish cream liqueur 1 Grease a 20cm springform pan; line the base and side with baking paper, extending paper 3cm above side. 2 Pulse biscuits in a food processor until some small chunks remain. Transfer to a medium bowl; stir…

“It must meet strict criteria imposed under French law.” “I drink Champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it – unless I’m thirsty.” So said Madame Lily Bollinger – a woman after my own heart. If Champagne makes your heart beat faster too, do read on... • Why so fizzy? “Come quickly, brothers, I am tasting the stars!” Seventeenth-century Benedictine monk Dom Pérignon is credited with perfecting many of the techniques that established the modern Champagne style, including the secondary fermentation in the bottle that traps dissolved CO2 in the wine. Held under pressure, the CO2…

What you’ll need Plain glass jars and lids, any size you’d like Pencil Medium size paintbrush Scissors and craft knife Craft glue and superglue Ribbon and twine For the reindeer Masking tape Resene White paint Glitter stickers (I used snowflakes) Small plastic deer or similar Small pine cones For the copper bling tree Copper paint Stick-on gems Festive cookie cutter For the stripes and strings Assortment of strings, wool, twines and ribbon (choose colours to suit your theme) Gift tags Small Christmas bauble For the hessian Hessian print fabric or similar Fresh rosemary sprig Small wooden peg Note: Before decorating, give jars a clean to remove any dirt or surface grime. Reindeer 1 Cover the front of the jar with strips of masking tape, overlapping them slightly to ensure there…

“I found myself gathering Christmas nature stuff one afternoon.” I’ve always been given an unreasonably hard time by my family for not being in possession of the Christmas spirit. The thing that makes people rush out and buy fairy lights by the thousands and throw them all over the place. The thing that demands you haul home a huge live tree and sit back to watch it slowly die over the period of a month, desperately emitting smells of pine in the hope that someone will notice and rescue it. The thing which demands decorations are bought by the boxful and hung all over the place, creating more clutter than we already have and general messiness. And, worst of all, the thing that demands you take your unwilling baby and…

NEW VISION Get your art fix at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, where you can view a stunning exhibition of more than 150 works by the New Zealand modernist artist Gordon Walters (below). The exhibition shows the evolution of his work over five decades and is running until April 8 next year. Razzle dazzle! Step back into the 1920s with the Christchurch Court Theatre and enjoy one of musical theatre’s most iconic shows – Chicago. The tale of exploitation, adultery, fame, greed, corruption, murder, and all that jazz is on until January 20. For more details, visit courttheatre.org.nz. Twilight concert Break out the beach chairs and picnic rugs and head along to the Katikati Twilight Concert series from January 6. Starting the year off in style are The Lady Killers…

Dame Susan Devoy has mellowed in the years since she ruled the squash courts of the world. The four-time World Open champion and eight-time winner of the elite British Open squash title says she’s embarrassed by her past “obsessive compulsive attitude to winning”. Now New Zealand’s Race Relations Commissioner, in the late 1980s and early 90s she was the golden girl of New Zealand sport. She devoted her life to squash from the time she turned 17. “On the odd occasion that I lost, I was not good to be around,” she confesses ruefully. She would practise for hours every day, along with long spells in the gym. “I prided myself on being the fittest because I felt I didn’t have as much natural ability as everyone else, but I…

Just over a year ago, Mike Willesee was told he had six, maybe 12, months to live. His throat cancer had spread to his lungs and, although he went on to have some success with a trial drug, the disease is now back. Yet Mike says he isn’t worried about the potential pain that awaits him, or even death itself; what he dreads most is God’s judgement. By Mike’s own admission, he has been a sinner for half his life: “I was like a lot of young men of my era, I suppose, I’d never thought of adultery as a sin.” It doesn’t matter that the longtime religious sceptic did an about-turn and reclaimed his childhood Catholicism two decades ago; the damage is apparently done. He figures the only place…

GETTING ORGANISED 1 DAY AHEAD Make labne Cure salmon Prepare ham Make dressing for salad Make raspberry jelly Make verjuice custard 4 HOURS AHEAD Make sabayon Cook ham Prepare eggplant pickle Assemble trifle 30 MINUTES AHEAD Slice cured salmon and assemble Boil potatoes Cured salmon with labne and salmon roe SERVES 8-10 PREP TIME 40 MINUTES (+ REFRIGERATION TIME) You need to begin this recipe a day ahead. 1.2kg fresh skinless salmon fillet 1¼ cups (150g) sea salt flakes ⅔ cup (150g) caster sugar ¼ cup fennel seeds, toasted, bruised 1 cup loosely packed fresh dill, chopped 2 teaspoons finely grated orange rind 100g salmon roe beetroot relish, to serve, optional ½ bunch chervil flat bread or lavosh and sliced bread, to serve LABNE 300g Greek-style yoghurt 1 teaspoon…

GETTING ORGANISED 1 WEEK AHEAD Make White Chocolate Truffles Make White Chocolate Fudge Make White Christmas 1 DAY AHEAD Prepare Lobster Remoulade Prepare octopus Prepare rice salad to end of Step 3 6 HOURS AHEAD Prepare Vietnamese Prawn Cakes Cook salmon if serving cold 2 HOURS AHEAD Assemble Candy Cone Prepare Pickled Cucumber 20 MINUTES AHEAD Cook prawn cakes Assemble salmon Cook octopus Assemble salad Side of salmon with lobster remoulade SERVES 6›8 AS A MAIN OR 12 AS PART OF A SHARED TABLE PREP AND COOK TIME 40 MINUTES (+ COOLING TIME) 1.5kg side of salmon, pin-boned 1 (500g) cooked lobster tail 1 small (150g) fennel bulb ⅔ cup (200g) whole-egg mayonnaise 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard ¼ cup (60ml) lemon juice 1 bunch spring onions, white and pale green…

Gingerbread wreath MAKES 2 WREATHS OR 30 MEDIUM-SIZED BISCUITS PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR (+ REFRIGERATION TIME) You will need three or four different-sized star cutters to make these wreaths. We used 8cm, 6cm, 5cm and 3cm. You can use the Royal Icing to ice the stars on the wreath. 125g butter, softened ½ cup (110g) firmly packed brown sugar 1 egg yolk 2¾ cups (410g) plain flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 3 teaspoons ground ginger ½ cup (125ml) golden syrup or treacle icing sugar, to dust ROYAL ICING 1 egg white 1½ cups (240g) icing sugar, approximately 1 Beat butter and sugar in a small bowl with an electric mixer until combined. Beat in egg yolk (Step 1, below). Stir in sifted dry ingredients and golden syrup to…

Pine cone critter Pine cones Blue and red felt balls Eyes Gold piping Hot glue gun White paint Paintbrush 1 Glue two blue felt balls near the top of the pine cone as a base for the eyes for your critter. Leave to dry. 2 Glue the eyes onto the blue felt balls. Leave to dry. 3 Glue the red felt ball on as the nose of the critter and leave to dry. 4 Twist the gold piping into antler shapes and glue to the head of your critter. Leave to dry. 5 Paint the rest of the body white and leave to dry. (You could also do this as the first step, leaving space for the nose and eyes.) Banksia penguins Banksia seed pods (or pine cones) Foam…

What you’ll need • 1m pine panel (10mm thick) • Sharp saw • Fine sandpaper • Resene Colorwood stain. We used Resene Touch Wood (see note below) • Large and small fine paintbrushes • Clean, lint-free cloth • Pencil and ruler • Testpot of Resene White paint • Stick-on or self-adhesive gems (pearls) • Coat hooks and screws • Screwdriver • Picture hooks (if using removable hangers, make sure they are strong enough to hold the contents of your Christmas stockings) Note: The first task when selecting a wood stain colour is to identify the type of timber you will be staining. The timber’s natural colour will affect the final finish. Different varieties and grades of wood will absorb the stain differently, so it is important that you consider this…

ASK THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S WEEKLY Q My artificial Christmas tree is starting to look sparse but I can’t afford a new one. Do you have any ideas for sprucing it up? H. Crawley. Buy some faux pine garland or pine-coloured tinsel and wrap it around the trunk and branches for extra fullness. You’ll be amazed at how much better it looks, especially with decorations. Bubbles on ice If you’ve forgotten to put the Champagne in the fridge, wrap the bottle tightly in a tea towel wrung out in salty water, then pop it into the freezer – it should be ready to pour in 20 minutes. A better baster For a moist turkey, saturate a large piece of muslin or cheesecloth in melted butter and wine or stock…

India From chaotic markets in Delhi to the inevitable traffic jam as you wait for a sacred cow to cross the road, from the ethereal play of light on the Taj Mahal at sunrise to the collision of colour, scent and sound of local bazaars, India is always impressive. Soak it all up and you will never be the same again. Croatia There is no better way to explore Croatia than by weaving in and around the gorgeous islands and coastline on a traditional sailing ship. Picture-perfect whitewashed villages with terracotta roofs, olive groves and vineyards on rocky landscapes, simple but delicious food from local tavernas, locally produced wines and equally fruity local characters make for a fantastic and authentic break away. KATE’S TIP Trying to stay too close to…

 The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa, Penguin/Random House. “The spare, funny, beautiful writing is utterly seductive and tugs hard on your heartstrings.” Cats are fertile ground for bestsellers, with an audience of aficionados ripe for delighting. But I suspect an international frenzy could break out over The Travelling Cat Chronicles – yes, with cat lovers, but also with readers charmed by this quietly addictive tale of friendship and love. The spare, funny, beautiful writing is utterly seductive and tugs hard on your heartstrings, while the story reads like a gentle fable until the clever twist in its tail is revealed. The book is told in turns by our feline hero and his owner, with the cat narrative proving the more illuminating. Nana is a “hot bloodied” male cat, he…