Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2015 i Better Homes and Gardens Australia

Now, the celebrations are past, and with a little time left before the year gets into full swing thank heavens, we can shed the excesses of all those wonderful plum puddings and every custard known to man; delightful sparkling wines with divine little additives; cheese platters aplenty and, well of course, those damned second helpings! Ah but it’s delicious weight-loss time and the Mediterranean has come to the rescue with one of the tastiest and indeed healthiest diets you can take. Lots of vegetables, lean meats, yummy fish, and the splendid must-eats – nuts, avocados, olives and that golden liquid so good for your overall wellbeing, olive oil will do you wonders! In fact, if you eat Mediterranean-style most of the time, not only will you be trim, taut, terrific…

Garden walls and fences do much more than just mark the boundaries of your garden. Used within a space as screens or barriers, they can introduce a whole new decorative layer and redefine the way you use your garden. Screens divide and enclose, create ‘garden rooms’, and separate off areas or views you might want to hide (think garbage bins or vegie patches!). And by not revealing the whole garden at once, screens add an element of discovery as you wander through. Think outside the box and add a dash of panache to your garden 1. Add touches of colour with painted accents on timber panels, then echo in soft furnishings as you would inside. 2. Laser-cut screens are both decorative and practical, allowing just a glimpse of what lies…

Want to drop unwanted kilos without sacrificing taste? This European style of diet can help to get you there! BONUS 24-page better eatspull-out cookbook a new way of looking at weight loss Overhaul your eating habits with the magnificent tastes of the Mediterranean. The recipes in this booklet (which can all be cooked on the barbecue – bonus!) will not only satisfy your hunger and please your tastebuds, they will also nourish your body with the many health benefits this style of diet provides. With the right combination of the following food and regular exercise, you can even watch your waistline begin to shrink. The principals of this way of eating include an increased consumption of nuts, fruit and vegetables, extra virgin olive oil, legumes and fish with a small…

Whether you’re struggling for weeknight meal ideas or you just fancy whipping up a quick dessert, you can trust in rice. This fabulous pantry staple can be used in a variety of ways – bake it, boil it, fry it – and it’s a budget buster too! So we’ve revisited our favourite rice recipes – have a flick through and be inspired in a trice! Risotto Milanese You’ll strike gold with this wonderfully creamy risotto! The rich yellow colour comes from just a pinch of saffron, which also infuses the dish with exotic aroma and flavour. Twist it Risotto marinara Go gourmet by adding a little seafood to your risotto Milanese. You can use a pre–packed marinara mix from the supermarket, or make your own using peeled green prawns, salmon,…

The graceful sword lily – or gladiolus, as we know it best – is a true gift to the summer garden. Few other flowers offer such showy tall spires of blooms, and the range of colours is huge, covering the brightest of shades as well as the softer pastel spectrum. Gladdies are more than just a flower shop bloom – they are fabulous planted in garden beds, especially as tall background plants, and like all bulbs they are ultra easy to grow. So if you are after something to replace all those spring blooms that looked so beautiful just a couple of months back, take a fresh look at gorgeous gladdies. 1. Modern gladdies have come a long way, many offering flowers with ruffles and bicolours. 2. As the buds…

Summertime, and the livin’ is easy. Fish may be jumpin’, and it’s the season for relaxation, but it’s also the time when you’ll have a few days in a row to tackle a project or two around the home. It’s the season to get busy, so drag yourself out of the post-Christmas lethargy and repair, renovate, restore or make something new! Asking around If you are short of a tool or two, there’s no better excuse for spending that Christmas money and grabbing a bargain. Holiday get-togethers are also a great way to sound out whether any of your family or friends actually have what you need – you may be able to borrow a demolition hammer or biscuit joiner for a short time while they are away. Now the…

Even if you believe Valentine’s Day is just a cheesy Hallmark event, it’s still the perfect opportunity to think about your one true love and the state of your union. Chances are that if you have been together a long time, you may have lost a little of that lovin’ feelin’. If that is you, here is how to get it back. Who’s that in the bathroom? Being intimate is about so much more than getting down to business between the sheets with your special someone. Although that is what tends to spring to mind when we hear the word, intimacy is really the foundation upon which great relationships are built. More importantly, it’s what keeps them strong and happy. Trouble is, we get lazy about nurturing intimacy. If left…

HOME WORDSEARCH Look for the listed words and phrases in the wordsearch grid in straight lines, reading in any direction – up, down, diagonal or even backwards. Letters may be used more than once. WORD LIST AIR CONDITIONER ARMCHAIR BATHMAT BEDSPREAD BLANKET BLENDER BOOKSHELF BROOM CARPET CLOCK CLOTHES HANGER COFFEE TABLE CURTAINS CUSHIONS CUTLERY DINNER SET DOONA DOUBLE BED DVD PLAYER FIGURINE FOOTSTOOL KNIFE LAMP LOUNGE SUITE MICROWAVE OVEN MIRROR ORNAMENT PILLOW RADIO REFRIGERATOR SAUCEPAN SHOWER SCREEN STEREO SYSTEM TABLESPOON TEAPOT TELEVISION TOOTHBRUSH TOWEL VACUUM CLEANER VERTICAL BLINDS WASHING MACHINE WINEGLASS chunky crossword ACROSS 1 Underground passage (6) 4 Amsterdam native (5) 8 Strength, might (5) 11 Small ape with long arms (6) 13 Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter (5) 14 Trail behind (4) 16 Curved doorway (4) 18 Cake frosting (5)…

Have you ever noticed how a clutter-free room or area instantly makes you feel at ease? The clean lines and open space, with everything neatly tucked into its rightful place, has a certain Zen quality about it. And you can extend this feeling to the outside of your home, too. Less is more A minimalist garden design pares back the elements and includes only the necessary details. Similarly, adding what is needed and removing the rest has always been the focus in traditional Japanese gardens, so the fusion of these two styles is a natural step. This garden in Sydney has been redesigned to embrace these themes. It uses a combination of strong landscape lines, a simple planting palette and a limited choice of materials and colours to create a…

When you call out a professional, jobs often seem to be done in an instant and you’re left wondering why you paid $120 for 15 minutes of work. But it’s not just the hours – it’s $20 for the time spent, plus $100 for the knowledge and gear. Yet most odd jobs fall into the DIY realm, saving you a bundle as you learn new skills. It’s just knowing where to start and what to use. PAINT THE FRONT DOOR Sadly, we tend to judge a book by its cover. To make sure your entrance isn’t judged too harshly, change the colour of your door and add accessories. For a high-gloss finish, use an exterior enamel or, for a semi-gloss finish, as here, use a water-based Aquanamel. Gather your supplies…

Sprawling sands, rolling waves and unforgettably fresh, salty air – it’s easy to feel inspired by a holiday to the seaside and all it has to offer. You never want to leave, right? Sail into coastal living with the creative use of colour, craft and fuss-free decorating touches. Then head outdoors and create a miniature garden that borrows the look of wharf pylons – ideal for giving balconies a beachy feel. Ladder logic 1. Step up with a showpiece old timber ladder. Unscrew and trim leg supports so treads are level, then cut 18mm pine panels for shelves. Paint shelves in white, then wipe away excess paint with a damp sponge for a whitewashed look. Let dry, then slot shelves into position. Into the blue 2. Relaxing and tranquil yet…

Preparation time: 20 mins plus 6 hours chilling Cooking time: nil Serves 10 2½ cups skim milk ¹⁄³ cup CSR Smart White Sugar Blend 2 tsp vanilla extract 1½ Tbsp gelatine powder ¼ cup cold water 1kg low-fat Greek-style yoghurt 250g strawberries, hulled, roughly chopped 1 nectarine, stoned, cut into wedges 1 apricot, stoned, cut into wedges 2 Tbsp pomegranate seeds 6 whole cherries Extra ½ tsp vanilla extract Extra 100g strawberries, sliced Extra 1 Tbsp CSR Smart White Sugar Blend Strawberry leaves, to garnish 1 Stir milk, sugar and vanilla in a large saucepan over a medium heat until sugar dissolves and mixture just comes to a simmer. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside for 20 minutes or until cooled. 2 Meanwhile, put gelatine in a heatproof…

Art with heart 1. Begin by painting a 46 x 61cm art board with grey acrylic paint. Enlarge the diagram on page 33 to fit. Using a pencil, transfer design to board, then trace the design with rope, securing to board with tacky craft glue and small pieces of masking tape to hold rope in position as glue dries. Diagram on page 33 Vase makeover 2. Take a plain Jane glass cylinder vase and give it a seaworthy new look with rope! Simply glue one rope end in place with tacky craft glue and leave to dry. Then wrap and glue as much rope as you’d like and leave to dry. Trim ends on the diagonal with strong scissors and your vase is ready to fill. For shopping details, see…

Raspberry jam cookies Raspberry jam cookies Preheat oven to 180°C. Line 2 oven trays with baking paper. Melt 125g butter in a small saucepan over a low heat for 2 minutes or until light brown. Take off heat and cool for 5 minutes, then put in a large bowl with ½ cup CSR Raw Caster Sugar and whisk until combined. Stir in 1 egg and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Sift in ¾ cup self-raising flour and ½ cup plain flour and fold until combined. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Roll tablespoons of the mixture into 16 balls. Arrange on prepared trays, 2cm apart. Flatten slightly and create an indent in centre of each. Put ½ tsp raspberry jam in each indent. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden and firm. Cool…

This super green is popping up on cafe menus, in magazines and cookbooks, and on the supermarket shelves. You may have even seen it as seedlings or seeds at your local nursery and hardware store – kale is everywhere! Let us get you excited, eating and growing a vegetable that’s great tasting, easy to grow, and jam-packed with nutritional benefits. for you to know! Kale is packed with fibre, vitamins and antioxidants, so is the perfect addition to your meals for a healthy diet. See page 98 for even more information about its benefits. How to prepare kale here are a number of types of kale (see the run-down on page 98) and all are easy to prepare. The stem is rather tough; though you can eat it, the most…

Sweet spot No matter how big or small, every garden should have a citrus tree. The fruits are so versatile and the trees look lovely, too. If you have a sunny spot in your garden, try planting up a scene like this. Position large-format pavers in a chequerboard pattern and plant up the spaces with a scented groundcover, like thyme or chamomile. Place terracotta pots on pavers in a line and plant up with dwarf citrus trees, such as Lots A’ Lemons or a dwarf Tahitian lime, ensuring you use a good-quality potting mix. To finish it off, make your citrus trees look even more glorious by topping the pots with sweet alyssum. In each issue, we give ideas, tips and planting advice for different climate zones, so it’s important…

Sun worshipping to achieve the coveted sun-kissed look is risky business, but this doesn’t mean you have to forgo having a summer glow or radiant skin. With a self-tanner or bronzer in hand, it’s easy to become a bronzed beauty pronto. Read on to find out how. Quick-glow tips ■ Face contouring Dust bronzer on the edges of your face, beneath the cheekbones, on temples, and under the jawline. ■ Cheek sculpting Brush the apples of your cheeks with blusher to enliven your skin, then use bronzer to subtly enhance the contour of your cheekbones. ■ Body bronzing Stand in good light and apply a very thin layer. Let it dry and build up from there if you want deeper colour. Bronzed goddess Powders and gels Wash-off products for the…

SUNNY SIDE UP Shield your skin from the harshest element with a high-quality sunscreen. Check out our pick of the hottest new products below. Sunscreen savvy Applying sun protection to your face daily, whether you’re on a sundrenched tropical holiday or not, is sensible and necessary. We all need a little sun exposure for a vitamin-D fix, but during the summer months a little can soon become a lot. Make sure to apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before exposure, then reapply as needed. For shopping details, see Stockists page 1. Protect your face with this fragrance-free SPF50 cream with a sheer tint. Daily Face Invisible Tint Finish, $14.99/75g, SunSense. 2. Keep oily skin safe with oil-free Suntivity Ultra-light Fluid Face, $12.50/30ml, Cetaphil. 3. If mostly indoors, use a SPF15…

With a little bit of time up your sleeve before the school bell rings in the new year, take a moment to prepare your study area with our organisational tips and fun bedroom decos. Plus, enter our competitions and make yummo treats for your lunch box! 1 Writing’s on the wall A creative zone where you can express your artistic talents with chalk is easily created with stick-on shapes of chalkboard adhesive. Have an adult cut out and arrange random shapes on your wall for moments of inspiration, or create a calendar system and use a square for each day of the week to keep organised throughout the school year. Bigger kids can also use sheets suitable for dry erase markers (see Officeworks). the wall For shopping details, see Stockists…

This inspirational garden in Queensland is the creation of Carol and John Kerkin, who let their love of plants and inspiration from their travels define the landscape. The garden is made up of many ‘rooms’ linked by winding walkways, which display the couple’s various passions – from a densely planted salvia garden to a tropicalplanted paradise. It’s hard to believe none of it was planned, but instead evolved from their ever-increasing love for plants and a desire to grow it all. It’s full of heart and personality, and offers loads of inspiration for your place, especially if you want to break the boundaries. 1. To help connect garden rooms, consider using a running motif throughout the landscape – dragonflies feature prominently in the garden at Kerkin. 2. A handcrafted waterlily…

Give the boy things their own place without sacrificing space inside or hurting your hip pocket. The man cave is an area dedicated to trophies, posters, memorabilia, and other bits that don’t fit with the genteel decor of the lounge room. It also gives your man a place to enjoy a beverage and hang out with his friends – blokes or honorary blokes alike. A spruced-up garage is the perfect spot but bear in mind it may not be damp-proof, nor can you call it a habitable room. Throw out anything not worth keeping and leave space for work and storage.…

Over a holiday weekend, a sleepy town in western Victoria suddenly thrives. More than 150 dogs participate in Casterton’s Australian Kelpie Muster, with only the very best taking on all three of the day’s events, the triathlon. The muster opens with a morning street parade. On one of the floats is a gun shearer using blades! After the parade moves past, the main street is cleared, artificial turf is rolled out, and the 50-metre sprint gets underway. With three timekeepers at their stations, the winning dog crosses the line, well clear of his opposition. Then it’s the high jump event, and those kelpies just keep scrambling, higher and higher over the wall, with last year’s winner prevailing yet again. The final event, the 400-metre hill climb, is a race against…

Envisage your own tropical paradise. A crystal-clear pool with a shady spot to relax, a forest of diverse and colourful plants shielding you from the sun with their towering forms… and flowers whose fleshy petals emit heady aromas, their scents relaxing your body and soul. Come for a wander through this gorgeous landscape in Far North Queensland and be inspired by the possibilities of tropical design. 1. Cancel that trip to Bali and consider a ‘staycation’ in a glorious garden like this. Grading plants from low to high creates a lush environment with plenty of privacy, while a pair of exotic plinths beckons you to enter. 2. Personalise your garden with art! Here, a glass panel placed over a favourite sculpture has been painted with a colourful headpiece. A great…

Work your way through the alphabet for these scene-stealing, savvy display and storage solutions – it’s time to organise your home in style! An alcove, shallow or deep, is perfect for a feature shelving unit that stretches dramatically from floor to ceiling. You can wow the style pundits with clever lighting – think LED shelf lights, tape or recessed strip lights. This contemporary design sure beats the more traditional buffet and hutch combo in the dining room! Opt for easy-going style and build a wall of rectangular cubby hole-style shelving, to attractively house your possessions. Painting it the same shade as the wall renders it almost invisible, and the room less jarring to walk into. Try Dulux Lagoon Blue or Wave Jumper for a similar look. Like the nautical theme?…

Although this is the February issue, it should be in your hands before Australia Day on 26 January, when we celebrate as a nation with a drop of wine. Our six states and a number of territories all contribute to the national glassful. Let’s start at the top Northern Territory As well as delicious wines from fruit like mangoes, there are grape wines to be found at Kakadu Winery, not far from Darwin and Red Centre Wines 180km north of Alice. Not our best winegrowing country, but it does prove the toughness and versatility of the noble vine. Queensland Close to the NSW border and not far from the coast are the heights of the Granite Belt. Quite a new area feeling its way, but already making many award-winning wines.…

Herbs have it all! These edible lovelies, with their beautiful foliage, attractive flowers and rich aromas, are a delight to have in the garden, on your balcony or along a sunny kitchen windowsill. They are easy to grow, need little maintenance and will provide a fresh supply of exciting flavours for most of the year. You don’t need to plant every single herb out there – unless you plan to become a herbalist! Just grow those you will use the most and keep them within reach so you can simply snip and flavour or garnish your dishes. 1. For a pretty ’n’ practical arrangement, plant herbs in mixed flower and vegie beds – here, chives, violas and kale (for more on kale, see page 92). 2. No garden bed? No…

HOW TO USE YOUR GUIDE this January Best days Second-best days On these days, thin out seed boxes, sow all types of seeds and plant seedlings that produce their crop ABOVE the ground. These include all varieties of peas, beans, corn, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, eggplant, lettuce, celery, silverbeet, spinach, endive, Chinese cabbage, tomato, cucumber, asparagus crowns, artichoke, marrow, pumpkin, capsicum, melon, zucchini, chicory, sprouts, rhubarb, all herbs (except garlic) and all agricultural crops such as sunflower, grains, cereals, canola, cotton and peas. During these days, you can also plant flowering shrubs, annuals, flowers (not bulbs), cactus, flax, tree ferns, passionfruit vines and kiwi fruit. Plant all fruit trees and those trees that produce edible nuts, such as almonds, pecans, macadamias, chestnuts and walnuts. Grapes and bananas can also…

Whether you’re a member of a book club or you know someone who enjoys a good page-turner, give this sweet project a whirl. Craft a one-of-a-kind bookmark adorned with tiny treasures or preloved charms to make a gift with a personal touch… Or just keep it for yourself ! BOOKMARK Gather your supplies 16 x 8 x 5mm ribbon clamp; 25cm x 16mm velvet ribbon; flat-nose pliers; bead, charm or jewellery item; head pin (if required); jump ring; 2 pairs of round-nose pliers Here’s how STEP 1 Position ribbon clamp over 1 end of ribbon and close firmly using flat-nose pliers. STEP 2 If necessary, prepare bead, charm or jewellery item in order to connect to ribbon clamp by inserting a head pin, forming a loop at the top and…

Win A NARELLAN POOL FOR YOUR BACKYARD Does the thought of your very own pool sound like a dream come true? Narellan Pools is giving you the chance to win a pool so you can make that dream a reality this summer! TO ENTER: 1. Visit bhg-comps.com.au 2. Fill in the form 3. Select your favourite pool shape and tell us why you’d love it in your backyard ONLINE Struggling to keep your New Year’s resolutions? Writing down your goals, tackling a project you’ve been putting off, decluttering your house and being kinder to yourself are just a few of the positive steps you can take to make this year fantastic. For more tips for a better you, visit bhg.com.au/betteryou Pinterest with our lemon and lime curd tarts. They’re easy…

More than just another blossom, protea flowers are blooms with attitude. Striking goblet-shaped creations, they’re an amazing combination of fluffy centres and brightly coloured bracts, which look almost too fabulous to be real. And just as beautiful are the protea’s close cousins, leucadendrons, leucospermums and serrurias, all with incredible flowers that can offer splendid colour to a garden. Meeting the family It’s often assumed that proteas and their relatives are Australian natives, but they in fact hail from South Africa. However, they are closely related to some of our showiest plants, such as banksias, grevilleas and waratahs. Proteas put on a gorgeous display in gardens, mainly through the late winter and spring months. They are tough and hardy evergreen plants, will thrive in exposed positions with poor soils, and are…

With lush plantings, and eastern-inspired architecture, you could be forgiven for thinking you have just stepped into an Asian rainforest. But this amazing halfacre landscape is in a quiet outer-Brisbane suburb. Inspired by trips overseas, Dallas Kampe has designed a garden paradise dotted with structures he has built. Richly planted out with an eclectic mix of foliage plants and colourful flowers, it packs surprises around every corner and has plenty to inspire you. 10 OF THE BEST tropical plants Bromeliads Raffia palm Indian fishtail palm Bismarkia nobilis Bauhinia Crotons Tulipwood Bougainvillea New Guinea impatiens Cordylines About the garden Dallas Kampe’s garden in Mount Cotton started about 25 years ago. His love for tropical plants fuelled his desire to landscape his yard, with further inspiration coming from the lush gardens of…

First impressions count, especially when you’re selling your home. Bringing things up to scratch need not require a complete renovation – the idea is to rejuvenate certain areas so they are like new once more. Have a look around your home and see where it could do with a quick tidy up or a mini makeover – perhaps it’s fixing that raised paver, mulching the garden bed, hosing down the stairs, or repainting your walls and touching up paint. If you don’t know where to start, our guide will show you how a few quick fixes can completely change the look and feel of your place.…

Fish and chips Preparation time: 15 mins Cooking time: 35 mins Serves 4 4 large coliban potatoes 1 cup aioli ½ red onion, finely diced ¼ bunch dill, finely chopped Juice of 1 lemon 600g white fish fillets (such as blue-eye trevalla, snapper, dhufish, flake, gummy shark or rock cod) Vegetable oil, to deep fry 2 cups sparkling wine, chilled 2 tsp fine salt 1 cup ice cubes 1½ cups plain flour 1 cup rice flour 1 Tbsp malt vinegar Cornichons, to serve Pickled onions, to serve 1 Cut potatoes into 1cm-wide batons, then put in a steamer over a saucepan of simmering water and steam for 12-15 minutes or until tender. Spread out on an oven tray in a single layer to cool and dry. 2 Meanwhile, combine aioli,…