Table of contents for December 2017 - January 2018 in Nadia

As I write this I’m in sunny Central Otago – Cromwell to be specific – on the last leg of my Let’s Eat! cookbook tour. Can I just say a heartfelt thanks to everyone I’ve met over the past month who has been to one of my events, including the awesome NADIA Healthy, Well-thy, Wise afternoon in Auckland. It has been SO cool to meet you – you’re a bunch of fabulous people. I truly, truly mean that! When our team got together to brainstorm ideas for this issue, we thought it would be useful to suggest some great ideas for gifts that give something back. Personally, I love these presents the most – gifts to charity on your loved one’s behalf or memorable experiences, rather than something material. There’s…

IF YOU’D LIKE TO GIVE A TRULY MEANINGFUL GIFT THIS CHRISTMAS, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WONDERFUL NEW ZEALAND INITIATIVES HELPING THOSE IN NEED BOTH HERE AND OVERSEAS WORLD VISION World Vision Smiles gifts make a huge difference to communities in need, and every year thousands of Kiwis give them to their friends and families. When you buy a World Vision Smiles gift – like school supplies or a chicken – the item is donated on behalf of your chosen recipient. That way not only are you giving something meaningful to someone you care about, but your donation will make a life-changing difference to families in real need. You can give your loved ones a Christmas card detailing the present given in their name – including designs created by Kiwis…

FARMERS SANTA PARADE Sunday, 26 November, 1pm, Queen Street, Auckland santaparade.co.nz FIRST CREDIT UNION CHRISTMAS PARADE Sunday, 10 December, 3pm, Anglesea Street, Hamilton hamiltonchristmas.co.nz TRUSTPOWER CHRISTMAS PARADE Saturday, 2 December, 11am, Tauranga City Centre downtowntauranga.co.nz NELSON CITY SANTA PARADE & CHRISTMAS PARTY Sunday, 3 December, 12pm, Trafalgar Street, Nelson santanelson.co.nz CHRISTCHURCH SANTA PARADE, Sunday, 3 December, 2pm, Riccarton Road, Christchurch christchurchsantaparade.co.nz DUNEDIN SANTA PARADE, Sunday, 3 December, 3pm, George Street, Dunedin dunedinsantaparade.co.nz SOUTHLAND SANTA PARADE Saturday, 2 December, 2pm, starting at Gala Street, Invercargill facebook.com/ southlandsantaparade…

We drive to work, sit in an office and drive home again in the evening. And unfortunately we can’t make up for all that indoor living with a weekend trip to the beach, covered in hats and sunblock Important for healthy bones, good mood and much more, vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin – but despite all the sunshine we get in New Zealand over the summer months, it seems many of us just aren’t getting enough of it. We drive to work, sit in an office and drive home again in the evening. And unfortunately we can’t make up for all that indoor living with a weekend trip to the beach, covered in hats and sunblock. It’s no wonder around one in three New Zealanders have less…

Cooking for a crowd at Christmas can be tricky when special diets have to be considered. But don’t worry – Nadia’s got it all sorted with this delicious selection of main courses (plus a couple of treats) that will satisfy everyone – from gluten- or dairy-free gals and guys to vegetarians and vegans. VEGAN • DAIRY-FREE Maple roast beetroot, caramelised onion & cashew cream tart Ready in 1 hour 10 minutes | Serves 6 | DF This delicious tart made with olive-oil pastry is vegan and can be made gluten-free too if needed (see note, below right). You can make all the components (pastry, caramelised onions, roast beetroots and cashew cream) in advance. Simply assemble and warm in the oven at 150°C for 8-10 minutes before garnishing and serving. It…

A sweet finish is an essential part of every Christmas feast – whether you’ve got room after all that turkey and ham or not. Instead of creating traditional festive desserts, we went in a slightly lighter direction with these dainty, fruit-filled delights which are just right for our Kiwi summer celebration. Cheers to those adult ice blocks! Summer custard fruit tarts with passionfruit & lime syrup Ready in 50 minutes plus chilling and cooling | Makes about 10 small tarts or 6 larger ones 3-4 sheets ready rolled sweet short pastry 2 Tbsp icing sugar plus 1 Tbsp water 2½ cups milk 1 vanilla pod or 1 Tbsp vanilla paste ⅓ cup caster sugar 3 Tbsp custard powder 2 egg yolks ½ cup mascarpone cheese Pulp 2 passionfruit Grated zest…

Turn the page and you’ll find a selection of Nadia’s favourite camping recipes that are quick, filling and perfect for enjoying on the road, by the beach or over the campfire. Don’t forget these key cooking essentials for preparing the perfect feast: > A can opener > A lighter or matches > Containers for leftovers > Rubbish bags > A cast-iron skillet > A camp cooker > Tinfoil for hot-coal cooking > And, of course, insect repellent for keeping pesky bugs at bay!…

Tartine with herbed labne & heirloom tomatoes Ready in 40 minutes plus overnight draining time | Makes 8 labne balls 500g Yoplait Au Naturel yoghurt ½ tsp sea salt 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 sprig fresh oregano, chopped 1 sprig fresh thyme, chopped Pinch lemon zest 2 cups light extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling 2-3 ripe heirloom tomatoes, thickly sliced 1 tsp za’atar Sourdough or baguette, thickly sliced and toasted 1 Mix the yoghurt and salt together. Place a sieve lined with clean muslin over a large bowl and pour in the yoghurt. Twist the corners of the cloth and tie them together. Place a side plate on top of the cloth and transfer to the refrigerator to drain overnight. 2 Transfer the drained yoghurt into a…

Marcel Rood was looking forward to an easy retirement after selling Raupo Cafe, the Blenheim restaurant he and his wife owned for six years. Then the Dutch chef received an email asking him to take over the kitchen at Outward Bound, a not-for-profit outdoor pursuits camp in the Marlborough Sounds. “Why not?” he thought, but he wasn’t aware of how big a challenge he was taking on. “I thought we’d have about 40 kids, and then I went to have a look around and talk to the chef, and there are actually 140 kids!” He calls everyone “kids” even though some of the participants are older than him (there are separate options for older age groups) – but it’s true that most are teens or young adults. Each three-week course…

We met Banu Sidharth on a warm Friday evening at Te Atatu Night Market amid the hustle and bustle of this foodie hub. As well as running her market stall, Banu holds cooking classes in her home and shares recipes passed down from her late father, who was the top South Indian vegetarian caterer in New Delhi for over 50 years. This friendly face is one of many passionate vendors who bring their love of food to Auckland’s West over summer. Frequenting your local food, produce or craft market is a fantastic way to support your neighbours and keep money in your community. Read more about the Te Atatu Night Market on page 134.…

If you stroll down the main street of Te Atatu Peninsula’s town centre on certain Fridays this summer (see dates at end of feature), you’ll hear – and smell – Te Atatu Night Market before you see it. The satisfyingly smoky scent of barbecue fills the air, kids in cute costumes race past on the footpath and the addictive cadence of a live jazz beat is in your ears as you round the corner to the heaving car park-turned-dinner destination of Te Atatu Peninsula Community Centre. You won’t find candy floss and deep-fried carnival hotdogs in this corner of West Auckland – there are hot chips, but the crew at Double-Dutch Fries hand-cut their spuds on the go, transforming the humble potato into a cone of hot and salty deliciousness…

THE FREEDOM WAY Founded by frustrated consumers concerned about intensive farming, Freedom Farms’ vision was to create a range of products that could be traced back to independently audited farms that are measured against strict welfare and environmental standards. Ten years on, the Freedom Farms range now includes fresh pork cuts, bacon, ham, sausages, fresh eggs and fresh chicken all farmed on NZ farms.freedomfarms.co.nz IT’S YOGHURT AU NATUREL ‘Allo to Yoplait Au Naturel, with a great taste and no added sugar. It’s parfait for dolloping in a smoothie or serving with fresh fruit and fantastique for adding to your favourite recipes. Yoplait Naturel – oui, s’il vous plaît! Look for the new Yoplait Au Naturel in your local supermarket chiller. RRP $6.89 for 900g. YOUR NEW SUMMER FAVOURITE Labneh is…

Made your banoffee cake today for my brother’s birthday and it went down an absolute treat. The cake itself is lovely and moist and all the toppings are easy to prepare and assemble. Just missing the banana in the pic, which went on just before devouring! Thanks for revitalising my standard banana cake. – Charlotte Rashleigh, via Facebook Pretty chuffed with how the banoffee cake turned out for my daughter’s 20th birthday last night. It was delicious. We love your recipes. – Philippa Moor, via Facebook KITCHEN DISASTER It’s raining split-pea soup… This anecdote is from the 1960s when I was just a baby. Mum was the proud new owner of a Kenwood mixer with a liquidiser attachment. She was extremely excited about her new purchase and asked a neighbour…

№1 Gifts galore Karen Walker’s Christmas pop-up collaboration may just solve all your present-buying dilemmas. Playpark Summer 2017 is open now at Karen Walker’s Newmarket store and sees the designer partner with Hedleys Books, The Caker and Storm & India to create the ultimate bibliophiles’ tea-and-cake fashion experience. Pop in and pick up a limited-edition coffee-table book, sample the Storm & India collab tea, Runaway, or check out the new The Caker x Karen Walker white chocolate, hazelnut & orange cookie mix. №2 Like it’s golden Christmas is a time for entertaining and giving. Make it even more special with the timeless Ferrero Rocher, a roasted hazelnut in a creamy centre, encased in a crisp wafer shell, coated in fine milk chocolate with hazelnut pieces. This Christmas share this impressive…

Step out Studies suggest that people who walk up to or more than 10,000 steps daily experience health benefits such as lowered blood pressure and improved blood glucose levels, so time on your feet matters. Check out your local ‘what’s on’ guides and take advantage of the free outdoor activities. These include events like a village market to stroll around, free Zumba or tai chi classes, art exhibitions, guided walks and community-run fitness boot camps. These local initiatives need your support so why not take a break from your regular social activities and mix it up with something active and new? Walk with love If you know someone with an active dog or lively kids, you could offer to walk their dog, or take the kids to a new playground…

1 Make the most of our beautiful landscape by taking a hike, low-impact bush walk or watch the sun go down while eating fish and chips at the beach. Just five minutes of aerobic exercise a day (that includes walking to the beach!) can decrease overall levels of tension, boost your mood, deepen your breathing and improve your quality of sleep. 2 While we love the sun, it’s not ideal for coloured hair. Keep your colour looking fresh and extend the time between salon visits (think of the savings!) by using a shampoo and conditioner specifically formulated to help prevent colour fade. Switch to ecostore Dry, Damaged & Colour Care shampoo, and conditioner, and always wear a sunhat for extra protection. 3 If you’re a fan of getting things done…

No matter what you’re serving as a main on Christmas Day, lots of fresh, tasty sides will take your feasting to the next level. If you’re catering for vegetarians, these dishes may be filling enough on their own, and for your carnivorous guests there really is no better partner for meat and fish than a serving of roasted veges or a crunchy, colourful hit of fresh salad. Cranberry & orange glazed carrots with basil Ready in 20 minutes | Serves 4 as a side | GF 500g baby carrots ¼ cup cranberry jelly 1 tsp brown sugar Zest 1 orange Juice 3 oranges Drizzle extra virgin olive oil 25g butter, diced Chopped fresh basil, to garnish 1 Preheat oven to 200°C. Line a large oven tray with baking paper. 2…

Whether you’re looking for edible goodies to package up for grandparents or teachers, or simply want to feed your kids some healthier treats this Christmas, these recipes – all tested and approved by our team of little helpers – are guaranteed to please Popcorn, honey & nut slice Ready in 20 minutes plus chilling time | Makes 20 squares | DF | GF 125g coconut oil (solid or melted) 3 Tbsp honey 4 cups popcorn 1 cup sliced almonds 1 tsp ground cinnamon 3 Tbsp sesame seeds, plus a small handful for decorating TOPPING 150g good-quality dark chocolate** 1 Tbsp coconut oil (solid or melted) 1 Lightly oil and line a small slice tin (about 18cm x 28cm) with baking paper. 2 Gently melt together coconut oil and honey in…

Road-tripping, putting up the tent and relaxing by the beach sure is hungry work! Take the stress out of campsite cooking with these tasty dishes that can be made with minimal fuss or equipment – just light a fire or stove, grab a pot and get going! Make-ahead nachos Ready in 35-40 minutes plus cooling time | Serves 4-6 | GF Prepare this nacho mince before you set off and transport it in a chilli bin, or freeze it first and let it defrost during the drive. Put the nachos together on your first night at the campsite – dinner will be a breeze! NACHO MINCE (PREPARE IN ADVANCE) Oil, for cooking 500g beef mince 1 medium onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, chopped ½ tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp ground…

Spice up a family favourite with tasty ingredients left over from dinner, found in the garden or plucked from the colourful summer fruit bowl. Get creative with your toppings and have fun improvising! Roast pumpkin & goat’s cheese smash with sunflower-seed dukkah Ready in 15 minutes | Serves 2 SUNFLOWER-SEED DUKKAH ¼ cup sunflower seeds 2 Tbsp sesame seeds 1 tsp cumin seeds or ½ tsp ground cumin 1 tsp coriander seeds or ½ tsp ground coriander ½ tsp paprika ¼ tsp salt PUMPKIN TOAST A wedge (approx ⅛) pumpkin, seeds removed, peeled, cut into chunks and roasted 100g goat’s feta or goat’s curd 4 slices sourdough bread, toasted A handful micro greens 1 Toast dukkah ingredients in a dry frying pan over a medium heat for 4-5 minutes or…

Follow us on Instagram! Hit the ‘follow’ button to stay up to date with all the happenings at NADIA HQ, including behind-the-scenes snaps, special deliveries and events, must-try recipes and more. @nadiamagazine NEXT ISSUE Waste-reduction tips, barbecue recipes, back-to-school lunch ideas, the latest in natural beauty and so much more! ON SALE 29 JANUARY GET ORGANISED Start 2018 on the right foot by breaking in a new daily planner. Here are a few of our favourites……

“At the end of the day, it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished… it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back” – Denzel Washington Retail NZ is expecting Kiwi consumers will spend a record $17.4 billion in the lead-up to Christmas this year. But while we enjoy showering our loved ones with presents to celebrate the season, it’s important to think about those who aren’t able to do the same. In 2016, around 155,000 Kiwi kids went without seven or more things considered necessary for their wellbeing (such as shoes) – that’s 14 percent of our kids*, so it’s a safe bet those children won’t be waking up to a pile of festively wrapped gifts under the tree…

1 Summer is high pollen season. If it’s something you’re sensitive to, avoid hanging your sheets or clothing outside to dry – pollens and moulds can collect in the fibres and intensify your allergies. Most pollen is usually emitted between 5am and 10am, so minimise your early morning outdoor activities to help minimise symptoms of hayfever. 2 All this swimming and beach time can really dry out your skin. Give your body a little TLC with SKIN by ecostore Rejuvenating Body Moisturiser, $19.99, packed with a nourishing blend of New Zealand seaweed and grapeseed extracts, combined with omega-rich blackcurrant, jojoba oil and shea butter. 3 Back to school season is almost upon us! You might not have your child’s book list yet, but why not get in early and stock…

Whether you’re hosting Christmas or joining others and want to take along something delicious, we guarantee that our festive mains, sides and puddings will get you thinking outside the box. We’ve got lots of recipes that cater for different dietary requirements, too – make sure you try Nadia’s gluten-free stuffing balls; they might just become a new Christmas tradition. And who could resist a Champagne-laced popsicle as a refreshing Boxing Day sundowner?…

Spiced Cointreau & orange custard tarts Ready in 1 hour plus chilling time | Makes 6 150g plain flour ½ tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp mixed spice ¼ cup sugar 10g cold butter, cubed 2 egg yolks 1 Tbsp cold water FILLING AND DECORATION 300ml Puhoi Valley Organic Half & Half ½ Tbsp finely grated orange zest ½ tsp vanilla essence 1 Tbsp Cointreau (optional) 1 egg plus 2 egg yolks Juice ½ orange 30g sugar Orange slices and grated nutmeg, to decorate (optional) 1 Grease six 10cm loose-bottom flan tins. In a processor combine flour and spices. Add sugar and butter and pulse to form crumbs. Add yolks and pulse to form a dough, adding the water if needed. Wrap dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes. 2 Preheat the…

Ferrero Rocher has been part of celebrating moments of togetherness since it began as a family business in Italy in the 1940s. From gifting choices for loved ones or colleagues, like the golden Ferrero Rocher Cube Gift Box or the impressive Ferrero Rocher Cone, giving and receiving a box of rich, creamy Ferrero Rocher chocolates is always a delight. This Christmas, create special moments for family and friends with Ferrero Rocher as your inspiration, and bring delicious creativity to the festive table with a beautiful Ferrero Rocher-topped dessert recipe and elegant crafted bon-bon table setting. Watch the eyes of your guests light up as you bring out these brown sugar meringues topped with Fererro Rocher. They’ll love the delicious crunch of the Ferrero Rocher wafer shell, the creamy filling and…

If you’ve been invited to a potluck this summer, we’ve done the hard part for you – deciding what to make! We’ve gone for platters because they’re always popular and look super-impressive. To keep everyone happy, we’ve whipped up three different platters to suit meat lovers, vegetarians or cheese aficionados. Or mix and match the recipes to create your own tasty selection. Enjoy! Vegetarian platter MINI VEGETABLE SKEWERS WITH LEMON & ROSEMARY OIL Ready in 20 minutes | Makes 12 | DF | GF ½ eggplant 1 courgette ½ red onion 6 button mushrooms 2 differently coloured capsicums ¼ cup olive oil 1 Tbsp lemon zest 1 clove garlic, crushed 2 Tbsp roughly chopped rosemary leaves 1 Cut vegetables into bite-sized dice and thread onto 12 mini wooden skewers, alternating…

Salmon is one of the most versatile fish around. It’s packed full of healthy omega-3 essential fatty acids and contains lots of powerful antioxidants. Salmon is indeed a true superfood and that’s why we’re celebrating it this issue. Remove the bones and give it a crunchy coating, create burger patties for the kids or add it to couscous or a risotto for light summer dining. Sundried tomato, lemon & chilli-crusted salmon Ready in 1 hour | Serves 10-12 1 medium salmon fillet (we used Mt Cook Alpine Salmon) 4 slices bread, whizzed into breadcrumbs (about 2 cups) ¼ cup chopped parsley ½ cup finely chopped sundried tomatoes 1 clove garlic, finely chopped ½-1 red chilli, finely sliced 1 tsp sea salt Zest 1 lemon 50g butter, melted 1 Preheat oven…

As environmental awareness continues to grow (hooray!), upcycled products are becoming more imaginative – and more desirable. Here we meet four creatives making beautiful products which just happen to be built from recycled materials. Full disclosure: I’m married to C.P. (on the left), and Sam (on the right) was his groomsman. I went to fashion school with Sharn (over the page) and can’t remember how I became friends with Sarah (last page), but I did. Such conflicts of interest are hard to avoid when secondhand goods are your jam! At Large Audio Sam Bennett and C.P. Moore have been making music together for 15 years, and creating upcycled sound systems for three. The drummer and pianist met at university and have played in a number of bands together. Naturally they…

“The Far North is one of my favourite places. It has something for everyone, with its awesome coastline, striking white silica beaches and picturesque turquoise waters. Nadia and I are particularly fond of Rarawa Beach and the Karikari Peninsula. “There are a range of DoC (Department of Conservation) camps in a variety of amazing locations. And with the fishing as good as it is, there’s every chance you’ll have a fresh catch for lunch each day. Failing that, you can always grab some fish and chips at the Mangonui Fish Shop. “If you’re looking for a beautiful Kiwi camping holiday, Northland is worth checking out. It’s truly a special place.”…

EAT LIKE A GREEK THIS SUMMER When she began importing Greek food, Mary Etheridge was known locally as ‘The Olive Lady’. Twenty years later, The Olive Lady is Mary’s own brand of authentic Greek olives and antipasto products. You’ll delight your guests this summer and keep your own taste buds happy with her delicious range – from tangy ‘mammoth’ sized stuffed green olives, to soft and juicy sundried tomatoes, as well as warm and fruity extra virgin olive oil, made purely from Koroneiki olives harvested in Greece. You can also find a range of her olives in chilled pottles in the deli. Available in selected supermarkets and specialty shops nationwide. Visit theolivelady.co.nz. GIVE THE GIFT OF DELICIOUS, HEALTHY FOOD Show you care this holiday season with the gift of goodness.…