Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2015 i Better Homes and Gardens Australia

What is it about a wisteria in bloom that halts us in our tracks and envelops us in its wonderfulness whatever we are doing? A blossom tree, by its very beauty, elicits unprompted praise and undeniable excitement from us. And bursting buds, ready to explode, captivate us with the same joy as a new-born baby. Spring! One of the greatest sources of pleasure known to us all. So let’s take it from the garden into our lives in a whole different way, this season. Let’s get up close and personal! Life has a way of getting to all of us one way or another. The list of issues is not unfamiliar – family, work, money, health, oh, and that love affair gone wrong – and we turn to so many…

Deciduous trees and shrubs that bloom in early spring are among the best stems you can cut – plants such as flowering cherries, plums and almonds. If you cut them in bud, the warmth inside the house will bring them into bloom, often well before their parent plant bursts into colour. You can also experiment with spring-blooming evergreens, including natives such as tea tree, Geraldton wax, even wattle, but wait until they flower before you cut. You’ll be blown away by the beauty! Delight in the beauty of spring indoors by tempting branches into early bloom Make it blossom During late winter, temperatures slowly rise and this causes the sap to begin flowing in deciduous plants – a signal for the buds to swell prior to flowering. Once this process…

Gently unfurling into one of the most magnificent blooms you’ll ever set eyes on, magnolias are the glamours of the garden world. (Some would even consider them sexy!) When flowering, every bloom is visible, framed perfectly against the muted tones of the late winter and early spring garden. Rightly regarded as garden aristocrats, their big, elegantly simple, lemon-scented flowers in a range of warm colours put them in a class of quality above most other plants. They’re exceptional, significant and a must-have in your yard. How to grow them Climate Deciduous magnolias like a chilly, moist winter followed by a warm, moist summer. They thrive along the Great Dividing Range and in south-east Australia – anywhere rainfall is reasonably generous (or adequate irrigation is available) and where winters are cool…

Beauty of wood, strength of steel Sleek design for optimised comfort Available in -piece to cater for extended parties Hand woven and built to last…

…at the nursery Telopea ‘Essie’s Gift’ is a spectacular deep pink waratah guaranteed to turn heads. Low growing and compact with large flowers on arching stems, it’s named in honour of Tasmanian gardener Essie Huxley, famous for growing rare yellow waratahs. The flower was bred by NSW plant breeder Brian Fitzpatrick from Essie’s luminous yellow plant, along with other rare waratahs. It does best in fertile, well-drained soils with protection from harsh westerly conditions and makes a great cut flower. From Plants Management Australia, pma.com.au …IN PRINT Just right for newbie courtyard and balcony gardeners is How To Grow Edibles In Containers by Fionna Hill (CSIRO Publishing, $29.95). It’s filled with tips and tricks gained from the author’s experience of growing a large range of herbs and vegetables…

Fire signs: Aries and Sagittarius are in harmony with all fruit. Leo is in harmony with nuts and all seed-producing crops. Earth signs: Capricorn and Taurus are in harmony with all root vegetables that produce crops below the ground, including garlic. Virgo is in harmony with all herbs. Air signs: Libra, Aquarius and Gemini are in harmony with plants that produce flowers and perfumes. Water signs: Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces are in harmony with above-ground crops, including trees, shrubs, lawns and leafy, juicy and fleshy vegetables. These symbols indicate which part of the zodiac the moon is in on a particular day…

Preparation time: 15 minsCooking time: 15 minsServes 4 2 Tbsp hoisin sauce (see page 92 )2 Tbsp soy sauce2 Tbsp shaoxing wine2 tsp cornflour½ tsp Chinese five-spice powder2cm-piece ginger, cut intomatchsticks2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced2½ Tbsp peanut oil400g beef scotch fillet steak,excess fat trimmed, thinly sliced1 red onion, sliced into thin wedges100g oyster mushrooms, thicklysliced100g Swiss brown mushrooms,thickly sliced100g enoki mushrooms, trimmedand separated150g sugar snap peas, trimmed2 green shallots, thinly sliced STEP 1 Combine hoisin sauce, soy sauce, shaoxing wine, cornflour, Chinese five-spice powder, ginger and garlic in a medium bowl and set aside. STEP 2 Heat wok over a high heat. When starting to smoke, add 2 tsp oil, swirling pan to coat. Stir-fry ¹/ ³ beef for 3 minutes or until browned and almost cooked through. Transfer…

Menu Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake) Spiced-baked chicken with crushed chickpeas and spinach Rosewater syrup dumplings Okonomiyaki Preparation time: 20 minsCooking time: 25 minsServes 4 4 cups (about 450g) greencabbage, finely shredded2 tsp fine salt4 green shallots, finely sliced4 cloves garlic, crushed2 cups plain flour1 tsp dashi powder (optional)2 eggs1 cup iced water¼ cup vegetable oil¼ cup Kewpie mayonnaise¼ cup sweet soy sauce¼ cup chilli sauce2 tsp sesame oil1 Tbsp toasted sesame seedsLemon wedges, to serve 1 Combine cabbage and salt in a large bowl. Stand for 10 minutes. Combine ½ of the shallots, garlic, flour and dashi powder in a medium bowl. In a third bowl, whisk eggs with iced water. Add egg mixture to flour mixture, stirring to combine, then fold in cabbage. 2 Heat vegetable oil in a large…

Chargrilled pork cutlet with blueberry and eschalot sauce Preparation time: 15 minsplus 1 hour chillingCooking time: 45 minsServes 2 1 tsp sea-salt flakesFinely grated zest andjuice of ½ lemon1 heaped tsp fennel seeds4 sprigs thyme, leavespickedFreshly ground black pepper,to season2 cloves garlic, skin on1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil2 x 300g free-range porkcutlets, fat scored6 eschalots, skin on150g caster sugar50ml water100ml raspberry or berryvinegar1 fresh bay leaf3 x 125g punnets freshblueberries2–3 juniper berries, crushedExtra freshly ground blackpepper and sea-salt flakes,to season 1 Put salt flakes, lemon zest, fennel seeds and thyme in a mortar and season with black pepper. Grind with a pestle to a powder. Add garlic, smashing with pestle, then stir in oil. Pour over the pork cutlets, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour minimum.…

TRY THESE SIMPLE WAYS TO ADD LSA TO YOUR FAVOURITE MEALS 1 Sprinkle LSA in yoghurt and muesli for a protein and fibre boost. 2 Toss 1-2 tablespoons over salads for a healthy hit and nutty flavour. 3 Add some LSA to your muffin, cake, biscuit or bread mixtures. DISCOVER MACRO Use the free viewa app and scan this page for more information about the Macro range. FOR MORE INFO, VISIT WOOLWORTHS.COM.AU/  GUIDETOGOODNESS…

When meteorologist and presenter Magdalena Roze made what she ca s her ‘sea-tree’ change from Syd ey last year, it gave t s self-co fessed foodie an even greater a ec atio of f esh, who esome food. She tells us why s e too the plunge and about her love of count y life. Q W AT INSP YOUTOMOV TO T COU TRY? My partner is a c ef and when the opport ty to ve and work the count y arose t was too good to refuse, so we jum ed at the chance Q WHY IS F SH FOOD IMPORTANT TO YOU? To me, eating well is an important part of feeling good – so I try to eat a variety of fresh fruit and vegies every…

Download the FREE app Scan the page wherever you see the viewa logo and enjoy extra-image galleries and behind-the-scenes shots, plus you can buy products direct from the page! Download the free viewa app to your smartphone from the iTunes store or Google Play. Subscribe to the DIGITAL edition Enjoy Australia’s number one home and lifestyle mag anytime, anywhere, any way you like with the digital edition! Download it to your tablet and smartphone from the iTunes store, Google Play or Zinio. Search for ‘Better Homes and Gardens Australia’. Download the FREE viewa app or subscribe to BH&G digital edition iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. viewa is available…

DIY Project APPLYING TIMBER SKIRTING AROUND YOUR FIREPLACE Here’s how: STEP 1 Gather your mater als – timber, nails, Selleys zi Press Liqu d Nails, drill and bits. STEP 2 Measure up and cut timber to size. When jo ning skirting, cut the join at a 45 degree angle. STEP 3 Ensure a surfaces are c ean. STEP 4 Take Ez ress and remove the tab ock and nozzle cap, then twist co ar towards MAX. Ad ust toward M N for slower flow. STEP 5 Simp y press ever to apply a long bead on the t mber. STEP 6 Bring surfaces together as soon as possib e (within the first 5 m nutes). STEP 7 Push nto p ace and secure with a couple of nails (pre drill…

Your shopping directory… Adairs 1300 783 005, adairs.com.au Aerin 1800 061 326, esteelauder.com.au/aerin Alfresco Emporium 9901 0601, alfrescoemporium.com.au Amalfi Homewares amalfihomewares.com.au Australian Native Landscapes 13 14 58, anlscape.com.au Balenciaga 1800 812 663, coty.com Bed Bath N’ Table bedbathntable.com.au Boden bodenclothing.com.au Bosch Australia 1300 307 044, bosch.com.au BOSS Parfumes 1800 811 611, myer.com.au Bottega Veneta 1800 812 663 Bunnings Warehouse (03) 8831 9777, bunnings.com.au Calvin Klein 1800 812 663 Citta Design (02) 9360 7904, cittadesign.com Clarke Rubber 13 18 90, clarkerubber.com.au Clinique 1800 556 948, clinique.com.au Colette by Colette Hayman (02) 9930 0500, colettehayman.com.au Comme Des Garcons mecca.com.au Cotton Love cottonlove.com.au Cotton On 1800 420 176 cottonon.com.au Cowhide Rugs Online (02) 8006 8685, cowhiderugsonline.com.au Crabtree & Evelyn 1800 2722 8733, crabtree-evelyn.com.au Cultiver cultiver.com DATS Skip…

There’s nothing more nourishing for the soul than the feeling that comes from being truly heard and understood. When someone takes the time to really listen to what you’re saying, and respond accordingly, it validates you as a person and makes you feel good. Whether you’re sharing something deeply personal or asking someone to take out the rubbish, being heard is an essential ingredient of any healthy relationship. Why it pays to listen Here’s the thing: a lot of the time, most of us are horrible listeners! We may not intend to be but it’s easy to fall into bad habits. As modern day multi-taskers we’re often so distracted by the crazy pace of our lives that genuine, honest-to-goodness listening takes a back seat. Mistake! Apart from being one of…

LONG HAUL LOVE When it comes to keeping a marriage happy and strong, the little things you think, say and do matter – a lot. Heidi Poelman’s new book, The 2 Minute Marriage Project: Simple Secrets For Staying In Love (Familius, $24.99), explores the things couples can do to keep the flame burning in their relationship, two minutes at a time. Available from exislepublishing.com.au Man oh man Finding the perfect Father’s Day gift can be a tricky task, but not this year! Make dad feel like a hero with a cheeky personalised present. Write your own message to him on socks, aprons and chocolate bars or take inspiration from Identity Direct’s Super Dad range. For more details, visit identitydirect.com.au THINGS WE LOVE You sweet thing Everyone has their ideal kind…

Make five adorable knitting projects for bub with one clever knitting kit. Start with a cute animal hat complete with ear warmers, to fit sizes 3–12 months, then make a cuddly blanket, booties, a vest and tiny toy. Using cream, grey and one of three accent colours, your little one will be wrapped in love whatever the season. 5 easy knitting projects in one kit! Baby blanketAnimal hatSleeveless vestSlip-on bootiesAnimal toy 3 accent colours to choose Choose your kit in wool ($60) or premium baby acrylic ($40) ORDER YOUR KIT TODAY See over page for details or visit bhgshop.com.au or phone 1300 745 898…

Does this sound familiar? • Bloating or abdominal pain• Stomach cramps• Diarrhoea or constipation• Skin rash• Unexpected weight loss What is coeliac disease? Coeliac disease is a common autoimmune disease where the immune system reacts abnormally to gluten, causing damage to the small intestine. This damage causes a range of gastrointestinal symptoms and can lead to other health problems over time. How can we help? At Amcal and Guardian, we offer an exclusive Coeliac Screening Program, which uses a noninvasive finger prick test that takes approximately 10 minutes with a pharmacist. This test will determine whether you require further testing and a referral to your GP. SPEAK TO YOUR AMCAL OR GUARDIAN PHARMACIST ABOUT OUR EXCLUSIVE COELIAC DISEASE SCREENING PROGRAM TO SEE IF YOU MAY BENEFIT! GET TESTED! IT TAKES JUST 10 MINS…

DETTOL HEALTHY CLEAN BATHROOM MOULD REMOVER Sort out mould quick-smart with Dettol Healthy Clean Bathroom Mould Remover. It easily kills and removes existing mould while disinfecting tiles, grout and taps. DETTOL HEALTHY CLEAN BATHROOM SPRAY For 10x better protection* from germs** try new Dettol Healthy Clean Bathroom Spray. It penetrates and dissolves soap scum and grime to help keep your bathroom clean and hygienic. DETTOL HEALTHY CLEAN BATHROOM FOAM New Dettol Healthy Clean Bathroom Rapid Foam combats soap scum, dirt and grime on all bathroom surfaces, while giving you a sparkling result with 10x better protection* from germs** . Helping keep Aussie families healthy and happy! The way Dettol sees it, good health is essential for a fulfilling, rewarding family life. Dettol offers a range of effective product solutions to…

TROPICANA LUXE Go for a tropical luxe vibe with the abitat Tropical Quilt Cover Set, featuring a vibrant tropical print in lilac and teal and a reversible check print in complementary colours. It’s the perfectly pretty addition to your bedroom décor this spring. Visit pillowtalk.com.au GIVE YOUR HOME A LITTLE SPARKLE Bring your home to life with the fragrant range from Pine O Cleen with Total Shine System. The wipes, trigger sprays and floor cleaners cut through tough grease and grime to give you the shiniest surfaces in seconds. For the ultimate grease cutting in your kitchen, also try the new Pine O Cleen Kitchen Expert. BETTER BASICS Maxwell & Williams’ classic White Basics collection gets a glamorous new addition with White Basics Diamonds! Available in a range of square…

Embrace the new season with a palette of pretty colours throughout your home. A flurry of pastels and a splash of brights are the perfect way to bring the outside in and relish spring. seasonal touch 1 Who can resist the first show of spring? Not us! So replace a handful of accessories with spring-coloured lovelies. Cushion covers and throws are easy as, and even book covers can do it! Then of course, go with blooms anywhere and everywhere. 2 Celebrate this season year-round with a striking floral art canvas. Shop around or, if you’re handy with a camera, print one of your own photos onto canvas. Then take from its colours and mix and match with cushions and paint. Love, love crisping up with white! 3 Create a set…

For those who may have missed it, spring has officially sprung! While you wait for your garden to shake off the chill, awake from its slumber and unfurl its blooms, you can satisfy your colour cravings by heading down to the nursery to buy and plant a splendid spring preview in pots and containers. Instant displays of flowering annuals, perennials and bulbs perk up a courtyard, deck or patio, and don’t be surprised if they get you in a sunnier mood too, ready for the warmer months ahead. So what are you waiting for? Pot on! Hello, sunshine! 1. Did you miss the chance to plant bulbs back in autumn? Don’t worry, because garden centres and florists sell them as potted bloomers now, ready to plant! For a cheerful display,…

Fresh spring asparagus, cut straight from the garden, is one of those fabulous food experiences. The crisp green spears push through the soil as soon as spring arrives, and they’ll almost always be the first crop of the season to appear. Asparagus plants are easy to grow, but you need a little patience – they need to establish during their first year before you can harvest them in the second year. From then on, the harvests get better each year and, as they are long-lived plants, you’ll be picking asparagus crops for 20 years or more. Plant with a point Asparagus is a perennial with ferny foliage that grows in a wide range of climates. They thrive best in climates ranging from temperate to cool. Frost is not a problem…

WHAT’S ON Some of Australia’s top garden and cooking experts will come together for a new three-day gardening show, the Horticultural and Gardening Festival, 9–11 October at the Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Road, Ascot Vale. Launched by and featuring veteran TV gardener Peter Cundall, the festival will have an array of pundits on hand, including Costa Georgiadis, Professor Tim Entwisle, MasterChef 2013 winner Emma Dean, and indigenous chef Mark Olive, to name a few. There will be displays, cooking demonstrations, rare plants, design ideas, equipment sales, and question-and-answer sessions aimed at the avid gardener. For more details, visit gardening festival.com.au…

Honey sesame prawn stir-fry Preparation time: 15 minsCooking time: 10 minsServes 4 4 tsp cornflour¹/ ³ cup shaoxing wine(see page 92 )¹/ ³ cup honey1 clove garlic, finely grated1 tsp sesame oil2 Tbsp vegetable oil800g medium green prawns,peeled, deveined, tails intact1 red onion, diced1 yellow capsicum, cut into2cm pieces100g snow peas,halved crosswise½ bunch garlic chives, cut into3cm lengths2 tsp sesame seeds, toastedThai basil leaves, to serve 1 Combine cornflour, shaoxing wine, honey, garlic and sesame oil in a small bowl and set aside. 2 Heat wok over a high heat. When starting to smoke, add 2 tsp vegetable oil and swirl pan to coat. Stir-fry ¹/ ³ prawns for 2 minutes or until pink and almost cooked through. Transfer to a large bowl. Repeat for another 2 batches. If…

Fried rice Whisk 2 eggs in a small bowl, then add 1 tsp soy sauce and 1 clove crushed garlic. Heat a wok over a high heat. When smoking, add 2 tsp peanut oil, swirling pan to coat. Add egg mixture, swirling pan to coat base and some of the side of wok. Cook for 30 seconds or until egg has set. Remove egg from wok and transfer to a chopping board. Roll up into a log and thinly slice. Set aside. Return wok to heat and add 2 tsp peanut oil. Add 1 finely diced carrot, 1 finely diced small red capsicum and ½ cup frozen peas and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add 2 cups cooked and cooled jasmine rice and 1 Tbsp kecap manis and stir-fry for 3…

You can buy these items at supermarkets and Asian grocers. 1 Kecap manis is a sweet, thick and syrupy Indonesian soy sauce. 2 Oyster sauce is thick, dark and made from oyster extract or essence. 3 Shaoxing wine, also known as Chinese rice wine, is rich, mellow and sweet. You can substitute it with dry sherry, if you prefer. 4 Sriracha hot chilli sauce is a Thai chilli sauce made from chilli, vinegar, garlic, sugar and salt. It has a good hit of heat to it. 5 Fish sauce has a potent smell, as it’s made from fermented salted fish. Its unique, pungent flavour is hard to replicate with an alternative sauce. 6 Hoisin sauce is one of the sweeter Asian sauces. It’s rich, dark and strong in flavour, and…

Menu Scone eggs Lasagne meatballs Chocolate salami Scone eggs Preparation time: 15 minsplus 40 mins chillingCooking time: 25 minsServes 6 6 eggs3 cups self-raising flour1 tsp baking powder½ cup finely chopped chives1 cup tonic water300ml pure cream2 Tbsp poppy seeds2 Tbsp finely grated parmesanMixed baby leaf salad, to serveSweet mustard pickles, to serveSour cream, to serve 1 Line an oven tray with baking paper. Put eggs in a small saucepan, cover with room-temperature water and bring to the boil over a high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 4 minutes. Transfer eggs to a bowl of iced water and chill for 10 minutes. Peel and chill for 30 minutes. 2 Meanwhile, sift flour and baking powder into a bowl, then stir in chives. Make a well in centre and pour…

As Tom Williams knows, fe can be a messy b siness, especia y when yo ’re aving a good time. oo ing, t aining, fixing the car – whatever you do and w ateve life t ows at you, it’s good to k ow you’ve got a secret weapon. Dynamo’s Stain ift Technology lifts dirt and stai s and keeps t em from e-depositing back onto you clothes, for great esults in the laund y – minimum effo t req ed. LAUNDRY TIPS SORTING IT OUT • Se arate your la dry by fabric, colou and soili g level for est washi g resu ts.• It’s also a good idea to wash eavy l t shedders like blankets se arately a d to clean out the lint filte inyou wash g mac…

Make your courtyard the most used part of your home with this Moroccan-inspired makeover. Start by improving how the whole space works with a bi-fold window and handy servery bench to connect kitchen and courtyard. Then banish the bricks with a rendered finish and paint to create a light, airy atmosphere. Excitement comes from vibrant feature colours and a sprinkling of flowers throughout. To finish, add texture using a wide variety of foliage and ornaments. RENDER A WALL Give masonry walls a touch of Moroccan authenticity by rendering and painting them pale blue. Pair with a feature wall in bright, bold blue and you’ll feel like you’re on a permanent holiday – all within the comfort of your backyard! Gather your supplies Acrylic render Dulux Low Sheen Weathershield in Template…

Nothing improves the appeal of your home like a street view makeover. Even before you set foot through the front gate, the outside look creates an impression that carries inside, so it’s important to get it right. You can do a little or a lot, but a modern picket fence, a stylish paved path and newly planted garden beds make for high-impact easy wins. So set aside a weekend and give your digs a whole new sense of style! Project 1 Picket perfect Gather your supplies Fence posts – 1.4m x 90 x 90mm H4 treated pine Fence rails, letterbox frame, diagonal brace – 90 x 42mm primed treated pine Pickets – 42 x 18mm primed treated pine Letterbox You’ll also need Crowbar; post hole digger; spirit level; quick set…

Selleys Ezi Press Wet Area is the new easy-to-use application system that doesn’t require a caulking gun. Made from 100 per cent silicone, it features flow control for precise application and a perfect finish. You’ll find more great products in the Selleys Ezi Press Range: Liquid ails, No ore Gaps, Wet Area and 3 in 1, Ezi ress. DIY Project SEALING AROUND BATHROOM SINKS Here’s how: STEP 1 Gather your materials – m neral turps, Selleys zi Press Wet Area, spatu a. STEP 2 Clean out the gap, remove any loose particles. STEP 3 Clean edge of benchtop and sink. Scrape away any old silicone. STEP 4 Clean surfaces with mineral turps and allow to dry before apply ng silicone. STEP 5 Take Ez ress and remove tab lock and…

Ravishing red can be one of the riskiest colours to include in your home and getting it right can be a delicate dance – it’s all part of the process of making your interiors sing! Here, the original room had a hit of red paint around the window frames, which did more to highlight their awkward shape than create a harmonious decorating scheme. Used wisely, however, red can be a knockout! Check out these ideas to skilfully introduce luscious red into your lounge room. So sophisticated! 1. Employ a duo of oversized artworks to jazz up your living room walls with vibrant colour. To make this punchy pair, see page156. 2. Rejig the furniture placement in your sitting space to encourage conversation. Begin by anchoring the zone with a gorgeous…

Architectural gems, cute cats, puppies and more! Peek in any homewares store and you’ll find graphic designs popping up on fabric cushions, throws – even furniture. This fun, mostly tongue-in-cheek look can be easily woven into your home and the kids go mad for it in their bedroom. To create a custom-printed version using your own photographs, just check out our pattern sheet. Hello pretty! 1. Using the Lumi Inkodye kit, print your chosen fabric with favourite snaps of ancient ruins taken on your overseas holiday, or use royalty-free pics found online. Then ask an upholsterer to cover a vintage chair with your handiwork. Now meow! 2. Take a snap of your kitty and print a fab cushion cover using the photo. It’s also a great gift idea. free PATTERN…

INNOVATIVE DESIGN The BRITA Water Filter Tap has one lever for filtered water and another for hot/cold tap water. ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT Water is an essential ingredient, and if you get the basics right, you’re on your way to creating a truly delicious meal. For Gary’s mouth-watering recipes visit betterwithbrita.com BRITA TAP SYSTEM • Stylish European design • Cost effective and easy to install • Filter change reminder • Kit includes tap, filter and all components needed for installation Available at Bunnings and Harvey Norman. For more information, visit betterwithbrita.com BRITA filtered water has a cleaner, fresher flavour ideal for bringing out the full potential of your food. It’s like using a good salt or olive oil, if all the basics are right, you have the foundations for great cooking. GARY…

Sunny yellow (100% Australian wool) 17 Cleckheaton Country 8 ply 50g balls WOOL KIT $60CODE: CY7031.3 A splash of orange (100% Australian wool) 17 Cleckheaton Country 8 ply 50g balls WOOL KIT $60CODE: CY7031.1 Pretty in pink (100% Australian wool) 17 Cleckheaton Country 8 ply 50g balls WOOL KIT $60CODE: CY7031.2 Sunny yellow (100% premium acrylic) 8 Panda Baby 8 ply 100g balls ACRYLIC KIT $40CODE: PY7031.3 A splash of orange (100% premium acrylic) 8 Panda Baby 8 ply 100g balls ACRYLIC KIT $40CODE: PY7031.1 Pretty in pink (100% premium acrylic) 8 Panda Baby 8 ply 100g balls ACRYLIC KIT $40CODE: PY7031.2 Included in your knitting kit 17 balls of wool yarn 8 ply 50g or 8 balls of acrylic yarn 8 ply 100g Plus 4mm knitting needles‘MADE WITH ♥’…

Want loveable and low-maintenance? Consider a guinea pig! These cute customers are an ideal first pet and live happily indoors. When considering bringing a guinea pig into your home, cage size comes down to one rule: the bigger the better! These little guys love to run and need space to stretch their tiny legs. A cage of 76 x 91cm, kept away from doors and windows is ideal – no direct sunlight or brisk draughts, please! Don’t forget to take them out of their cage once a day. Guinea pigs crave attention and will want regular chances to be involved in your family’s activities. Just be sure to keep play areas free of cords, wires and cables, and block off tight spaces such as behind the fridge where they might…

Over the course of a busy day, your family’s hands can touch dozens of surfaces. You can’t always be there to remind them to wash their hands, but if you teach children the basics of good hand hygiene early on, it will help stand them in good stead for life. Show them how to wash their hands properly using an antibacterial hand wash before meals and after using the bathroom, and with a bit of encouragement it will become a healthy habit they’ll have for a lifetime. SOFT ON HANDS, HARD ON GERMS Dettol Liquid Hand Wash has a new formula to make it soft on hands but hard on germs! The new hydracare formulation moisturises your hands for up to three hours with 10x better protection against germs* ,…

DESSERTS LUSCIOUS DATE AND CHOCOLATE SELF-SAUCING PUDDING PREPARATION TIME 10 MINSCOOKING TIME 35 MINSSERVES 4 2/3 cup Farmdale Milk1 Lodge Farms Egg, lightly beaten50g Beautifully ButterfullyUnsalted Butter, melted½ cup Merryfield Caster Sugar1 cup White Mill Self Raising Flour1 tsp Stonemill Ground Ginger1 tsp Stonemill Ground Cinnamon3 Tbsp cocoa powder100g Choceur Dark Chocolate,roughly chopped100g Sweet Vine Pitted Dates,roughly chopped1 cup firmly packed Merryfield Brown Sugar1 cup boiling waterMonarc Silver Spoon Creamy VanillaIce-cream, to serve STEP 1 Preheat oven to 180°C. Place milk, egg and butter in a large bowl and whisk until smooth. Add caster sugar and whisk to combine. STEP 2 Sift flour, ginger, cinnamon and half of the cocoa into milk mixture and stir until smooth. Add chocolate and dates and stir to combine. Spoon into a medium ovenproof…

The great cover-up 1. Convert bottles, jars and tins into pretty vases with fabric scraps. Cut fabric to fit around the container, allowing a small overlap on the side and a little extra at top and bottom. Apply double-sided tape to the upper and lower edges of the container and wrap fabric in place, folding the overlapped edge and securing in place with another strip of tape. Fold the excess at top and bottom to the inside and underside respectively – snipping to fit, if necessary – and glue in place with tacky craft glue. Floral buffet 2. Turn a chest of drawers into an eye-catching buffet with a little flower power. To get started, remove the handles, paint the chest all over with ivory acrylic and leave to dry…

Twisting, twining and delivering a feast of flowers on the vertical, climbing plants truly are garden stars. In springtime they’re especially lovely, offering many of the season’s best perfumes and colours – the scent of jasmine or wisteria in the air heralds loud and clear that winter has gone. Occupying little garden bed space, climbing plants are great space-savers and offer the advantage of covering unsightly structures with gorgeous bursts of colour. 1 Hardenbergia Native Australian climbers don’t come any more lovely than this. Sprays of rich purple flowers smother the vine in spring (starting in August in select areas). They are compact growers, making them great for training over a fence post or metal frame. Pink and white flowering forms are also available. GROW IT: Hardenbergias are happy in…

Most fruit trees produce a bounty of fruit all at once, which means you have to eat boxfuls of peaches or plums super-fast or they go to waste. But that’s not the case with citrus trees. As their fruit ripens, it hangs on the branch for weeks without dropping or spoiling. And that’s not all. They can easily be pruned to fit into small yards – perfect for the urban dweller – and make great little shade trees. Their flowers smell lovely and they grow almost anywhere in Australia, too. It might just be your dream tree – productive, pretty and not too needy. How to grow citrus Climate The only places to think twice about planting citrus are the country’s coldest districts. Citrus don’t like prolonged cold or repeated…

Flowers All zones: Alyssum, amaranthus, begonia, cosmos, marigold, petunia, portulaca, salvia, verbena and zinnia. Zones 2-5: Ageratum, arctotis, aster, calendula, candytuft, carnation, chrysanthemum, cornflower, dahlia, delphinium, dianthus, impatiens, lobelia, nasturtium and snapdragon. Zones 6-8: Celosia, cleome, gomphrena, phlox. Vegetables All zones: Beetroot, capsicum, cucumber, lettuce, pumpkin, shallot, silverbeet, squash, tomato and zucchini. Zones 2-5: Beans, cabbage, carrot, celery, kohlrabi, leek, parsnip, parsley, peas, potato, radish, rhubarb, spinach, spring onion and sweet corn. Zones 6-8: Eggplant, okra, radish, sweet corn.…

The traditional steel wok pan is wide and open, with a round bottom that’s perfect for sitting over an open flame to conduct as much heat as possible. These days you can also buy non-stick woks with a flat base for use on a more conventional electric stove. The flat-bottomed woks are stable and user friendly, making them perfect for beginners, but always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use and care, as they can’t withstand the extreme high heat a steel wok can endure. Electric woks Unlike traditional steel woks, these are good for newbies and you don’t require a stove. We love: Sunbeam 7.5L non-stick wok, $109, sunbeam.com.au Breville 8L Hot Wok & Steam, $199.95, breville.com.au Bought a new wok? Follow these three steps before using it for the…

Vegetables 1 Snake beans2 Mushrooms3 Bok choy4 Choy sum5 Pak choy6 Baby corn7 Sugar snaps andsnow peas8 Capsicums9 Chinese broccoli10 Broccolini11 Green shallots Herbs 12 Vietnamese mint13 Thai basil14 Mint leaves15 Garlic chives16 Coriander Aromatics 17 Limes18 Onions19 Chillies20 Ginger21 Lemongrass22 Garlic Proteins 23 Beef24 Prawns25 Tofu26 Chicken27 Pork28 Lamb Carbohydrates 29 Dried Hokkien egg noodles30 Chinese egg noodles31 Vermicelli32 Rice33 Fresh Hokkien egg noodles34 Singapore-style noodles35 Zoodles (zucchini noodles)36 Udon noodles…

Vertical potato bake Preparation time: 15 minsCooking time: 1 hour 15 minsServes 6-8 2kg waxy potatoes, peeled125g unsalted butter,melted1 cup finely gratedparmesan cheese4 tsp thyme leavesSea-salt flakes and freshlyground black pepper,to season300ml pure cream 1 Preheat oven to 180°C. Use a mandolin to slice potatoes 2mm thick, then pat dry with paper towel. Set aside. Combine butter, parmesan and thyme in a large bowl. Add potatoes and toss well. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange vertically in a 1½L capacity baking dish and pour over cream. Cover with baking paper and foil. 2 Bake for 45 minutes. Remove baking paper and foil, then bake for a further 30 minutes or until crispy and golden on top. Serve. Ginger and black pepper lamb leg with capsicum mash and easy mint sauce…

THE BENEFITS OF VENTILATION Edmonds’ powered ventilation systems help create a better living environment for you and your family by reducing the high summer temperatures in your roof, providing better air circulation in the cooler months and improving the air your family breathes. Year-round air circulation and moderate temperatures can also help to minimise the effects of mould on allergy and asthma sufferers. Continuous and reliable Edmonds’ powe ed oof ventilatio works continuously to improve ai circu atio your home and provides the pe formance of six winddr ven vents 24 hou s a day, seven days a wee , fo relia e, effective ai circu atio Maestro BAL The b shfire ated aest o BA feat es a quiet, high-e ciency motor that ventilates yo roof yea - round,…

Strawberry tartlets with forest fruits syrup Preheat oven to 200ºC. Put 2 Tetley Infusions Forest Fruits With A Touch Of Apple tea bags into a small saucepan with 1 cup water and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags. Add ½ cup caster sugar and bring to the boil again, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Cook for a further 2 minutes or until syrupy. Set aside to cool. Cut a frozen ready-rolled puff pastry sheet into quarters and put on a baking paper-lined oven tray. Use a small knife to score a 1cm border around square edges. Thinly slice a 250g punnet of strawberries and arrange on pastry. Brush pastry edges with a little beaten egg. Dust with ½ tsp caster…

Being more organised at home is something most of us add to our wish list, but getting started is easier than you think. Begin in the busiest room of your house – your kitchen – and simply tick these tasks off as you go. Who knows? The spring cleaning bug may take hold and soon have you sorting out every room under your roof! 1 SWEET DISPLAY Make use of even the smallest strip of wall space with solid-timber floating shelves. Drive in a series of cup hooks to the underside of a shelf or two for your mug collection. Now that’s savvy! 2 CHOP, CHOP A magnetic knife rack is the goto option for keen cooks! Mark a level position, predrill into tiles, hammer in plugs, then just screw…

In the market for show-stopping lights? Then take your lead from the main strips of Vegas and Broadway, baby! Marquee lighting is a great way to add instant style cred to your home. Hit the shops to pick up a dazzler in a flash or make your own, like here, for a vintage-look finish and full bragging rights. 1. Up, up, up! Fashioned from MDF and balsa wood, finish your arrow light with rust-look paint for an aged patina. Plugged into the power supply, its twinkle factor brings appeal to any room. 2. Bigger and brighter! Let a mix of marquee lights and painted artworks hang out on your wall for a modern approach to decorating. For detailed hands-on instructions to make this beauty, see below. free PATTERN SHEET We’ve…

“ This photo makes me feel s young ” and free AL A “I felt nine years old again and the memories ” just rushed back, it was amazing S SIE GROWING UP may be a part of life, but we do have a say in ow t at makes us look and feel. NIV A recent y colla orated with a renow ed photographer to put that theory to t e test and he p three women re-enact a cheris ed memory from t eir youth. And it did ’t take long befo e the appy feelings of wonde and exc teme t felt in the o iginal photo came ooding bac . NIVEA CELLULAR ANTI-AGE RANGE Developed with…

Brightly coloured scarves create instant chic in everyday outfits and they’re super-easy to throw on as you run out the door. This quick project makes it so simple! Take a length of fabric, stitch and edge it however you like. You’ll love wearing it because you tailor-made it to your taste! POMPOM SCARF Gather your supplies 1.8m x 40cm fabric 2 x 1.8m pompom fringing Matching thread Sewing machine and general sewing supplies Here’s how STEP 1 Fold fabric crossways with wrong sides together. Pin then stitch 2 short ends with 5mm seam allowance to make a loop. Trim back seam allowance to 3mm and press to one side. STEP 2 Turn through so right sides are facing and press seam to enclose raw edges. Pin and stitch another row…

GOLD STANDARD RESULTS SAFE ON MOST FABRICS, VANISH GOLD IS THE STAIN REMOVER THAT’S WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD TOUGH STAINS LIKE WINE ARE NO MATCH FOR VANISH GOLD! VA SHGOD MAKES SHORT WO KO TOUGH STA S AND GIVES YOUR COLOURS A BOOST Somewhere in a busy day between work, school and activities, there’s bound to be a load or three of washing to do. You don’t have time to fuss around with stains! Go for gold with the new Vanish Gold range. It’s the best ever stain remover from the experts at Vanish, with a super boosted Oxi Action formula that instantly releases millions of bubbles to lift and dissolve some stains* away in as little as 30 seconds, right before your eyes. APPLY DIRECTLY Use directly on…