Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2019 i Australian Women’s Weekly NZ

My eldest son Harry started college as we were working on this issue. As any parent knows, these milestones can be exciting – and hugely emotional! Well, it certainly was for me. So when I read the letters our cover star Renee Wright, along with Carole Hirschfeld, Stacey Morrison and Miranda Harcourt, wrote to their daughters in celebration of International Women’s Day (Friday March 8), it was difficult to hold back the tears. Each of these well-known Kiwi women has written a heartfelt tribute to their children, with poignant insights into their personal experiences of motherhood – arguably one of the most influential roles a woman can have. The open letters are moving and full of wisdom. “My mother... she is beautiful, softened on the edges and tempered with a…

Wallace Cotton’s new autumn collection of bedlinen is available from March and features beautiful colours and botanical prints inspired by nature. The season’s offerings include the lush Botanica, a reversible, organic cotton leafy print in shades of green. Our letter of the month writer this month will receive a queen or king size Botanica duvet set, worth $159.90 (queen) or $179.90 (king). To view the full autumn collection, visit wallacecotton.com . Writers of other published letters will receive an Australian Women’s Weekly cookbook.…

DON’T BADGER ME Badger-hair brushes will disappear from Australia’s Priceline retailer following a PETA exposé of the cruel methods used by badger-brush producers. RARE CUBS ARRIVE In Sydney, Taronga Zoo’s Sumatran tiger Kartika has given birth to three cubs. The new arrivals are an exciting addition as Sumatran tigers are extremely rare. PIGLET’S LUCKY YEAR A piglet who was born without her front hoofs has been rescued by animal lover Kelly Nelder, who is investigating the possibility of 3D printing to create special pig shoes.…

On the moonless night of January 26, 2009 a body was allegedly dropped into the cold water of Tasmania’s Derwent River, never to be recovered. The deceased was Robert Chappell – Bob to his friends – a 65-year-old physicist who worked in the Royal Hobart Hospital’s oncology unit where he was completing one final project before retirement. When his partner Sue Neill-Fraser arrived at the marina the following morning after police called to say her yacht was sinking, the full extent of the tragedy was not yet apparent. The first thing she asked was, “Where’s Bob?” Neill-Fraser stood at the water’s edge, telling Constable Shane Etherington her partner Bob had been working on the yacht, which had been giving the couple trouble since they purchased it in Queensland in December.…

Colin Fassnidge is no stranger to getting himself into trouble on social media. The fiery Irish chef has started infamous Twitter wars with a slew of restaurateurs, including veteran chef Tony Bilson, and disgruntled diners, notably Australian TV host Tracy Grimshaw. But his latest online brouhaha was far closer to home. It came about after Colin, who dubs himself “the king of pranks”, drew a moustache on his younger daughter’s face while she slept, snapped a photo and uploaded it to Facebook. “Maeve is quite private, a bit like me,” says Colin’s wife of 13 years, Jane Hyland. “We had to have an intervention with him when he put up that photograph without her permission. She said to him, ‘You’re not allowed to do that.’ He was given a letter…

Our eldest son, Patrick, is on paternity leave and loving it. “I get to look after the baby all day,” he explained. The MOTH (The Man of the House) watched, fascinated, as Patrick deftly popped our new grandson, Finnegan, into a baby carrier. The two of them were going to buy a newspaper and coffee. Finn gurgled happily and kicked his chubby legs with excitement. “You can have a ‘babycino’ but you’re too little for a marshmallow,” Patrick told him solemnly. We had this discussion yesterday.” Finnegan looked unconvinced. “Isn’t that lovely?” I said to the MOTH as the door closed behind father and son. “I like the baby carrier,” the MOTH admitted. “You can hold a beer and a baby at the same time. Too bad they weren’t around…

Q I want to clean out my crammed closet, but every time I’ve attempted this in the past I have felt overwhelmed and ended up not throwing away anything or throwing away things I should have kept. Can you advise me on this? A It seems an overwhelming task to clean out a closet, but it doesn’t have to be. You can always do one drawer or section at a time – you don’t have to do it all in one day. I would start by removing things that no longer fit you. Don’t hold onto those jeans that are two sizes too small – move them on! And you don’t need five black jackets – you only need one that fits perfectly. Sort items into three piles: one pile…

1. Revlon PhotoReady Candid Natural Finish Anti-Pollution Foundation, $30. An excellent new all-rounder that’s easily smoothed on with fingers to even up skin tone beautifully without looking like you’ve applied make-up. It’s packed with skincare benefits, too. 2. Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Matte Powder Foundation SPF 10, $80. Dislike dew? Get a velvety matte look in seconds with this offshoot of famed full-coverage liquid Double Wear foundation, now in powder compact form. 3. Dior Diorskin Nude Luminizer in Lolli’glow, $97. If skin is looking a bit flat, sweep a brush over this and apply over the high points of your cheeks for a touch of peachy radiance. 4. By Terry Nude Expert Duo Stick, $89. If time is of the essence, this stick helpfully combines foundation and highlighter in…

• Notice how often you hear euphemisms like “passed”, “passed away”, “lost”, in conversations and in the media. How can we talk about dying, plan our care, or support those we love during dying – theirs or ours – if we are not prepared to name death? • If you were approaching your own death, who would be the important people to tell? Who do you hope would tell you if they knew that their death was approaching? • What balance do you see between the length of time you live and the quality of life you are living? Do you think that, if you had a choice, you would choose to accept or to forgo treatments that extend your life if they do not restore quality? • Do you…

Roast bacon-wrapped pesto chicken SERVES 4 PREP AND COOK TIME 35 MINUTES 2 tablespoons bottled pesto 4 thick slices ciabatta 8 thin slices streaky bacon 4 x 200g chicken breast fillets, trimmed 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 500g cherry truss tomatoes 60g rocket leaves balsamic vinegar, to serve 1 Preheat oven to 220°C (200°C fan-forced). Oil a large shallow oven tray (approx. 28cm x 36cm). 2 Spread the pesto over each slice of ciabatta; place on the tray. Wrap two slices of bacon around each chicken breast; place on top of ciabatta. 3 Drizzle with half the oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 minutes. 4 Add tomatoes to tray and drizzle with remaining oil. Roast for a further 10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked…

TIPS Swap porterhouse steaks with rump steaks, if you prefer. Use 2 Lebanese cucumbers if baby cucumbers are not available. This recipe can be prepared a day ahead; store in an airtight container in the fridge. If taking to work, transport in an airtight container in a cooler bag. Use quinoa, couscous or pearl barley instead of freekeh and prepare following packet directions. Use a bunch of gai lan instead of broccolini, if you like. Za’atar is available from specialist food stores. To make, combine 1 teaspoon dried thyme with ½ teaspoon lightly crushed sesame seeds and ¼ teaspoon each sumac and salt.…

Dukkah prawn skewers SERVES 4-6 PREP AND COOK TIME 15 MINUTES 1.2kg uncooked large prawns ¼ cup dukkah 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 cloves garlic, crushed 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind 1 Shell and devein prawns leaving tails intact. 2 Combine dukkah, olive oil, garlic and lemon rind in a large bowl. Add prawns; toss to coat in mixture. Thread prawns onto 8 bamboo or metal skewers. 3 Heat a heavy-based frying pan over high heat; cook skewers, turning, until prawns change colour. 4 Serve with lemon wedges. Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Green barley salad SERVES 6 PREP AND COOK TIME 30 MINUTES 1 cup (200g) pearl barley 3 cups (750ml) water 1 cup (120g) frozen peas 1 cup (150g) frozen broad beans 150g green…

Chocolate raspberry cheesecake brownie MAKES 9 PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR (+ COOLING TIME) 125g unsalted butter, chopped 200g dark chocolate, chopped 250g cream cheese, softened ¼ cup (55g) caster sugar 1 tablespoon milk 2 eggs, beaten lightly ½ cup (110g) caster sugar, extra ⅔ cup (100g) plain flour 2 tablespoons cocoa powder ½ teaspoon baking powder 1 tablespoon boiling water 200g fresh or frozen raspberries 100g dark chocolate, chopped, extra 50g raspberries, extra for serving 1 Preheat oven to 160°C (140°C fan-forced). Grease a deep 20cm square cake pan; line the base and sides with baking paper, extending 2cm above side of pan. 2 Place the butter and chocolate in a medium saucepan over low heat and stir until almost melted. Remove pan from heat; stand for 5…

Send us your top culinary tip and go in the draw to win a great prize! A special experience to be savoured amid delightful décor, mood music and the company of friends and loved ones, High Tea by Cordis is a truly memorable occasion for all tea connoisseurs. With a tray of the most delightful and decadent treats made with locally sourced Kiwi ingredients and a professional tea sommelier at your service, this exquisite experience will delight your senses. Next month’s Quick Bites winner will be treated to a Kiwi High Tea at the Cordis for four people, valued at $270! To enter the draw, send your top tip to awweditor@bauermedia.co.nz  with “Quick Bites” in the subject line. Competition closes March 18, 2019.…

1 2017 CHARD FARM CENTRAL OTAGO PINOT GRIS ‘SUR LIE’, $26 “Sur Lie” means “on the yeast lees”, which gives this finely structured and dry pinot gris a rounded, savoury character alongside its fresh pear and nectarine notes. Restrained, subtle and light on its feet, it’s a perfect food wine – just add good cheese and charcuterie. 2 2018 ASTROLABE LATE HARVEST MARLBOROUGH CHENIN BLANC, $30 (375ml) A pure-fruited, lusciously sweet wine from renowned chenin aficionados that retains the variety’s hallmark bracing acidity to deliver vibrancy and freshness. Resplendent with ripe tropical fruit and candied citrus. 3 2018 TONY BISH ‘FAT AND SASSY’ HAWKE’S BAY CHARDONNAY, $23 This delivers exactly what the label says – boldness with ripe stonefruit, creamy MLF and nutty barrel-fermented notes. Old school with sass! 4…

WHAT YOU NEED • Wooden slat wall hanging (available ready-made from craft suppliers, or create your own from offcuts of timber) • Resene testpot paints – I used: Resene Raindance (light blue) Resene Fast Forward (dark blue) Resene Just Dance (dark peach) Resene Soulful (light peach) • Resene Wallpaper – I used: #98591 (floral) #34244-4 (geometric) • Paintbrush • Decorative metal push pin hooks • Ruler, pencil and craft knife • Craft glue • Trinket trays • Sandpaper (120 grit) • Old vases for revamping Resene offers a huge range of stunning wallpapers that are available to order and purchase in small sample sizes. These are perfect in size (and price) for craft projects. I chose a cute floral from the Resene Kyoto collection for our wall hanging and round…

I have been busy this summer expanding my flock of chickens. I’ve done this through the age-old technique of getting your rooster to fancy your hens, then for one of them to go broody and sit on her eggs for three weeks. I had previously bought an egg incubator and tried my hand at hatching eggs that way, but where I live we have a lot of power cuts and this stymied my attempts because no power meant the eggs would go cold. Fortunately, a friend gave me my black hen, Penny, who was showing signs of broodiness. In early December, Penny suddenly disappeared. I arrived up north to find my father having a bit of a panic because he hadn’t seen her for two days. “I’ve called and called…

There’ll be fun and entertainment for all the family at Wellington’s CubaDupa event in the Cuba Street pedestrian precinct on the weekend of March 30-31. Check out the parades, street performances, opera, interactive technologies, live bands, DJs and the delicious Moore Wilson’s Street Food Festival. For details, visit cubadupa.co.nz . Arts extravaganza The Auckland Arts Festival, the biggest annual celebration of arts and culture in Aotearoa, runs from March 7-24 at locations across Tāmaki Makaurau. Theatres, galleries and venues such as marae and the Stardome, will host some of the most exciting performance, art and music events from New Zealand and around the world. For the full schedule, go to aaf.co.nz . Song and dance WOMAD, the internationally established three-day festival of music, arts…

Starring Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, Michael Zegen It’s 1950s Manhattan and Miriam Maisel knows exactly what she wants out of life – a good Jewish husband, a couple of kids and a nice apartment on the Upper West Side. But when her wannabe comedian husband Joel suddenly leaves her for another woman, our Mrs Maisel drunkenly finds herself behind the microphone at his local comedy dive. And it turns out that our Mrs Maisel is 10 times the comedian her two-timing hubby could ever hope to be. So although I am unforgivably late to this Globe, Emmy and SAG-winning Maisel binge-watch party, I can confirm that season one has been an unmitigated joy and a surprisingly delicious and daring comedic escapade.…

Peggy Frew, 42, arrived in Melbourne from the UK as a baby and has never left. She says her childhood was “equal parts solitary daydreaming, playing imagination games with my siblings, and reading, reading, reading”. It’s no surprise then that she decided to be a writer at eight but tarried in her teens, becoming a musician. She took up writing “as a job” in her early 30s. Islands is Peggy’s third novel, inspired by “the deep dark recesses of my mind, where all kinds of stuff – things I’ve seen or heard, things people have told me, dreams, books I’ve read, films, art, my friends and family... everything, lies around like compost and gradually merges and begins to grow new bits.”…

A compendium of well-known Kiwi women from all walks of life, all sharing their personal triumphs, failures and lessons along the way; this magnificent new book by Margie Thomson should be mandatory reading in every New Zealand household. Thanks to Penguin Random House, we have three copies to give away, valued at $65 each. To enter the draw, email your details to awweditor@bauermedia.co.nz , with “Womankind” in the subject line, by March 27, 2019.…

Pisces FEB 20-MAR 20 As the sun, Neptune, Mercury and the new moon all sing “Happy Birthday, Pisces” for the commencement of your astrological year, you are at your most psychic, seductive, artistically inclined … and easily swept away. Discipline, due diligence and logical thinking? Not so much. With Mercury reverse-cycling, it’s absolutely necessary to keep at least one foot (or fin) on Planet Earth, so back up any data, don’t make assumptions, allow extra time for everything and remember you really do need to check those references. The pay-off comes with the lovely Libra full moon on March 21, which will attract unlikely and inspiring new players to your dream team. Aries MAR 21 – APR 21 This month’s dreamy Piscean vibes invite your softer side from its secret…

EASY LEVEL Easy Kaiser Paper Pads Artwork YOU’LL NEED • Assorted Kaiser Paper Pads • Fiskars Hexagon Squeeze Punch • Canvas • Double-sided tape • Scissors 1 Choose 3 contrasting paper patterns. 2 Using the Hexagon Squeeze Punch cut out hexagon shapes from all 3 papers. 3 Start sticking each hexagon onto the canvas with double-sided tape. Stick them in the pattern of your choice, working your way from top to bottom. Ensure they have a small gap between each shape. 4 To finish the edges you will need to cut some of the hexagons in half. Stick along the edge for a neat finish. We created this project using the Fiskars Hexagon Paper punch, available to purchase from SPOTLIGHT for $25. MEDIUM LEVEL Kids Plush Animals YOU’LL NEED KITTY…

GIVEAWAY Jabra’s Elite Active 65t true wireless earbuds are perfect for those who love listening to music on the go. These earbuds promise a snug fit and dependable audio stability, so you’ll never have to compromise on your active lifestyle while enjoying quality music and call experience. With a two-year warranty against sweat and dust, the Jabra Elite Active 65t provides up to five hours of battery life from a single charge, and up to 15 hours in total with the pocket-friendly charging case. We have one pair of Jabra Elite 65t, valued at $349.99, to give away to one lucky reader. To enter the draw, email awweditor@bauermedia.co.nz , subject line “JABRA”, or enter online at nowtolove/JABRA, using the code AWWMG003, by March 27, 2019. FOLLOW US ON…

After 13 years of being in the Royal New Zealand Ballet, star dancer Abigail Boyle is retiring from the spotlight. As the lead in many of the company’s nationwide performances, from Swan Lake through to The Piano, Abigail has been at the heart of the RNZB for a long time. She’ll be staying on as a teacher and coach to train the next generation of ballerinas. BAFTA ROYALTY Two “Queens” and a Duchess stole the show at the BAFTAs. Margot Robbie (above, centre), nominated for Mary Queen of Scots, chose Chanel, while Cate Blanchett (left), who won in 1999 for Elizabeth 1, was bejewelled. The Duchess of Cambridge (right) was a vision in McQueen. Fire crisis Nelson fires It was a terrifying few weeks for Nelson residents when the largest…

Renee Wright GISELLE, FIVE, ARABELLA, TWO Hello my darlings Giselle Aviana and Arabella Valentina – they are big names for little people, but your father and I knew you’d grow into them. To us, every day, you are Gigi and Bella. With your big brother Leo, you are my heart. I always dreamed of being a mother. My brother is eight years younger than me, so I had a lot of practice “mothering” him when we were growing up; driving him to after-school activities when I was 16. I knew that I wanted three children – I’m from a family of three and it’s my lucky number. You’re my little lucky charms! Becoming a mother was the steepest, sharpest learning curve I’ve ever had. My life was flipped on its…

“I have been thrashing about in this business for about 50 years.” “Hello-ohhh,” exhales a breathy voice. “How LOVELY to be talking to you, Ginny.” There’s something spookily captivating about that particular, familiar sound – the depth, the tone, the articulation, the capital-letter emphasis, the old-fashioned pronunciation. It belongs to Joanna Lumley, at 72 an entertainment industry icon and a woman who lives life on her terms – often visiting far-flung, dangerous countries for her travel series or to fight for the rights of Indian Gurkha veterans. Best known as Absolutely Fabulous’ Patsy, The New Avengers’ Purdey and for being a Bond Girl, Joanna’s five-decade contribution to the world of film and television is legendary. In 2017 she was granted the ultimate Bafta accolade of a Fellowship, in recognition of…

Today we witness the House of Windsor largely through a camera lens. It’s up close and often feels awkwardly personal, and from this every minute detail is picked over to tell a story. It may not be the real story – in fact often it’s not – but we have this erroneous notion that the camera doesn’t lie. For the royal family, at their best these photographs are “on message”, and present an image of the monarchy at work, serving the people. But they can also offer a chink of light into the private person behind the public persona and it is this that makes them utterly intriguing and the reason the internet goes into meltdown with every new photo taken. Photographic royal portraits then up the ante with glossy…

“Smart cooking is a learned skill, and like all good things, practice makes perfect.” Entertaining is a doddle if you’ve got a huge budget – I think anybody can be a good cook if money is no object. Gosh, you could just buy oysters on the half shell or even a bucket of crayfish and an eye fillet of beef. I’d go crazy at the greengrocers or probably some fancy little farmers market with loads of gorgeous salad greens and punnets of every kind of sweet delicious berries. Hardly anything needs to be done with fabulous ingredients like these – just a minute under the grill or on each side in a hot pan, a splash of olive oil, a squeeze of fresh lemon and dusting of icing sugar and,…

Fall in love Mark the change of season by adding a shimmer to classic autumnal hues. Tina hoops, $55, and Zhara necklace, $90.witchery.co.nz Otis top, $240 (6-14). marle.co.nz Satin midi-skirt, $150 (6-14), and Brooklyn Slide, $80 (36-41).seedheritage.com/nz ’Tis the season Get head-to-toe toasty by mixing warm brown shades. Eden Crazy Tort sunglasses, $350.karenwalker.com Pleated Raglan tank, $110 (4-16). witchery.co.nz Faith belted skirt, $420 (6-14).camillaandmarc.com/nz Jessie circle bag, $80. seedheritage.com/nz Kerrey heel, $280 (35-41). kathrynwilson.com To be fair Liven up white with touches of animal print. Woven sunhat, $45.seedheritage.com/nz Button-up tie tank, $150 (8-16) and high-waist button pant, $170 (6-16). witchery.co.nz Resin hoops, $23.seedheritage.com/nz Rae bangle set, $110.witchery.co.nz Birkenstock Gizeh, $150 (35-41). birkenstock.co.nz All the white moves Double down on cool pale and then warm it up with accessories. Minkpink Bye Bye Bye sunglasses, $60.minkpinkworld.com Gold clip-on earrings, $90. homageonline.co.nz Haven top, $145…

Out with the old, in with the new! Wave goodbye to hidden nasties in your everyday beauty products and welcome innovative, skincare-inspired ingredients with new Revlon PhotoReady Candid™ Foundation and Concealer. Revlon PhotoReady Candid™ range contains the antioxidant, anti-pollutant power of vitamin E, plus anti-blue light ingredients to help protect skin from the environmental stressors we’re exposed to every day. So with all the good stuff that's gone in, what's been taken out? Think synthetic oils, parabens, phthalates, artificial dyes and fragrances. Now more than ever it's important to know what's in and what's out when it comes to ingredients you put on your skin – and unwanted nasties like these are not what your skin needs! For buildable, weightless coverage, Revlon PhotoReady Candid™ Foundation applies like moisturiser, then blends…

You may discover you have osteoporosis only after a minor bump or fall leaves you with a painful fractured bone. Or perhaps your GP arranges a routine bone-density scan, and suddenly you find yourself having to make decisions about treatment for a problem for which you have no symptoms at all. Osteoporosis can take a toll beyond the pain of a fracture. Losing your independence or being in chronic pain and unable to get around can be just as traumatic as the injury itself. What is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis (“porous bones”) causes bones to become thin, weak and fragile. As our bones lose density, they lose strength. Right throughout life, each bone is in a constant state of change, being broken down and re-formed. Nutrients including protein, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin…

STROKE OUTCOME New research from King’s College London has found that women are twice as likely as men to suffer severe depression following a stroke. The research suggests that females are far more dependent on their social circles to give them a sense of identity but following a stroke social interaction can be extremely difficult, leading to feelings of isolation. EARLY TO BED… Scientists claim early risers are less likely to develop mental health problems than their night-owl counterparts. A study of 700,000 participants found those who stay up later in the evening often have to fight their biological clock in the morning to get up for school or work, and this takes a toll. Greater happiness was linked with those who rose early. Study leader Professor Mike Weedon said…

TIPS Use good quality chunky Italian-style pork or beef sausages to make the meatballs. You will need about 5 trimmed leaves of silverbeet or rainbow chard for this recipe. Rinse leek well between layers as it’s grown in sandy soil. We used Israeli couscous as an alternative to rice for a quick risotto. It’s available from supermarkets. We used a starchy potato, such as Agria. You can use any starchy potato. If you don’t have a mandoline or v-slicer, use a sharp knife to slice them as thinly as you can.…

Ranch MAKES 1½ CUPS PREP TIME 5 MINUTES Blend ½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup buttermilk, 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar, 1 finely chopped small onion, 1 crushed clove garlic, 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives, 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley and ¼ teaspoon sweet paprika until combined. Green goodness MAKES 1¼ CUPS PREP TIME 5 MINUTES Process the flesh of 1 small avocado, 1 cup mayonnaise, 2 finely chopped anchovy fillets, 2 thinly sliced spring onions, 2 teaspoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, 2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives, 2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon and 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar.…

1. TZATZIKI MAKES 1¾ CUPS PREP TIME 15 MINUTES (+ REFRIGERATION TIME) Place a fine sieve over a bowl, spoon in 500g Greek-style yoghurt and ½ teaspoon salt. Cover, refrigerate for 2 hours or until thickened; discard liquid. Meanwhile, combine 1 coarsely grated Lebanese cucumber and ½ teaspoon salt in a small bowl; stand for 20 minutes. Squeeze out excess liquid from cucumber. Combine yoghurt, cucumber, 1 clove crushed garlic and 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves; season to taste. 2. BUTTER BEAN HUMMUS MAKES 3 CUPS PREP AND COOK TIME 10 MINUTES Drain and rinse 800g canned butter beans. Blend or process beans with ½ cup warm water, ¼ cup tahini, ¼ cup Greek-style yoghurt, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 cloves crushed garlic and 3 teaspoons ground cumin until…

Marmalade and sultana cake SERVES 12 PREP AND COOK TIME 2 HOURS 30 MINUTES (+ OVERNIGHT STANDING TIME) 1 cup (130g) sultanas 1 cup (250ml) orange-flavoured liqueur 1 large orange (300g) 1 cup (250ml) water 1½ cups (330g) caster sugar 185g butter, softened 3 eggs 1 cup (120g) ground almonds 1 cup (150g) plain flour ½ cup (75g) self-raising flour ORANGE GLAZE 3 cups (480g) pure icing sugar ¼ cup (60ml) orange juice, approximately orange food colouring 1 Combine sultanas and liqueur in a small bowl. Cover and stand overnight. 2 Cut unpeeled orange into eight wedges; cut wedges thinly crossways. Place fruit and seeds (if any) in a small bowl with the water. Cover; stand overnight. 3 Transfer orange mixture to a medium saucepan; bring to the boil. Reduce…

TEXAN FLAVOUR The brand behind New Zealand’s most authentic Texan-inspired smoked beef brisket, pork belly, cheeses and butter can now be found in the chilled section of supermarkets. Ready to eat hot or cold, Texas BBQ Foods come in specially designed packs so the slow-cooked meats can be heated in seconds. From $6.75. OYSTER SAUCE Add some Asian inspiration to your next meal with Lee Kum Kee Oyster Sauce. It’s perfect for marinades, stir-fries, gravies and casseroles, and it’s the ideal pantry staple when you want to add authenticity and flavour to meals. Available at leading supermarkets in Premium and Panda varieties, from $3.59. DID YOU KNOW? Three-quarters of the food in the world comes from only 12 plants and five animal species!…

The “nose” of wine is basically how a wine smells. I suppose the word gets used because it’s consistent with the descriptive term “palate” for the taste of a wine. It might sound pretentious but in fact your nose is what you use to start the tasting process. It is by far the most sensitive of your sense organs, capable of detecting up to 10,000 different smells. The palate is the actual taste of a wine, detecting levels of sweetness, sourness, saltiness, bitterness and savouriness. Your nose fills in the rest, which is why you swirl a wine around your mouth before spitting or swallowing, releasing volatile compounds that then waft back up your throat to your nasal sinuses, giving you the complete picture. If you don’t believe me, try…

Japanese queen of clean Marie Kondo is clearly not a gardener. Named as one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people, the best-selling author and star of her own hit Netflix show, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, has become a worldwide phenomenon with her revolutionary “life-changing” approach to magically getting rid of household clutter. Kondo rolls up her socks like sushi, folds her T-shirts as fabric origami and says you should biff anything you own that doesn’t spark joy when you hold it. (Anything less than joyful, from frayed jerseys to Tupperware containers without lids, should then be thanked for their faithful service before being bundled off to the local charity shop.) I like this idea, in theory, but in reality my house already resembles the back room of an…

Dine out at the iconic Hokitika Wildfoods Festival on its 30th birthday! The West Coast event will be marking the milestone on March 9 with an extra special programme of music, entertainment and dare-to-try-it cuisine. More than 50 stalls will offer every element of wildfoods, from huhu grubs to the not-quite-so-adventurous whitebait. Find out more at wildfoods.co.nz . Your Body is a Wonderland singer John Mayer kicks off his 2019 World Tour with a one-night-only show in New Zealand on March 23. You can see the seven-times Grammy winner at Auckland’s Spark Arena. To book tickets, head to ticketmaster.co.nz .…

Islands by Peggy Frew , Allen & Unwin. Review by Juliet Rieden This overwhelming new novel from Australian author Peggy Frew is not just an examination of how a self-absorbed couple can really mess up their children’s lives, it’s also a deep and meditative piece of literature. Helen and John’s marriage has gone stale. At least that’s what Helen thinks. A year before she embarks on an affair, the signs are already there. “What is happening is a restlessness, an irritability with John and their daughters that, no matter how much she tries to resist it, prickles and bloats until she can’t stand it,” writes Frew. When Helen leaves, she blows up their family unit and the repercussions are shocking. John dissolves into a blubbering pool of…

THE DREAMERS by Karen Thompson Walker, Simon & Schuster After leaving a college party with what she says is a fever, freshman-year student Kara is found fast asleep in her dorm by her troubled room-mate Mei. It looks as if Kara passed out drunk on her bunk, but the next morning she is still asleep and can’t be woken. The paramedics whisk her off to hospital. Soon more students are falling asleep, and what initially looked like college high jinks has morphed into an inexplicable viral epidemic in a small Californian community. One of the victims had her first sexual encounter the night before she falls “asleep” and now she is pregnant. The town is sealed off and yet more collapse into slumber, and while asleep their dreams are revelatory.…

One Minute Later by Susan Lewis , HarperCollins In the blink of an eye your life can change in a heartbeat... everything. Jet-setting London lawyer Vivienne (Vivi) Shager has what she believes is the perfect life – she’s on the right corporate track, has wonderful friends, a dreamboat financier boyfriend, lives in a Chelsea apartment and has just finished competing in a marathon. What could possibly go wrong? A lot, as it happens. Over a Champagne celebration at a restaurant to celebrate her 27th birthday, Vivi suffers a major heart attack and all her hopes and dreams for the future shatter into tiny pieces. Her prognosis is grim, she is terminally ill and unless she has a heart transplant, could die within the year. Unable to care…

My favourite pet… I’ve always wanted a monkey – my dad had one growing up in Vietnam. My fondest childhood memory is… Going to Long Bay this one summer with my family. We played in the park and had a swim and a big barbecue. It was the simple days I loved the most. The last concert I went to was… Taylor Swift’s Reputation Stadium tour in Auckland with my Mulan crew. The item I would save from a fire is… Does my family count as one item? The film or book that changed my life is… The book The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. My most memorable outfit ever was… Pink chiffon shorts, with a hot pink jumper wrapped around my legs and another pink jersey on top.…

Letter of the month After reading Amanda Millar and daughter Tennessee’s interview with Emma Clifton in the February issue, I felt compelled to attend the screening of their film Celia in Nelson, which also coincided with the fourth anniversary of Celia Lashlie’s death. I have known of the Millar family for many years and followed Amanda’s successful career with interest. Great credit should be given to Amanda for what must have seemed a near impossible task, due to Celia’s untimely passing. I have purchased all of Celia’s books over the years and handed them on to my children, taken an interest in her views on family violence, prisons and bringing up children, and felt as if I knew her to some degree. A big thank you…

SOME LIKE IT HOT… STILL! It is widely considered one of the best comedies of all time and this month the classic movie turns 60. FRIEND TURNS 50 Jennifer Aniston celebrated her 50th birthday with her best friends, including Kate Hudson and Gwyneth Paltrow, who gushed Jen was her “ray of sunshine”. FAREWELL DOLLY Carol Channing was Dolly before Barbara Streisand, and knew diamonds were a girl’s best friend before Marilyn. The star, 97, passed away last month, leaving a glorious legacy.…

A couple of weeks back, the Duchess of Sussex, heavily pregnant and smiling from ear to ear, made a special stop with husband Prince Harry on their chilly day-trip to Bristol in England’s southwest. With snowflakes falling around them, the royal duo visited one of the vans of charity One25, which drives around the city handing out food, blankets, condoms and comfort to women trapped in street sex-work. The schedule released in advance to me and other royal correspondents had asked for this part of the day to be kept under embargo. The charity had wanted to protect the anonymity of the women and keep it secret. But what happened there hit headlines around the world. As Meghan watched charity workers assemble meal bags, she had a light-bulb moment. The…

A slow slide into a quiet retirement was never going to suit the woman who is arguably one of our most popular politicians. 2018 was quite a year for Annette King. She was created a Dame. The endorsement of her nomination came not from the Labour Government, but from National, something that makes the honour, as she says, “even more special”. And the fact that she is so widely respected across the political divide made her a sitter for our most important diplomatic post – High Commissioner to Australia. It’s a role she’s settling into now with characteristic vigour, plunging straight into a new life in Australia. She’s sold her long-term home in Wellington’s Hataitai to embrace life in Canberra. “Australia is incredibly important to us, we have so much…

To her adoring fans, Hedy Lamarr was a screen temptress – the exquisite Delilah in 1949 Samson and Delilah, which became box office film of the year and revived the fortunes of MGM. But she was much, much more, and had opportunities for women been what they are today, her life and legend could have been very different more than half a century ago. Documentary film-maker Alexandra Dean’s vital, excellent film, Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story, with co-executive producer Susan Sarandon, goes a long way to putting that watery history into perspective, even discovering a recording of the legend being interviewed at 75 years old. As a child in Austria, Hedy tinkered and “took things apart”; her untutored brilliance in science producing home-made gadgets. Once World War II started, she…

50g butter 2 tablespoons flour good dollop of Dijon-style mustard salt and pepper 2-3 cups milk handful of grated tasty cheese or, even better, parmesan Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Stir in the flour and a good dollop of Dijon mustard. Add a generous amount of salt and pepper, then whisk in the milk. Add the grated cheese. Stir continuously with a wire whisk and add extra milk to get the sauce to the desired consistency (make it thicker for cauliflower cheese and thinner for macaroni).…

Add some je ne sais quoi to your wardrobe with the new collection from Loobie’s Story. A Parisian Life brings together beautiful colours and fabrics to create a sophisticated look. Add an extra element to your outfit with Deadly Ponies Silks. The luxurious collection features scarves, “bridles” (narrow, tie-type scarves) and scrunchies in vibrant prints and colours, all made from beautiful silk fabrics. Use one to adorn yourself or to embellish the handle of your leather bag. See the range of bags and silks at deadlyponies.com. Pretty picks Hand-made in Dunedin, Creeps & Violets jewellery creates modern, unique pieces for everyday wear. Above: Pearl ring, $199, and Rose earrings, $219. creepsandviolets.com SHOE SHINE Let your feet shine in a pair of sparkly metallic shoes from Ziera. The Briar sneaker…

STEP ONE PRIMER Bourjois Healthy Mix Primer, $36. Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting Primer, $32. L’Oréal Paris Infallible Mattifying Primer, $28. Natio Pure Mineral Face Primer, $24. STEP TWO CONCEALER L’Oréal Paris Infallible Total Cover Concealer Palette, $30. Rimmel Insta Conceal & Correct, $20. Maybelline New York Coverstick W erproof, $21. STEP THREE TINTED MOISTURISER L’Oréal Paris Nude Magique BB Cream, $33. Nude by Nature Sheer Glow BB Cream, $35. Avène Day Protector Tinted BB Cream SPF30, $49. Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream Anti-Ageing, $20. STEP FOUR SETTING Rimmel London Insta Fix & Matte Translucent Powder, $17. L’Oréal Paris Infallible Fixing Mist, $27. Lancôme Long Time No Shine Setting Powder, $70. NYX Professional Makeup Setting Spray, $15.…

A good night’s sleep is fundamental to physical and mental health. Tossing and turning in bed can leave you sluggish, tired and irritable. If you’re feeling sleep-deprived, you’re not alone. Many Kiwis fight a battle to get to sleep or stay asleep, and research by insurance company Sovereign has found that more than a third of us aren’t getting enough quality sleep. “How we spend our day affects how we sleep and how we sleep affects our wakeful hours,” explains sleep expert Dr Carmel Harrington. “Without adequate sleep we are more susceptible to cold or flu infections and more likely to develop certain cancers, as well as heart disease,” she adds. “Lack of sleep also impacts our productivity because it impairs our capacity to think and learn. It’s also associated…

It’s important to start young – building healthy bones in children with an active lifestyle and a balanced diet with plenty of calcium and other nutrients is the best safeguard against developing osteoporosis later in life. • Eat a healthy diet, including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables (especially broccoli), tofu and wholegrains. There should be enough protein and calcium either in your diet or with supplements (1500mg/day for an adult). Dairy foods and canned fish with edible bones (such as sardines) are also good dietary sources. • Ensure you have exposure to sunlight, without getting sunburnt. • Don’t smoke – smokers have lower bone density. • Keep alcohol to a minimum (no more than one to two drinks a day). • Limit your caffeine intake (maximum two or three…

Q Is the ketogenic diet, where you eat very few carbs, suitable for people with type 2 diabetes? I’ve heard it can help balance blood sugar levels. J.M. There is evidence for beneficial effects of a short-term ketogenic diet over a conventional low-carbohydrate diet in diabetic people who are obese. However, some people should not attempt this diet, including pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with kidney disease, people on diabetes medication and the elderly. You would need to be under strict medical and dietitian supervision because the ketogenic diet can significantly lower blood glucose levels and may led to “hypos” and some nutrient deficiencies. Q I’ve heard that going to see a GP about mental health concerns means you may not get life insurance. Is this the case? V.T. Consultation…

Roasted chickpea and carrot salad with feta SERVES 2 PREP AND COOK TIME 35 MINUTES 1 bunch (400g) baby carrots, trimmed 400g can chickpeas, drained, rinsed ⅓ cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind 3 teaspoons cumin seeds, crushed lightly 3 teaspoons coriander seeds, crushed lightly 3 teaspoons fennel seeds, crushed lightly 1 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves 1 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves ½ cup loosely packed fresh dill sprigs ¼ cup (60ml) lemon juice 200g drained marinated feta, crumbled, plus 2 tablespoons of the marinating oil 1 Preheat oven to 220°C (200°C fan-forced). 2 Combine carrots, chickpeas, oil, rind and seeds on a baking paper-lined oven tray; season. Roast in oven for 25 minutes or until carrots are golden and…

TIP If truss cherry tomatoes are unavailable, use regular cherry or grape tomatoes instead. When in season, buy fresh broad beans in the pod; you’ll need to remove outer shell. Once blanched, pop beans from grey skins while warm. Blanching peas and beans briefly helps retain their bright colour. Swap feta for labne, if liked. For orange strips, use a vegetable peeler to peel wide strips and avoid taking off too much white pith with the rind, as it is bitter. The syrup can be made 4 hours ahead and combined with the citrus; refrigerate until needed.…

As a child, did you have a secret language with your friends? Good fun, wasn’t it? Wine, too, has its own language, which is not always helpful for actual wine drinkers. But you don’t need to master a funny handshake or read words backwards to understand wine-speak – you just need to read on… BARREL-FERMENTED/AGED Barrels are used in fermenting and/or ageing wine to impart vanilla, cedar and spice characteristics, add tannins (the astringent taste), and increase complexity and harmony. Usually from France’s oak forests, they are expensive and come in many sizes. Smaller, newer ones give the strongest oak influence. Barrique is simply the French name for 225-litre barrels. LEES AGEING Lees are dead yeast cells that fall to the bottom of the fermentation vessel as alcoholic fermentation progresses.…

RUSTIC GIFT When John and Julie Mitchell bought their property in the historic town of Kyneton eight years ago, the cottage needed some love and attention, while the backyard was a tangle of roses, clematis and the insidious arum lily – not to mention buddleias as big as trees. During the laborious clean-up, they uncovered the old dunny buried under a thicket – the outhouse had fallen to pieces around it, but the toilet itself stood proud in the middle of the backyard. Years of hard work have brought huge changes. The garden is still full of remnant bulbs and self-sown treasures that pop up unannounced, but now it feels well-loved. After pushing open the picket gate, you walk up to the house on a crunchy gravel path surrounded by…

• Fill vintage cane baskets with potted pansies, calendulas and marigolds or bury bulbs for a cheap and cheerful display at your front door. Now’s the time to plant spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils, hyacinths, tulips and ranunculus.  • Upcycle old tools to turn them into decorative features. Paint the wooden handles of spades and forks or turn old saw blades into folk art with stencils and stamps. • Add hints of humour (“a sense of humus”, as the old gardening joke goes), with garden signs or blackboards framed with recycled lichen-covered fence posts. • Collect old birds’ nests from hedges and fruit trees (they’re easy to find when the leaves fall) and tuck in faux decor eggs for a table decoration. • Paste seed packet illustrations to old glass…

If an apartment in the heart of one of the world’s best golden-sand beaches dares to sprawl its motto –“We don’t do ordinary” – boldly across its face, you’d hope it can follow through. I certainly hoped it could. I was in desperate need of a sun-drenched holiday away from Auckland’s concrete jungle, as my daughter Hazel and I headed to the new Ruby Collection Apartments in Surfers Paradise. After a 40-minute drive from Gold Coast Airport to the five-star destination, past sun-worn buildings with salty beach towels hanging from balcony rails, it was clear what the fuss is about. Dragging swimwear-filled suitcases across the sparkling lobby tiles, we were pulled into a sanctuary of earthy colours and sleek furnishings, the waft of fragrance heavy on our senses. The aroma…

Atacama Desert Geysers, hot springs, Martian-like landscapes, volcano climbs, and ancient Incan ruins – explore one of the world’s driest landscapes in Chile’s Atacama Desert. Better yet, base yourself in a luxury desert lodge for some spa pampering after the great outdoors! Photo-fit Namibia The shifting light and shadows on Namibia’s towering Sossusvlei Dunes are a photographer’s dream. Spot rare desert-adapted wildlife, explore the wild Skeleton Coast, or hop on an ATV for a thrilling ride across the dunes. At night, the stargazing is out of this world. WILDLIFE IN THE KALAHARI For a one-of-a-kind experience, head to South Africa’s Kalahari Desert to see resident meerkats up close. Weird and wonderful wildlife such as aardvark, aardwolf and pangolin can also be spotted on safari, and the spectacular sunsets over the…

If Beale Street Could Talk Starring KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Regina King and Colman Domingo. Directed by Barry Jenkins. Like he did with his Oscar-winner Moonlight, filmmaker Barry Jenkins once again weaves a gentle hypnotic magic across the big screen, this time immersing our senses in a new kind of love story. This latest film is based on the 1974 James Baldwin novel of the same name, and Jenkins tenderly sways back and forth in time to pump life and love into the beating heart of his narrative – the growing romance between our young lovers, Tish (KiKi Layne) and Fonny (Stephan James). That same heart also beats to the sound of the 1970s New York City drum – the thrusting, bustling, pulsing hum of Harlem ebbs and flows from…

The Great Wide Open by Douglas Kennedy , Penguin Random House You really can’t choose your family, can you? That’s the one thing that’s clear for Alice Burns, the book editor protagonist of Douglas Kennedy’s new novel The Great Wide Open. Set in 1980s New York and written in a no-holds-barred tone, it’s a harsh journey through her life, from the trauma of teenage years to the confusion that can be university life and beyond. It’s a confronting look at family dynamics and how even the smallest of conversations or decisions can echo throughout a person’s life. Alice’s dad, mum and two brothers are a complex bunch – intelligent, shallow, manipulative and antagonistic. They slowly implode over the years and it’s as Alice is working on a…

We are never meeting in real life by Samantha Irby , Allen & Unwin If we are to be grateful to the unsung heroes of the book world, let us thank whoever discovered Samantha Irby, a vet receptionist turned New York Times best-selling author. This collection of essays veers very quickly into the darkest of dark humour, with topics like her parents’ deaths, her battle with obesity, her terrible break-ups. To read that list of topics, you wouldn’t think the end result would be content that manages to be heartbreaking one minute and laugh-out-loud hilarious the next. The writing is both genius and quite obscene – a warning to the faint of heart – but I can’t remember reading a book this honest, funny and moving for…

The things I need for a perfect night in are… A pre-event sleep because “night-in” means it’ll go on till the early hours of the morning – deep conversations, bubble tea, snacks and the person I love. The last time I cried laughing was… A week ago when I was reading a comedy pilot script. I literally had to stop myself from crying so I could finish it. When I need to get some spark back in my soul, I try to… Let life flow through me without judgement. The universe sparks joy easily when there is no resistance.…