Innholdsfortegnelse for Christmas 2020 i Better Homes and Gardens Australia

Personally, Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year. There’s just something so magical about the happiness and joy it sparks in people, whether they’re putting up their trees, baking a batch of gingerbread cookies (see page 52) or just singing along to carols. Whatever your traditions, this issue has everything you need to make, bake and create your best ever festive season, from handmaking elegant or edible Christmas baubles (page 44) to planting your garden for gorgeous seasonal colour and cheer (page 94). We’ve even called on some unusual sources of inspiration, so turn to page 76 to find out how to transform a simple orange into your ultimate decorating accent. One thing’s for sure — gift wrapping never looked, or smelt, so sensational. Elsewhere, we have…

HALOUMI SKEWERS WITH TABOULI Team sticks of tangy, cheesy, grilled goodness with a herby fresh salad for irresistible flair and flavour. Recipe on page 149 WINE PAIRING Chateau Coco Fiano 2020, Naked Wines SWEET POTATO WELLINGTON Give a traditional English pie a vegie makeover for a hearty and delicious main – just don’t expect any leftovers! Recipe on page 150 WINE PAIRING Two Pairs Shiraz 2019, Naked Wines SMOKY EGGPLANT WITH WALNUT AND POMEGRANATE SALAD Add a little Middle Eastern magic to your table and serve chargrilled eggplant with a sweet, nutty salad and creamy green yoghurt. Recipe on page 150 HASSELBACK HARISSA ROAST PUMPKIN Make a spicy, sticky and zingy roast vegie dish using the popular spud-slicing technique and amazing North African flavours. Recipe on page 150 Indulge your…

1 CRAFTY TOUCH Create bespoke gift tags by threading handmade resin and plaster baubles onto ribbon. How easy is that! Instructions on pages 47, 48 FOR SHOPPING DETAILS AND PROJECT SUPPLIES, SEE OUR STOCKISTS PAGE 2 RASPBERRY CAKE WITH CHOC BAUBLES Bake a berry-licious cake, smother it in white choc ganache, then add edible baubles for Christmas glam. Recipe on page 48 3 WELCOME WREATH Turn a plain store-bought faux greenery wreath into something special by attaching your handmade resin decorations and shiny baubles using fishing or picture wire. What a wonderful sight to greet your guests! Resin bauble instructions on opposite page 4 CHOC IN A BOX Who doesn’t love the gift of chocolate, especially if it’s homemade! Super simple to prepare, the beautiful patterns in the moulds do…

1 SHOW OFF YOUR LEGS You can visually expand your floorspace with an unbroken sweep of bare floor. So choose furniture with leggy good looks to allow uninterrupted sightlines to the walls. 2 IT’S STUDY TIME Free up a corner of the room for a stylish, compact work desk. Opt for white so it blends into the backdrop. Disguising its intended use means it can function as a tabletop for a pretty display when guests drop in. When your home consists of a single combined living, dining, kitchen and work area, with the only other rooms dedicated to sleeping and bathing, you know you’re up for a challenge. But a few observations will see you rise to the occasion in spectacular style: stick with a neutral colour palette, with one…

1 EXQUISITELY MINIMAL Impress the home decorator in your life with this halo-like centrepiece. Gloria Brass Ring, from $275 small, greatdanefurniture.com. 2 FOR THE WINE BUFF Treat a wine enthusiast to this elegant handmade Krosno Connoisseur Wine Decanter 1L,$89.95, krosno.com.au. 3 SUBLIME DECORATIONS Start a tradition of gifting a wonderful Wedgwood porcelain keepsake ornament annually. Christmas Present Ornament, $49.95; Christmas Noel Bauble, $69.95, wedgwood.com.au. 4 TEA PLEASE You can be sure tea lovers will adore the tasselated tile design of the Teas & C’s Kasbah Tea for 1 with infuser, $39.95, maxwellandwilliams.com.au. 5 STYLISH + STRUCTURAL Delight a home-loving decorator with the alluring shapes of the Serra accent range — tea light holder (front), $9.99, and vases $9.99, $34.99 and $29.99 (from left to right), linenhouse.com. 6 FESTIVE SCENT A…

MELISSA KING Join me as I show you how to be creative in your garden on BHG TV on Fridays at 7pm on Channel 7. (Apologies, may be subject to change) Go to bhg.com.au for more garden tips and tricks. Collect sticks and fallen branches from your garden and local parks, or pick up driftwood pieces from beaches, and turn them into charming little landscape additions – just check the local rules on collection first. 1 RAISE THE STAKES Make your garden basics stupendous by styling your beans, peas or tomatoes around this bespoke tepee. Or, make a feature in your ornamental garden for climbing flowering plants. It creates a natural elegance. 2 HIGH EXPECTATIONS Help your climbers and twiners scramble up the wall with this cute, rustic-looking rope ladder. 3…

1 FORM AND FUNCTION Make life easier for your indoor gardener who has out-of-reach plants with The Rowley Ripple metal watering can, $184, qualityproducts.com.au. 2 HILLS COME ALIVE Help a friend who can’t visit gardens with this tantalising look at some of the best. Adelaide Hills Gardens by Christine McCabe and Simon Griffiths, $80, from good bookstores. 3 BRIGHTEN UP THE BIG DAY Give an instant garden with a pot of cheerful, flowering gerberas, from about $10 at your local nursery. 4 WATERED WORLD Imagine the delight when you give one of these Certa self-watering terracotta planters, $49.99 each, kogan.com.au. 5 BEST OF BOTH WORLDS It’s for coffee, it’s for plants – the Coffee Table Terrarium is ideal for anyone who loves both, $299, theplantrunner.com/collections/terrarium. 6 SCROLL THINGS UP Forget…

1 GET TO GRIPS Never search for the right spanner or screwdriver again. Keep them all together with the Trojan 40 Piece Stubby Set, $19.98, trojantools.com.au. 2 FOR THE RECORD Don’t let traffic bingles become a drama. Have the evidence on hand with a DriveSense Spotter dash cam, $149, andatechdistribution.com.au. 3 OLDIE BUT A GOODIE You can’t go wrong with this old fave. Black Onyx Spartan PS Swiss Army Knife, $165, victorinox.com.au. 4 STAY IN TOUCH Ideal for a multi-vehicle road trip or keeping tabs on the kids while camping is this Uniden UH45 Quad Colour Pack Handheld Radio with Kid Zone, $98, harveynorman.com.au. 5 KEEP YOUR COOL Always have a cold one ready to go. Esky 52L Wheeled Hard Cooler, $89, bunnings.com.au. 6 LOOKING TRIM AND TERRIFIC Keep your…

CLEAN CHOICE Cove is a reusable and refillable cleaning system. Its plant-based products include surface, glass and bathroom cleaners and concentrated laundry liquid, which contain no synthetic fragrances. The products are packaged in reusable aluminium bottles and the refill pouches are designed to be mixed with tap water. The Cove Starter Kit, $69.95, is available online at cove cleaning and the wider range from Coles and selected Ritchie’s Supermarkets. ENVIRO FRIENDLY Sugar Wrap kitchen plastics and bags are derived from sugarcane. All-natural and recyclable, they even include a compostable plastic wrap. The range is available from supermarkets and at sugarwrap.com.au. GOODBYE BRASSY TONES BLONDE RESCUE With crushed violet and blue pigments, this intensive formula counteracts both yellow and orange tones to keep blonde hair looking lighter and brighter. It will…

Lovers of The Crown series will adore this SUSAN MEISSNER The Governess Wendy Holden, $29.99 As the royal governess, Marion Crawford played a major role in shaping the childhood of Queen Elizabeth II, however her own story is largely unknown. Marion ‘Crawfie’ Crawford was a progressive young working-class woman who, as royal governess for 17 years, lived on the most intimate terms with Princess Margaret and the future Queen Elizabeth II. She had a ringside seat to some of the most seismic events of the 20th century. This is a look into the childhood of the world’s longest-reigning monarch – a story of conflict and contradiction, of state dinners and hunger marches, and of a left-winger amongst the ultimate conservatives. Death in Daylesford Kerry Greenwood, $29.99 When a mysterious invitation…

YOUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY Adairs adairs.com.au Alive alivebody.com.au Alpha-H alpha-h.com Asuvi asuvi.com.au Bali Body balibody.com.au Balsam Hill balsamhill.com.au Beauty Fridge beautyfridge.com Bed Bath N’ Table bedbathntable.com.au Berry Jam Sweet Living berryjamsweetliving.com.au Biossance sephora.com BLUblox blublox.com Bunnings bunnings.com.au Canalside Interiors canalside.com.au Carriere Frères libertineparfumerie.com.au CAW cawlife.com Chippendale Restorations chippendalerestorations.com.au Cocolux cocoluxaustralia.com David Jones davidjones.com Domayne domayne.com.au Early Settler earlysettler.com.au Eckersley’s Art & Craft eckersleys.com.au Ella Baché ellabache.com.au ESK eskcare.com Floris London libertineparfumerie.com.au Graham & Brown grahambrown.com/au/ Handsome Skincare ha.ndso.me Jurlique jurlique.com.au Koch & Co koch.com.au Lunatiques lunatiques.com LUX SKIN au.luxskin.co Mary Grace marygrace.com.au Mavala mavala.com Mermade Hair mermadehair.com Michael Klim chemistwarehouse.com.au Missoni myer.com.au MOR morboutique.com Natio natio.com.au Nude by Nature nudebynature.com.au Palmers palmersaustralia.com Pillow Talk pillowtalk.com.au Porter’s Paints 1800 656 664, porterspaints.com.au Rodan + Fields rodanandfields.com.au Spotlight spotlightstores.com Stoned Crystals stonedcrystals.com Temple &…

Editor Dora Papas Creative director Scott Cassidy Deputy editor Artemis Gouros Production editor Joseph Kenworthy Chief sub editor Lisa Chant Design director Monique Larracy Senior designer Carol Tang Decorating editor Dora Papas Garden editor Jenny Dillon Food editor Sarah Murphy DIY editor Greg Fahey Craft editor Siobhan Rogers Beauty editor Annie Millar Photo librarian Autumn Mooney Decorating stylist Vanessa Tidy Editor’s assistant Elaine Nasr Enquiries (02) 9282 8500 REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS Garden diary Tony Fawcett Moon gardening Milton Black Health & beauty Samantha Harrison Pets Caroline Zambrano ADVERTISING Head of brands Anna Mistilis Commercial brand manager Jo-Ann Taylor Brand executive Rachael Potter Sales director NSW Karen Holmes Qld head of sales Judy Taylor Sales director Vic, SA, WA Jaclyn Clements General manager media solutions Jane Waterhouse Marketing manager Jana Williams TELEVISION…

OYSTERS TWO WAYS Kick things off with crowd-pleasing oysters done Kilpatrick style or with a lemon vinaigrette. Recipe on page 152 WINE PAIRING Fuzzy & May Hunter Semillon 2019, Naked Wines STARTER * Oysters two ways SIDE * Prawn and mango salad MAINS * Lobster tails with buttermilk dressing and watercress * Salmon with olive caper salsa and pine nut crumb DESSERT * Tropical splice with mojito fruit salad LOBSTER TAILS WITH BUTTERMILK DRESSING AND WATERCRESS Luxe it up with lobster! You simply boil frozen tails and top with a pancetta crumb. Yum! Recipe on page 152 WINE PAIRING Dunnolly Estate Waipara Chardonnay 2018, Naked Wines SALMON WITH OLIVE CAPER SALSA AND PINE NUT CRUMB This meal looks – and tastes – extra special, but is so easy to prepare,…

COCONUT ICE BAUBLES Add a luscious choc layer to family favourite coconut ice for the prettiest treat this year! Recipe on opposite page CHOC AND HARD CARAMEL BAUBLES One for the grown ups, this classic combo is also delish with a little sea salt! Recipe on page 50 You can create decadent chocolate and cookie baubles, or gorgeous resin and plaster ornaments. Use them to trim your tree, decorate a cake, for table settings or as take-home treats. Dangle, place, eat or gift them – your options are endless! EACH MOULD… • Is about 16 x 22cm and makes 6 baubles – two in each design • Has a non-stick silicone finish for easy release and clean-up • Is safe to use in the oven, microwave and freezer BUY YOURS…

CRISPY INDIAN PANCAKES WITH KEBABS, SPICED POTATOES AND YOGHURT The batter for these delicious dosa (rice pancakes) takes a little prep time, but the results are worth it and you can cheat with store-bought kebabs. Shhh! Recipe on page 60 BARBECUED LAMB FOREQUARTER CHOPS WITH LAZY CAPONATA Aussie lamb is unbeatable, especially if you give it a bit of tang and spice and cook it on the barbie. Add a simplified Sicilian stew and you have a dinner winner. Recipe on page 60 ED HALMAGYI Join me as I show you how to give your meals and desserts a seasonal makeover on BHG TV, Fridays at 7pm on Channel 7. (Apologies, may be subject to change) Go to bhg.com.au for more food tips and tricks. AUSSIE SUMMER CAESAR WITH KING…

SEASON SPECIALS Celebrate with these gorgeous gifts from your garden. NSW CHRISTMAS BUSH is stunning as a big indoor floral arrangement. CHRISTMAS ORCHIDS, with their angel-like wings, will lighten up the dark corners in your place. WONGA WONGA VINE rings in the season with its heavy, heavenly clusters of bell-like flowers. PLANT NOW In each issue we give ideas, tips and planting advice for cooler, warmer, wetter and drier areas in each zone, so ask at your local nursery which zone best matches your conditions. FLOWERS ALL ZONES Alyssum, aster, calibrachoas (top left), cosmos, petunia, phlox, portulaca and salvia. ZONES 1-3 Gomphrena (bottom left) and vinca. ZONES 4-6 Begonia, Californian poppy, celosia, dahlia, impatiens, marigold, nasturtium, verbena and zinnia. VEGETABLES ALL ZONES Beans, capsicum, chilli, eggplant (top left), tomatoes and zucchini.…

The old saying ‘it takes a village’ comes to mind when looking at how the BHG TV team pitched in to help the tiny community of Balmoral update their hall. Located in the Southern Highlands of NSW, the region was severely affected by bushfire in 2019, but the hall was saved and has now been given a new lease on life for the locals to enjoy. And there’s more than one great idea here to try at your place! TRY THIS AT HOME 1 KITCHEN FACELIFT Is your kitchen dated but a full reno isn’t on the cards? It’s amazing what new benchtops, cabinetry and paint can do, plus glam details such as this pressed metal splashback (visit pressedtinpanels.com). And a mobile kitchen island and floating shelves boost storage. 2…

Make your yard a riot of living colour by erecting a bird feeder to attract Australia’s beautiful native species. Built using readily available plywood, it’s based around a small aluminium baking tray – readily available online – so you can easily switch between bird seed or water. Why not double up on your materials? Then you can make a pigeon pair for a bumper bird banquet! Gather your supplies • 1220 x 610 x 12mm marine plywood • 340 x 255 x 25mm aluminium baking tray • 6mm sisal rope Components Base 335 x 250 x 12mm plywood Base sides 335 x 20 x 12mm plywood (2) Base ends 226 x 20 x 12mm plywood (2) Roof posts 350 x 150 x 12mm plywood (2) Right roof panel 400 x…

1 READLY, STEADY, GO Reward a reader with a subscription to magazine app Readly, whose almost 5000 titles include BHG, for $14.99 a month, au.readly.com. 2 FOR LOVE OF THE GAME This Precision 4-in-1 RGB Gaming Bundle elevates headphones, a keyboard, mouse and mat with LED lighting, $99.95, domayne.com.au. 3 WATCH THIS SPACE Strap on an Oppo smartwatch and tap into myriad health and wellness features, from $449, jbhifi.com.au. 4 WI-FI WONDERS Minimalism rules with Logitech’s K380 Multi-device Bluetooth Keyboard, $79.95, and Pebble Wireless Mouse M350, $39.95, logitech.com/en-au. 5 BATTERY PACKED Love a charge that lasts? Google’s Pixel 5 phone includes an adaptive battery and extreme battery saver, $999, store.google.com/au. 6 KEEP AN EAR OUT Sesh Evo True Wireless Earbuds are ideal for those on the go, with easy controls…

SCENTED HANGERS Gather your supplies • Nylon string • Dried orange slices (instructions, page 80) • Cinnamon quills • Wooden beads • Dried or fresh bay leaves You’ll also need Scissors; sewing needle; 3m clear hooks or foraged stick Here’s how STEP 1 Thread a sewing needle onto nylon string cut to your desired length, leaving extra for hanging. STEP 2 Referring to image above for inspiration, add orange slices, cinnamon and wooden beads to nylon, starting at the bottom with a bead. For oranges, loop needle around bottom edge of slices and repeat at the top to secure in place. For cinnamon, tie nylon around quills and secure with knots. Also tie and knot the beads. STEP 3 For bay leaf hangers, thread needle onto a new piece of…

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BEETROOT TARTARE WITH WHIPPED FETA Swap the raw steak for diced beetroot and you have a fancy French starter with a vegie twist! Recipe on page 149 WINE PAIRING Small and Small Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Naked Wines STARTER * Beetroot tartare with whipped feta MAINS * Sweet potato wellington * Haloumi skewers with tabouli SIDES * Hasselback harissa roast pumpkin * Smoky eggplant with walnut and pomegranate salad DESSERT * Mini white-choc cheesecakes with mango and toffee nests…

SAUSAGE ROLL WREATH WITH CAMEMBERT Bite-sized savoury pastries and gooey baked cheese make for an amazing party starter! Recipe on page 154 WINE PAIRING Red by Caroline Dunn Barossa Valley Grenache 2018, Naked Wines STARTER * Sausage roll wreath with camembert SIDES * Kipfler potato and kale salad * Lemon-roasted fennel and carrots MAINS * Turkey breast with pecan and cranberry stuffing * Roast pork rack with grilled nectarines DESSERT * Slow cooker Christmas pudding with salted caramel sauce TURKEY BREAST WITH PECAN AND CRANBERRY STUFFING You can enjoy all the festive flavours, minus the usual time to roast a whole bird. Clever! Recipe on page 154 WINE PAIRING Dream Bird Geographe Rosé 2020, Naked Wines KIPFLER POTATO AND KALE SALAD Give a backyard barbie staple an elegant upgrade for…

1 SENSATIONAL SOURDOUGH Does anything taste better than bread you baked yourself? Find out with a Complete Sourdough Making Kit, $119.97, nourishmeorganics.com.au. 2 ONE DOOR OPENS Indulge in a decadent Christmas countdown with this All Star Advent Calender, which hides pralines behind each door, $69, kokoblack.com. 3 HERE’S CHEERS Avoid a hangover while still raising a glass with the first alcohol-removed Marlborough sauvignon blanc, Giesen 0%, $20, giesenwines.com.au. 4 LIKE A KID IN A CANDY STORE! Bring all the fun of the fair home and whip up – literally – batches of fairy floss with the portable Prinetti Cotton Candy Maker, $29, bigw.com.au. 5 PLANT-BASED RECIPES Explore tasty plant-based cuisine with the Kindness Community Vegan Cookbook, $35, edgarsmission.org.au. 6 RAISE A GOOD GLASS Pair vegan food with Hello! vegan pinot…

1 SPOTLIGHT ON NATIVES This double-sided paper isn’t just for wrapping, it’s also perfect for fabulous makes. Native Beetles/Willy Wag Tail 6pk, $26.95, bespokepress.com.au. 2 COLOUR YOUR WORLD Pouring paints are all the rage. Create one-of-a-kind artwork with Color Pour Pre-Mixed Pouring Paint Kits, in varied colourways, $54.71, bhgshop.com.au. 3 STITCHES TO SAVOUR Stitch joyful messages with enchanting embroidery kits complete with all you need. Brynn & Co Embroidery Kit, $50 each, biome.com.au. 4 JOYOUS CRAFTING This pint-sized powerhouse makes it easier – and faster – than ever to personalise your life with practical, pretty and everyday projects. Cricut Joy, $349, spotlightstores.com. 5 WATERCOLOUR DELIGHTS Gift a creative soul the tools they need to become a watercolour aficionado. The Art Studio Art Class Series Watercolour Easel Set, $49.99, riotstores.com.au. 6…

STYLISH EFFECT Now you can emulate the much-desired look of sophisticated minimal interiors that feature weathered, tactile stone in your own home. All you need is paint, a medium nap roller, wide paintbrush and muslin rag – professional skills not required! Dulux Stone Effect in Dreamstone White and Suede Effect in Dark Sphinx, dulux.com.au.…

EASY STEPS TO YOUR LIVING WREATH Gather your supplies • Foliage and flowers • Wooden embroidery hoop • Wet floral foam block with plastic tray • Florist twine You’ll also need Secateurs; scissors; green tie wire Give your front door lots of festive love with a living wreath. With a simple embroidery hoop, and foliage and flower cuttings, you can create a beautiful decoration. The secret to making it last is to use wet floral foam for your greenery. And, if you use natives, it will add lovely Australian flavour to your Christmas season. For you to note Popular natives for wreaths include gumnuts, flowering gums and eucalyptus foliage. You can also use bottlebrush and Christmas bush. Here’s how STEP 1 Trim plant cuttings to desired size using secateurs. You’ll…

Get your children into business early with their very own cafe stand. They’ll be busy cranking out the coffees and handing out the cupcakes to all their neighbourhood friends. In the afternoon, they can mix things up a bit and change into a lemonade stand for all of their thirsty customers. A steady income morning and night? Now that’s good business! FOR PROJECT SUPPLIES AND SHOPPING DETAILS, SEE OUR STOCKISTS PAGE EASY STEPS TO BUILD YOUR KIDS’ CAFE Gather your supplies • 2400 x 1200 x 15mm plywood • 70 x 35mm x 2.4m pine • 70 x 45mm x 2.4m dressed pine (4) • 1200 x 405 x 18mm Hevea finger jointed panel • 2400 x 1200 x 12mm plywood • 2400 x 1200 x 9mm EasyREGENCY decorative MDF…

This delightful quilt isn’t complicated, nor does it rely on fancy, perfectly executed stitching. So you don’t need to be fastidiously neat or an expert. Simplicity and care are all that is called for in creating this gorgeous Christmas quilt that can be enjoyed for years and years to come. With full instructions, foraged fabrics and threads, you have the beginnings of a wonderful made-by-you bauble quilt. What are you waiting for? KIT INCLUDES • 1 x vintage and reclaimed fabrics pack (fabrics vary) • 2 x hand-dyed Forage Thread packs in Raspberry and Birch Bark (range in collaboration with Cottage Garden Threads) • Bauble quilt pattern BUY THIS GORGEOUS FESTIVE QUILT KIT TODAY AT BHGSHOP.COM.AU *Postage and handling additional. Delivery within Australia only. Offer available while stocks last.…