Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2022 i Better Homes and Gardens Australia

It’s one of those savoury staples that has stood the test of time. And that’s probably because there are so many ways to get creative with it. Just like the No-drama parma (page 124) on our cover, which takes this delish dish to the next level, right down to a crispy crumb made from garlic bread. And best of all, the whole thing comes together in one tray. Very little mess for a huge amount of taste! Of course, if you are going to be spending time in the kitchen, you’ll want it to be just as fab as it is functional. And in our 16-page kitchen special (page 14), we show you how to embrace the latest style and colour trends, from blues and greens that should definitely be…

CANVAS THE AREA This easy and eye-catching arty idea layers canvases on canvases and elevates 3D art to a new level! Instructions on page 46 ALL AFLUTTER String art has been popular for eons. Hardly surprising as it’s relatively simple and doesn’t require a whole lot of tools or supplies to be creative. This vibrant winged beauty is bound to bring you joy. Instructions on page 46 FRAME OF MIND Make monochromatic magic with bargain-price mismatched picture frames from charity and discount chain stores. It’s as simple as painting your wall and frames the exact same shade. If you would like a little more definition, opt for matt or low sheen walls and semi gloss for the frames. Instructions on page 46 LEARN THE ROPES Who needs a conventional bedhead…

Want romance and charm in your life? Want the ruffles and double ruffles of sensuous and voluptuous blooms that light up your life? Want pinks that defy the colour chart – from the soulful and sultry to the perky and perfect? If your answer is yes, then get digging now – it’s time to plant an ugly, bare-root peony and give it three months of frost, putting you on the path to a regular late spring-early summer display of these exquisite flowers. The great thing is they are resilient, sturdy and one of the longestlived perennials you can plant in your garden. TYPES OF PEONY 1 THE HERBACEOUS PEONY is the most common kind found in our gardens. This perennial is slow growing, but eventually forms a substantial bush about 90H…

Growing your garden in pots gets around all sorts of difficulties – if your garden soil is wrong for the plants you want to grow, if your garden is on a balcony or if you are renting and there are rules about what you can and can’t do to the property. Another pots plus is they’re portable, so changing your plant arrangements is a breeze. This garden shows you how versatile and stunning a potted landscape can be! HOW TO GROW IN POTS Make sure your pots have drainage holes so excess water drains away. Use quality potting mix, not garden soil. Ensure you use a potting mix formulated for the specific needs of your plants, such as a succulent, azalea, rose or vegetable mix. Replace potting mix at least…

There may be a part of your garden where the soil is always damp, giving your plants wet feet – or roots. Many plants can’t tolerate wet feet and curl up their toes. You could improve drainage, but that’s a costly exercise. So instead, work with nature and put in plants that suit. WHY SOIL STAYS WET • Water stays sitting in the soil at the bottom of a slope because it has nowhere to drain. • Old building materials may have been buried, blocking drainage. • There’s not enough sun to dry the soil out. • Clay soil holds onto moisture for longer, while sandy soil enables any moisture to drain away quickly. MOISTURELOVING PLANTS • Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia ‘Gold Clusters’) • Vietnamese mint (Persicaria odorata) • Day lily…

APRIL 2022 You must plant all ABOVE-ground crops during the moon’s WAXING cycle. You must plant all BELOW-ground crops during the moon’s WANING cycle Times are in Australian Eastern Standard Time, AEST. This applies to NSW, the ACT, Qld, Vic and Tas. For SA and NT, deduct half an hour. For WA, deduct two hours. During Daylight Saving Time, add 1 hour. How to use the calendar 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 sprout, eggplant, lettuce, celery, silverbeet, spinach, endive, Chinese cabbage, tomato, cucumber, asparagus crowns, artichoke, marrow, pumpkin, capsicum, melon, zucchini, chicory, sprouts, rhubarb, all herbs (except…

Save old bookcases from the tip and turn them into custom furniture that looks like it cost thousands. The trick is to use freely available timber mouldings to dress them up and cleverly hide the fact they were once separate. It’s about giving rubbish a new lease on life! EASY STEPS TO TRANSFORM OLD BOOKCASES Gather your supplies • 2 old timber bookcases • 66 x 18mm x 2.7m primed pine • 20 x 5mm x 2.4m pine coverstrip • 30 x 12mm x 2.7m pine panel moulding • 42 x 18mm x 2.7m primed pine • 30 x 30mm x 2.7m clear pine You’ll also need Sander; 120- and 180-grit sandpaper; painting gear; stain-blocking primer; cork sanding block; water-based pale green paint; plastic packers; spirit level; clamps; countersinking bit;…

Back problems are very common, which is no surprise when you consider it’s central to everything we do. Luckily, issues that arise aren’t always serious and can sometimes resolve themselves in time. The best news is – if you treat your back mindfully, it will serve you better. CAUSE AND EFFECT How you position yourself during everyday actions can protect your back SITTING DOWN Sitting in one position for long periods puts stress on your body and compromises blood flow. Vary your position from sitting straight to leaning back slightly and get up every 30-60 minutes to walk around and stretch, like raising your arms over your head. This will help to keep your muscles and tissues flexible. STANDING UP Good posture is crucial. Imagine a piece of string pulling you…

1 WARM UP INCREASES FLEXIBILITY Stand with feet hip width apart. Very slowly drop head forward and gradually roll down from your waist. Relax, letting arms and head hang loose. Take a few breaths, tighten your abdomen muscles, then slowly unroll back to standing. Repeat three times. 2 COBRA POSE STRETCHES UPPER BACK Lie face down on the floor and place forearms on the floor with elbows directly below shoulders. Press tops of your feet into the floor, drop shoulder blades down and back, and slowly rise up onto forearms. Hold for a count of five and release. Repeat three times. 3 FOREARM PLANK BOOSTS CORE STABILITY Lie face down on the floor and place forearms on the floor with elbows directly below shoulders. Squeeze shoulder blades back and press…

TRIMS + APPLIQUÉ While icing is wet, attach edible wafer or rice paper flowers, painted gum paste blossoms or small candies. MORE TRIMS + APPLIQUÉ Bake mini flowers. Use piped un-thinned icing to decorate and attach flower. Pipe on extra accents. PEARLESCENT SHIMMER While iced cookies are wet, add small white or pearl cachous and let set. Brush pearlised white lustre on top, tapping off excess. LAYERED LOOK Let white icing set. Mix 1/8 tsp gel food colouring and 2 tsp vodka. Use clean artist’s brushes to ‘paint’ plaid design, then add details with edible pens. GOLD + GLITZ Let icing partially set (about an hour). Gold leaf is tricky due to static, so transfer flakes with a dry artist’s brush. BEJEWELLED + BEDAZZLED While iced cookies are wet, sprinkle…

You often don’t find out you have a problem with your gutters until there’s rain – and if it’s bad enough, there’s no time to waste in fixing it up. A couple of emergency patching products will let you plug a leak until more permanent repairs can be made. You can also protect your gutters from developing a leak in the first place. GUTTER PROTECTION In our leafy suburbs, gutters clogged up with leaves are a common sight. The backed-up water can easily make its way into your home, while it also reduces the lifespan of your gutter as corrosion is more likely to start in an environment that’s constantly wet. Here’s how STEP 1 Clear out the leaves from your gutters. Use a gutter scoop to keep your hands…

YOUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY Antique General Store antiquegeneralstore.com Bunnings bunnings.com.au Country Road countryroad.com.au David Jones davidjones.com.au Domayne domayne.com.au Early Settler earlysettler.com.au Ella Baché ellabache.com.au ESK Skincare eskcare.com Essano priceline.com.au House house.com.au Invisible Zinc chemistwarehouse.com.au Julie Paterson juliepaterson.com.au Jurlique jurlique.com Kmart kmart.com.au La Roche-Posay priceline.com.au La Casa Vita lacasavita.com.au L’Orèal Paris priceline.com.au Mayfarm Flowers mayfarmflowers.com.au Medik 8 activeskin.com.au Megaria megaria.com.au Mitchell Road Antiques mitchellroad.com.au Mukti Organics muktiorganics.com Natio natio.com.au New Directions newdirections.com.au Olay Regenerist chemistwarehouse.com.au One World oneworldcollection.com.au Pampa Homewares pampa.com.au Paula’s Choice paulaschoice.com.au Porter’s Paints porterspaints.com Pillow Talk pillowtalk.com.au Steal the Limelight stealthelimelight.com.au The Art and Framing Company artandframingco.com.au The Lost and Found Department thelostandfounddepartment.com.au QV Dermcare chemistwarehouse.com.au Spotlight spotlightstores.com SNUGGLE UP WITH CROCHET, P47 Shopping details Megaria Chair, $895. Mitchell Road Antiques Antique milking stool, $110. Pampa Homewares Monte lumbar…

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CROCHET THROW KIT ONLY $148 INCLUDED IN YOUR KIT • 3 balls each of KPC Glencoul DK (70% fine merino wool/30% better cotton) in the colours of Navy, Beehive, Get Ready, Lucky Heather, Limewash and Parakeet • Crochet pattern Finished size of throw measures 100W x 130cmL BUY YOUR CROCHET THROW YARN KIT AT BHGSHOP.COM.AU OR SCAN HERE TO SHOP NOW! Postage and handling additional. Delivery within Australia only. Offer available while stocks last.…

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 Cineraria (top left), cornflower, lupin, pansy, poppy, primula, statice, stock and viola. ZONES 1-3 Alyssum, cosmos, dianthus, marigold, nasturtium, petunia, salvia, snapdragon, sweetpea, torenia and verbena. ZONES 4-6 Anemone, calendula, penstemon and wallflower (bottom left). VEGETABLES ALL ZONES Beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, carrot, onion, shallots, peas and turnip. ZONES 1-3 Artichoke (globe), asparagus, beans, capsicum (top left), garlic, parsnip, potato, pumpkin, sweet corn, tomato and zucchini. ZONES 4-6 Brussels sprout, garlic, leek (bottom left) and rocket. SEASON SPECIALS Bulbs aren’t just a spring sensation. Some are late summer specials, too. LOVELY LILIES Belladonnas…

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. “THIS IS THE WORLD’S BEST OMELETTE – OR SO SAYS TIK-TOK! IT’S SUPER FUN TO MAKE, SO GET YOUR TWIST AND TWIRL ON” “GREEN YOUR BBQ FISH SCENE WITH A STIR-FRY OF BEANS, SPINACH, KALE AND PESTO. SO GOOD!” ORANGE AND POPPYSEED LOAF Preparation time 15 mins Cooking time 1 hour 10 mins Serves 10 1 cup poppyseeds⅔ cup milk1⅓ cups caster sugar1½ tsp instant coffee powder½ tsp vanilla extractFinely grated zest and juice of 4 oranges2 free-range egg yolks175g unsalted butter, at room temperature3 free-range eggs1½ cups self-raising flour1…

FOUR-CHEESE STUFFED CHICKEN PARMAS WITH GARLIC-BREAD CRUMB Preparation time 30 mins Cooking time 1 hour Serves 4 200g garlic bread, roughly torn⅔ cup grated four-cheese blend (tryPerfect Italiano 4 Cheese Melt)2 Tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves2 cloves garlic, crushed½ cup plain flourSea-salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to season1 free-range egg2 Tbsp milk4 small chicken breast fillets2 Tbsp olive oil⅔ cup Arrabbiata pasta sauce220g tub cherry bocconcini, torn400g cherry truss tomatoesBasil leaves, to serve ROAST POTATO AND PROSCIUTTO SALAD 1kg baby potatoes, cut into1cm-thick ovals2 Tbsp olive oil, plus extra 2 Tbsp6 thin slices prosciutto1 Tbsp red wine vinegar1 Tbsp roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves60g mixed salad leaves STEP 1 Preheat oven to 180°C fan-forced (200°C conventional). STEP 2 Process garlic bread in a food processor until fine…

Sick and tired of those storebought cutlery inserts that don’t quite fit either the drawer or your kitchen essentials? Try making your own! You can size it to the perfect dimensions for the available space, then design all of the compartments to hold your favourite cooking utensils. Best of all, the materials are easy to get. From there, it’s as simple as cut, glue, drill and nail. Too easy! EASY STEPS TO MAKE A CUTLERY TRAY Gather your supplies • 66 x 12mm x 2.7m dressed meranti (2) • 1220 x 810 x 4mm marine plywood (1) You’ll also need Tape measure; pencil; mitre saw; PVA glue; lint-free cloths; drill; 1mm drill bit; 25mm nails; hammer; square; clamps; 120-grit sandpaper; food-grade oil For you to note • All components are…

Natural skincare products are good for you, good for the planet and – if you whip up your own – good for your pocket, too! With just supermarket staples and a few other easy-to-get ingredients you can create soothing, scented treatments that really work. EASY STEPS TO YOUR LAVENDER BATH SALTS Gather your supplies • Organic rolled oats • Epsom salts • Cornflour • Dried lavender • Muslin • Twine or ribbon • Lavender sprigs You’ll also need Food processor or coffee grinder; stainless steel bowl; measuring cups; wooden spoon; scissors; lidded glass jar For you to note • You can use organic quick-cook oats instead of rolled for the bath salts. Both are available in major supermarkets. • To use the bath salts, simply empty a sachet into the…

APPLY ICE Most back pain comes from inflammation, and the best way to treat it is with a cold pack or a bag of crushed ice. Apply for 15 minutes every hour. TRY HEAT Although ice reduces inflammation, heat can help relax muscles. Apply for 20-30 minutes up to three times a day. TAKE AN OVER-THE-COUNTER PAIN RELIEVER Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen and naproxen are helpful in reducing pain. Follow the dosage directions – more isn’t better. WALK AROUND Move around as much as you comfortably can. Even a short walk will help to gently stretch the muscles so you feel better fast. It also ups the blood supply for less stiffness and more strength. Start slow and try a bit more each day. GET A GOOD NIGHT’S REST…

“It follows you like the smell of the peach blossoms – it will enlighten you”CHRISTY LEFTERI, BESTSELLING AUTHOR Peach Blossom Spring Melissa Fu (Hachette, $32.99) China, 1938, and as the Japanese advance, Meilin is forced to flee her burning city with her four-year-old son, Renshu, embarking on an epic journey across China. For comfort, they turn to their most treasured possession – a beautifully illustrated hand scroll whose ancient fables offer solace and wisdom as they travel, seeking refuge. Spanning continents and featuring multiple generations of one family, this bold and moving history of modern China is about the power of our past and the hope for a better future. MERLYN Michael Shmith (Hardie Grant, $80 hardback) The illustrious life of Merlyn Baillieu Myer (1900–1982) spanned more than three-quarters of…

RAINBOW BRIGHT No need to hunt for a pot of gold with this awesome and creative shelving unit, where flexible plywood is curved and reinvented as a rainbow, using spray paint and fixings. Instructions on page 38 STYLISH SHOWCASE Score big style points by pairing acrylic display boxes with pine or plywood shelves (length, width and timber thickness to suit). Stack a combo of display cubes on the shelves to create a customisable unit with varying shelf heights. TIP Because components aren’t secured to one another, this project is for homes without young children or pets that climb. BRING THE OUTDOORS IN Grow the vertical storage space above your desk – no green thumb necessary! Here’s the trick. When it’s turned upside down, a half-round window box planter frame becomes…

One golden rule when starting out your garden is to grow what suits your climate and environment. After that it’s about whatever takes your fancy. The garden of artist and horticulturist Colleen Southwell sits on a country hill outside the regional NSW city of Orange, where winters are cold, summers are hot and drought is frequent. It’s the sort of climate that teaches you patience and respect. These difficulties have encouraged her to go freestyle with her garden design. There’s a lot of rambling country garden style and a bit of heritage courtyard. There are naturalistic/rustic spots as well as well-rounded, formal mounds of buxus. Kind of blowzy meets straitlaced. It is, as Colleen says, an ‘honest’ garden, rather than one that would qualify as glamorous! “When water is limited,…

There’s still life left in some of those vegie scraps you toss in the bin or compost, from the tops of carrots and beetroots to the roots of spring onions and leeks and even the stubs of celery. These scraps have the ability to reproduce more vegies – over and over again! Here’s how. GROW CARROT AND BEETROOT SALADS You’ve already eaten the roots of these root vegies, meaning they won’t grow more of the same. So look up, not down – they’ll still grow foliage. Toss beet leaves through salads or blend carrot leaves (yes, the leaves!) into pesto. Once you’ve chopped off the tops, sit them in a tray or dish of water. Place in bright light, but away from direct sunlight, and then change the water every…

Join me as I show you how to make delicious dishes on BHG TV on Fridays at 7pm, on Channel 7. (Apologies, may be subject to change) Go to bhg.com.au for more food tips and tricks. TOMATO, MOZZARELLA AND SEARED BEEF SALAD Preparation time 20 mins Cooking time 20 mins Serves 4 ⅓ country sourdough loaf, crusts removed2 Tbsp olive oilSea-salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to season, plus extra 3 tsp sea-salt flakes250g punnet small yellow cherrytomatoes, cut in half3 Tbsp plain flour500g fillet steak, cut into 1cm-thick slices¼ cup extra virgin olive oil300g fiore di latte mozzarella2 roasted red capsicums, torn¼ bunch basil, leaves picked, to garnish TOMATO VINAIGRETTE 2 cloves garlic, finely grated2 large ripe heirloom tomatoes, coarsely grated2 Tbsp tiny capers100ml extra virgin olive oil2 Tbsp sherry…

CREATE EDIBLE BOWLS OF YUM STUFFED WITH YOUR FAVE VEG! CHICKEN LAAB CABBAGE ROLLS Preparation time 30 mins Cooking time 35 mins Serves 4 1 medium head savoy or green cabbage, outer leaves discarded, separated into leaves⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil3 cloves garlic, crushed1 tsp grated fresh ginger1 cup roughly chopped green cabbage500g chicken mince1 Tbsp sambal oelek1 Tbsp lime juice1 Tbsp soy sauce or tamari1 tsp fish sauce½ tsp brown sugar2 Tbsp chopped basil2 Tbsp chopped mint SPICY SESAME DIPPING SAUCE ¼ cup soy sauce¼ cup thinly sliced shallots1 tsp toasted sesame seeds1 tsp rice vinegar1 tsp sambal oelek1 tsp toasted sesame oil STEP 1 Preheat oven to 160°C fan-forced (180°C conventional). Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil over high heat. Cook cabbage leaves in…

DO YOGA OR PILATES A weekly class will help you stretch out muscles and tendons and reduce pain. Just tell the instructor first about any issues so they can make sure you’re moving safely. This kind of exercise can also work well for prevention and maintenance. CONSIDER ACUPUNCTURE Studies have shown acupuncture can help with chronic back pain. If there’s no improvement in 6-8 weeks, it may not be right for you. KEEP STRESS IN CHECK Destressing via relaxation and mindfulness exercises such as slow breathing, meditation or a walk outside are effective ways to ease muscle tension and decrease pain intensity. SEE A PHYSIOTHERAPIST A physical therapist can assess your concerns and give you stretches or exercises to do at home to help you manage the pain and prevent…

BEJEWELLED + BEDAZZLED Like rare gemstones or the Fabergé eggs that inspired these designs, no two eggs are alike. FOR THE CRAFT EGGS, paint papier-mâché eggs with two coats of artists’ acrylic to suit your gem colours and let dry. Decorate with self-adhesive gemstones. You can buy them in strips, pre-assembled designs or packs of single big and/or small gems. Check out the jewellery and scrapbooking aisles of larger craft stores as well as etsy.com. FOR THE COOKIES, opt for maximum sparkle by using edible metallic or hologram glitter, lustre dust and edible candy jewels. Recipe on page 166 PAIR PASTELS AND PEARLS FOR PRETTY-AS-A-PICTURE EGGS – EITHER DECORATIVE OR DELICIOUS! PEARLESCENT SHIMMER These iridescent cookies and their egg-shaped container offer an elegant take on pretty pastels. FOR THE CRAFT…

Our homes may be our havens, but they also offer the chance to contribute to the growing global trend for sustainability. Want to get involved? It’s easy, whether your thoughts lie with small steps or big-ticket moves. START TODAY A wonderful start is to create a sustainability self-audit and action plan. Here are four areas to focus on. Lighting Consider using LED bulbs. According to energyrating.gov.au, an average household can save up to an estimated $253 in annual energy costs by swapping halogen bulbs for LEDs, which also last five times longer. Shower heads Look to install an aerated or low-flow shower head, which will save on water usage. Energy rating Be mindful of the energy rating of appliances, especially when it’s time to buy, as they’ll help to identify…