Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2017 i The Australian Women's Weekly

A sneak peek at the opening episode of the fifth season of House of Cards. Robin Wright, who plays First Lady to Kevin Spacey’s President of the United States, stares into the camera. “I’ve been meaning to talk with you. It’s terrifying, isn’t it? The President and I have a simple request. Tell us what you see. My husband and I …” She continues chillingly, “want to protect you”. Suddenly, we are back in the coercive, wheedling world of Frank and Claire Underwood, their menace cloaked in carefully orchestrated concern. Yet Robin Wright seems entirely, physically different from Claire when I meet her in a casual Los Angeles restaurant. Her First Lady is elegant in trademark sculpted neutrals, but she is also bodily imposing. You wonder how Robin – fine-boned,…

“ I kept telling them she wasn’t a runaway. ” It was not just the violence and violation of Michelle Bright’s murder and rape, but the callous indifference with which her killer discarded her body when his terrible night’s work was done. Michelle, once a vivacious young woman, was discovered half-naked and face down in the earth, tossed aside, hidden by long grass, just steps away from a railway line, outside the tiny town of Gulgong in rural NSW. It was an ignominious end for a woman with so much vitality and life. In the emotionless language of the coronial inquest, heard 10 years after Michelle’s murder, the details sound clinical, almost detached, despite the Coroner’s expressed sympathy for the family. “Michelle Loraine Bright died on 27 February, 1999, at…

Tehran, 1977: In a palace in the Iranian capital’s last opulent years under the Shah, Australian trade officials settle in for a lavish banquet. They’re intrigued by the vaguely familiar woman with an Australian accent sitting with their Iranian hosts. Then it dawns. Elizabeth Reid had quietly disappeared from Canberra in October 1975, a month before the Prime Minister she served as women’s adviser exited rather more noisily. Now, here she was advising Princess Ashraf Pahlavi, sister of the Shah, on United Nations initiatives for women around the world. The trade delegates, all men, sidle up to the woman the Australian newspapers had dubbed Gough Whitlam’s “supergirl”. “You changed my life,” one of them told her. “My wife utterly insists on talking about sex – we never talked about sex.”…

 For this special fashion shoot, The Weekly travelled to Anlaby Station, just north of the Barossa Valley in South Australia. As the sun dips down over a valley dotted with lambs and sheep, and the air fills with dust, the colours of the landscape are the inspiration for knits crafted from Australia’s premier textile export, pure merino wool. Our models come from vastly different walks of life. Catharina Zeitner, visiting Australia from Germany for the first time, is enamoured with the stunning local landscape and dreams of holding a lamb – and she gets to pose with one we named Baa-bara. Stephanie Joy Field is already at Anlaby for another exciting photo shoot as an Ambassador of Westfield’s Winter 2017 campaign, in collaboration with Woolmark. Arriving at…

Along with turning grey, our locks undergo many changes as we age. While silver strands might be the main concern for many women, loss of volume, dryness and dullness are actually the first signs of ageing hair and can start in our 30s. Yet there are plenty of products to help restore shine to your hair and keep it looking fuller and luscious for longer. Boosting your hair’s health Your hair is very much like skin; it requires care to look healthy. The strands need hydration and moisture through vitamins and nutrients, so it’s no surprise to see the influx of new shampoos, conditioners and styling products targeting the signs of ageing. Colouring, styling with heat tools, over-brushing and over-washing can all damage and age hair faster than normal. Yet,…

Potatoes Anna SERVES 6 PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR 100g butter, chopped 2 cloves garlic, peeled 1.2kg desiree potatoes, peeled 1 Preheat oven to 240°C (220°C fan-forced). Lightly oil a shallow 26cm round ovenproof frying pan or 2-litre/8-cup capacity baking dish. 2 Put the butter into a small saucepan over a low heat. With the side of a large knife, crush garlic cloves; add to butter. When butter has melted, remove from the heat and season lightly with sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper. 3 Using a sharp knife, mandolin or V-slicer, cut potatoes into 2mm slices. Pat slices dry with paper towel. Place a single layer of the potato slices, slightly overlapping, into the baking dish; brush potato with a little of the butter. Continue layering…

“This pumpkin loaf is delicious warmed or toasted before serving.” Sweet potato cake with candied orange slices SERVES 12 PREP AND COOK TIME 3 HOURS (+ COOLING TIME) 800g orange sweet potato (kumara), peeled, cut into 2cm pieces 1 cup (150g) chopped dried apricots ½ cup (125ml) unsweetened orange juice 350g firm ricotta ¼ cup (60ml) maple syrup ⅔ cup (160ml) light agave syrup 1 cup (250ml) buttermilk 2 egg yolks 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste 2½ cups (300g) almond meal 2½ teaspoons baking powder 4 egg whites 1 tablespoon honey, optional CANDIED ORANGE SLICES 2 medium (480g) oranges ¼ cup (90g) honey 1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). Place sweet potato on an oven tray lined with baking paper. Bake for 30 minutes or until tender; cool. 2…

Spaghetti carbonara SERVES 4 PREP AND COOK TIME 20 MINUTES 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 150g pancetta or good quality bacon, chopped 3 cloves garlic, chopped finely ¼ cup (60ml) dry white wine 400g spaghetti 2 eggs, beaten lightly 1 cup (80g) finely grated parmesan cheese 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper ¼ cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1 Heat the oil in a large frying pan; add the pancetta and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes or until beginning to crisp. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds or until fragrant but not browned. Add wine and cook for a further minute, or until almost evaporated. 2 Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in a large saucepan of boiling, well-salted water until “al dente” – tender, but…

“If you lose your job, it’s harder to leave a violent situation at home.” G ed Kearney is a natural nurturer. She trained and worked as a nurse and loved it. “I still have pangs for nursing,” says the President of the ACTU (Australian Council of Trade Unions). The 53-year-old is regularly counted in lists of Australia’s most powerful women but, challenging the stereotypes, she’s a long way from the archetypal bolshie unionist. She is warm, softly spoken and the key to her success, I suspect, is her capacity for listening and a large dollop of that maternal spirit. Yet Ged, the second youngest of nine children, her parents publicans in working-class suburban Melbourne, is tough, too, smart and pragmatic. Ged’s latest campaign to introduce paid domestic leave as a…

TRAVEL NOTES Exploring the idea of journeys in all their forms, Travellers, at the Queensland Art Gallery from July 1, will showcase works by Jan Senbergs, Jeffrey Smart and Craig Koomeeta (pictured, right) through sculptures, paintings, prints and videos. Visit qagoma.qld.gov.au. Crossing cultures Bangarra’s new work, Bennelong, is a powerful dance performance telling the story of Woollarawarre Bennelong, the first Aboriginal man to travel to Europe and return. Touring until September 16. Visit bangarra.com.au. AT THE MOVIES A QUIET PASSION This sweeping biopic traces the life of American poet Emily Dickinson (played by Sex and the City’s Cynthia Nixon, above with Jennifer Ehle as her sister Lavinia), from her youth as an intelligent young woman with unconventional opinions on the role of women in society, to her later years, withdrawn…

1. The Belly of Paris by Emile Zola, 1873. WHAT: Starving scholar Florent Quenu escapes from Devil’s Island, where he has been deported, to find Paris unrecognisable. The old market has been replaced with Les Halles, a food market patronised by the bourgeoisie. WHY: Possibly the fist “foodie” novel, Zola’s descriptions of the produce, the smug customers and the hungry food sellers imbue the book with the unjust battle between The Fat rich, and The Thin lower classes. 2. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg, 1987. WHAT: Meeting in a nursing home, Ninny Threadgoode and Evelyn Couch review their lives. Threadgoode is comforted by Whistle Stop, Alabama, where its cafe served southern-style succour, surviving the Klan and the Depression. WHY: Most people will remember the…

General Non-fiction Book of the Year In The Road To Ruin: How Tony Abbott And Peta Credlin Destroyed Their Own Government (Scribe), Niki Savva controversially unpacks a political car crash. International Book of the Year Ann Patchett’s most personal novel, Commonwealth (Bloomsbury), follows two blended families through five mesmerising decades – all thanks to a bottle of gin. Literary Fiction Book of the Year Dominic Smith’s The Last Painting Of Sara De Vos (Allen & Unwin). Three hundred years, two female artists and one of the most evocative novels of the year. General Fiction Book of the Year/ Book of the Year Jane Harper set the literary world alight with her debut crime novel, The Dry (Macmillan Australia), which is set in a searing Outback drought. Plus The New Writer…

As he grew older, Sir Roger Moore had to give up many of the things he most enjoyed – skiing, tennis and drinking martinis. One pleasure he refused to abandon was explaining why he was the worst actor ever to become a major star. “I was hopeless,” he would say, lounging with 007-like nonchalance on a Monte Carlo sun terrace. “My expressions ranged from eyebrows raised to eyebrows lowered or, if I really tried, both of them doing different things.” The inability to take himself too seriously was part of what made Sir Roger, who died of cancer on May 23, aged 89, one of the best-loved movie stars of the age. While other actors obsessed over their work, the former knitwear model tended to see his whole career as…

“I used to think I was useless and worthless. Now I’m an elite athlete.” Melissa Roberts and mum Lesley are giggling uncontrollably, overwhelmed with excitement. Not only are they standing in a marquee on the lawns of Admiralty House, the grand residence of the Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove overlooking Sydney Harbour, but they are waiting for a private audience with a very special visitor. For Melissa, 30, this is not just a moment of royal pizazz, it’s the end of a long, painful and emotional journey, and the beginning of a thrilling, uplifting new one. She and mum Lesley, 61, have flown from the family home in Cohuna, country Victoria, for today’s official launch event of the Invictus Games. And Prince Harry has flown in from his home in London,…

3 of the best ... Knee-high boots 1. Asos.com/au boots, 35-42, $109. 2. Witchery boots, 35-41, $399.95. 3. Next.com.au boots, 36-42, $145. 3 of the best ... Texture 1. Senso boots, 35-42, $285. 2. Missguidedau.com boots, 5-10, $80.95. 3. Lilya boots, 37-41, $249. 3 of the best ... Ankle boots 1. Ziera boots, 35-44, $269.95. 2. Búl boots, 35-42, $340. 3. Wittner boots, 36-41, $199.95. 3 of the best ... Embroidery 1. Zara boots, 36-41, $139. 2. Wittner boots, 35-42, $289.95. 3. Au.boohoo.com boots, 5-10, $70. 3 of the best ... Metallic 1. Zara boots, 36-41, $89.95. 2. Siren boots, 6-10, $199.95, styletread.com.au. 3. Sol Sana boots, 36-41, $299, styletread.com.au. STYLE TIP Be bold this winter with a daring printed boot in deep red, blue and gold,…

Oribe Silverati Shampoo and Conditioner, 250ml and 200ml, $66 and $68. Protects and brightens grey and silver hair, eliminating yellow tones. Phone 1300 725 122 for stockists. Wella Professionals Age Resist Strengthening Foam, 150ml, $26. Revive mature hair with this foam packed with rooibos and karité (shea) to help improve fine hair’s appearance. label.m Therapy Age-Defying Radiance Oil, 100ml, $45.95. This hair oil features eight anti-ageing ingredients, including argan oil, to keep hair strong, soft and radiant. Richard Ward Anti-Ageing Argan Elixir, 50ml, $19.95. A leave-in treatment that helps to counteract the effects of ageing on the hair and scalp for smoothing and de-frizzing. Kevin.Murphy Young.Again. Masque, 200ml, $49.95. Formulated with essential oils and vitamins, this masque reverses chemical, hormonal and environmental damage.…

1. Olive Brightening Face Moisturiser, 45ml, $29.95. 2. Philosophy Brighten My Day All-Over Skin-Perfecting Brightening Essence, 30ml, $80. 3. Paula’s Choice RESIST Pure Radiance Skin Brightening Treatment, 30ml, $48. 4. Clinique Even Better Brightening Moisture Mask, 100ml, $52. 5. The Body Shop Drops of Light Pure Healthy Brightening Serum, 30ml, $49.95. 6. Natio Glow Skin Brightening Face Balm, 50g, $17.95. 7. Ultraceuticals Ultra Brightening Serum, 30ml, $149. 8. Swisse Kakadu Plum Brightening Serum, 30ml, $29.99. 9. Elizabeth Arden Skin Illuminating Brightening Day Serum, 200ml, $89.…

So, you’ve decided to give up sugar. Well, that’s great if you’re one of the 52 per cent of Australians who consume more than the recommended 10 per cent of their entire energy intake in sugar. There’s no doubt Australians as a whole consume too much sweet stuff and with 62 per cent of us overweight, we don’t need it. Yet before you toss out your cookbooks and join the anti-sugar campaign raging at the moment, I’d like to stop and ask you one key question: what are you going to replace it with? You see, the problem is this: although we consume too much sugar, sugar consumption in Australia has actually declined by 23 per cent over the past 30 years, according to The Australian Paradox, a Sydney University…

Q My five-year-old son occasionally gets an upset stomach after eating bread. He has been fine in the past, but just recently, he has started complaining of stomach cramps. What tests can he have done to find out if it’s an allergy or a gluten problem? S.A., Qld. His GP will arrange blood tests to include investigations for coeliac disease. If these tests suggest coeliac disease, he will be referred for a gastroscopy to confirm the diagnosis. If the diagnosis is coeliac disease, it will mean a strict life-long gluten-free diet. If not, a dietitian can supervise a trial of a gluten-free diet to see if it relieves his symptoms. Q I have been getting lots of cramps in my legs at night. They don’t seem to subside without me…

Crème caramel SERVES 6-8 PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR (+ OVERNIGHT REFRIGERATION TIME) ¾ cup (165g) caster sugar ½ cup (125ml) water 6 eggs, at room temperature 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/3 cup (75g) caster sugar, extra ½ cup (125ml) cream 2½ cups (625ml) milk 1 Preheat oven to 150°C (130°C fan-forced). 2 Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan; stir over medium heat, without boiling, until sugar dissolves. Brush the side of the saucepan with a wet pastry brush to remove any undissolved sugar crystals (see Step 1). Bring to the boil; boil uncovered, without stirring, until mixture is a deep caramel colour. Remove from the heat and pour toffee into a deep 20cm round cake pan. (Step 2) Tilt pan to coat side one-third of the…

Mexican beef ‘lasagne’ SERVES 6 PREP AND COOK TIME 50 MINUTES 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1 large (300g) red onion, sliced thinly 1 medium (200g) red capsicum, sliced thinly 400g minced beef 800g canned diced tomatoes 420g canned kidney beans, drained, rinsed 300g canned corn kernels, drained, rinsed 30g taco spice mix ⅓ cup coarsely chopped fresh coriander leaves 4 x 19cm flour tortillas ¾ cup (75g) coarsely grated mozzarella 1 lime, cut into cheeks ¾ cup (180g) sour cream AVOCADO SALAD 1 large (320g) avocado, chopped coarsely 125g grape tomatoes, halved 2 tablespoons lime juice 1 tablespoon chopped fresh coriander leaves 1 Preheat oven to 220°C (200°C fan-forced). 2 Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat; cook onion and capsicum, stirring, for about 5 minutes…

VIVE LA FRANCE! The nation will celebrate Bastille Day in style with these events: In Sydney, try crêpes, foie gras, crème brûlée and more at the Bastille Festival, Circular Quay, July 13-16, bastillefestival.com.au. In Melbourne, indulge at the food and wine stalls and take cheese and wine masterclasses, July 15-16, bastilledaymelbourne.com. In Brisbane, rendezvous at South Bank for all things Gallic at the French Festival, July 7-9, lefestival.com.au. Edible glamour Spectacular gold and silver leaves add a dazzling touch to desserts and confectionary. Made from edible “food grade” gold and silver, thin and flavourless, the leaves adhere easily to any surface, but take care not to overhandle them or they’ll stick to your fingers. Available from essentialingredient.com.au and specialist cake decorating stores. Coffee with crunch For delicious coffee snaps, preheat…

The ACTU’s family and domestic violence leave claim includes 10 days paid leave per year and an additional two days unpaid leave per occasion for every worker covered by a modern award, including casual staff. The new entitlement will make it easier for survivors of family and domestic violence to remain in paid employment and manage stressful and time-consuming tasks, such as finding a new home and attending court. Research into workplaces that already have family and domestic violence leave in place shows it has significant benefits for the employees affected by domestic violence, their employers and workplaces. Supportive employers A large number of employers of all sizes are now providing paid domestic violence leave. These include: Qantas PricewaterhouseCoopers Brisbane Catholic Education Telstra NAB Blundstone Virgin Surf Coast Shire Council…

Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips, Viking. Joan is playing with son Lincoln in the Dinosaur Discovery Pit when she realises closing time at their local zoo is just five minutes away and they need to be heading home. It’s a regular haunt for the inseparable mother and son, a place where Joan loses herself in thought, pondering the whats and ifs about her four-year-old’s future as his curls flop over his forehead and he obsesses over the plastic action heroes he holds so dear. If this scene were to open a movie you’d know something sinister was about to unfold, and so it is in Gin Phillips’ harrowing, exhilarating Fierce Kingdom, a novel so filmic you can almost hear the musical crescendo. As Joan and Lincoln gather themselves and head…

JEAN HARLEY WAS HERE by Heather Taylor Johnson, UQP. Jean Harley, wife, mother, colleague, best friend and, for her dog, owner. When she is knocked off her bicycle and run over by a van, everyone who loved her is given a voice to mourn. Including the dog. It could be twee but Queensland poet Heather Taylor Johnson makes sure it isn’t, bringing a poet’s eye to this story of what happens when a beloved dies suddenly. Friendships fracture; a husband falls into hopeless grief; an accidental killer, the no-hoper driving the van, reshapes his life. The voices focus first on the fallout, then the post-shock settling, as the grieving adapt to life without Jean. Her life was no more extraordinary than anyone else’s, but it’s a pleasure to read about…

1. Discover Canada and Alaska in comfort and style Iconic hotels, epic train journeys, premier cruise ships, fine dining and five-star service, these will be yours to enjoy as you discover the crystal clear lakes and soaring mountains of Canada and Alaska on an unforgettable journey with APT. Visit aptouring.com.au/ Canada2018, call 1300 278 278 or visit your local Travel Agent. 2. Hilarious read about the secrets of the rich The best-selling author of Crazy Rich Asians and China Rich Girlfriend, Kevin Kwan is back with an uproarious new novel, Rich People Problems, of a family riven by fortune, an ex-wife driven psychotic with jealousy, a battle royal fought through couture gown sabotage and the heir to one of Asia’s greatest fortunes locked out of his inheritance. RRP $29.99. Available…

“A smiling Prince George gives a royal wave.” It was the most anticipated wedding of the year and Pippa Middleton looked radiant in a lace gown by UK couturier Giles Deacon, followed by a cortege of cuteness – eight pageboys and bridesmaids, including Prince George and Princess Charlotte, brilliantly wrangled by mum Kate. Royal guests included Princes William and Harry, and Princess Eugenie. While Harry’s girlfriend, Meghan Markle, wasn’t at the church, she did show up at the reception, held in a glass marquee filled with cherry blossom trees.…

“I’m a very competitive person ... I just want to win.” In late June 2006, a cricket match is underway in Repton, south of Sheffield in the UK. The under-19 opening bowler for England watches the new batsman walk to the crease. Confusion flickers across the bowler’s face. His teammates snicker. The batsman is a girl. Fourteen years old, yet somehow she’s in the batting line-up of an elite Melbourne private school’s boys’ cricket team, a blonde ponytail sticking out from under her helmet. The fast bowler shortens his run-up, taking four steps before releasing the ball. Willow and leather connect with a crack and the ball shoots to the boundary for a four. “There are things you never forget and I’ll never forget that innings Meg Lanning played,” former…

“Of course, I’d dream of being a WAG.” Apparently, I’m a dirty old woman, although I’ve been doing it since 1978, but now my family is embarrassed, particularly my children, who say they can’t stomach watching me. But I don’t care. It isn’t easily fixed because it isn’t a black and white problem. It’s not a red and white one or navy and yellow, black and teal, brown and yellow or blue and red. It’s yellow and black, and those colours on a footy jumper wrapped around the well-disciplined torso of a young AFL midfielder as he sprints towards the goals have this footy fan fanning herself and no, it’s not because I’m having a hot flush. It wasn’t always like this. It was about the game, the tradition of…

Fashion that’s kind to the planet Looking for wardrobe staples with an ethical pedigree? UK-based label Thoreau, co-founded by Melbourne designer Hannah Little (right), strives to be 100 per cent carbon neutral by sourcing sustainable fabrics and reducing energy and water use in the manufacture of its debut collection of blouses, dresses and jackets, priced from $214. Visit thoreauthelabel.com. Our model search The Weekly wants to celebrate our stylish readers on the pages of our coming issues. If you or someone you know has a wonderful individual style and is happy to share it, please send your photo to awwfashion@bauer-media.com.au. You can take inspiration from the over 50s making fashion waves on Instagram, such as SBS stylist Lesley Crawford (@ lesleyhasmanyhats), and Lyn Slater (@iconaccidental), a New Yorker with more…

1. Gillette Venus Snap with Embrace Razor, $15.99. A mini travel razor with its own case so you can keep skin smooth and hair-free. 2. Bioderma Sensibio H2O, 100ml, $20.99. This triple-threat product acts as a make-up remover for the face and eyes, a soothing toner and a non-rinse cleanser. 3. The Body Shop Bamboo Mini Hairbrush, $9. Pop this hairbrush in your bag – it’s ideal for travelling. 4. QV Hand Cream SPF15, 50g, $6.05. Keep your hands moisturised in the air and on the ground with this deeply nourishing cream. 5. Manicare We Are Handsome Nail Shaper, $2.29. This nail tool makes filing and buffing easy on the go. 6. Blistex Pearl Ultra Moisturising, $5.95. Keep lips hydrated and soft with this balm that contains shea butter. 7.…

Agave syrup is actually higher in kilojoules than table sugar (88kJ vs 67kJ per teaspoon), but because it is at least 30 times sweeter than table sugar, you won’t need as much. Agave syrup is produced by crushing the leaves of agave plants to extract the sap. The sap is then filtered, heated and treated with enzymes to convert fructans (longer chain carbohydrates) into sweet, short chain fructose and glucose. As a result of its high fructose load, some people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome may be sensitive to agave syrup. It’s also one of the most expensive options on the market. Rice malt syrup is often used as a vegan alternative to honey. Although it has the same number of kilojoules per teaspoon as sugar, it is 70 times sweeter,…

ANTIBIOTICS LINKED TO MISCARRIAGE Some antibiotics prescribed by doctors can increase the risk of miscarriage, according to a new Canadian study. Researchers looked at the medical records from almost 9000 cases of miscarriage for women aged 15 and 45 between 1998 and 2009, and found a link between higher rates of miscarriage and the use of several antibiotics in the early stages of the pregnancy. The most commonly prescribed antibiotics were not associated with an increased risk. KEEP YOUR MIND SHARP Here’s yet another reason to exercise a few times a week – it’s the best way to boost brain health if you’re over 50. A review of 39 studies by University of Canberra researchers revealed that both thinking and memory skills were most improved when people combined aerobic and…

Roast tomato and goat’s cheese tarts MAKES 3 PREP AND COOK TIME 45 MINUTES 2 sheets puff pastry, just thawed 150g cherry tomatoes, halved ½ medium (80g) red onion, very thinly sliced 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 3 eggs 1 tablespoon cream 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves ¼ cup (30g) grated cheddar cheese 100g packet goat’s cheese, crumbled (see Julie’s tip) 1 cup rocket extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar, extra, to serve 1 Preheat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan-forced). 2 Grease three x 12cm individual tart tins. Line tins with puff pastry, joining the trimmings to fit. Trim the edges and prick well with a fork. Line pastry with baking paper and fill with pastry weights or rice. Bake for 15-20 minutes…

Honey and dukkah chicken SERVES 4 PREP AND COOK TIME 30 MINUTES Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). Divide a 400g bunch of trimmed baby carrots between four 30cm squares of baking paper. Top with 4 chicken breast fillets; season. Warm 1 tablespoon of honey; brush over fillets, then sprinkle with 1 tablespoon dukkah and 1 teaspoon ground sumac. Fold up the baking paper to make parcels and enclose the fillets. Place the parcels in a large, shallow-sided oven tray, leaving space between each. Roast parcels for 25 minutes or until cooked through. Open the parcels; sprinkle fillets with an extra 1 tablespoon dukkah and ¼ cup fresh coriander sprigs. Serve with lemon wedges and mashed potato, if desired. Dijon and marmalade chicken SERVES 4 PREP AND COOK TIME 30…

A question we get asked often is whether it is safe to put defrosted chicken back into the freezer and the answer is yes – but only if the chicken was defrosted at below 5°C (usually that means in the fridge) and didn’t defrost for more than 24 hours at this temperature. The myth that it’s not safe to re-freeze chicken meat that has been defrosted is a mix of two issues: quality and safety. While it’s safe to put chicken that’s been defrosted at below 5°C back into the freezer, freezing and re-freezing chicken may deteriorate the quality of the meat. The reduction in quality can be caused by a number of things, but it includes the formation of ice crystals in the cells of the meat that can…

Once you needed a massive backyard to have a giant garden. These days a skyscraper can become a hanging flower bed, and a sunny wall can have a vegie patch. But vertical gardens can be expensive, and dangerous if not well engineered. The easiest, cheapest way to “grow up” is with wires or netting attached to posts for plants to grow on, because trellises give you a lot of garden – fast. 1 For coverage: potato vine Plant one for a two metre square blaze of white (or pale purple) flowers all year on glossy foliage. Potato vine can become a weed, so hack it back to keep it neat – or stop it taking over. Weeding too vigorously close to the base will stimulate rapid, vigorous sucker growth. 2…

“Work your way up to tackling the longer term money issues.” If you are going through separation and divorce it’s likely sorting out your finances is the last thing on your mind. But taking control of your money is a vital step to securing your future. One-third of Australian marriages end in divorce, so anyone entering a relationship with considerably more assets than their partner should probably consider a prenuptial agreement (see box, below). For the majority who don’t have a prenup, MoneySmart (moneysmart.gov.au), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s consumer website, has a step-by-step guide to separation and divorce, especially helpful if you feel overwhelmed. Financial stocktake “Start by sorting out the immediate things, like having your own bank account, then work your way up to tackling the longer…

DYING FOR BEGINNERS by Charlie Courtauld, Amazon. Charlie Courtauld makes it clear he doesn’t “do misery memoirs”, he’s not brave and not wise. He doesn’t deny being brilliant and funny, which is just as well, because even in the midst of suffering from multiple sclerosis he is dazzlingly witty. Courtauld was an eccentric contrarian who became a TV producer and journalist. Even near the end he was curious about his illness. He complains only that his head nods as if he enthusiastically agrees “with whatever baloney has just been said – even though it’s probably drivel. I never agree with anyone, so it’s torture to give that impression.” This collection is playful and uplifting. Someday, says Charlie, someone will find a cure but “I’ll be long gone by then –…

HALL OF FAME The queen of Australian popular fiction, one-time Australian Women’s Weekly writer Di Morrissey, received the Lloyd O’Neil Award and was inducted into the ABIA Hall of Fame.…

Magical Mongolia Mongolia’s three-day Naadam Festival (above), with horse riders, wrestlers, music and dance, is one of the world’s most colourful traditional events, an off-the-beaten track treat. It pays to plan ahead. Byroads Travel has a two-week trip across this vast country, stopping to take in the festival, from July 4-17, 2018. Visit byroads.com.au. Alternatively, board the Trans Siberian Mongolian line, spend a few days at the festival, then reboard for the trip of a lifetime. Visit trans-siberian.com.au. What are your rights when an airline overbooks and you are left without a seat or downgraded to a lesser class? In Australia, you can seek a refund or request the next available flight, but individual airlines decide whether you get a meal and accommodationvouchers. Compensation is not automatic. In the US,…

Cancer Jun 23-Jul 23 You are in a property cycle that will pay off by October, as you may know, but in early July you will take a big leap forward with your house, garden, land, holiday home or apartment. A family member may help you then, or lucky developments with your local council, bank or government may help your dreams. A special location interstate or overseas is also tempting you. Cancer, you are in the right place at the right time to snap up an arrangement which makes a getaway or relocation possible now. Leo Jul 24-Aug 23 An important plan or idea which involves your computer, camera, microphone or telephone is about to take off in a big way. You will know why by July 14, as you…

“An hour later my hair was its usual shiny brown. Once again I’d chickened out.” Do you think it’s time I embraced the grey, Sam?” Sam’s my hairdresser. He was fiddling with my hair, weighing it in his hands, looking like a doctor about to deliver bad news. “There are lots of grey-haired women around,” I said. “Some look fabulous!” Sam didn’t say anything. I’ve done this before. I’m trying to get him to make the decision. “I’m serious,” I said. “I think I might be ready. I’m reading grey’s the new blonde! I’ve always wanted to look like Helen Mirren.” “Who’s Helen Mirren?” In Sam’s defence, he’s young. “Helen Mirren is a marvellous actress. She played the Queen in The Queen.” I said, sounding a little shrill. “She’s 71…