Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2022 i The Australian Women's Weekly

It’s our sanctuary, it’s where the heart is, it’s home sweet home, but what if you suddenly found yourself without a stable roof over your head? Many of us think ‘it could never happen to me’, but it’s the reality for 49,000 Australian women this very night, many of them survivors of family violence or divorcees experiencing severe financial hardship. We spoke to four women who found themselves in just such a position, and took a good hard look at what needs to be done to address this growing crisis (page 24). It is an issue we feel so strongly about at The Weekly that, along with our publishers Are Media, we have launched Unhoused, a campaign demanding action be taken at a national government level. Working in collaboration with…

“I wanted to have time together as a family. It’s the most important thing in my life.”– Collette Dinnigan Poplars line the winding road out of Bowral in the Southern Highlands – their leaves a burnished, early autumn yellow. The road climbs and twists and turns. Then, behind a drystone wall, a pair of woolly alpacas gambol in grass that’s knee-high and emerald green. A silvery mist rises from the valley, shrouding a picture-perfect 1880s weatherboard farmhouse. This is the enchanting world of Collette Dinnigan AO, once the toast of Paris Fashion Week, now the creative heart of both an eclectic homewares business and a warm and welcoming home. Gates swing open and up the farmyard drive bounds Bosco, a livewire, eight-month-old border collie, followed by affectionate, four-year-old beagle/spaniel Sooty,…

Anna Wintour has been the editor-in-chief of Vogue since 1988, and one of the most powerful figures in media. “I don’t know what it is about Anna exactly,” said Laurie Schechter, an early assistant, “but if she could bottle it she’d make a million billion dollars because it just was like fairytale stuff.” Across more than three decades of Vogue and its spin-offs, she has defined fashion trends and beauty standards, telling millions of people what to buy, how to look and who to care about. She decides which celebrities and models to photograph and which clothes to dress them in. If she wants a designer to have more influence, she recommends them to bigger labels, and she has this power because the owners of those larger labels seek –…

“ I was allowed to see him once before I left,and only throught the necessary window.” The hot, lazy days of 1967’s ‘summer of love’ were filled with endless possibilities for dreamy teenager Lily McDonald, who was deeply in love and happily immersed in the new pop-rock scene of swinging ’60s Brisbane. Lily’s favourite memories of those heady summer days were of curling up in bed at the inner-city flat she shared with the handsome young guitarist she planned to marry, while he serenaded her to sleep with the love song he had penned for her. Tragically, however, on a sultry February night, the summer of love came to a sudden, terrifying halt for the lovebirds when Lily – who was a month shy of her 17th birthday – was…

I’m not asking for special sympathy as I tell this story. Because most couples come to the point where I did when one of them dies, leaving the other to mourn. It happens all the time, and the one left behind has to face the reality that they are alone. But Vivien’s death was personal. We had been married 45 years, and we loved each other to pieces. We’d had an exciting life together. I’d met Vivien just after I returned from running a hospital in the Peruvian Amazon for a year. The stories from that time that I shared with her were enough to seduce her to not only marry me, but to want to share more adventures together. It was so easy to fall in love with this…

Forgiveness reduces the powerful mixture of anger, hatred and fear that comes with seeing ourselves as victims. Chronic anger has been well documented to have harmful effects on the cardiovascular and immune systems. People who score high on forgiveness are less likely to be depressed, anxious, hostile, narcissistic or exploitative, and are less likely to become dependent on drugs and nicotine. Combat veterans suffering from PTSD experience less depression and fewer symptoms of trauma if they are able to forgive themselves and others. High forgivers show less reactivity in blood pressure and arterial stiffness. In contrast, those who score low in forgiveness show higher blood pressure and slower recovery.…

It’sa word that many people are all too familiar with, and are often in fear of. Cancer turns lives upside down and causes immeasurable anxiety and distress – not only to the person diagnosed, but to their family and close friends. It involves treatments that are prolonged, invasive and uncomfortable and sadly, in far too many cases, cancer robs families of cherished time with a loved one. It steals what could have been and what should have been. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that just over 150,000 people in Australia received a cancer diagnosis in 2021 and in the same year, just over 49,000 people died from cancer. That’s the equivalent of around 2900 people being told they have cancer every week and 942 people a week…

Old-fashioned apple pie SERVES 8 PREP + COOK TIME 2 HOURS 20 MINUTES (+ REFRIGERATION & STANDING TIME) 10 medium Granny Smith apples (1.5kg) ¼ cup (55g) caster sugar, plus 1 tablespoon, extra 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 80g unsalted butter, chopped 1 egg, beaten lightly vanilla ice cream, to serve PASTRY 3 cups (450g) plain flour ½ cup (75g) cornflour ½ cup (60g) custard powder 2 tablespoons caster sugar 200g cold unsalted butter, chopped coarsely 2 egg yolks ½ cup (125ml) ice-cold water 1 PASTRY Process flours, custard powder, sugar and butter until crumbly. Add egg yolks and water; process until combined. Knead on a floured surface until smooth. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate for 30 minutes. 2 Peel, core and slice apples thickly. Combine apples, sugar, cinnamon, half the…

Shepherd-less pie SERVES 4 PREP + COOK TIME 1 HOUR 10 MINUTES 1 cup (200g) French-style green lentils ¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil 1 medium (150g) onion, chopped coarsely 2 cloves garlic, crushed 2 teaspoons fennel seeds 1 medium (120g) carrot, chopped coarsely 1 trimmed celery stalk (100g), chopped finely 200g Swiss brown mushrooms, halved 800g grape tomatoes 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 cup (250ml) vegetable stock 60g baby spinach leaves, trimmed 1 tablespoon thyme leaves, plus extra to serve 700g kent pumpkin, unpeeled, cut into 1cm thick wedges 1½ cups (180g) grated pizza cheese or cheddar 2 tablespoons pepitas (pumpkin seed kernels) 1 Cook lentils in a medium saucepan of boiling water for 12 minutes or until just tender; drain. 2 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced).…

Slow cooker stroganoff soup SERVES 4 PREP + COOK TIME 6 HOURS 30 MINUTES 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 kg beef brisket, trimmed and cut in half 12 eschallots, sliced thinly 2 tablespoons plain flour 1/4 cup (60ml) Worcestershire sauce 10g packet dried porcini mushrooms 1 litre beef stock 1 teaspoon brown sugar 1 tablespoon tomato paste 2 fresh bay leaves 500g mixed mushrooms, sliced ½ cup (120g) sour cream, to serve ¼ cup finely chopped dill, to serve 1. Heat half the oil in a large frying pan over high heat. Season the brisket with well with salt and pepper. Add to the pan and cook, turning, for 6-8 minutes or until well seared. Place in a 4-litre slow cooker. 2. Toss the eschallots in flour, add…

Potato wedges & chicken poutine  SERVES 1 PREP + COOK TIME 30 MINUTES 2 medium désirée potatoes (400g) ¼ barbecue chicken (300g) 20g butter 1½ tablespoons plain flour 1 large french shallot, sliced thinly 1 cup (250ml) salt-reduced chicken stock ¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil 50g mozzarella, grated 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1 Prick potatoes all over with a fork; microwave on HIGH for 5 minutes or until tender. When cool enough to handle, cut each potato into six wedges. 2 Meanwhile, shred chicken and skin, reserving bones. 3 To make gravy, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once foaming, add flour; cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until dry and golden. Add shallot and chicken bones; stir for a further 2…

Is there a use for the little silica packets that come with RAT kits, vitamins and so many other things? G.fawker, wolli Greek,NSW They absorb moisture, so store them with photos, silverware, tools, sewing kits, shoes, and suitcases. To refresh, empty crystals onto baking paper-lined trays; bake at 120°C for an hour before reusing. All washed up Stick a plastic towel rail to the side of your laundry tub, washing machine or dryer – it’s very useful for holding a hand towel, face washer, or other small, damp items. A new leaf Don’t throw away cauliflower leaves – rub with a little oil, salt, pepper (and spices, if you like), then roast till crisp in a low oven. Chalk it up Paint the top of a toddler’s table with blackboard…

Remember Me by Charity Norman, Allen & Unwin Twenty-five years ago, bushwalker Dr Leah Parata, 26, went hiking in challenging terrain near her home in Tawanui, New Zealand. She disappeared off the face of this breathtaking part of the world. The last person to see her was neighbour Emily Kirkland, 21. Leah’s mother, Raewyn, was the school bus driver, and has been caring for Dr Felix Kirkland, who has advanced Alzheimer’s. Emily returns from her London home to help. She is shocked to see “Feed dogs” notes, watch distressed Dad cut the heads off his prize roses. But when she discovers a box containing sultry photographs of Leah and devoted letters to father Felix from “L”, a can of worms opens up. Tightly constructed with a tender heart. The Leviathan…

Dear Martin and Joan, My name is Emma Hudson. I was born April Egan on 1 April, 1966. I was adopted six weeks after my birth. I’ve known for certain that I was adopted since I was 18. I discovered from the paperwork in my adoption file that you are my birth parents. I believe that following my birth you returned to Ireland and that you married a year later. I’m hoping the intervening years have been kind to you, as they have been to me. I happen to be coming to Dublin in a couple of weeks, and I thought this visit would be a good opportunity for us to meet. You can reach me at this number, 0171 669141, to arrange a time and a place. Looking forward…

The Met GALA In the pink! Actress Glenn Close declared she was “comfortably out of [her] comfort zone” before she swirled up the red carpet in a profusion of hot pink Valentino at the Met Gala. The fiery fuchsia shade certainly put the star at ease for her appearance, the actress confessing beforehand she’d always found the event intimidating. “I’m basically very shy,” she said. Royal MILESTONES Charlotte’s growing up Dressed in periwinkle blue and hugging her beloved dog, Orla, Princess Charlotte posed among a field of flowers for a special birthday portrait. Charlotte turns seven this year and was all smiles in this beautiful moment captured by her mother. Louis is four! The littlest member of the Cambridge family revealed a glimpse of his rambunctious, playful side in some…

“This lady taught me to sing. She also taught me that men are trash.” Harry Styles on Shania Twain, who he wowed with at Coachella. “The Afterlife goes ok. Not dead. Carry on.” Peter Helliar on rumours of his death that were greatly exaggerated. “I’m coming for you and your once a week salon. Once a week. I ask you, is that even a job?” Sarah Ferguson lets Shaun Micallef know she has him in her sights. “The beauty industry should be called the swagger industry.” Dame Helen Mirren on the beauty of confidence.…

Michelle Culnane had been a stay-at-home mum for much of her married life. She had no savings to speak of when she and her husband went their separate ways, but she picked herself up, found somewhere for herself and her then teenage daughter to live and made a comfortable home for them until her daughter went away to study. “I was in my 40s then,” Michelle tells The Weekly. “I still had a lot of life ahead, so I did a bit of dating and met a person on a dating site who I discovered, much too late, was controlling. We dated for a while, then moved in together. As our relationship progressed, I lost contact with everyone I knew. He said if I left, I’d leave with nothing. And…

When Tina Brown first presented her publishers with a book proposal for a new royal biography unpicking what had happened in the House of Windsor since the publication of her bestselling The Diana Chronicles in 2007, she didn’t anticipate her predictions would come to pass literally as she was writing. “My book proposal forecast all of it,” she says with a wry smile. “I forecast that there would be some kind of explosion with Harry and Meghan and they would leave, but I expected it to take five or six years, not 20 months. It was fascinatingly fast.” The former editor of Tatler, Vanity Fair and The New Yorker and founding editor of The Daily Beast spent two years speaking to more than 120 sources for The Palace Papers, and…

I’d suffered from symptoms that would come and go ever since childhood. Fevers, urinary tract infections, nerve pain and numbness, depression. Symptoms I tried to dull with alcohol, but the effect was temporary. Symptoms that only grew stronger over time. Right around the time I met Jason Bleick [father of Selma’s son, Arthur, in 2010], I began to lose feeling in my legs in a way I never had before. They started to give up, inexplicably. I’d been riding again, which I loved. One day, I was walking down a hill with my horse, when out of nowhere I fell. The ground just slipped from under me. I wasn’t binge drinking then. In fact, I felt I was in a good place: Jason and I were happy, I was active,…

When they first met at a dinner party in New York hosted by playwright Lillian Hellman, Roald Dahl ignored Patricia Neal and she found him to be unbearably rude. Patricia was a huge Hollywood star of cinema’s golden era, having made her name two years earlier in The Fountainhead opposite Gary Cooper, and was expecting to attract more attention from the little-known Englishman. Roald was handsome, yes, an RAF officer, also a secret agent and a journalist, but hardly in her starry stratosphere, and at the dinner he seemed more interested in talking to composer Leonard Bernstein than her. “By the end of the evening, I had quite made up my mind that I loathed Roald Dahl,” she noted. Yet, he was good at an awful lot of things. He…

Change gang A slew of beauty brands have launched overseas to address menopausal skincare issues for women over 40. And one has finally hit our shores: the PRAI Beauty M Collection, with ingredients that nourish dryness while boosting collagen. ON THE SCENT  Delicate plum notes blend with Italian bergamot oil and pink peppercorn in this amber floral fragrance. Narciso Rodriguez For Her MUSC NOIR ROSE (100ml) EDP, $217. Just IN Lip service When you switch your skincare to more nourishing formulas in autumn, spare a thought for your kissers. For everyday comfort, this nourishing vegan formula by Brisbane-based mother-and-daughter duo Sara and Angelique Dagrés, Angel Wings Certified Organic Lip Balm ‘Mamma’ Mint, $36, has a pretty rose-tinted hue. For protection and shine, try swiping on Naked Sundays Glow + Go…

Rest RESET Which rest is best? If you’re getting a solid night’s sleep and still feel exhausted you may be neglecting one of the seven types of rest we need to feel vital, according to Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith, author of Sacred Rest. For example, you may be getting plenty of physical rest (like napping, and also yoga and stretching), while neglecting creative rest (when you take time to appreciate beauty) and social rest (spending time with people you really enjoy). Take the free quiz at restquiz.com and discover your rest deficit. Prune POWER Strong bones It’s already well known that prunes are good for your gut, but new Penn State uni research suggests they may be good for bone health, too. Researchers found prunes can help prevent or delay bone…

• Australia has the highest melanoma rates in the world, with one person diagnosed every 30 minutes and one person dying from melanoma every six hours. About 50 per cent of advanced melanoma patients don’t respond to, or develop resistance to, immunotherapy treatment. A new clinical trial will test a Personalised Immunotherapy Platform to ensure patients get effective treatment based on their genetics and specific tumour type. • Research in The Lancet Oncology journal found at least 4 per cent of global diagnoses of oesophageal, mouth, larynx, colon, rectum, liver and breast cancers in 2020 were due to alcohol. They believe this may be because ethanol in alcohol breaks down into a carcinogen that damages DNA. • A new blood test is being developed by QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and Biopsomic to…

Make sure the apple filling has cooled to room temperature before you add it to the pastry case. If your lattice isn’t perfect, don’t worry. Post-baking, the bubbling filling and browning process will hide most imperfections. Try not to handle the dough too much. If you overwork it, the butter can melt from the heat of your hands and make it soft and hard to handle. If the pie dough gets too soft as you’re weaving, pop the whole pie-in-progress in the fridge for 10 minutes to let the dough firm up. Baking the pie on the lower shelf of the oven will ensure you don’t end up with a ‘soggy bottom’!…

BUTTERNUT This is a good all-rounder pumpkin, suitable for soups, mashes and roasting. It has a pale orange thin skin and is easy to peel. GOLDEN NUGGET Small and round with a deep orange skin, this pumpkin is suitable for stuffing and roasting. JARRAHDALE This is a large pumpkin with a ribbed grey skin. Its sweet flesh is best suited to roasting. KENT Also known as Jap pumpkin, it has a grey ribbed skin with yellow speckles, and has yellow flesh. Great in salads. QUEENSLAND BLUE This well-known variety has grey skin and a deep orange flesh. It is a good all-rounder pumpkin. Use in curries and roast vegetable mixtures.…

Beetroot and orange salad SERVES 6-8 PREP TIME 15 MINUTES (+ STANDING TIME) 1 medium (170g) red onion ½ cup (125ml) apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon caster sugar 1½ teaspoons salt flakes 2 large (700g) navel oranges 200g baby golden beetroot, peeled 200g baby target beetroot, peeled ¼ cup (60ml) fresh orange juice ¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil 1 medium (200g) radicchio, cut into 3cm wedges 150g goat’s cheese, crumbled 1 cup (100g) walnuts, roasted 1 Using a mandoline or V-slicer, slice onion into thin rounds. 2 Combine 1/3 cup (80ml) of the vinegar, the sugar and salt flakes in a medium bowl; stir until sugar dissolves. Add onion slices; stir to combine. Stand for 10 minutes to lightly pickle. Drain. 3 Meanwhile, remove rind from oranges along…

Know your onions BROWN: These have a strong flavour, making them excellent for cooking. The longer they are cooked, the sweeter they are. Great as a base for caramelising, sauces or on the barbecue. RED: Mild and sweet, red onions add a vibrant burst of colour to your dishes. Great in salads, lightly cooked or caramelised. WHITE: The milder white onions are best eaten raw in salads or on sandwiches. CHOOSE onions that are clean and firm with shiny, dry and tissue-thin skins. KEEP them in a ventilated container in a cool, dark place away from potatoes. FOR more inspiration, go to @aussieonions Mixing it up Since introducing the first Stand Mixer colours in 1955, KitchenAid has aimed to spark inspiration through its colour leadership. The brand’s iconic Artisan Stand…

On display “Vases can be as much of a feature as the blooms we put in them,” says Hard to Find founder Erica Stewart. “We’re seeing some really interesting designs coming through from our sellers.” Q: How often do I really need to change my mattress? A: While expert advice has always been to replace your mattress every six to eight years, innovations in technology mean not all bedding is the same. Some last longer –others shorter. So, instead, rely on these observations, no matter how long it’s been in rotation. “If your mattress gets uncomfortable, saggy, has deteriorated in terms of support, quality and materials or if you’re experiencing changes in sleep patterns and waking up not feeling re-energised or refreshed, it’s time to replace your mattress,” advises Amanda…

RURAL CRIME FICTION WAKE by Shelley Burr, Hachette In the heady rush of Aussie crime thrillers flooding the bookstores, Shelley Burr’s Wake is blazing its own trail. For this gripping drama boasts all the energy of a true-crime podcast with a cast of wounded characters you desperately want to protect. The action takes place in rural NSW, in a tiny outback town where farm life has been decimated by drought. Nannine is notorious, though, for a very different reason. It was here almost 20 years ago that nine-year-old Evelyn McCreery went missing, vanishing from her house one night seemingly without a trace. Her twin sister has lived in the shadow of Evie’s presumed abduction and murder ever since and when a private investigator turns up wanting to dig around, she…

The Jane Austen Remedy by Ruth Wilson, Allen & Unwin Ruth Wilson, 90, sees Jane Austen’s heroines as role models, and in this wonderful memoir celebrates the healing power of reading. Till Death, or a Little Light Maiming, Do Us Part by Kathy Lette, Vintage Another hilarious hit from Kathy Lette begins with two women discovering that their husband, just eaten by a shark, is a cheating bigamist. Australiana by Yumna Kassab, Ultimo A bold novel that strips bare the destructive powers of colonialism in our beautiful wide brown land through telling character vignettes. The Mallee Girl by Jennifer Scoullar, Michael Joseph Rural fiction set in remote Currajong, where Pippa goes to escape her abusive marriage and ends up seeking refuge on a brumby sanctuary. Is this freedom at last?…

Want something more meaningful than just a getaway? Fancy some mental stimulation or learning new skills? Immersion holidays can be immensely rewarding, providing a balance between group time, ‘me’ time and excursions to places and events the locals love but most tourists rarely see. You’ll meet like-minded people from various parts of the world, form new friendships and return full of zest and with a sense of accomplishment. Italy Inspiration in Tuscany Australian author and journalist Lisa Clifford is the perfect example of how wonderfully transformative an immersion experience can be. In her late teens, she went to Florence to study Italian, fell in love with “one of the Italian boys on the Vespas that shot up and down the tiny medieval streets of Florence” and eventually married him. The…

Gemini May 22 - Jun 22 While you’re unquestionably the paper umbrellas in June’s astrological cocktail, don’t fritter your energy away at Casa del Party because you’re so hot right now you could sell anyone anything: products, concepts, yourselves. This is your personal power month, so take a break from doom scrolling and stimulate the economy instead by shopping for the latest styles and playthings. When Venus and Mercury couple up in Gemini for the last week of June to refresh friendships and restore a cooperative spirit, be aware that tender, appreciative words could be just the medicine someone needs. Cancer Jun 23 - Jul 23 This month’s beneficial for brainstorming, which could give current projects much-needed leverage when the mid-month full moon surge of enterprising energy kicks in. Circle…

The song that changed my life was … Tutti Frutti by Little Richard. I wanted to scream like him. Still do. My friends would say I am … Loud, energetic and maybe a little annoying because I never sit still. In the movie of my life, I’d like to be played by … Someone who can sing, I hope. Can we make him good-looking too or am I pushing my luck? The last time I cried was … I cry all the time. When I see my grandchildren. Or when I think about my little dogs who passed away. I cry during movies. I always try to hide it ... I’m supposed to be tough. The greatest lesson I’ve learnt is ... It’s never too late to make things better.…

Princess Elizabeth was young, unworldly and head over heels in love when she made a speech that would become the framework of her life. It was a jubilant time for the Heir Apparent, who was aching to become engaged to Philip Mountbatten, the handsome naval officer she had known since she was 12 years old. Her parents were well aware of their eldest daughter’s plans, as she had told them the year before, but they had asked the lovebirds to take things slowly and postpone any engagement announcement. It was 1947, the country had just come through a brutal war, and the King and Queen wanted Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret to join them on an important tour of South Africa to shore up the Commonwealth. They were also well aware…

As a general rule, take everything you use in summer and make it a million times more hydrating. In winter, our skin needs much more moisture to feel good. And while our focus is usually on skincare swaps, a few tweaks to our beauty regimen can make all the difference. Plus, it’s a good chance to embrace new textures, shades and formulas. Rule 1 The tinted balm A balm may seem the most basic beauty buy until your lips start crying for moisture at the first hint of cold weather. These nourishing formulas prevent dry lips by creating a protective barrier, all while delivering a hint of colour. To let your natural lips shine through, use By Terry Baume De Rose, $89; it saw our lips through the harshest European…

Forgiveness is a huge stumbling block for many. When you don’t forgive, you carry the story of hurt within yourself for a lifetime. Eventually this hurt becomes part of the story you tell yourself. The moment you recognise the burden of that story and let it go, you can begin to live freely again. It is a powerful act that may allow the forgiven person to undergo an awakening and allow them to grow into a better person. Most importantly, it helps the person who forgives. As researchers continue to search for the Holy Grail to a long, healthy and fulfilled life, more and more evidence shows us that the answer is forgiveness, giving, and, ultimately, love. There is no medicine that can help you love and forgive; you alone…

Meatloaf with fig glaze SERVES 6 PREP + COOK TIME 1 HOUR 10 MINS 2 slices white bread ½ cup (125ml) milk 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1 medium (120g) carrot, chopped finely 1 trimmed (100g) celery stick, chopped finely 3 shallots (75g), chopped finely 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1kg minced pork and veal (see tips) 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh marjoram leaves 1/3 cup (110g) fig jam ½ cup (115g) glacé ginger 1 tablespoon boiling water CARAMELISED SHALLOTS 50g butter 12 French shallots (300g), halved ¼ cup (60ml) dry red wine 6 fresh bay leaves 1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). Line a large oven tray with baking paper. 2 Place bread and milk in a large bowl; stand for 10 minutes or until milk is absorbed.…

Roast beef sirloin with smoky tahini SERVES 8-10 PREP & COOK TIME 1 HOUR 45 MINUTES 3 teaspoons coriander seeds 2 teaspoons cumin seeds 2 teaspoons fennel seeds 1 tablespoon smoked paprika 1 teaspoon harissa spice blend 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds ¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil 1.8kg beef sirloin, trimmed, tied with kitchen string at 4cm intervals 6 large zucchini (900g), halved lengthways SMOKY TAHINI ⅓ cup (80ml) tahini ⅓ cup (80ml) lemon juice 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 80g Persian fetta, drained 1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). Dry-fry the coriander, cumin and fennel seeds in a small frying pan over medium heat for 2 minutes or until fragrant. Transfer to a spice grinder or mortar and pestle; grind or pound to…

Indian food is a journey of discovery. You only really understand it by immersing yourself in its different regional cuisines. It’s a culinary tapestry made up of an early Ayurvedic heritage, the varied produce of the regions (which differ vastly from North to South) and its history. India has had many colonisers and cultures and each has added a dimension to the food. The Mughals made dishes richer, milder and meatier. The Portuguese went further and brought with them different plants and crops, including chillies, now synonymous with Indian food, from Mexico. Whoever came, they came with their own cuisines, the best of which India adopted and spiced up, making the tapestry more intricate and interesting. You could probably eat Indian food every day for years and never repeat a…

For a cheap and effective way to keep cut flowers fresher for longer, add half a baby-bottle sterilising tablet to the water. Recycle clean aluminium foil pieces by scrunching them up and using with dishwashing detergent to remove baked-on food from glass dishes or oven racks. Second draw Don’t throw away broken crayons – turn them into chunky new ones by baking them in silicone cups, in single colours or multi, at 120°C for 15 minutes. Leave them hanging Clip a trouser hanger to a pair of boots and hang them up to keep them off the floor. Paper trick If you regularly freeze loaves of sliced bread, cut a series of reusable baking paper squares to interleave between slices before freezing. . Kid’s play Spray WD40 onto Lego blocks…

Shelley Burr, 34, was raised in Newcastle and currently lives in Canberra with her husband, daughter, one cat and “a huntsman spider we call Frank”. Wake is her debut novel and its setting was informed by her childhood. “My parents divorced when I was very young, and my brother and I spent my father’s custody time with him on our grandparents’ farm outside Glenrowan,” she explains. “My time spent roaming the paddocks and bushland had a profound influence on writing Wake.” The manuscript won the 2019 CWA Debut Dagger, which sparked a bidding war.…

In A Jar by Deborah Marcero, Penguin Llewellyn and Evelyn collect things to remind them of the wonderful things they’ve done. They met as Llewellyn was scooping the cherry red sky and gave Evelyn a jar. When she moves he posts her a jar of stars. Finding François by Gus Gordon, Penguin Alice lives with her grandmother in Paris, but sometimes she gets lonely. She puts a message in a bottle and tosses it into the Seine. It’s found by François, who lives in a lighthouse. Boss Ladies of Sport by Phillip Marsden, Hachette “It’s never over until we’re shaking hands at the net,” says newly retired Ash Barty. “You’ve either won or lost, but either way you say ‘Well played mate’.” Illustrated with clever cartoons.…