Table of contents for October/November 2018 in Nadia

We’ve been making the most of the warm, sunny weather and, while we’re still a family of three, getting out and about in the garden planting strawberries. We even hosted a long Italian lunch with friends which was inspired by the experience of making our own fresh pasta (check out page 94 if you’d like to do the same). In this adventure issue (a topic close to my heart!) we look at all the different forms an adventure can take – whether it’s travel, challenging yourself physically or mentally in a different way, taking the leap and starting your own business, or learning a brand-new skill. Life is basically just one big adventure, isn’t it? We never know what’s around the corner, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned over…

Something magical happens when you dream, and something even more powerful happens when you write your dreams down on paper. It brings the intangible within reach, the unclear into the spotlight… it’s a life-changing process. But few of us enter adulthood embracing the power of dreaming. Even fewer venture past merely wishing and hoping into purposefully pursuing our dreams. Instead, many of us drift or race through our days, settling for the ordinary or just trying to survive, when we could be seizing the opportunity of each precious new day to create and live our dream lives. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a restless desire to live an amazing life – to travel the world, meet inspiring people, experience wonderful things, learn and do something meaningful…

We read the back of our food packets to look for red-flag ingredients, but how much do we know about what we’re putting on our skin? There are a number of ingredients in our skincare products that when washed down the drain can end up negatively impacting our waterways and oceans. We all know now that microbeads are an absolute no-no and the New Zealand government last year banned products containing these tiny plastic particles from being sold here. That global issue has begun to be taken care of, but there are others, such as the coral reef-destroying compounds oxybenzone and octinoxate in sunscreen that are yet to be dealt with on a larger scale. We can each do our bit to lessen our impact on the planet by choosing…

The Farm in Byron Bay, New South Wales, is a diverse community made up of organic growers, chefs, bakers and gardeners. Its on-site flower nursery, The Garden Shed, connects people to the land through plants, flowers, seeds and workshops. This extract from The Farm’s new book, The Farm Community, explains how to expertly craft a pretty flower crown. MAKE A FLOWER CROWN While flower garlands were the height of boho chic a few seasons ago, they are still the perfect project to make with green-fingered kids. YOU WILL NEED Twisted willow (ask your florist for this) 12 green floristry wires (6 thin and 6 medium) Scissors Green, spriggy foliage, such as jasmine, eucalyptus, rosemary, ivy etc Fresh seasonal blooms Floristry tape 1 Pull away a nice strand of twisted willow.…

Discovering food from the distant corners of the globe is almost a competitive sport. But in this case, just sit back and let some of the world’s prized dishes come to you. These gold-star recipes from Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Egypt and the Middle East are yours for the taking – no passport required. Lebanese batata harra (spiced potatoes) with pan-fried fish & tahini yoghurt sauce Ready in 50 minutes | Serves 4 | GF 800g Agria potatoes, scrubbed (don’t peel) and chopped 3 Tbsp olive oil 2 red capsicums, cored, deseeded and chopped 1 tsp ground coriander 2 cloves garlic, crushed ½ cup chopped coriander, plus extra to serve ½ tsp chilli flakes Zest 1 lemon 600g firm white fish fillets (skin on, ideally) 2 Tbsp lightly toasted pine nuts…

Au Naturel pancakes with berry, star anise & vanilla sauce Ready in 25 minutes | Makes about 16 2 cups mixed berries, fresh or frozen ¼ cup sugar, plus ⅓ cup extra ¼ cup water ½ star anise ½ vanilla bean 1 Tbsp arrowroot mixed with 1 Tbsp cold water 2 eggs 1½ cups Yoplait Au Naturel Yoghurt 1¾ cups self-raising flour ½ tsp baking soda About ½ cup milk 1 Tbsp melted butter, plus extra butter for cooking pancakes 1 To make the sauce, place berries, ¼ cup sugar, water, star anise and vanilla bean in a small saucepan and simmer gently for 5-10 minutes or until pulpy. Stir the combined arrowroot and cold water into the berry mixture. Remove from the heat when it begins to form a…

From nutritious nourish bowls to salads and soups bursting with healthy ingredients, it’s as easy as a quick swap to change up these flexible recipes and turn them vegetarian, or vice versa. By switching out the protein you can suit your mood or please even the pickiest members of the family without sacrificing any of the flavour benefits. Nourish bowl with pumpkin hummus Ready in 30 minutes | Serves 2 | DF | GF WITH SMOKY BACON OR SEARED TOFU PUMPKIN HUMMUS 1 clove garlic 1 Tbsp tahini* 1 Tbsp chopped fresh herbs – eg rosemary, parsley, thyme etc ½ cup mashed roasted pumpkin 200g tinned chickpeas, rinsed and drained Good pinch ground turmeric 2-3 Tbsp lemon juice or to taste 1-2 Tbsp olive oil Sea salt NOURISH BOWL Oil,…

Fresh pasta is far easier and quicker to make than many think. It takes just five ingredients and 20 minutes to get a batch of pasta ready for the pot, following our simple recipe below; and although a pasta machine is fun, a rolling pin and a knife will do just as well. Then just add your favourite flavours or turn the page for our creamy sauces and plump-tious ravioli. Classic pasta Ready in 25 minutes | Serves 4 | DF 2½ cups plain flour 3 large (size 7) eggs ½ tsp salt 1 Tbsp olive oil 1 Tbsp water 1 Place the flour in a large bowl and make a well in the centre. Crack the eggs into the well and add the salt, then the oil and water.…

For many Kiwis, the dream of owning a boat is in our DNA. Even though we have one of the highest rates of boat ownership per capita, in truth the reality is that this desire often remains a fantasy. Enter Stitchbird creator Charlie North, a mechanical engineer who took on the challenge to produce a kitset rowboat which can be built in less than three weeks with no prior boat-building experience. His finished product includes everything needed to build the boat – from marine-grade plywood parts to glue, sandpaper, paint and fixtures – making it an ideal joint project for families, couples and groups of friends. Inspired by a lasting memory of building a wooden boat with his father, Charlie wanted the experience to be available to anyone, regardless of…

The most amazing afternoon-tea spread at the @nadiamagazine Healthy, Well-thy, Wise event! @healthy.hels Best way to start the morning – in bed with @nadiamagazine. @thehealthylittlefoodie Always happy to get the new issue of NADIA magazine and try a new recipe. This smoky tomato seafood soup was delicious and easy! Sandy McFayden via Facebook KITCHEN DISASTER The vice of spice When I was newly married (42 years ago) and trying to impress, I made a casserole that called for chillies. I had never heard of them, let alone eaten anything with a chilli in it. I purchased a packet of dried chillies and threw a few extra in. Many hours later the casserole was ready to serve, but I didn’t know you had to take the dried chillies out beforehand. It…

Mix it up! Variety is one of the forgotten keys to health. With imported fruit and vegetables in the shops, it’s easy to stick to the same diet year round. As a society, we’ve lost touch with the seasons and instead of eating a variety of produce, we find our favourites and stick to them. There are massive health benefits in consuming a diverse range of nutrients. Start small by swapping potatoes for parsnips or peas for edamame beans, or change the bread you eat. Additionally, vitamin, antioxidant and mineral levels are usually greater when we eat seasonal produce. Look up what’s in season where you live and seek it out. This time of year is the only good time for cherimoyas, a form of custard apple. Give them a…

1 DIVE RIGHT IN Now that it’s warmer, water sports such as kayaking, surfing, water skiing, sailing and stand-up paddleboarding are fun ways to get fit. Take lessons, borrow or rent gear and give it a go. All these activities burn an average of 300-900 calories an hour and are a lot more fun than being stuck in a gym. Kayaking, for example, gets your heart rate up, abs working and muscles burning. 2 TIME TO PLAY! Kids are itching to find the nearest place to scale the walls, hang from the monkey bars and go on the swings. If you know any little people, scout out some local playgrounds and take them with you. There are also a number of playgrounds and parks that have exercise equipment for adults.…

YOU WILL NEED Long ruler, measuring tape, pencil and eraser Large circular piece of wood or MDF (we used a custom-made 900mm MDF art board, 4mm thick) Level and set square 3 pieces wood for the back (we used 19mm-thick offcuts a little shorter in length than the shelves) Wood glue and damp rag 3 x lengths pine for shelves, 2 the same length, 1 longer (ours were 135mm wide x 19mm thick x 700mm/865mm long) Drill and 9 long screws (we used 50mm); see step 6 3 paintbrushes Your choice of Resene colours (we used Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene ‘Cosmos’, Resene ‘Cornflower’ and Resene ‘New York Pink’; for a higher sheen use Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss) 2 keyhole picture hangers and screws 1 Draw vertical and horizontal guide…

Khachapuri Ready in 35 minutes plus proving time | Makes 4 This traditional Georgian dish is a fun and indulgent treat – rip off bread from the edge to mix in the butter and dunk into the egg-and-cheese filling. 450g high grade flour 8g (1 sachet) active dried yeast 1 tsp salt 1 cup lukewarm milk 1 egg, lightly beaten 30g melted butter, plus 50g extra, diced, and 4 extra slices, to serve Lemon wedges, to serve CHEESE AND EGG FILLING 250g mozzarella, coarsely chopped 200g firm ricotta, crumbled 100g feta, crumbled 2 Tbsp coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley 2 Tbsp finely chopped chives, plus extra to serve 6 eggs, 1 of them lightly beaten 1 Combine flour, yeast and salt in a bowl, and make a well in the centre.…

Grown in the lush tropical environment of the Philippines, Dole pawpaw (or papaya) offers melt-in-the-mouth flavour with health benefits to boot. A source of antioxidants and vitamins C, A and E, pawpaw brings a burst of sunshine to baked treats and desserts, and mouthwatering juiciness to savoury dishes such as the bacon and spinach salad featured here, which has a delicious interplay of sweet and salty. Whether you go sweet or savoury, it’s the golden colour and buttery deliciousness of pawpaw that makes these recipes come to life. Gluten-free pawpaw & almond friands Ready in 45 minutes | Makes 12 | GF 2/3 cup diced fresh Dole pawpaw 1 lime 5 egg whites 1/3 cup cornflour ¼ tsp baking powder ¾ cup icing sugar 125g melted butter 1½ cups ground…

Neat stooks of asparagus at the vege shop mean just one thing: spring is here and light, fresh flavours are back with a bang. Here I’ve used the spears in a variety of ways, from an easy rustic tart and a hearty salad (both great extras at a barbie) to a light and tasty vege risotto, filling donburi and a special eggs Bene so you can make the most of their short-lived abundance. Asparagus, chicken, egg & new potato salad with herb dressing Ready in 30 minutes | Serves 2 | DF | GF 350g (10-16) baby new potatoes (use any variety, or a mixture is nice) 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed, spears cut in half ½ small red onion, thinly sliced 1½ tsp capers 1 roast chicken leg or breast,…

Winter wellness was the hot topic of the day at our sell-out NADIA Mind, Body and Soul events held at the picturesque Boatshed in Wellington and the urbane Generator offices in Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter. Although both occasions were blessed with sunny skies, readers still had cooler weather on their minds and welcomed a 40-minute, energy-boosting yoga session led by wellness practitioner Kelly Watt to get the blood pumping. After generating some soul-warming chi, it was time to hit the mat for a guided meditation before afternoon tea was served. Readers mixed and mingled with the NADIA team as they enjoyed fruit platters with chia pots, banana bread with pineapple curd, and labneh with pesto and sourdough, all served with an assortment of delicious teas. Next up was the interactive workshop…

The idea of ‘adventure’ doesn’t just mean a fortnight in Bali – adventure can be found anywhere: on the open road, at a new job or even deep inside yourself. Our workshop over the page will help you find ways to discover the thrill, novelty and energising excitement of adventure in your daily life, from changing up your work, exercise or culinary routine, to saving up for that dream holiday. Our ancestors were the original adventurers so check out our feature on ancient medicine for ideas about how to stay healthy and well-thy using natural remedies.…

How has adventure helped you in your mental health journey? It’s important to remember the meaning of adventure in the context of mental health – an unusual, exciting or daring experience. Quite often when someone experiences mental health issues, doing or even thinking about new things can be hard. To me, adventure means many things, including getting out of my comfort zone. My biggest adventure has been giving up alcohol. It was daring and bold in a world where the majority of people drink. Although it was hard, I look at it as the proudest achievement of my life, and I see the work I did as an adventure into the heart of who I am. Why is it important to get outside even when you are feeling down? Our…

Themed dinner parties Choose a cuisine and go all out. A Nordic night might involve cured salmon, Nordic folk music and Danish pastries. Get the kids involved by researching the culture, its music and traditions. Create a party atmosphere to show the kids how fun it can be to try different foods! Green fingers Help out in your local community garden. You can adopt a plot at many places and make gardening a part of your family life (while reaping the benefits). Seeing something grow from seed to food on a plate can help kids appreciate the resources that go into creating healthy produce – and they’ll be more likely to eat it, hopefully! Fruit picking Most cities and towns have a ‘pick your own’ destination a short drive away.…

As vitamin C is one of the most important antioxidants for helping to prevent the breakdown of collagen, it’s not surprising that the Kakadu plum has found itself in the beauty industry’s spotlight. Along with holding the world record for the highest vitamin C value, with a crazy 2907mg per 100g, compared to the 53mg found in an orange, it also boasts antibacterial and potentially cancer-fighting properties. Fantastic for brightening, refining and firming skin, you’ll find it popping up in everything from masks to makeup. IMPROVES SKIN TONE One company championing the Kakadu plum is Byron Bay’s Biologi, which produces pure plant, single-ingredient skincare serums from “100 percent phytoactives”, which means no water or synthetics. Developer Ross Macdougald says their Rejuvenation Eye Serum is a standout product from the brand’s…

It can be hard to cram all these goodies into your diet, which is where supplements come to the rescue. Based on scientific evidence, the Ultiboost Body & Beauty range from Swisse is formulated to support collagen production to maintain glossy hair, radiant skin and healthy nails. SWISSE ULTIBOOST HAIR NUTRITION FOR WOMEN, $34.95, contains biotin to support hair thickness, vitality and strength. The new ULTIBOOST HAIR NUTRITION FOR MEN, $34.95, uses biotin and silica to support the scalp and hair follicles, and zinc for the production of testosterone which has an influence on hair growth. SWISSE ULTIBOOST HAIR SKIN NAILS+, $27.95, supplies antioxidant support and the essential nutrients for good health. And for anyone suffering from dehydrated skin or a dull complexion, the combination of vitamins C and A…

Spring is the perfect time to dust off the hiking boots and encourage the kids to explore a new walking track. Send them off on their adventure with backpacks full of good food – or better still, let them pack the lunch and see if they’ll let you come along! These delicious snacks will keep them well fuelled on the journey there and back with a hearty and healthy spread to look forward to at the halfway point. Lentil, herb & mushroom rolls Ready in 1 hour | Makes 12 large rolls 3 sheets frozen flaky pastry 1½ cups roughly chopped mushrooms 1 onion, roughly chopped 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped 3 Tbsp chopped fresh herbs (we used 1 Tbsp each rosemary, thyme and parsley) 400g can lentils, drained (about…

There are lots of reasons to love asparagus – it’s a great source of calcium and B vitamins, which are linked to a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke. But this flavourful vege is also a sure sign of spring, which makes it an even more welcome treat. In fact, asparagus is so closely associated with the arrival of spring in Germany that many small towns hold a spargelfest (asparagus festival) to herald the new season. A celebration of spring and food all in one? Sounds good to us! Enjoy our amazing asparagus recipes on page 84.…

Sometimes there’s nothing better than eating straight out of the pan – particularly if it’s a rustic pud cooked over an open flame! Of course, you don’t need to be camping in the great outdoors to enjoy our selection of scrumptious skillet desserts, but wherever you eat them – indoors, around a barbie or sitting in the garden under the stars – they’re sure to bring a little taste of adventure. Maple apple crisp Ready in 30 minutes | Serves 4 2 Tbsp butter 4 small apples (not too sweet, eg Granny Smith), peeled, cored and quartered 3 Tbsp maple syrup 1 tsp mixed spice 1½ cups chunky granola Cream, to serve 1 Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add butter, apple and 1 Tbsp of maple syrup. Cook,…

Nicky Perry was running a lifestyle blog when she hit on the idea of making a gratitude journal. Her friend and business partner, Rebekah (Bex) Lipp, had experienced mental health issues and had used such a journal for years, yet felt guilty when she missed filling in a day. The design Nicky conceived has no dates, a happiness scale to track moods, space for affirmations, and colouring-in pages to capture the trend towards mindfulness. Why do you think it’s important to be grateful? There are hundreds of studies which show that practising gratitude increases positive emotions, reduces the risk of depression and anxiety, improves relationship satisfaction, and increases resilience in the face of stressful events. It strengthens the neural pathways in your brain so it becomes easier and more natural…

HONDA HR-V RS Ideal for the urban scout, the Honda HR-V RS model is now available nationwide. Sporty, sleek and spacious? Tick. SPACE TO BOOT A good city adventure equals a great shopping spree. The Honda HR-V’s boot has room for all your new purchases. We’ll leave the self-control up to you. ROOM TO BREATHE Whether you’re off on a family outing or taking your friends for a ladies lunch, the Honda HR-V provides plenty of class-leading space. Fill the car up with five people or fold the unique Magic Seats down (they flip and fold in 18 different ways, creating over 1400 litres of space) to make way for other bits and bobs – whether it be the kids’ bikes or the hubby’s surfboard. The Honda HR-V range starts…

Sri Lanka is a land of extremes – despite being about half the size of our own North Island, it boasts tropical beaches, misty highlands, dense jungle, bustling cities and grassy plains. Following the end of a tragic 26-year civil war in 2009, as well as the devastating 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, the country has been slowly recovering economically, and a blossoming tourism industry has been a major part of that renewal. Nadia, Carlos and son Bodhi visited Sri Lanka recently and spent 10 days enjoying the sights, smells and flavours of this unique island off the southern tip of India. If you’re thinking about visiting Sri Lanka, there’s one question you need to ask yourself: “Do I love curry and rice?” Despite being a huge fan of curry in…