December 1. Time to start an Advent calendar. Last week I found myself standing in the supermarket staring at heat-affected chocolates that I don't want the kids to eat just before bed and I decided we were doing something different this year. This year I have decided to foist twenty-four of my favourite Children's books onto the kids, one night at a time. Yesterday morning I sent the kids ...
Gardening
the only cookie recipe you’ll ever need
Anyone can be a good cook. The secret is being brave, experimenting and being willing to put the whole thing down to experience if it doesn't turn out. This cookie recipe is one of the cornerstones of baking. Now you have this basic recipe, the variations are only limited by your imagination. Cornflake cookies, jam drops, choc chip, ginger cookies; they all start with this recipe. It really ...
win my five favourite cookbooks
Pre-sales started last Friday and I am overwhelmed with your support - thank you! As a token of my gratitude I'm giving away a copy of each of my five of my favourite cookbooks. Country Women's Association Classics I bought this book for myself with the very first money I received for winning the pickles section of our local show. It's a hefty book - some 880+ pages, filled with CWA members' ...
pre-order the cookbook
I'm thrilled to announce that my cookbook (creatively named Cooker and a Looker) is being printed as we speak. I'm thrilled with how it's turned out: it's all my favourite recipes, bundled up in a irreverent, informative way. The books will be shipped in early December, so if you're looking for a gift for someone who loves to cook - this could be just the thing! I've written it to ...
no-bake strawberry cheesecake slice
Lots of things get lost in translation. Thongs for example. Here in Australia, they're something we wear on our feet. In the States they're something you wedge up your fannie. Which incidentally is not the same thing here in Australia either... Enough already Amanda! <skip to the recipe> I had an unfortunate "lost in translation" moment at a hairdresser when I lived in Japan. I wanted ...
mini strawberry shortcakes
It gets harder to make new friends as you get older. Mum tells me that as a kid I was very front-foot about making new mates. Perhaps it was because we moved around so much, I had zero qualms about approaching someone in the playground and saying "Hi I'm Amanda. Do you want to be my friend?" What I wouldn't give for that level of confidence now! that's enough of that Amanda, SKIP TO THE ...