Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2017 i The Australian Women's Weekly

This month saw us celebrate one of the most exciting days in The Weekly’s calendar, our Women of the Future luncheon, where we presented our worthy young winners with scholarship funds and Qantas travel bursaries to help them take the next steps in pursuing their dreams (see page 16). The buzz of the event lingered in the office for weeks as we pored over the photos and shared stories from the day. There was the delight we felt at watching actress Miranda Tapsell warmly congratulating and embracing our inspirational finalists, urging them on in their passionate pursuits. Or seeing Crown Prosecutor Margaret Cunneen, SC, share a belly laugh with actress Marta Dusseldorp, particularly since Janet King, the character Marta stars as, is said to be loosely based on Margaret’s illustrious…

The Duchess takes a spin with Paddington After a quiet spell recovering from morning sickness, the Duchess of Cambridge has returned to the public eye, dancing with Paddington Bear. In her first appearance since announcing her third pregnancy, with the baby due in April 2018, Kate joined Princes William and Harry, and the famous marmalade-loving bear at London’s Paddington Station. Wearing a rose dress, Kate twirled on the platform before waving off a group of children taking a train ride through the countryside. DOLLY’S LATEST ALBUM JUST FOR THE KIDS Fifty years after a bright-eyed, big-haired country singer released her first album, Hello, I’m Dolly, Dolly Parton is still singing. Her 44th solo album – and first album for children – I Believe In You, out now, will raise funds…

It’s a chilly early Sunday morning on The Mall in the heart of London. The regal red road running from imposing Admiralty Arch at Trafalgar Square to the heavenly gilded Winged Victory statue atop the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace has been closed off to cars for a few precious hours and transformed into a scene from the 1950s. Morning joggers are politely asked to take a detour as vintage cars – Triumphs and Rovers – are parked up and 22 extras, picked for their retro haircuts and ’50s look, parade in period costume – nipped in waists, long pencil skirts; and men in homburgs, brogues, grey suits and trench coats. This is the only time the road can be closed, and director Ben Caron is working…

“I still have days where I can’t believe I got pregnant.” It would be hard to find an Australian who can’t sing along with the Home and Away theme song. Even if you’ve never watched the show, you couldn’t have escaped those familiar chords that have played in homes across the land for 30 years. The lyrics are part of our collective consciousness, but the words of the eponymous theme song are perhaps truer for one cast member, above all others. Emily Symons, 48, has gone away and come home to Australia’s second longest running soap twice since she made her Summer Bay debut in 1989 as the ditzy but kind-hearted Marilyn Chambers. The Bay has changed a lot since the late ’80s and Emily, who has swapped the stilettos…

“An ocean, a river, a lake ... If there’s water, I need to be in it and it doesn’t matter how cold it is. That’s when I feel the most alive.” Helena Christensen’s grandmother, Ketty, turned 100 this year and, to celebrate, Helena shot a series of striking portraits of her, dressed in haute couture and looking sprightly and elegant, if slightly amused at being propelled into fashion modelling so late in life. The project combined two of Helena’s great loves: photography and family. “Grandma Ketty is the coolest, sweetest, funniest woman,” says the sometime supermodel, photographer and nature spirit. “She is also very headstrong, so I guess I get a bit of that from her.” Helena’s family is a tight-knit unit. “My grandparents were with me a lot growing…

Summer is almost here and that means it’s time to alter your beauty routine in order to protect your skin and hair. The truth is lazy days spent in the sun and swimming can wreak havoc on your complexion and your locks. As the temperature rises, many of us skip the heavy make-up, such as foundations and concealers, and opt for a more natural look to cope with the humidity. “Heavy make-up doesn’t wear well in summer,” says celebrity make-up artist Allison Boyle. “Sweaty, melting make-up is never a good look.” Instead, she recommends opting for lighter skincare products, tinted moisturiser with SPF and waterproof mascara. “I like to change my beauty routine starting with skincare,” she says. “Skin isn’t as dry in summer, so you may want to swap…

“My design inspiration was inspired by my childhood. Music and dance was always a massive part of my life. I was a ballet dancer as a child, and I'm always the first and last on the dance floor.” CARRIE BICKMORE, TV AND RADIO HOST, AND MUM Ever since Thomas Twining established the first London teahouse to welcome women back in 1717, the iconic brand has been inextricably linked with women throughout the centuries. Now, 300 years on, Master Tea Blender Philippa Thacker and Stephen Twining, a tenth generation family member, have appealed to modern Australian women to carry on the tradition and produce a new blend just for them. The result is the crisp, refreshing taste of Twinings Morning Tea – the ideal start to any busy day. “Twinings Morning…

Exercise: Exercise is essential for the prevention of chronic disease and is also helpful for managing irritability, helping you sleep and maintaining a healthy weight, strong bones and muscles. Smoking: May worsen hot flushes and increases the risk of heart and blood vessel disease, as well as some cancers. Alcohol: May worsen hot flushes, night sweats and insomnia, and increase your body weight and blood pressure. Nutrition: Attention to your diet is important. Eat five serves of vegetables and two serves of fruit a day, and think about calcium for bone health. Dress sense: Dressing in layers can help you manage your way through hot flushes. Alternative therapies: Acupuncture is helpful for some women for hot flushes, fatigue, anxiety and sleeping problems. Relaxation strategies such as meditation, Tai Chi, yoga…

Just heat and serve the Coles Lamington Sponge Pudding 550g for a dessert with a rich chocolate sauce and coconut sprinkle. The Coles Finest Luxury Gingerbread›& Butterscotch Sponge Pudding 600g makes the perfect finale to your Christmas feast. Tropical-flavoured Coles Mini Fruity Meringues (9›pack) add a pop of colour to dessert tables, and can be used to pretty up bought cakes. Check out the chilled cake section in the bakery at Coles for delicious cakes. Rolled and ready to go, Coles Toffee & Pecan Roulade 450g has a tasty nut topping. Also try tangy Coles Lemon Roulade 450g – it’s ideal topped with fresh berries. Show-stopping desserts don’t come easier than this. Simply layer Coles Meringue Discs 300g (3 pack) with cream swirled with warm raspberry jam, then decorate with…

Banana cinnamon date stacks MAKES ABOUT 10 A chewy, cinnamony dacquoise base studded with sticky dates, layered with fresh cream, sliced banana and toasted almonds, then finished with lashings of dark chocolate ganache – what’s not to like? DACQUOISE 6 large egg whites 300g (1⅓ cups) caster sugar 150g (1½ cups) almond meal, sifted 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon 100g (¾ cup) pitted dates, roughly chopped GANACHE 80ml (⅓ cup) thickened cream 100g (⅔ cup) dark chocolate melts (buttons) OR chopped dark chocolate CRÈME CHANTILLY 600ml thickened cream 60g (½ cup) pure icing sugar OR icing sugar mixture, sifted 2 teaspoons vanilla extract OR vanilla bean paste OR vanilla essence BITS & PIECES 6 bananas 160g (1 cup) toasted almonds, roughly chopped 1 Preheat the oven to 130°C fan-forced. Line four…

Buying Of all the ingredients, seafood is the most perishable, so plan your shopping well. Pre-order everything and arrange to pick it up on Christmas Eve, or at the earliest, two days prior. On the day of purchase, take a chiller bag, then aim to have your seafood under proper refrigeration as soon as possible. Look for uncooked prawns that are free of discolouration; reject any that are showing signs of blackness. Storing Once home, place prawns on a plate or tray, or in a lidded container. Cover with a damp cloth, then plastic wrap or a lid. Place in coldest part of the fridge; usually the bottom shelf. Eat within two days. Freezing For uncooked prawns, half-fill a container with prawns, then fill with water and put the container…

THE GIRL WHO TAKES AN EYE FOR AN EYE by David Lagercrantz, MacLehose Press . It makes little difference to Lisbeth Salander whether she’s free or in prison. The girl with the dragon tattoo has lived her whole life in a world full of violence and threat that, “she might just as well be in jail as anywhere else”. And that’s where we find her at the start of this fifth book in the series. Of course Lisbeth is equipped to cope with anything the prison bully Benito has planned for her. But does she have what it takes to expose the evil that blighted her childhood? It’s a pleasure to get reacquainted with Lisbeth and her allies Mikael Blomkvist and Holger Palmgren. But they’re at their best when the…

Rachael Johns is having the career many writers dream of – she fulfilled her dearest ambition by becoming a romance writer and has now evolved organically into Australia’s leading writer of contemporary relationship stories around women’s issues. After winning the industry’s highest award, the ABIA for Best General Fiction for The Patterson Girls in 2016, Rachael continued to explore more sophisticated issues, such as gender identity, marital breakdowns and the consequences of well-intentioned lies, with The Art Of Keeping Secrets. Her new book, The Greatest Gift, is her most emotionally compelling yet – a rumination on motherhood with issues of egg donation at its centre. Rachael immersed herself in egg donation message boards and spoke to donors and recipients to get to the issues at the heart of the book…

Glamping in style Not your average campervan, this is all about glamping in what resembles a cute space capsule. You can book this stylish Airstreamer on Stayz that’s all set up with even a coffee machine. From February 5, 2018, it will be sited at Queensland’s Brooks Beach, just north of Mission Beach, with private beach access. Visit stayz.com.au. What happens if I lose my passport overseas? Report the loss immediately on passports.gov.au. Having a copy of your passport becomes invaluable – you need your passport number to log in. An emergency passport that allows you to return to Australia will be issued but you’ll have to collect it from the nearest Australian diplomatic mission. Also contact the immigration authorities in the country you are in. It is possible to…

“ Consider installing solar panels to harness the sun to reduce energy bills. ” In the past 10 years our electricity prices have more than doubled. Australian households are paying 60 per cent more for their power than their US counterparts. And gas prices have shot up 175 per cent since 2000. That’s the bad news. The good news is there are steps you can take to slash your power bills. Here are five of the best ones: 1 An energy-efficient home A benefit of building a new home is its energy efficiency, providing big savings on running costs. But there are things you can do to reduce energy wastage in older homes. Insulating your ceiling will reduce heat entering when it’s hot and trap warmth when it’s cold. Draught-proof…

Allen & Unwin The Life To Come is the dazzling new novel from Michelle de Kretser, author of the best-selling novel Questions Of Travel, winner of the 2013 Miles Franklin Award. The Life To Come, RRP $32.99, is available at all good bookstores and online. Visit allenandunwin.com. Lipton Introducing new Magnificent Matcha Green Tea from Lipton, blended from pure Japanese Matcha and green tea sourced from some of the finest tea gardens in the world. Now available in three dazzling flavours. RRP $4.99. Visit lipton.com.au. Ferrero Rocher Christmas is a time for entertaining and gift-giving, made more special with the timeless Ferrero Rocher, such as the impressive 28 chocolate Cone, a unique piece to be shared with family and friends this festive season. Visit ferrerorocherchocolates.com.au for Christmas inspiration. Aussie…

Genevieve Gannon Our investigative journalist probed into the cosmetic medicine industry after the tragic death of a Sydney woman following a breast procedure (see page 64). Genevieve spent a week on tour with Opera Australia in the Northern Territory, leaving the bustle of The Weekly offices behind for the music of Mozart – and enjoying a swim with the off-duty opera stars in a natural spring (see page 58). In her spare time, she moonlights as a rom-com author. Juliet Rieden The Weekly’s Editor swapped her royal reporting to go behind the scenes in London on the second series of The Crown, the TV hit about them (see page 28). Back in Sydney, Juliet interviewed cover star Kerri-Anne Kennerley (see page 20) and fell in love with her golden retriever,…

“They were the antithesis of the beefy Australian bloke.” They were the rock gods of their generation and they could reduce their disciples to hysterical wrecks. When The Beatles arrived in June 1964 for their first and only Australian tour, the band’s rabid female fan base came out in their thousands to worship at the altar of the Fab Four, weeping and wailing their way through the country’s 20 concerts. The witty, working-class Liverpudlians, with their mop-top haircuts and matching mod suits, belted out self-penned boppy love songs and beautiful ballads, but the music was immaterial. “We were far too hysterical to hear anything – we were listening to everybody else screaming as we were screaming,” says legendary fashion designer Jenny Kee, who was 17 when she went to the…

“ The sugar rush kicked in, her eyes dilated and she was briefly paralysed. ” There’s nothing fun about it, although the word is printed on the side of the box in big bold letters. I suppose if you’re eight, nothing’s more fun than the sugary, individually wrapped contents, but for parents, a child bringing home the Cadbury fundraiser chocolate box is the stuff of nightmares. Mine started even before we got it home. My youngest child was waiting to be picked up from ballet and I was running late – I’m always running late on a Saturday morning. The crack military logistics team I have recently employed is yet to determine how one mother can manage four weekend sport pick-ups on different sides of the city when they’re scheduled…

I meet Deborah Moore in an elegant old-school hotel in Knightsbridge, London. It must have been the bee’s knees in the 1980s. It’s the one that her father, Roger Moore, used to love. In fact, she’s sitting in the exact same seat in the exact same cocktail lounge where I last met Roger about 18 months ago. We’re here to talk about her father’s last book, À Bientôt ... At the time of writing it, he had no idea it was a full-on “à bientôt” (“bye for now”) because he felt very alive, very himself, very switched on, always joking. “Who is this fella in the mirror?” He didn’t feel as if he was in his 90th year. He’d say, “What is old age? Does it define us? Where did…

1 Online and reality Jocelyn Brewer says there are definite benefits to social media friendships, but real world connections remain the gold standard. “Social media can help find connections when geography or other factors make it difficult. But social media sharing can negate the need to communicate in real life. To form a deeper connection, take the relationship into the real world.” 2 Stirring stuff Physical activity is not just good for the body, it’s great for the soul. And we do better when we have friends around to spur us on. It doesn’t have to be complicated – a brisk stroll in the lunch hour with a workmate, a scenic walk on the weekend. Check out the activities on offer at the local swimming pool, sports club or community…

Stripes Horizontal or vertical, eye-catching stripes make a statement. Spots There’s nothing dotty about these chic pieces. Slides Treat your feet with a gorgeous pair of slides to complete your look.…

1. The Body Shop Seaweed Pore-Cleansing Exfoliator, 100ml, $25. Made with seaweed extract, this exfoliator eradicates oils and impurities to keep your complexion looking fresh. 2. O.P.I Infinite Shine Do You Sea What I Sea? Gel-Lacquer, 15ml, $22.95. This shimmery blue nail polish is long-lasting and has a glossy finish. 3. St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mist, 200ml, $59.99. Give your skin a natural-looking, healthy glow – without the harmful UV rays. 4. Bioderma Hydrabio H20 Micelle Solution, 250ml, $31.99. A water-like solution that removes make-up and oils, and is great for sensitive, dehydrated skin. 5. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel, 50g, $24.99. This lightweight gel cream will retain your skin’s moisture even after super-hot days. 6. OGX Sea Mineral Moisture Shampoo, 385ml, $9.95. Contains a blend of hydrating…

Everything was falling into place for Natasha Eaton in January 2008. She was building a photography business and dating a wonderful man. The then 32-year-old had always wanted to be a mother and while disappointed it hadn’t happened for her yet, she was feeling excited about the future. She was on the phone one afternoon when she noticed a lump in her breast. “It was a bad year, but we came out with a little boy on the way.” “I panicked and jumped in the car and went over to my aunt’s, and got her to check it,” says Natasha. A biopsy revealed she had stage three breast cancer. It was a Friday afternoon when she met with a surgeon and he told her that he wanted her to start…

QI’m 28 years old and have had eczema since I was five, but this year has been the worst. I have seen a dermatologist, but unfortunately, it has flared up again. How do I get my eczema under control? S.M., Qld. You need a comprehensive approach. Acute flare-ups may need steroid creams, but they do have disadvantages when used long term and they do not treat the cause. There may be a food allergy (typically gluten, dairy, egg or nuts), which you can identify with an elimination diet. Environmental chemicals, such as cosmetics, may make it worse. Make sure you eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Supplements which may help include zinc, vitamin E, fish oil, flaxseed oil, vitamin C and the probiotic lactobacillus rhamnosus LGG. Q My job requires…

Sizzling harissa prawns SERVES 4 PREP AND COOK TIME 20 MINUTES (+ MARINATING TIME) 24 (1kg) uncooked king prawns 1 lemon 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1-2 tablespoons harissa paste (see Julie’s tip) ¼ cup (70g) Greek yogurt 1 cup (200g) jasmine rice 1½ cups (375ml) chicken stock ⅓ cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil 1 medium (200g) red capsicum, chopped 1 medium (170g) red onion, chopped 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon smoked paprika ¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1 Shell the body of prawns, leaving heads and tails intact. Run a small knife down the back to “butterfly” prawns; remove vein. 2 Finely grate rind from lemon; cut lemon into wedges. In a large bowl, combine rind, garlic, harissa, yogurt and 2 tablespoons water. Add the prawns; toss…

Three-in-one basic fruit mix MAKES 9 CUPS (2.5KG) PREP TIME 40 MINUTES (+ STANDING TIME) Ideally, make this recipe one month ahead. This basic fruit mix is enough to make a regular-sized cake (see recipe, right), a boiled or steamed pudding to serve 10 (see recipe, overleaf), and 12 mince pies (see page 165). 170g packet Ocean Spray Craisins (dried cranberries) 2⅓ cups (375g) sultanas 2 cups (320g) currants 2⅓ cups (375g) coarsely chopped raisins 1 cup (150g) finely chopped pitted dates ⅔ cup (120g) finely chopped pitted prunes 1 cup (200g) finely chopped dried figs 2 large (400g) apples, grated coarsely ¼ cup (90g) golden syrup or treacle 2 cups (440g) firmly packed dark brown sugar 1½ cups (375ml) brandy 2 teaspoons ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1…

If you don’t want to use alcohol in your Christmas cake or pudding, soak the fruit in Earl Grey tea or slightly diluted ginger cordial – both will give a great flavour. Q The studs on the bottom of an old bag have put rust marks on my cream-coloured wool carpet. How do I remove them? A. Murphy, SA. Pour small mounds of uniodised salt onto each mark, then moisten with just a few drops of lemon juice. Do not saturate – the marks should still be covered with damp salt. Leave the mounds to dry completely, then vacuum the salt away. Simple stencils To make a simple stencil for numbering your garbage and recycling bins, print numbers in a large clear font on your computer, trace them onto thin…

Dutch masters Classics by Rembrandt, a rare painting by Vermeer and works by other 17th century Dutch artists will feature in Rembrandt And The Dutch Golden Age: Masterpieces From The Rijksmuseum at the Art Gallery of NSW from November 11. Drawn from the Netherlands’ national art collection, the exhibition includes exceptional pieces ranging in subject from intense portraits to seascapes and expert still lifes. Visit artgallery.nsw.gov.au. HIGH NOTE Popular stars (from left) Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Lisa McCune, David Hobson and Greta Bradman will present an evening of grand opera and stage musical hits in their concert From Broadway To La Scala. Featuring many of the most popular songs, arias and duets of the past two centuries, the tour begins at the Sydney Opera House on November 18, then goes to…

1.A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, 1843. WHAT: Dickens’ characters smell and taste of parsimony and generosity of the human spirit, which exaggerates itself at Christmas – Scrooge becomes more miserly; Bob Cratchit scratches harder to put food on the Christmas table. WHY: Candlelight, snowflakes, mulled wine and ghosts; Dickens is oft credited with creating Christmas – an occasion the writer delighted in, after a poverty-stricken childhood. 2. The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern, 1943. WHAT: On Christmas Eve, George Pratt stands on a bridge ready to jump. He tells a well-mannered stranger he wishes he had never been born and the man grants his wish. Returning home he finds his wife married to somebody else. WHY: It’s A Wonderful Life, the 1946 feel-good movie, is traditional…

Coles Looking for a cake to have on hand for unexpected guests at Christmas? The Coles Lamington Sponge Pudding is a light moist sponge with chocolate sauce and desiccated coconut sachets included, so you can decorate it yourself. RRP $7, 550g. Visit coles.com.au. Twinings Sometimes all you need is good company along with a good tea to share – like Twinings’ new refreshing, full-bodied Morning Tea. Do you have yours with or without milk? RRP $10.99 for 100 teabags; $2.69 for 10 teabags. Visit twinings.com.au. Michael Hill Redefine pure style with the diamond watch collection at Michael Hill. Featuring precision Swiss quartz movements, super scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and sleek diamond-set bezels, these watches are breathtakingly beautiful and irresistibly priced from $399. Visit michaelhill.com.au. APT Celebrate Christmas in Canada with APT.…

Sagittarius Nov 23-Dec 21 If you are juggling your finances this Christmas, you can blame Saturn, which is entering your finance zone for the first time in 29 years. The Australian and world economies are set for a reality check, so currency exchange rates may affect you. Try to find your feet and ground yourself. If your situation has become too complex, try to find a simpler way of managing things. The more work you can do on this now, the easier 2018 will be for you. Capricorn Dec 22-Jan 20 Your ruling planet, Saturn, is changing signs in a 29-year cycle, so this will be an unusual Christmas when you may want to be alone. People look for a spiritual message at this time of year and you are…

It was a piteous sight that greeted Toowoomba police detective Brian Tighe on November 19, 1989 – one that still haunts him almost three decades later. She was so young, just a teenager, supine on the bed, her face and body bruised and bloodied, vomit matting her hair and a doona clumsily thrown over her. Yet the doona could not hide the sordid, sad facts that her shorts had been torn off, or that she had died alone. Detective Tighe, a father himself, knew this young woman had met a savage and brutal death. It wasn’t just her tender age – 15 – nor the violence and depravity of her murder that disturbed him. It was her stillness. He knew she was probably alive, albeit unconscious, for up to three…

In his letter to his daughter following a bittersweet day on November 20, 1947, walking his “Lilibet” up the aisle, King George VI wrote, “I can see that you are sublimely happy with Philip, which is right, but don’t forget us.” It was a love match that young Princess Elizabeth had fought for. She first met naval officer Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark when she was an impressionable 13-year-old, but her father made her wait until after her 21st birthday to become engaged. Five years later, the young couple, now with two children, were thrust into the biggest jobs in the land when the King died and Lilibet became Queen Elizabeth II. “Lilibet is the only ‘thing’ in this world which is absolutely real to me and my…

“Know your limits, Mum! Don’t do the flaming pudding thing.” In the weeks leading up to Christmas, my mother was always at the kitchen table surrounded by her cookbooks. Final decisions had to be made about Christmas dinner. Of course, there would be ham and turkey, but what my mother loved most was making Christmas cakes, sweet biscuits and her famous Christmas chocolates – delicate, shiny mini puddings with spun sugar holly leaves on top. They sat in rows on a giant tray on the back veranda to cool and set. Eat one and the theft was obvious. Eat a whole row and it wasn’t so obvious. On Christmas Day, my mother opened the china cabinet and brought out the good dishes. The cabinet had found a way to be…

Fashion changing lives Local label The Social Outfit makes and sells unique high-quality fashion items, with all sale proceeds helping to fund employment, education and training opportunities for refugees and new migrants. This season, Romance Was Born has lent its hand with exclusive prints and designs. Visit thesocialoutfit.org. Australian style icon in frame If anyone in fashion loves sunglasses, it’s Carla Zampatti (above). And now, the acclaimed designer has made her first foray into eyewear with a 22-piece collection exclusive to Specsavers. The range features artfully designed frames that have all the hallmarks of Zampatti’s distinctive aesthetic – sculptured shapes, monochromatic palettes and elegance. Priced from $199 for two pairs with single vision lenses. Visit specsavers.com.au. WE LOVE Need statement shoes with more width? City Chic has you covered with…

“It does fix hot flushes, but at what cost?” Imagine the moment I saw the films of my own lung scans placed up on the light box in the specialist’s office. Because of my years of experience as a doctor, I did not need to be told the result, or read it in a report. Spontaneously and uncharacteristically, tears began to roll down my face. Blood clots. All through my lungs. Within minutes, an emergency trolley had arrived and I was surrounded by a team of intensivists and physicians, an oxygen mask appearing as a cannula was inserted into a vein in my arm. I remember feeling as though I was observing all the drama from a distance. It wasn’t really happening. This must be a mistake. The denial phase…

Cherry marshmallows MAKES 24 PREP AND COOK TIME 45 MINUTES (+ REFRIGERATION TIME) ½ cup (125ml) water 2 tablespoons powdered gelatine (8 teaspoons) 1½ cups (330g) caster sugar ⅔ cup (230g) glucose syrup ½ cup (125ml) water, extra 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste few drops red food colouring ¾ cup (120g) icing sugar 1½ tablespoons cornflour CHERRY JAM 250g cherries, seeded, chopped coarsely ½ cup (110g) caster sugar 1 CHERRY JAM Place cherries and sugar in a medium saucepan; cook, stirring, over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Simmer for 12 minutes or until cherries are soft and jammy. Cool. 2 Lightly grease a 20cm x 30cm slice pan; line base and sides with baking paper, extending the paper 5cm over sides. 3 Put the water into the bowl of…

White sangria spritzer MAKES 1.5 LITRES (6 CUPS) PREP AND COOK TIME 20 MINUTES (+ REFRIGERATION TIME) Stir 4 strips orange rind, 1 cinnamon stick, 2 star anise, 8 cloves, ¼ cup caster sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves. Simmer for 5 minutes or until thickened slightly. Transfer to a heatproof jug; cover. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until cold. Strain mixture into a large jug. Add ⅓ cup brandy, 2 sliced white nectarines, 2 cups chilled sparkling mineral water and 750ml bottle chilled sparkling white wine (or moscato for a sweeter version). Top with fresh lemon balm or mint leaves. Non-alcoholic option You could drop the brandy and swap wine for sparkling white grape juice. Elderflower mimosa MAKES 1.75 LITRES…

WHITE CHOCOLATE MUD CAKE Prep + cook time 3 hours (+ cooling) Serves 12 250g butter, chopped coarsely 180g good quality white chocolate, chopped finely 1½ cups (330g) caster sugar ¾ cup (180ml) milk 1½ cups (225g) plain flour ½ cup (75g) self-raising flour ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs, beaten lightly Gold sanding sugar, optional, to decorate 13 Ferrero Rocher to decorate WHITE CHOCOLATE GANACHE 1 cup (250ml) cream 360g good quality white chocolate, chopped finely 1. Preheat oven to 160˚C (140˚C fan forced). Grease a deep 20cm round cake pan; line base and side with a double layer of baking paper. 2. Stir butter, chocolate, sugar and milk in a medium saucepan over low heat until smooth. Transfer mixture to a large bowl; cool 15 minutes. 3. Whisk…

Look out for The Australian Women’s Weekly Great Read sticker in your local bookstore. The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa, Doubleday. Cats are fertile ground for bestsellers, with an audience of aficionados ripe for delighting. But when The Travelling Cat Chronicles hits international bookshelves, I suspect a frenzy will break out – yes, with cat lovers, but also with readers charmed by this quietly addictive tale of friendship and love. The spare, funny, beautiful writing is utterly seductive and tugs hard on your heart strings, while the story reads like a gentle fable until the clever twist in its tail is revealed. The book is told in turns by our feline hero and his owner, with the cat narrative proving the more illuminating. Nana is a “hot bloodied” male…

A LONG WAY FROM HOME, by Peter Carey, Hamish Hamilton/ Penguin. In an author’s note, Carey describes his 14th novel as “the one I spent my whole life not knowing how to write”. It’s his reckoning with race – an exploration of what it means to be a white Australian – though told with such bounce and humour the seriousness of intent never weighs down his story of a cross-continent car race, the Redex Trial, set in the 1950s. It starts in Bacchus Marsh, as car salesman Titch Bobs and his speed-freak wife recruit their neighbour as navigator. They’re all mad as snakes and everything that can go wrong does, with bizarre consequences. Period details range from Wobbly Hour, when the beer taps turn off, to the Maralinga bomb tests.…

1 Sail away in the Whitsundays Chart your own voyage on the Whitsundays from Hamilton Island Marina or Airlie Beach for a self-catered Christmas on azure waters. The Whitsunday Escape charter includes an afternoon learning the ropes and the vessel comes with charts, maps and the rule you must check in by radio twice daily. Cook up a Christmas feast while anchored off a secluded island or dive in and swim with turtles. When: For Christmas 2017 bookings, visit whitsundayescape.com. 2 See the Caribbean Spend Christmas with Santa on a surfboard on the waves of the FlowRider simulator. Onboard a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise departing from Florida on the Harmony of the Seas, action Saint Nick will be ziplining and in the skydiving simulator as well. Harmony of the Seas…

Australia Post Australia Post is proud to present our latest Classic Collection, Winnie-the-Pooh and Friends, including Winnie, Eeyore, Piglet and Tigger plush toys. Each toy is crafted to recreate the beloved character we remember. RRP $29.99 each. Visit shop.auspost.com.au or in store. Escape Travel Planning a European escape? Make the most of exploring charming cities and layered history with a Collette guided holiday and save up to $400 with your holiday specialist at Escape Travel today. Call 132 601 or visit escapetravel.com.au to find your local store. Natio Mother Nature’s skin elixir, rosewater, has been used as a remedy for centuries. Natio’s new Rosewater Hydration range features six products to nourish and rejuvenate, for all skin types. RRP $14.95-$22.95. Available from Myer, David Jones and pharmacies. Visit natio.com.au. Twinings Try…

1 TAKING BACK THE CATWALK Jane Fonda, 79, looked fierce in tiger stripes, while Dame Helen Mirren, 72, was playful (below) when the two Hollywood matriarchs strutted the catwalk in Paris. The fashion show was staged against the Arc de Triomphe, a fitting backdrop for the magnificent women. 2 TRIPLE TREAT: A trio of meerkat pups has made its debut at Canberra’s National Zoo and Aquarium. The triplets each weighed just 150 grams when they first peeped out of their den. 3 SEND IT TO ST NICK: Have your little ones been naughty or nice this year? As Christmas is nearly here, it’s time for them to write their wish lists, and we love reading what their little hearts desire. 4 POPCORN PRINCE We couldn’t get enough of the footage…