Innholdsfortegnelse for 2402 i Better Homes & Gardens Specials

FROM THE EDITOR Oh. My. Goodness! If you could only see the notes I’ve taken while we’ve been working on this issue. I think I need to host about three Christmas lunches in order to be able to serve all the food I’m inspired to cook after drooling over these recipes. I’ll definitely need to have a dessert buffet featuring our gorgeous cover star (so impressive but actually simple to put together), the mince pie parfait, page 112, (make it ahead of time and pull it out of the freezer on the day) and the mango ice cream cake, page 57 (it’s so Australian!). Oh, and there will be snowballs (p124) and chic retro bars and slices (p140) as well. And please don’t make me choose between mains either -…

NO FUSS There are many ways to keep stress levels to a minimum on Christmas Day and here we’ve set a few things out to help that happen. By planning exactly how much you intend to cook and reducing the dreaded Christmas food waste, as well as sticking to a timeline and keeping all of our tips in mind, your big festive lunch will be both delicious and relaxed. Meal calculator The Christmas period is full of abundance, which unfortunately often leads to a great deal of waste. The best way to prevent this is to plan ahead. Follow these rough guides to determine how much to cook, based on who you’re serving. Turkey It’s easy to overdo it on turkey. An easy rule is 500g per person plus 500g-1kg,…

ENTRÉE Bloody Mary prawn lettuce scoops MAINS Two-tray Christmas dinner DESSERT Double chocolate and passionfruit tart BLOODY MARY PRAWN LETTUCE SCOOPS Preparation time 15 mins plus chillingServes 4 as a starter Mix 200ml of tomato juice with 1 Tbsp of shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry, 2 tsp of worcestershire sauce, a good shake of Tabasco, 2-3 tsp of soy sauce, 1⁄2-1 tbsp of horseradish sauce, a good squeeze of lemon and season with pepper. If you want to make a lightly jellied dressing, soak 1 leaf of gelatine in cold water, melt it in 1 tbsp of hot tomato juice and mix this into the dressing. Either way, chill until ready to serve. Arrange 8-12 (depending on their size) Little Gem leaves on a platter and divide 175g of…

PARTY IDEAS CLASS IDEAS Gather your friends and make your Christmas drinks into a real celebration with a DIY wreath session. Find a class near you by searching Class Bento, or find a kit that comes with everything you need at stores like Spotlight, your local florist, or online. Save the date! Things get busy fast in November, so let your guests know to save the date a few weeks in advance. At this wreath-making party,, guests shared the cost of fresh greens and supplies. They added variety to the materials by asking friends to bring fresh clippings from their own backyards. Evergreens, eucalypts, holly, pinecones—anything with seasonal appeal goes. GREENS THEME That same greenery that embellishes grapevine wreaths can add a shot of Christmas cheer to your treat table.…

MALTED BUTTER RICHES Preparation time 45 minsChilling time 1 hourBake 9 mins at 180°CMakes 36 cookies. 2 cups plain flour2⁄3 cup malted milk powder1 tsp bicarbonate soda1 tsp salt180g unsalted butter, softened60g shortening or butter3⁄4 cup packed light brown sugar1 Tbsp vanilla1 egg1 egg yolk180g unsalted butter, softened4 cups icing sugar1 cup malted milk powder½ tsp salt2 tsp vanilla½ to 2/3 cup double creamChopped Maltesers(optional) STEP 1 Line two cookie trays with baking paper; set aside. In a medium bowl whisk together flour, 2⁄3 cup malted milk powder, bicarb soda, and 1 tsp salt. STEP 2 In a large bowl beat butter, shortening, brown sugar, and 1 Tbsp vanilla with a mixer on medium for 2 minutes or until fluffy. Add egg and yolk; beat on low until combined. Add…

DECK THE HALLS ALL THAT GLITTERS For a curated look, fill branches with store-bought items such as shiny red balls as well as DIY ornaments. Also in the mix: DIY crepe paper poinsettias, hand-painted metallic ornaments (Instructions page 11), and fresh cuts of dusty miller and brunia berries. IN THE ROUND Glitter-painted pinecones and red berries, add a cheerful punch to a wreath, opposite, crafted from a grapevine form and preserved greenery. (An artificial or fresh evergreen wreath works, too. Instructions page 11.) GIVING GRACE Personalise packages with handmade gift tags that can later serve as ornaments. Roll out a pinch of air-dry craft clay, then cut it into a circle using a cookie cutter or bottle cap. Use a bamboo skewer to punch a hole for ribbon. Allow clay…

FA LA LA CUSHION THIS IS THE PERFECT QUICK AND EASY PROJECT FOR THE BUSY HOLIDAY PERIOD! Fabric A (white): 0.5mFabric B (dark green): one (1) fat eighthFabric C (mid green): one (1) fat eighthFabric D (turquoise): one (1) fat eighthFabric E (yellow): one (1) fat eighthFabric F (peach): one (1) fat eighthFabric G (pink): one (1) fat eighthBacking fabric: 40cmLining fabric: 50cm squareBatting: 50cm squarePom-pom maker and yarn (optional) FINISHED SIZE18in square NOTES ■ Seam allowances are ¼in (6mm) throughout, unless otherwise noted. ■ Press seams open throughout, unless otherwise instructed. ■ RST = right sides together. ■ HST = Half-square Triangle. ■ WOF = width of fabric. ■ Press all fabrics well before cutting. FABRICS USED Fabrics are all Kona Cotton Solids by Robert Kaufman, as follows: ■…

HOLLY JOLLY QUILT Green fabric: 1mTeal fabric: one (1) fat quarterDark pink fabric: one (1) fat quarterOrange fabric: one (1) fat eighthLight pink: one (1) fat eighthBackground fabric: 3mBacking fabric: 4mBinding fabric: 0.5mBatting: 1.5m square FINISHED SIZE 138cm square NOTES ■ Seam allowances are 1⁄4in (6mm) throughout, unless otherwise noted. ■ Always press your seams open, unless otherwise instructed. ■ RST = right sides together. ■ WOF = width of fabric. ■ HST = Half-square Triangle. FABRICS USED ■ Solid fabrics are all Kona Cotton Solids in Peapod, Bluegrass and Snow, by Robert Kaufman. ■ Textured fabrics are from the Speckled collection by Ruby Star Society. CUTTING OUT STEP 1 From the background fabric cut: ■ Three (3) 61⁄4in x WOF. Subcut sixteen (16) 61⁄4in squares and one (1) 53⁄8in…

CURRIED LENTIL & TURKEY SOUP WITH KALE Preparation time 20 minsCooking time 35 minsServes 4 2 Tbsp ghee1 red onion, finely chopped20g ginger, peeled and grated3 garlic cloves, finely choppedsmall handful of coriander, leaves picked and stems finely chopped2 tsp ground cumin½ tsp ground cinnamon1 tsp ground turmeric1 tsp chilli flakes2 curry leaves1.2 litres chicken stock250g leftover roast turkey, shredded 400g can lentils, drained and rinsed100g kale, tough stalks removed, leaves torn TO SERVE • 4 Tbsp yoghurtchilli oil, for drizzling (optional)4 flatbreads STEP 1 Melt the ghee in a large saucepan over a medium heat and cook the onion, ginger and garlic for 10-15 minutes until softened. Tip in the coriander stems, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, chilli and curry leaves. Cook for 2 minutes until fragrant. STEP 2 Add the…

Invite your friends SCRAP PAPER First things first: For more than a few people, you need an invitation to give guests the essential details (and let them know you’re serious about the RSVP). That doesn’t mean you have to mess with paper and stamps. We love Minted’s free online invitations, which hit inboxes like a little interactive party moment of their own. Choose a design, personalise it, track RSVPs, and send reminders. (minted.com) Celebration Specifics It seems like a no-brainer, but include as much info as possible on the invite. THE OBVIOUS: start and end times, address, and phone number. THE NOT-SO-OBVIOUS: Make sure guests know whether kids are invited, and give them a clue about how much food will be served (heavy hors d’oeuvres or just nibbles and drinks?)…

GALVANISED GARNISHES Celebrate the quintessential Aussie shed with a mix of ornaments, hardware, and metallic papers. 1. Glue faux greenery and berries on top of galvanised star ornaments, then secure to a length of ribbon around the package. 2. Paint a wood craft bird and glue it to a galvanised birdhouse ornament. Secure the house to the package using mounting tape. 3. A metallic ribbon bow and a top hat accent a snowman shape formed by wrapping ribbon around two wood or foam rings. 4. Arrange 1cm and 2cm external star washers into a circle, overlapping and layering smaller washers on top. Use jewellery adhesive to secure washers to form a wreath ornament. Tack wreath to the centre of a wrapped package and embellish with ribbon. TIP Use wrapping paper…

HEART-FELT GIFTS EMBROIDERED LIP BALM CADDY Linen fabric: 15x20cm Quilting cotton: 5x18cm Lightweight iron-on interfacing: 15x20cm Stranded cotton in coordinating shades Metal eyelet: one Matching thread Basic sewing kit NOTES:Seam allowance is 1cm. DOUBLE HERRINGBONE STITCH STEP 1 Work this stitch on two horizontal lines. Come up on the bottom line. On the top line, dip your needle down through the fabric and then back up, working from right to left. Next, do the same thing on the bottom line. Working from right to left causes the angled stitches to make a criss-cross design. Go back down through the fabric at the end of the line. This is a row of single herringbone stitch. 1 STEP 2 To form double herringbone stitch, repeat step one. This time, layer the row…

GARLAND Paintbox Yarns Simply Chunky (100% acrylic, 100g/136m), 4 balls of Slate Green (326)Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK (100% cotton, 50g/125m), 1 ball of each: Champagne White (403), Coffee Bean (411), Pillar Red (415), Pistachio Green (425), Grass Green (430), Pansy Purple (448), Bubblegum Pink (451), Mustard Yellow (424)A 6mm hookA 4mm hook34 baubles, 8cm2.5m lightweight garden wire TENSION Rounds 1-4 measure approx 8cm in diameter MEASUREMENTS Garland measures approx 100cm long NOTES Garland is made up of 100 Fir pieces, which are threaded onto a length of garden wire. The Bauble Covers are made from 2 identical pieces, which are sewn together over a plastic bauble. FIR (MAKE 100) Using a 6mm hook and Slate Green, ch13. Row 1 Ss in second ch from hook and next 6 ch, ch9,…

THIS DESSERT BRINGS A TOUCH OF WINTRY WHIMSY TO YOUR TABLE, WITH ITS FROSTED PEAKS AND SPLASHES OF CHERRY RED INSIDE EASY STEPS TO MAKE A MAGICAL MERINGUE TREE WITH RASPBERRY COMPOTE Preparation time 1 hour 15 mins plus coolingCooking time 1 hour 30 minsServes 8-10 8 egg whites (about 250g; you can use the leftover yolks to make custard for a trifle)about 500g caster sugar50g slivered pistachios (available online, or use roughly chopped) FOR THE RASPBERRY COMPOTE 500g fresh or frozen raspberries1 orange, zested and juiced50g icing sugar FOR THE FILLING 600ml double cream250ml mascarpone100g icing sugardrop of rosewater or vanilla extract TO DECORATE chocolate-covered malted milk balls edible gold lustre dust (optional)75g pomegranate seeds100g pink rose Turkish delight crystallised rose petals (optional)gold sprinkles (optional; we used round and…

COCONUT-PECAN SNOWBALLS Preparation time 35 minsChilling time 30 minsCooking time 15 mins per batchMakes 36 cookies 250g, softened½ cup icing sugar1 Tbsp water1 tsp vanilla2 cups plain flour3⁄4 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted3⁄4 cup finely chopped coconut3⁄4 cup icing sugar STEP 1 In a large bowl beat butter with a mixer on medium 30 seconds. Add 1⁄2 cup icing sugar. Beat until combined, scraping bowl as needed. Beat in the water and vanilla. Beat in flour, pecans, and coconut. Cover and chill dough 30 to 60 minutes or until easy to handle. STEP 2 Preheat oven to 140°C fan-forced (160°C conventional). Shape dough into 2.5cm balls. Place 2.5cm apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 15 minutes or until bottoms are light brown. Remove; cool on a wire rack. STEP…

ORNAMENTAL FELT TREES 100% wool felt in teal, pale green, pale blue and white, plus a small piece of gold glitter felt Stranded cottons in white, pink, red, green, metallic green and silver A selection of sequins, seed and bugle beads. We’ve used 4mm sequins in pink, gold and silver; 12 and 30mm sequins for the stars; size 11 silver, gold and red seed beads; and 6mm silver and green bugle beads Fabric scraps for stuffing Embroidery needle and smaller beading needle Scallop or pinking scissors Basic sewing kit BEFORE YOU BEGIN ■ To get a more delicate stitch, everything apart from the whipped backstitch and French knots are sewn using three strands of stranded cotton. The backstitch and knots are sewn with six strands for a fuller effect. The…

SEWING White lamb fleece fabric (50cm wide): 1m Red fleece fabric: 35cm square Ivory plush fabric: 20cm square Black wool felt fabric: 5cm square Green cotton fabric: 6.25cm x 35cm Print fabric: twelve (12) 7.5cm x 10cm scraps of your choosing Muslin/calico: 10cm square Narrow green satin ribbon: 50cm Polyester toy stuffing Black and white stranded cotton Five (5) small yellow buttons One (1) copy each of all the polar bear, jumper and light templates FINISHED SIZE 25cm tall x 30cm wide NOTES ■ Seam allowances are 6mm throughout, unless otherwise noted. ■ Templates include seam allowances. ■ Mark positions and openings on the reverse of the fabrics using a pencil. ■ The stretch in the fabrics used for the bear and jumper is widthways with the nap running downwards,…