Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2024 i Better Homes and Gardens Australia

Unless you’ve been living under an incredibly huge rock, it’s undeniable that the price of pretty much everything has been going up, up, up. It can make meal planning somewhat stressful. In this issue, we’ve dished up recipes that use ingredients wisely and can be stretched across multiple nights, from sweet and savoury tray bakes that suit all tastes (page 14) and dumplings everyone loves (page 34) to crowd-pleasing meatballs (page 32). Time for a home upgrade but worried you’ll have to settle for ‘cheap chic’? Instead, find out how to make the most of your decorating dollar with hacks for every room (page 106), tricks with textured paint and clever carpentry for your bedroom (page 118), and funky DIY furniture pieces that multi-task (pages 128 and 132). Have I…

THE BEST RICOTTA GNOCCHI One secret of making light, fluffy gnocchi is blending the ricotta in the Thermomix. The second is the ‘ripassare’ –an Italian trick of lightly frying cooked gnocchi to become crispy on the outside while remaining light and fluffy in the middle. Delicious! Preparation time 10 mins Total time 10 mins plus 3hours freezing Serves 8 (makes 1.36 kg) Thermomix models TM6 TM5 160g parmesan, cut into 3cm pieces 800g ricotta, drained 400g “00” pasta flour or gluten-free flour ¼ tsp sea salt 2 pinches ground nutmeg KITCHEN EXTRAS Thermomix Baking Mat STEP 1 Place parmesan into mixing bowl and grate 10 sec/speed 9. STEP 2 Add ricotta and blend 20 sec/speed 7. STEP 3 Add flour, salt and nutmeg, then mix 5 sec/speed 4, then knead…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 You want your plants to perform, then give encore after encore. But when your temperatures range from a bone-chilling -7 degrees in winter to a searing 47 degrees in summer, this can be troublesome. But, by trial and error, a couple of treasure hunters at The Stones in central Victoria have created an environment where plants thrive to make an informal and charmingly eclectic welcome, despite the tough conditions! 1 A GENTLE WEEP IS GOOD FOR YOU Plant an evergreen such as a peppercorn tree – the narrow leaves cast a lacy shadow, allowing the winter sun to filter through and warm up the understorey plants. 2 BOUNCE BACK, BABIES! Be prepared to see your agave (A. americana ‘Variegata’) suffer a bit if frosts…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 Picturesque succulents are works of art in themselves, some with perfect Fibonacci sequence leaf arrangements, others taking on the weird shapes of brains or warty rocks. But don’t stop there – frame or sculpt these works of art into more art. And when you run out of plants, simply propagate more – for free! 1 TURN RUBBISH INTO ARESOURCE Head to junk shops or rummage through unloved discards left on your nature strip for intriguing objects you can fill with succulents. 2 MAKE A FANCY SEAT COVER When a beautiful, old chair has lost its seat, snuggle a succulent-filled pot through the hole. Terracotta pots are ideal because they’re porous and excess water seeps through the clay. 3 TOO, TOO FROU-FROU! Put a pretty…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 AS EPIPHYTES, STAGHORNS DON’T NEED SOIL TO THRIVE. INSTEAD, JUST FEED THEM LOW-STRENGTH LIQUID FERTILISER IN SUMMER. EASY STEPS TO BUILDING FABULOUS FERN FRAMES A majestic staghorn needs more than a plank to hold it up! Safety notes When operating power tools, wear safety glasses, a mask, and earmuffs, and tie your hair back. When appropriate, wear gloves and protective clothing. Here’s how STEP 1 Measure 650mm from top of panel and 450mm across. Mark. STEP 2 Cut with angle grinder. Cut 2 panels for each frame. STEP 3 Spray-paint panels. STEP 4 Measure, mark and cut garden edging to 300-320mm. Cut 4 for each panel. STEP 5 Form a square, with base plates overlapping at corners. Drill holes through base plates at four…

ZODIAC SIGNS The 12 signs of the zodiac are divided into four groups – fire, air, earth and water. 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. How to use the calendar ■ Best days ■ Second-best days On these days, thin out seed boxes, sow all types of seeds…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 FLOWER POWER Get creative with hardware components to craft a tiered table with lazy susan bearing plates that enable petal-like panels to rotate and stow as needed. BUDGET-FRIENDLY IDEAS Spring is on the horizon, almost, but budding chippies need not wait! Charge up your tools now and cut some fresh plywood for a table that’ll blossom in your living space in the blink of an iris. EASY STEPS TO BUILDING A FOLDING FLOWER TABLE Nip your coffee table needs in the bud with an easy afternoon project that’s like honey to the bee. Safety notes • When operating power tools, wear safety glasses, a mask and earmuffs, and tie your hair back. When appropriate, wear gloves and protective clothing. Project notes • Refer to…

Whether it’s a social or work gathering, a celebration or salutation, many sorts of occasions often revolve around alcohol. Having a glass in your hand is an accepted custom associated with relaxation and people coming together, but does it need to be alcoholic? This is a question being asked more and more, and for good reason. SOBERING THOUGHTS The benefits of a sober lifestyle are far-reaching, and they go way beyond saying goodbye to hangovers and embarrassing text messages or behaviours. Abstaining from alcohol may help to improve your sleep, boost mental clarity, increase energy and physical wellbeing, enhance your quality of life and contribute to you feeling better about yourself. IMPROVED SLEEP While a nightcap or glass of wine might initially help you relax and induce drowsiness, it can…

TAKE CHARGE OF DEBTS TODAY The cost of living pressures means we all need to keep a close eye on money matters MAKE IT AUTOMATIC Keep your eyes on the long-term aim to be debt-free. One way to seriously stay on track is to set up regular automatic payments coinciding with your payday. Some banks and financial institutions offer debt consolidation – bundling debts together so you just need to pay off the one debt with the one interest rate. WRITE DOWN A PLAN Got debt? Write down all that you owe and make a priority of what you need to pay off first. Know you’re not alone. A recent study by finder.com.au found that the average Australian has $20,238 in personal debt (not including mortgages). Try to knock off…

Deputy editor Raffaela Pugliese Creative director Scott Cassidy Production editor Joseph Kenworthy Chief sub editor Lucie Clark Design director Monique Larracy Senior designer Carol Tang Decorating editor Raffaela Pugliese Garden editor Jenny Dillon Food editor Sarah Murphy DIY editor Tiff Bancroft Beauty editor Annie Millar Stylist Kate Walsh Editor’s assistant Sonya Dlugosch Enquiries (02) 9282 8000 REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS In your garden Tony Fawcett Moon guide Milton Black Better pets Caroline Zambrano ADVERTISING Commercial brand manager Jo-Ann Taylor Brand executive Claire Ellis Sales director NSW, Vic, SA, WA Karen Holmes Qld head of sales Judy Taylor Marketing manager Jess Taylor Subscriptions campaign manager Nicolette Zorzopis TELEVISION Host Johanna Griggs Presenters: Pets Dr Harry Cooper Gardening Graham Ross, Melissa King DIY Adam Dovile Food Colin Fassnidge, Clarissa Fieldel Landscaping Charlie Albone Decorating…

FUDGE FACTOR Melt and mix your way to gooey fudgy brownies that are glam enough to share! CHOCOLATE AND PRUNE FUDGE BROWNIE Preparation time 10 mins plus 30 mins cooling Cooking time 15 mins Serves 12 (1 piece per serve) 200g pitted prunes, finely chopped 60g light margarine 80g (½ cup, lightly packed) brown sugar or brown sugar substitute 35g (⅓ cup) cocoa powder, sifted 50g good-quality dark chocolate, chopped 160ml (⅔ cup) freshly brewed coffee 2 x 60g free-range eggs, whisked 55g (⅓ cup) wholemeal self-raising flour 50g (⅓ cup) self-raising flour Cocoa powder, to dust (optional) STEP 1 Preheat oven to 160°C/140°C fan-forced. Spray an 18 x 28cm slab tin with cooking spray. STEP 2 Put prunes, margarine, sugar, cocoa, chocolate and coffee in a medium saucepan. Stir…

1 GREENING UP! A wall in a shady spot can attract moss in winter, or you can add an extra dimension by hanging epiphytic bromeliads that grow leaves in brilliant colours. Birds’ nest ferns are perfect companions. 2 COLOUR YOUR WORLD Bromeliads’ leaves, or bracts, come in so many colours and patterns: scarlet, pink, green, yellow, silver, striped or speckled —have fun choosing! 3 SET YOUR GARDEN ABLAZE Add atropical touch to your temperate garden with a flaming sword (Vriesea carinata). Tiny flowers emerge from spectacular red, orange or gold bracts that can be up to 20cm high. 4 FAUX FLOWERS — NATURALLY Many bromeliads grow in a rosette shape that resembles petals. They can also grow quite large —some as wide as 1m —so give them plenty of room!…

1 BOTANICAL WALL Moss panels, moss walls – even moss ceilings – are becoming a popular decorating feature in both our homes and commercial operations because they bring you up close to nature. Or you can create small pieces of moss art, incorporating air plants and pieces of bark to hang on your walls! Instructions on page 83. 2 MOSS SPHERES Kodedama is the ancient Japanese art of growing plants in balls of moss. You can have just one, sitting in a fancy saucer, or create a mossy mobile by making a collection that you can hang from a herb drying rack. Instructions on page 82. WHEN HANGING KOKEDAMAS, VARY THE LENGTHS OF YOUR TWINE TO CREATE THE EFFECT OF A GREEN CONSTELLATION!! 3 LANDSCAPE IN MINIATURE Have a go…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 Plants may be an afterthought when you’re decorating indoors, but they can become statement pieces when you go for quirky individuals that stand out from the crowd. And if you love them so much you want others, you can turn one plant into more by simple division. DAPPLED UNDER SOFT LIGHT For marvellously mottled mixtures of dark and palest green, try dieffenbachia, which is also known as dumb cane. Add a variegated dwarf umbrella tree and you’ll feel like you’re in the tropics in the middle of winter! HERE’S A DOTTY IDEA! Instead of a silver lining, with a cane or angle wing begonia, you get a deep rust red ‘lining’ to balance out the silver speckles on the leaves. It thrives in humidity,…

SEASON SPECIALS Try these winter bright sparks! 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 Aster, honesty (top left), tuberous begonia, petunia, rudbeckia. ZONES 1-3 Ageratum, arctotis, bedding begonia, Californian poppy, celosia, cosmos, dahlia, gazania, gerbera, African marigold, phlox, portulaca (bottom left), salvia, sunflower and zinnia. ZONES 4-6 Delphinium and statice. VEGETABLES ALL ZONES Beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, mustard, onion (top left), parsnip and peas. ZONES 1-3 Beans, capsicum, carrot, cucumber, marrow, melon, potato, pumpkin, rhubarb crowns, squash, sweetcorn (bottom left) and tomato. ZONES 4-6 Artichoke suckers, cress and Chinese cabbage. "The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 1 LEAN INTO IT Eclectic home styling is bang on trend and brings charm and personality to your space. Double down and accessorise with a mix of modern goodies! 2 STRAIGHT AS A DIE Embrace ‘wonky’ in your world but keep it sturdy and stable! Built entirely with timber, these solid standing shelves are totally skew-riffic! 3 AWASH WITH COLOUR Create a colourwash for your timber shelves with a 50/50 ratio of water-based paint and water. Choose a soft grey or any colour to blend with your décor. EASY STEPS TO BUILDING ‘INTENTIONALLY WONKY’ SHELVES Create fully customisable shelving that’s quirky and fun, yet highly practical and a breeze to build! Safety notes When operating power tools, wear safety glasses, a mask, and…

Why have all your pot plants sitting around when you can hang them up for a totally different effect? It looks fabulous and also frees up your desk or bench, so the space seems instantly less cluttered. From macramé to chain hangers, and even leather ones, there’s a style for every room. It’s time to get into the swing of suspended greenery for fresher surrounds! 1 BOHO CHIC Reflecting a fun twist on 1970s macramé plant hangers, this verdant collection allows each plant to shine at varying heights. Choose planters with built-in saucers to ensure proper drainage – and no messy drips – or place a pot with a drainage hole inside an outer decorative pot to catch excess water. Instructions on page 158 2 CUSTOM LOOK Hanging planters can…

LIKE AFRESH BATCH OF CORNBREAD Marrying Off Morgan McBride Amy Barry (Simon & Schuster, $22.99) The oldest of the McBride siblings, Morgan has his heart longing for the solitude of the wide-open road. But Junebug, his little sister, is dead set on keeping him at home, so she places an advertisement in The Matrimonial News. Epiphany (Pip) Hopgood is too tall, too loud, too opinionated and too contrary for polite society. When Pip shows up to meet her betrothed, she finds that Morgan McBride is not the husband she expected. In fact, he doesn’t even want to be a husband. Pip must take control of her own future. Become a Business Money Magnet Justine McLean (The Rural Publishing Company, $34.99) Respected money mentor and financial educator Justine McLean shares the…

HONEY MUSTARD LAMB TRAY BAKE Preparation time 15 mins Cooking time 30 mins Serves 4 2 Tbsp seeded mustard ¼ cup honey 2 Tbsp finely chopped rosemary 2 cloves garlic, crushed ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil Sea-salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to season 12 lamb cutlets 4 white potatoes, unpeeled, quartered 1 bunch baby carrots, scrubbed, trimmed and halved 200g Brussels sprouts, halved 2 Tbsp white wine vinegar 1 Tbsp chopped baby capers 1 cup baby rocket leaves 1 cup baby spinach leaves STEP 1 Preheat oven to 220°C/200°C fan-forced. Combine mustard, honey, rosemary, garlic and 1 tablespoon of the oil in a small bowl. Season and mix well to combine. STEP 2 Put lamb in a bowl. Pour over half of the marinade and set…

This gyoza filling counts on mirin, a Japanese wine made from glutinous rice, to add a hint of sweetness and on tamari, a thicker version of soy sauce, for salty richness. Just before serving, top each bowl of mandu-guk with thin ribbons of cooked eggs and nori (dried seaweed that comes in paper-like sheets and cuts easily with kitchen scissors). DUMPLING WRAPPERS If you have a pasta machine at home, it will save time (and muscle!) rolling wrapper dough. Feed dough through machine in increments until it’s a thinness you like, then stamp away with a 9-10cm round cookie cutter. Preparation time 30 mins Cooking time nil Makes 24-28 wrappers 1½ cups plain flour, plus extra, to dust ½ cup warm water STEP 1 Put flour in amedium bowl. Slowly…

1 DOUBLE DOWN Coleus is famously easy to work with and its colours can be electric! Try a couple of different varieties, like gold-fringed burgundy leaves against blotchy green-orange-red leaves. Double the tumble with the almost-black flowers and lime-green foliage of a Petunia sweetunia hybrid! 2 THROWING SHADE Elephant’s ears do best when they’re in the shade reaching for the sun. Use their huge leaves to give cover to other low-light-loving plants, such as a moody, almost-black Heuchera ‘Obsidian’. Then dial up the intensity with the wrinkled leaves of a scarlet iresine. ADD HEFT TO YOUR DECO STYLING WITH A COUPLE OF CONCRETE SPHERES 3 MIXED COMPANY Succulents look fresh when their textures are set off against other plants. For a tabletop display that won’t get in the way of…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 Frog populations are declining because, among other things, their habitats are being lost. Make them feel at home in your garden with plants, logs and rocks in cool, shaded spots that protect them as they feed and move around. Then build a frog pond or – as we show here – a simple frog hotel! EASY STEPS TO BUILD A FROG HOTEL Here’s how STEP 1 Fill drainage hole in container with epoxy putty and let dry. STEP 2 With hacksaw, cut PVC pipes into three various heights to suit your design. STEP 3 Sand sawn edges smooth with sandpaper. STEP 4 Bunch pipes and hold secure with duct tape. STEP 5 Half fill the container with sand, then push pipes firmly into sand.…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 1 ART EXPRESS Turn your dining area into a playroom combo and make the most of your space. Let your kids show off their inner van Gogh with a pinboard gallery placed above a simply styled storage shelf/drawing table. KEEP THE KIDS’ CLUTTER OFF THE FLOOR WITH TONAL BASKETS, STORED UNDERNEATH THE BENCH. LET LITTLE BUT BIG IMAGINATIONS RUN WILD WITH A ROLL HOLDER FOR DRAWING PAPER BUILT INTO THE BENCHTOP. BUILD A BEAUTIFULLY PRACTICAL BENCH UP AGAINST THE WALL TO CREATE WALKING SPACE, THEN COSY IT UP WITH CUSHIONS. 2 FLOAT YOUR BOAT As long as there’s storage, a play room can be anywhere, even in the dining room. These floating shelves do double duty for kitchen wares and junior artworks. Select primed…

SEEN ON BHG TV FRIDAYS 7.00 Throw-away plastic water bottles are so yesterday! But do you find yourself constantly misplacing your reusable bottle or wishing your hands were free? What if you could just sling it over your shoulder, stylishly, and forget about it? Well, now you can. We’ve got the solution all tied up in knots – macramé. And while you’re at it, make a matching keyring, too. LOST KEYS NO MORE Lark’s head, good luck knot, cross knot, flat knot, wrapping knot –once you’ve started, it’s hard to stop. Work your macramé magic on a keyring. Loop a couple of pieces of macramé cord or paracord over a split ring with lark’s heads, then practise your knots in any arrangement you like. The beauty of macramé is that…

There are many benefits to knitting, such as stress relief. Not only that, but hand-knitted items make thoughtful gifts, and many knitters also like to donate their makes to charitable organisations. If you’re keen to knit for charity, then you’re in the right place. WHERE CAN YOU SEND KNITTED ITEMS? You can send knitted items for charity to various organisations, including shelters, nursing homes, or charity organisations that will accept handmade donations. For hospitals, you can knit items that provide comfort to patients, such as baby blankets, preemie hats, or lap blankets for elderly patients. Additionally, you can consider knitting sensory items like textured squares or toys for patients with dementia or sensory processing issues. To ensure your items end up in the right hands, check with the hospital or…

YOUR SHOPPING DIRECTORY Adairs adairs.com.au Booktopia booktopia.com.au Bunnings bunnings.com.au Bush Journal bushjournal.com.au Country Road countryroad.com.au House house.com.au IKEA ikea.com/au Kidsplay Crafts kidsplaycrafts.com.au Koch & Co Koch.com.au Kmart kmart.com.au Ozzy Educational Toys ozzytoys.com.au Robert Gordon Interiors robertgordoninteriors.com Season Living seasonliving.com.au Seed Heritage seedheritage.com Spotlight spotlightstores.com MAGIC MOSS, PAGE 76 Project supplies Bunnings Scotts Osmocote bonsai premium potting mix, 10L, $8.68. Brunnings horticultural charcoal, 5L, $10.87. RapidMesh silver wire mesh panel, 600 x 900 x 0.6mm, 6.5 x 6.5mm, $14.99. Brunnings sphagnum moss block, 150g, $13.17. Air plant, tillandsia, 50mm, $9.98, Everhang brass-plated picture hanging kit, $5.40. Kidsplay Crafts Bark pieces, 250g, $19.95. Koch & Co Premium preserved fern moss in Box Green, 500g, $115.45. Premium preserved rock moss in Box Green, 500g, $115.45. Premium preserved reindeer moss bulk 1kg box in…