Table of contents for October - November 2017 in Nadia

Happy birthday to us, happy birthday to us! Yep, it’s NADIA magazine’s first birthday. Our star team started on this big project one year ago. I have to give a shout-out to Shelley (Ferguson) and Lucy (Slight) for their all-round amazingness as people and their ability to bring this magazine together in such a beautiful, meaningful way; Tanya (Wong) for bringing the content to life through scores of gorgeous pages; Fiona (Ralph) for interesting and inquisitive stories; and Steph (Attwater) and Sally (Conor) for making sure it all makes sense. And, of course, to YOU for reading this magazine – without you it wouldn’t be here, so thank you. One year on is the perfect time to review how things are going at NADIA, what our goals are for the…

Need some inspiration from others who’ve done it? These videos from ted.com will get you in the zone: 1 J.K. Rowling’s Harvard University commencement speech, “The fringe benefits of failure” 2 Tim Ferriss’ TED talk “Why you should define your fears instead of your goals” 3 Jia Jiang’s TEDxMtHood talk, “What I learned from 100 days of rejection” 4 Steve Jobs’ Stanford University commencement speech, “How to live before you die” 5 Derek Sivers’ TED talk “Keep your goals to yourself”…

Ideally, we should be getting between seven and nine hours of shut-eye per night, but in the always-on world we’re living in, reaching this target often seems impossible. Research shows that getting fewer than seven hours of sleep a night will not only result in reduced energy levels, it will also start having an impact on mental and emotional wellbeing. Increased nervous system activity and adrenalin production, an elevated heart rate and anxiety are all symptoms of poor sleep patterns, which can encourage the mind and body to become even more active at night, creating a vicious cycle. If this sounds like you, it’s time to do something about it. Improving your sleep can drastically lift your quality of life, so rather than hoping things will improve on their own,…

It’s our birthday! And what better way to celebrate than with a divine and delectable banana toffee cake (recipe on page 44)? The beauty here is that you don’t need to be a perfectionist with your decorating style; lashings of salted caramel sauce, a jumble of banana and walnuts, and simple chocolate shards create a glorious, rustic showpiece.…

Much like wine, honey is produced all over the world, in myriad varieties. Whether you’re eating it raw from the comb with a wedge of blue cheese, as a sticky glaze over veges or swirled through dessert, there are so many ways to enjoy this beautiful, natural ingredient. Here are just a few… Honey, banana & oat smoothie Ready in 5 minutes | Serves 2 Add 1 cup thick Greek-style yoghurt, 1 cup milk of your choice, 1 large ripe banana, ½ cup instant oats, ¼ tsp ground cinnamon, 1 heaped Tbsp honey and a few ice cubes into a blender. Blitz on high until completely smooth. Pour into serving glasses and sprinkle with a little bee pollen* if you like. *Available at specialty food stores and health shops. Honey-glazed…

Sugar-charged highs and plummeting lows tend to come as part and parcel of kids’ party food. So we’ve come up with an alternative menu that is still yummy and looks fabulous but will help reduce the sweet-treat intake at your next littlies’ get-together. No, it’s not sugar-free, but these healthier options will ensure the kids have a ball and the parents won’t suffer later. Hip, hip, hooray! Strawberry fizz Ready in 10 minutes | Makes 2.5 litres | DF | GF Blend 1 punnet hulled strawberries to a pulp. Place in a large jug and add 1 cup ice. Top up with 1 litre each of lemonade and sparkling water. Raspberry crackle candy (perfect as take-home treats) Ready in 15 minutes plus chilling | Makes 30 chunks Melt 200g white…

A staple on any party platter, this soft French cow’s-milk cheese makes everything it’s paired with just a bit more delicious – especially when baked. These recipes are just the thing to whip up for the family at the weekend, or for a simple but special snack when you’ve got a house full of guests. Come on, who could resist a plate of golden fried brie? 1 Brie & pastrami pan-seared sandwich Ready in 15 minutes | Makes 2 30g butter 4 slices rustic hand-cut bread 1 Tbsp wholegrain mustard 6 slices pastrami 4 gherkins, sliced, plus extra to serve ½ wheel of brie (60g), sliced Salad greens, to serve 1 Butter the slices of bread, turn over two slices and spread with a layer of mustard. 2 Top mustard…

“Travel and foodie adventures through countries such as Kenya and Spain in the 1970s may have helped to inspire their career path, but the couple never expected to end up in the nut industry” Why Nut AUCKLAND To understand the DIY ethos behind John and Sue Brokx’s certified-organic macadamia orchard, you need to take a whiff of John’s homemade organic fertiliser. The mix of seaweed, fish heads and cow manure has been developed through “trial and error” like most of the equipment John has designed for the couple’s West Auckland orchard and processing plant. Dutch maintenance engineer John met Sue, a lab analyst from Rotorua, when he moved to New Zealand. A friend suggested John look into growing macadamias. “I didn’t even know what they were,” he says. In 1985,…

Bring the birds to your backyard by providing a cute snack station filled with seeds to nibble on. It’s all about connecting with nature – with a little satisfying DIY for good measure. YOU WILL NEED 4 x 300mm lengths of pine (ours measured 300mm x 90mm x 9mm) 8-10 nails Hammer Paint brush Testpots in Resene ‘Awol’ and Resene Waterborne Woodsman in ‘Natural’ (or colours of your choice) 2 x screw eyes Painter’s masking tape Strong adhesive Small dish Jute twine or cord Scissors Bird seed 1 Nail together planks to form a square frame (we hammered in a nail close to each corner). 2 Stain the entire frame with Resene Waterborne Woodsman and let it dry (leave one side unstained to stand it on while it dries). Once…

My new spoodle puppy will be arriving in a couple of weeks. I have a lot of friends with fully vaccinated dogs. Is it okay for my puppy to meet his new doggie friends before he’s had all his vaccinations, or is it best to wait? – Kate, via email Dear Kate, When your puppy is very young (less than six weeks old), he is protected by antibodies from his mother. Your puppy can start his vaccination course from as young as six weeks old, but he will not be maximally covered until one or two weeks after his last puppy vaccination (at 16 weeks). No vaccination can be 100 percent guaranteed and this applies both to your puppy and any vaccinated dogs he meets. However, meeting and socialising with…

FIND YOUR ‘WHY’ If you’re confused about where to start when it comes to your health, I recommend reverse-engineering your health goals by thinking about how you want to feel. Do you want to feel fit, strong and full of boundless energy? Do you need more focus and calm in your life? Or do you want to feel content and happy as opposed to flat and anxious? Once you’ve discovered what you want to experience more of, work backwards from there. Make a list of the steps you need to take to get to that end point. For example: Goal: reduce my anxiety in order to feel calmer and more content Why: anxiety is affecting my relationships and my work How: replace coffee with herbal tea, never skip a meal…

I’ve been working in magazines for 10 years, and I’ve always wanted to work on a lifestyle title, so NADIA is my dream. As the associate editor, my job is to make sure all the aspects of the magazine come together in a cohesive way. The different sections of the magazine completely resonate with me – I love learning about Kiwis doing cool things – and our Well-thy section is all about having a sense of wellbeing and purpose of self but without being preachy about it! In the past few years, I’ve started to pay a lot more attention to what I’m putting into my body and on my body. It’s since turning 31 that I’ve realised you only get one body, so you’ve got to treat it right.…

OCTOBER Hello, all you newborns! ’Tis the season for brand new bubs so keep their skin clean and irritation free with the gentlest products around. NOVEMBER Did you know? As well as using an SPF daily, we also need to up our antioxidants to help protect our skin against our harsh sun. SKIN by ecostore products contain grapeseed extract which has an antioxidant benefit 50 times stronger than vitamin E and 20 times stronger than vitamin C. DECEMBER Ponder this: “The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion” – Thích Nhât Hanh JANUARY Cleanse your body without stripping skin of natural oils over the summer months. Try it out: ecostore Body Wash in Coconut & Vanilla $8.99. FEBRUARY Minimise hay fever symptoms during the high-pollen season.…

A favourite NADIA dinner party trick of ours goes something like this… Instead of asking everyone to bring a random dish, assign a recipe for each person to whip up, thus ensuring a delicious, cohesive meal for all. Sounds simple, right? That’s because it is! Especially if you take a leaf out of our book and recreate this celebration feast for our first birthday. Bottoms up! Broad bean & ricotta bruschetta Ready in 45 minutes | Makes about 15 | Serves 8 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped 3 Tbsp olive oil 2 cups broad beans, shells on (fresh or frozen) 150-200g ricotta ½-¾ tsp flaky sea salt Zest 1 lemon ⅓ cup mint leaves, roughly chopped ⅓ cup basil leaves, roughly chopped 1 sourdough baguette, cut into 1.5cm slices (or…

A poor diet not only affects what’s going on inside your body, but impacts on the way you look on the outside, too. Boost your intake of these superfoods to nourish your body’s largest organ – your skin! Broccoli Broccoli contains zinc, vitamin A and vitamin C which are all essential for skin health. The florets also contain sulforaphane which may help prevent skin cancer and protect the skin from sunburn. Kumara Kumara are an excellent source of beta-carotene, which can help keep skin healthy by acting as a natural sunblock and protecting against sun damage. Walnuts Walnuts are richer in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids than most other nuts. The presence of zinc is also important for wound healing and cell regeneration. Dark chocolate Choose chocolate with at least…

Nutritionally dense and as versatile as anything, mushrooms added to savoury dishes will not only bulk them out and increase the flavours but give you a boost of essential vitamins and minerals too. With the first day of spring marking the start of mushroom season we decided to get creative in the kitchen. Smoked salmon, mushroom & ricotta frittata Ready in 45 minutes | Serves 6-8 | GF 1 Tbsp butter 200g white or brown button mushrooms, thinly sliced 200g fresh ricotta 1/3 cup thinly sliced spring onions 200g hot-smoked salmon, flaked 6 large eggs 1 cup cream 2 Tbsp grated parmesan (optional) Baby rocket leaves, to serve 1 Preheat oven to 180°C. Melt butter in a deep, ovenproof frying pan over medium heat. Add mushrooms and cook for 5…

With spring hanging in the air in all its warm glory, the craving for comfort food begins to leave us as we turn to lighter options. These salad recipes from Nadia’s new cookbook, Let’s Eat!, provide those perfect, light-yet-satisfying meals for the season ahead. Balsamic-glazed pumpkin, date and haloumi quinoa salad is one of my favourite vegetarian meals – hearty and filling enough to have as a meal on its own, but it would also make a fantastic, extra-special side Balsamic-glazed pumpkin, date & haloumi quinoa salad Ready in 1 hour | Serves 4-6 as a side salad | GF ROAST PUMPKIN 500g pumpkin or butternut (skin on), cut into 2cm chunks 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar 1 Tbsp olive oil 1 Tbsp liquid honey QUINOA SALAD 1 cup quinoa 1½…

Launching a natural beauty brand into an already jam-packed market might seem like a crazy idea to some, but for close friends – and now business partners – Charlotte Devereux, Sara Orme and Philly Gebbie it was the perfect opportunity to combine their talents and create something wild. Girl Undiscovered launched in New Zealand in 2016 and isn’t ‘natural beauty’ as we’ve come to know it. We speak to Girl Undiscovered’s co-founder and lead product developer Charlotte about free-spirited beauty, the vitality of moodboards, the power in naivety and the wonderful women that help make her tick. Tell us about Girl Undiscovered and how the idea for 100% Wild skincare came about. Girl Undiscovered is a natural skincare brand with an ideology that reinforces our belief that naturalness and imperfection…

Avocado super smoothie with berries & spinach Ready in 5 minutes | Serves 2 | DF | GF 2 cups frozen mixed berries 1½-2 cups chopped spinach or kale leaves Flesh of 1 firm, ripe avocado 1½ cups water 1½-2 tsp liquid honey or apple syrup (optional) 1 Blend frozen berries, greens, avocado and water in a blender until smooth. Taste and add sweetener if you like. 2 Pour into glasses and drink the goodness! HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN AN AVOCADO IS PERFECTLY RIPE? Not by squeezing it! Squeezing avocados causes bruising, so try not to go along squeezing all the avocados at the supermarket. Hass avocados change colour as they ripen so it’s best to choose an avocado based on its colour: Bright green – not ripe Store…

I was making packet noodles a few years back at my partner’s house. He told me to microwave them in hot water and to use any bowl I could find. I put it in for two minutes and, after a minute, I realised it was a metal bowl with a plastic, easy-grip bottom. I ran back, opened the microwave and the room filled with black smoke and a terrible smell. The plastic had melted onto the microwave base so when I picked up the bowl the black plastic stretched up like glue then set again, rock solid. It was his grandmother’s house and they were her new bowls. We managed to clean it up in time and scraped off what remained of the plastic, and she never found out. What…

Raw Wildlife Encounters tours in Sumatra, Indonesia, are hands-off, says tour leader Amy Robbins. “You’re not going there to cuddle animals or take selfies with them. It’s about observing animals in their wild environment.” These trips give unparalleled access to the Gunung Leuser National Park, a unique and threatened environment where Sumatran orangutans, like the male pictured here, coexist with Sumatran rhinos, elephants and tigers, all of which are critically endangered. Last year, Amy founded The Sumatran Ranger Project to help protect the area and its inhabitants. This orangutan, who at some point in the past had lost an eye after being shot, was caught eating a villager’s jackfruit and was close to being killed in retaliation. Amy and the rangers assisted in his relocation in the national park (you…

Fresh local produce, artisan cheeses and sausages, homemade cakes and exotic finger food are just a few of the many culinary delights that fill food markets across London. With so many tempting bites to discover, these foodie hotspots have become popular places to meet up with friends at the weekend, source a few tasty treats to take home, or while away an afternoon over a delicious lunch and locally brewed beer – for locals and visitors alike. If a trip to London is on the horizon, make sure you check out these bustling, energetic and eclectic food hubs. Brixton Village & Market Row WHERE: At the junctions of Electric Avenue, Atlantic Road and Coldharbour Lane, Brixton SW9 TRAVEL TIP: Take the tube to Brixton station PLAN YOUR TRIP: wearebrixtonvillage.co.uk…

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream” – Anon It’s often said that the secret to getting ahead is getting started. When it comes to achieving your goals, the first step is often the hardest part. In our goals, dreams and aspirations workshop, which kicks off over the page, we explore a variety of ways to begin envisaging and creating change, because we know this is not a one-size-fits-all endeavour. Whether you want to improve your health or fitness, de-stress as a parent or conquer your fear of failure, we’ve got the inspiration and ideas to help set you on the right track and keep you there.…

To begin, divide a piece of paper into three columns. Then think of a goal that is important to you but you’ve kept yourself from attempting. 1 In the first column, write down all the things that could go wrong should your attempt fail. Think of the most terrible things possible. 2 In the second column, determine ways you can mitigate the possibility of each of those bad consequences from happening. 3 In the third column, think of how you would recover from each of the scenarios you imagined and wrote in the first column. As Ferriss told businessinsider.com.au: “You come away from that exercise realising, ‘Wow, I was getting extremely anxious and all worked up over something that is completely preventable, reversible, or just not a very big deal.'”…

No one can really ‘do it all’, feel happy every day or be 100 percent healthy. Unfortunately an abundance of self-help books, health articles and green gurus on Instagram can lead us to believe that perpetual wellness and happiness is achievable. The reality is far more complicated. A balanced life includes happy and sad times, periods of wellness interspersed with illness, and days when you just can’t be bothered. Unrealistic expectations around health and happiness can lead to feelings of inferiority, depression and, in extreme cases, orthorexia, a disordered form of eating centred around an obsession with healthy foods. In their book The Wellness Syndrome, Carl Cederström and André Spicer, professors from Stockholm University and London’s City University, say wellness has become a moral demand in today’s world and is…

Feeling like your mind, body and soul need a spring clean? Join the NADIA magazine team for an inspiring afternoon of food, yoga and wellbeing advice at Auckland’s True Food & Yoga on Saturday, 11 November. Hosted by Nadia Lim and the NADIA team, this Healthy, Well-thy, Wise workshop will give you the tools you need to find balance, think positively, make happiness a habit and chill out. The afternoon will kick off at 1pm and includes a yoga session, so please wear comfy clothes you can move in! After yoga, you’ll be treated to afternoon tea in the bistro at True Food & Yoga before a session with Nadia and our panel of wellness experts. They’ll be discussing their philosophies around fitness, wellbeing and nutrition to help motivate you…

Strawberries and rhubarb are undoubtedly a match made in heaven – which is why we’re teaming the two in celebration of sweet spring flavours. We’ve also added a savoury dish for good measure because, let’s be honest, you just can’t beat the combo of roast pork and spiced rhubarb relish. Pink breakfast smoothie bowl with poached rhubarb Ready in 20 minutes | Makes 2 bowls ½ cup water ½ cup sugar 3 cardamom pods, cracked 4 stalks rhubarb, cut into bite-sized lengths SMOOTHIE BOWL 8 strawberries, hulled, plus extra, sliced, to serve ½ cup frozen raspberries 6 ice cubes ½ cup thick coconut-flavoured yoghurt 2 frozen bananas 1 cup almond milk 1 Tbsp acai powder ½ cup nutty granola, to serve Edible flower petals, to garnish 1 Combine the water,…

The right toppings can turn a good dish into a great one, so we thought it was high time we shared some of our favourite flavour boosters to bring the party to your plate. The addition of a salsa, pesto, compote or scatter is like the cherry on top; sure, your meal will still taste pretty good without it, but the time spent whipping up one of these added extras will be well worth the wow factor. Berry, orange & bay compote Ready in 15 minutes | Makes 1 cup | DF | GF Place 2 cups frozen mixed berries, zest ½ orange, juice 2 oranges, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 3 tsp honey and 2 bayleaves in a medium-sized pot. Bring to a simmer . Cook on a medium heat,…

Sweet or savoury, filled or drizzled, crepes are a satisfying dish at any time of the day. Master the art of the humble crepe and you’ll suddenly have endless options up your sleeve for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Here are just a few of our favourite ways to enjoy this simple French classic. Basic crepe batter Ready in 45 minutes | Makes about 6 crepes 1 cup plain flour 1 cup milk 3 eggs ¼ tsp salt 2 Tbsp melted butter 1 Sift flour into a medium mixing bowl. 2 Pour in the cup of milk, crack in the eggs, add the salt and lastly add the melted butter. 3 Beat or whisk all together until smooth. 4 Rest the batter for 10 minutes. 5 Preheat a non-stick crepe pan…

John Brokx owned a shoe factory in Europe before he moved to West Auckland and entered the macadamia nut business. “We’ve made a fully automatic processing plant ourselves,” the maintenance engineer says of the plant he has built with wife Sue. It’s a labour of love – the trees grow for eight years before they produce macadamias, and some never fruit. Turn the page to read more about the business and meet some other nutty types.…

Woodhaven Gardens will toast its 40th birthday next year. There’s plenty to celebrate for John Clarke, founder and managing director of this market gardening operation just south of Levin in Horowhenua. John had no growing experience when he started working the land, yet he’s transformed a two-acre vegetable plot into a successful business that spans 1000 acres (405 hectares) and employs more than 200 people. “It’s not uncommon for married couples, siblings or two generations of a family to pick alongside each other” Woodhaven’s crops include cabbage, lettuce, courgette, beetroot, parsley, pumpkin and spring onion – 16 vegetables all up, plus watermelons grown for the New Zealand and international market. Following the acquisition of a broccoli and courgette farm, broccoli has become one of the company’s main crops. The produce…

FAVOURITEQUOTE “I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept”– US political activist Angela Y. Davis Alexia Hilbertidou is determined to change the world – and she is fearless in her quest. The 18-year-old is the founder of GirlBoss New Zealand, a social enterprise boasting 10,000 members that aims to address gender inequality by empowering female students. “I find confidence in knowing that what I’m doing is having an impact,” explains Alexia, who is also the brains behind KaiShare, a food distribution service for those in need. “I don’t wait for milestones and I don’t wait to be given permission to go out there and create change.” The teenager’s big thinking has taken her to the edge of the world –…

Hi Nadia, Just letting you know your mag is a big hit in our household, including with my three-year-old! She loves looking through it and telling me what things we should make. – Andrea, via Facebook Thanks for the amazing recipes! First time I’ve cooked pork belly… I was nervous but it was fantastic! – Colette, via Facebook Hi Nadia, I have recently become a mum and discovered how busy motherhood is. While I usually read your magazine front to back the day it is delivered, the latest issue remained in its wrapper for three days! Here is a photo of me and my newborn daughter, Emily, finally sitting down for a moment to read the mag. – Sarah, via email SOCIAL LIFE nadialim.com facebook.com/nadialimcooks @nadiamagazine nadia@bauermedia.co.nz…

1 Using a sharp, serrated knife, cut out the top of a large, smooth, ripe pumpkin. Start at the back, about 7-8cm away from the stem, and carefully work your way around. Pull the lid off and set aside. 2 Scoop out the seeds and fibres with your hands, then scrape the inside walls clean with a large spoon, metal measuring cup or an ice cream scoop. 3 Cut away loose fibres and messy bits from the lid. 4 Draw a simple face onto the front of the pumpkin with a marker. Use a small serrated knife to cut out the eyes, nose and mouth. 5 Pop a tea light inside the pumpkin and replace the lid. Happy Halloween!…