Innholdsfortegnelse for Christmas 2024 i The Australian Women's Weekly

Imagine this. It is Christmas Eve, 1974. Your parents, your husband, the twins, your daughter and the family dog are all in a rented station wagon. You are pretty convinced that not everyone is getting out of this station wagon alive. Rain lashes the car. It’s powered by winds gusting up to 280km an hour. The downpour slices through the city, shredding trees. Cars, whitegoods and furniture are tossed around like the toys of a giant baby. It’s well past midnight, but outside it’s as bright as a summer noon, lit by constant shards of lightning. The roof of the neighbour’s house becomes airborne at speed. It once provided sanctuary but now is a gigantic knife that could slice a person in half. The sky is full of glass, shattering…

King Charles III is now the patriarch of the Windsor family’s festive traditions, and following in his mother’s footsteps will be hosting Christmas with Queen Camilla at Sandringham House in Norfolk this year. It will be their third since Queen Elizabeth II died and although so much has changed, those time-honoured rituals hold firm. Over the holiday period the Royal family gathers on Christmas Eve, each laying out their presents on trestle tables as they arrive. Final decorations are added by the children to the country house’s impressive six-metre Christmas tree and gifts are then exchanged in a flurry of excitement at teatime. In his memoir, Spare, Prince Harry described the royal evening as one of the most fun nights of the royal calendar with “a long table covered with…

For Laura Day, The Nutcracker ballet is Christmas. Whether she’s in the supermarket and hears a snippet of Tchaikovsky’s magical score or is watching a performance of young Clara and her beloved nutcracker doll-turned-prince, she is instantly transported to a warming log fire, presents under the tree, family gatherings and the magic of a white Christmas. The Nutcracker holds a special place in the heart of this former dancer with Birmingham Royal Ballet. Since she saw her first production, at London’s Royal Opera House when she was 14, dancing the lead role of Clara was something she always dreamt about. “I loved her character, the journey she goes through, dancing the snow pas de deux. It’s such a beautiful role to dance and was always a big aspiration for…

When his eldest child turned seven, Leopold Mozart decided it was time to start music lessons. The instruction began with scales and simple Austrian folk tunes in his modest yellow apartment with white-trimmed windows in Salzburg, where Leopold worked as the second violinist at court. It was 1758 and the Mozart family had endured years of grief and difficulty. Five of Leopold and his wife Anna Maria’s seven children had died, so the couple devoted themselves to their surviving children. “I think that he really loved his children, and that he really cared about them. He also was extremely practical,” says filmmaker Madeleine Hetherton-Miau, whose movie Mozart’s Sister will have you wondering if you ever truly knew the story of the musical prodigy. Anna Maria instructed her son, Wolfgang, and…

Unlike Hollywood movies, which often portray happy families coming together to celebrate and unwrap gifts under the tree, for some of us December can be anything but merry. If you’re dealing with the death of a loved one, are under financial pressures, battling illness, or are in the midst of estrangement, divorce or a relationship conflict, it probably feels like everyone is in the holiday spirit bar you. And with Christmas carols playing on the radio and the supermarket shelves lined with festive treats, it’s hard not to feel like a failure for appearing less than joyous. “The holidays come with a lot of expectations around happiness and togetherness, which can make it really tough if you’re feeling the opposite,” explains Rachel Clements, Director of Psychological Services at the Centre…

1. Bonnie & Neil Santa sack, $59. 2. Basil Bangs umbrella, $1200. 3. Elvis Et Moi earrings, $59. 4. Maison Balzac napkins, $119. 5. Maison Balzac jug, $219. 6. Corey Ashford incense, $45. 7. Creed room spray, $185. 8. Dinosaur Designs bowl, $130. 9. Seed Heritage hat, $49.95. 10. Le Labo shower gel, $58. 11. Allkinds skincare set, $34.99. 1. Huda Beauty blush stick, $37, available at Sephora. 2. Shona Joy robe, $160. 3. Kip & Co X Ken Done beach towel, $89.  4. ECCO sandals, $139.95.  5. Dyson Airstrait Straightener and Dryer, $749, available from Harvey Norman.  6. Sussan eye mask, $14.95.  7. Swatch watch, $210.  8. Glasshouse candle, $59.95.  9. Adidas sneakers $179, available at Hype DC.  10. Xerjoff perfume, $679, available at Libertine Parfumerie.  11. Dinosaur Designs…

Heirloom tomato & pangrattato SERVES 4 PREP + COOK TIME 20 MINUTES Tear 150g Italian-style day-old bread into coarse crumbs. Heat ⅓ cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. Cook crumbs, 1 clove crushed garlic and ½ teaspoon dried chilli flakes, stirring, for 8 minutes or until golden. Stir in 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind. Cool. Meanwhile, slice 500g assorted coloured large heirloom tomatoes. Arrange on a platter with ½ cup basil leaves. Whisk together ⅓ cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil, 2 teaspoons vincotto and 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar; season and drizzle over the tomatoes. Scatter with pangrattato and extra basil, if you like. Orange, fennel & green olives SERVES 4 PREP TIME 10 MINUTES Using a mandoline, V-slicer or…

Florentine affogato Scoop spoonfuls of gelato around the sides of coffee cups or glasses, carving out a well in the centre. Do this ahead of time and freeze. Just before serving, select the short black function on a Jura coffee machine and ensure the coffee pours into the ice-cream well. Serve immediately with biscotti. Tiramisu trifle SERVES 12 PREP & COOK TIME 1 HOUR (+ REFRIGERATION & COOLING TIME) WHITE CHOCOLATE CREAM 300g good-quality white chocolate 300g fresh cream 35% fat 100g mascarpone cheese 2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste 700g fresh cream 35% fat, extra 395g sweetened condensed milk 1 teaspoon sea salt COFFEE SOAK 90ml strong coffee 300ml water 390g caster sugar 30g Dutch-processed cocoa powder 120g Marsala wine ASSEMBLY 150g good-quality dark chocolate 200g store-bought sponge fingers 1…

Apple & cinnamon glazed half ham SERVES 10 PREP + COOK TIME 1 HOUR 30 MINUTES 4kg half ham on the bone (we used the shank end) 2 medium (340g) onions, peeled 2 sprigs rosemary, chopped finely 10 sage leaves, chopped finely 1kg small lunch box size apples 1/3 cup (80ml) maple syrup 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 30 cloves 1 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Line a large roasting pan with baking paper. Using a sharp knife, cut around shank end of ham 10cm from end. Starting at opposite end to shank, run your thumb under rind to carefully separate it from fat. Peel back and remove rind. Wrap shank end in foil. 2 Thickly slice onions horizontally; arrange on base of lined…

“A sprig of rosemary adds a finishing touch to place cards.” “Layer, mix – and make it festive,” is the mantra Chyka Keebaugh adheres to when setting the table for her annual Christmas feast. “I use white plates I already have at home, then layer up,” she says of her approach. “If you add coloured plates you can create a totally different look. The same goes for cutlery – mix and match each place setting. And I like to put out a tray with glasses in various shapes and colours so guests can select their own.” To finish, Chyka chose material from her local fabric store for a tablecloth and home-made bonbons. “It’s an inexpensive way to create a bold look,” she shares. PHOTOGRAPHY BY WILL HORNER. CHYKA WEARS ZIMMERMANN…

Page turners The Valley by Chris Hammer, Allen & Unwin Hallelujah, it’s Hammer time! Australia’s reigning king of outback crime fiction is back with The Valley. Set in a fictional (yet eerily real) village with a history of gold mining and logging, the story begins when a body is found in the Broken River. The cause of death: murder. The detective on the case: Nell Buchanan. The story that follows is a windy road with unexpected turns and an almighty cliffhanger, much like the drive into the valley itself. Chris Hammer – the bestselling author of Scrublands and Silver – does it again. Everywhere We Look by Martine Kropkowski, Ultimo They say comparison is the thief of joy. Unless you’re an author being compared to Liane Moriarty. Martine Kropkowski’s debut…

WomensWeekly.com.au Inside these pages and across our websites we’re dedicated to creating ideas that bring festive joy – from the best recipes, to revisiting the magic of the season to new ways to make the holidays more special. Here are a few to get you started … Set the table Learn how to make this Christmas star napkin. Best Christmas albums We’re here to help you create the ultimate festive playlist. WomensWeeklyFood.com.au Step-by-step The Weekly’s Food Director Fran Abdallaoui shows the best way to glaze a ham. Classic treats These traditional rum balls remain one of our most requested Christmas recipes. Sweet finish From twists on trifles to puds and a showstopper bombe, 31 decadent desserts to try. Made with love  Sweet or savoury, home-made edible gifts will have everyone…

’T was a few weeks before Christmas 2023 when my partner John arrived home from walking the dogs and gleefully announced: “Scotty, guess what? The framing shop in High Street is having a closing-down sale. Thought we should buy some and hang your coloring-in pictures in our hallway.” I was stunned. Horrified. Aghast! John looked mystified: “What’s wrong with that? I think it’s a great idea.” I replied: “Well, I think it’s disgusting.” “But I love your colouring-in.” “Good for you, John, but there’s no way those pictures are going on display for others to see.” Case closed. Or so I thought! Don’t get me wrong, I understood where John was coming from. After all, aren’t most things I do – comedy, acting, writing – for public consumption? Otherwise, what’s…

The Duchess is late. It’s a steamy spring day, so hot and humid the air feels wet, and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, is in the middle of a tightly scheduled press tour. She has a tendency, a member of her entourage explains, to stop and chat with everyone. Indeed, before The Weekly’s time with her is done she has signed books for the children in our lives and covered the topics of grandchildren, publishing, Christmas traditions, guilty pleasures and the threat that has loomed over the Royal family in recent times: cancer. “I live my bucket list every day,” the Duchess says once she has arrived and been supplied with a cup of tea and a cup of hot water. “I just go for it. If I stop to…

See Quinn’s story on ON CHANNEL 10, 7.30PM TUESDAY DECEMBER 10 Having raised four healthy children, when Jill welcomed baby boy Quinn, she had no idea of the road ahead. Diagnosed at birth with Noonan syndrome – a genetic condition which Jill calls “one of the world’s most common unknown disorders” – Quinn was already faced with likely developmental delays as well as short stature, related heart conditions and other physical issues. She kept a close watch and soon noticed her youngest, now six, wasn’t hitting milestones she’d marked with her older kids.“He wasn’t babbling when I would’ve expected him to be, starting to make certain sounds,” she tells The Weekly. “He walked very late compared to my other children. And socially, when we were in playgroup, he preferred to…

He’s won a Pulitzer Prize, three Tony Awards, two Primetime Emmys, five Grammys and two Laurence Olivier Awards. In addition, he’s been nominated twice at the Oscars. But there’s one particular statuette that has a special place in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s heart. “It’s a math expressions award that I won in 11th grade,” the Hamilton star and creator tells The Weekly on a Zoom call from his home in New York. “I was a straight C and D grade student in math, but I had one great teacher named Ms Yalos who allowed us to do creative projects to demonstrate that we understood the principles being taught. As a result of that, I got a B and a little statue that is somewhere around here.” Maths may not have been his…

“Pop the champers! (For the sake of craft, of course.) These adorable decorations are simple to make and are lovely affordable gifts for teachers, friends and family.” Cork cuties What you’ll need: Champagne corks Small eye hooks String/ribbon Paint (various colours) Sharpie pen Hot glue gun Felt, twigs, and embellishments (listed below) To make: ● Start by painting the base of your characters. Red and white for Santa, grey for the koala, white and yellow for the angel and unpainted (natural) for the reindeer. ● Using the end of a paintbrush add a dab of white for eyes. Add eyeballs, lashes and mouths with a Sharpie or fine-line marker pen. ●Decorate! Reindeer: Use small twigs for antlers and a red bead for the nose. Koala: Attach grey pom-poms…

Classic potatoes SERVES 4-6 PREP & COOK TIME 1 HOUR 10 MINUTES 1.2kg pontiac, Dutch creams or sebago potatoes, peeled, halved ⅓ cup (80ml) olive oil 50g butter, diced 8 cloves garlic, unpeeled ¼ cup fresh rosemary sprigs 1 Preheat oven to 220°C (200°C fan-forced). Boil, steam or microwave potatoes for 5 minutes; drain. 2 Gently rake the rounded side of potatoes with the tines of a fork. Place, cut-side down, in a single layer on a baking paper-lined oven tray. Brush with oil and dot with butter; add garlic and rosemary to tray. 3 Roast for 50 minutes, turning and brushing occasionally with oil mixture, or until potatoes are browned and crisp. Smashed potatoes SERVES 4-6 PREP & COOK TIME 55 MINUTES 1.2kg baby red royale…

Creaming butter and sugar in a ceramic bowl awakens a sense of nostalgia in me. The chime of the wood against the porcelain, the gritty sound of the sugar as I encourage it to mingle with the butter, and the smell of faux vanilla mixed in amongst it all. I’m entranced as I chase a lump of butter that is always much too small for the bowl and much less softened than I’m trying to convince myself it is. You might not be familiar with this joy but I promise, if you use a wooden spoon, you will be transported to a simpler place in time. ― Nadine Nadine’s Christmas pudding MAKES A 900G CERAMIC PUDDING BOWL SIZE SERVES 10 -12 375g dried fruit (see notes) 75g candied clementines,…

the the Test Kitchen Switch up the flavours and make a white chocolate version the kids will love! Substitute the dark chocolate for white and the salt flakes for crushed candy canes. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. from the Test Kitchen Store in a single layer, interleaved with baking paper in an airtight container. If the weather is humid, store in the fridge. Pavlova rocky road MAKES 12 LARGE SERVES PREP & COOK TIME 20 MINUTES (+ REFRIGERATION TIME) 4 x 180g blocks white chocolate, chopped finely 2 tablespoons coconut oil or copha 1/3 cup (25g) desiccated coconut, toasted 100g vanilla mini meringues, plus extra for decorating 100g white marshmallows 1/2 cup (30g) dehydrated strawberries ¾ cup (120g) blanched almonds, toasted 1…

Join us for Christmas with the Australian Women's Weekly ON CHANNEL 10, 7.30PM TUESDAY DECEMBER 10 PG 164 The holiday grins were bigger than ever when cameras began rolling for our annual Christmas with The Australian Women’s Weekly TV special. Sarah Harris took up hosting duties once again (and did a fabulous job decorating our Balsam Hill tree!) and the kitchen was a hive of activity. We had a MasterChef reunion when Julie Goodwin enlisted our cover star, Poh Ling Yeow, for finishing touches; while Kirsten Tibballs, Khanh Ong and Warren Mendes got busy alongside Food Director Fran Abdallaoui to whip up a feast for a crowd that included Narelda Jacobs, Chyka Keebaugh and our editor Sophie Tedmanson (left, with Fran). Plus we had a few more special guests drop…

Poh Ling Yeow’s bare feet dance across the dry riverbed, sand between her toes. Behind her, the edge of the red escarpment glows like firelight as the sun creeps above the horizon. A black-footed rock wallaby watches from behind a boulder as Poh picks up her skirts and runs toward the camera. It’s sunrise at Rungutjirpa, or Simpsons Gap, a place of deep significance to the Arrernte people, whose storylines and dreaming trails cross at this ancient spring. There are no tourists here yet. The air is still and warm and smells of eucalyptus, and Poh is as curious as a kid about this country, in Tjoritja/the West MacDonnell Ranges. She stops at a grey-limbed ghost gum, puts her ear to its trunk and listens for the sound of water…

For Noémie Fox, it was like all her Christmases had come at once. As the ecstatic paddler won Olympic gold after years of disappointment, her mother, tearful sister and boyfriendcum-coach all leapt into the swirling water to share an overjoyed hug. It was a heartwarming scene that created a splash around the world. And Noémie – so often overshadowed by her champion sibling Jessica – is still riding the ripples from that fairytale triumph in the inaugural canoe slalom women’s kayak cross. She’s still giddy when speaking of it today, as she gathers with her proud parents and boyfriend Titouan Dupras for a shoot with The Weekly, capping off what has been a stellar year. “I know it will be the best moment in my life,” grins the newfound star,…

The heat and the roar ... It was shocking.” Thelma Baker leans against the fire-scarred bark of a lone gum tree at the entrance to what will be her new home. “I can visualise myself living here,” she says, gazing over the patch of dirt that’s been cleared, ready for a slab of concrete to be poured in coming months. “It’ll be one bedroom because that’s all I need.” She can’t bring herself to go back to the site of her old home, a few hundred metres deeper into the bush on her block outside Tara in Queensland’s Western Downs. “It’s too painful,” she says, shaking her head. Instead, the 84-year-old is making plans for a garden with roses and geraniums that she’ll water from a dam on her property.…

In 1979 you were making mega-movies and living with your family (wife Shakira and daughter Natasha) in a lovely home. Why leave that idyllic set-up? I was in the super-tax bracket, and it was starting to become ridiculous. Some of my fellow actors had already moved to other countries – Sean Connery, Richard Harris, Roger Moore, Richard Burton, and many others. Eventually, my accountants told me that I basically had to scale back my costs drastically or move overseas. I was a family man by this point, so I didn’t want to cut back on the lifestyle I’d worked hard to provide for my wife and daughter. So we decided to move to Los Angeles, which we both knew fairly well. We both had friends there already. We sold the…

“The more people said ‘this is not going to work’ the more determined I was.” Mist hangs in a soft, pillowy cloud above the lake. Ducks make trails on its grey-glass surface. A timid sun breaks through and drops of silver shine on the leaves of birch trees, planted decades ago by Alla Wolf-Tasker and her mother. Alla arrives at Lake House in the early morning. She knows every tree, every shrub, every artwork (many by her late husband, Allan) hanging on the walls of this Victorian dining institution. She knows the name of everyone who works here. More than that, she knows their families, their histories, their struggles. She knows every dish, every ingredient and the farmers who produced it. She knows where every table should be placed in…

The 1980s in Australia was the era of bucket hats, fluoro clothing, crimped hair and the radiant smile of It-girl Alison Brahe-Daddo. From the day she was discovered at age 16, Ali was a regular on the covers of Cosmo, Cleo and Dolly, of which she was also an ardent reader, “It was such a good mag to grow up with!” she enthuses. So, when her daughter, Lotus, walked away from what she thought was a job interview at a modelling agency with a contract, Ali was proud and not at all surprised. “I’d had a feeling that was going to happen,” Ali laughs. “She’s so beautiful.” Lotus is now 28 and signed with management agency Icon (then Bella) just last year. While Ali says she and husband, actor and…

MAGGIE’S TIPS FOR THE PERFECT ROAST CHOOK • If you have the time, make the stuffing the night before, and store it in a cool place (don’t refrigerate it unless you live in a hot, humid climate, in which case fridge is best). • Make your own breadcrumbs for the stuffing, ideally from good-quality bread such as sourdough. • Make sure you bring the bird to room temperature before cooking. In temperate climes, this means taking it out of the fridge between 30 minutes and 2 hours before cooking; in hot, humid conditions, between 10–15 minutes should do it, but always err on the side of caution when dealing with uncooked poultry. • Turn wings so the tips sit under the bird. This will help the breast cook more evenly.…

Cherry ripe cake SERVES 10 PREP & COOK TIME 1 HOUR 30 MINUTES (+ COOLING TIME) 180g unsalted butter ¾ cup (165g) caster sugar 4 free range eggs 1¼ cups (100g) desiccated coconut 1½ cups (180g) ground almonds 1 teaspoon baking powder 100g dried cherries, chopped finely flaked coconut, lightly toasted, for decorating CHOCOLATE GLAZE 100g dark chocolate (45%), chopped finely ½ cup (175g) golden syrup 20g unsalted butter, chopped, softened FROSTED CHERRIES 1 egg white 1 cup (150g) fresh cherries ½ cup (110g) caster sugar 1 Preheat oven 170°C (150°C fan-forced). Grease base and sides of an 8cm x 23cm loaf pan. 2 Cream butter and sugar until pale; add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Fold in coconut, almond meal, baking powder and…

Cranberry ginger mimosa MAKES 1 PREP TIME 10 MINUTES ice cubes 60ml ginger beer 60ml cranberry juice sparkling wine, chilled frosted cranberries, to garnish 1 Add ice to a highball glass. Add the ginger beer, cranberry juice and sparkling wine. 2 Add 3 frosted cranberries (see below) to a cocktail skewer. Place on top of the glass. From the Test Kitchen Frosted cranberries are great to garnish drinks, cakes and desserts. Whisk an egg white until frothy, dip frozen cranberries in egg white, drain. Toss in caster sugar; place on wire rack to set. For extra crunch, double dip once set. Frosted cranberries can be made a day ahead, store at room temperature in a single layer. Watermelon, strawberry & mint fizz SERVES 6-8 PREP TIME 10 MINUTES…

Kia was putting the finishing touches to the casket spray when two things happened. The first was the security buzzer on her front gate three kilometres away sounded in a loud screech. The second was the phone rang. Kia already knew who was driving towards the homestead. She didn’t know the number displayed on the screen of her mobile. “Hello?” A voice as unfamiliar as the number. “Is that Kia Jackson?” “Yes.” Her hands worked the long stems of the bottlebrush flowers into the wreath wire. When she’d cut the flowers this morning, they had been bowed heavily towards the ground as if burdened by their own beauty. Sparkles of dew touched the tips of the soft red spikes and gently fell to the ground as Kia had snipped them…

Santa was on his way to a party for 800 kids at Alice Springs Hospital when he was snapped by central Australian resident Miss Trish Collier. With camels, rather than reindeer, it set a very Australian tone for the issue – despite many of the fictional short stories inside being set in foreign lands. Also far from home was Queen Elizabeth II. The Tongan Royal family were hosting a reception for the touring monarch, and The Weekly’s Royal Correspondent, Anne Matheson, was on the ground to report on proceedings. “With typical Polynesian hospitality Queen Sālote and her family left Nuku’alofa Palace so that Queen Elizabeth and the Duke could live there,” wrote Anne, adding the apartments inside had been specially renovated ahead of the visit. Not that it was all…