A Letter From Amanda

As I feel a cool ocean breeze through my hair and drift to a faraway place, I finally start to unwind. Sadly, though, I can’t get too complacent, because a new year, and all that it entails, is just around the corner. For us Downunder, our annual holidays and New Year roll into one. Like the calm before the storm, by late January, the holidays are a distant memory and life is back to its crazy pace.

But, while I’m on holiday, I still dream about food. And, if I’m not daydreaming about it, I’m either eating it or preparing it for loved ones, including my son, Orlando, who seems to be constantly hungry. This issue, we feature a holiday section that brings those daydreams to life. The outdoor kitchen feature, page 16, sums up what holiday food is all about – relaxed eating enjoyed in the open air.

This time of year, too, we are blessed with the most amazing fresh produce. Make the most of it by sharing the flavours with family and friends. Check out our salads on page 36 and leafy herbs on page 92, foodie feasts for all to enjoy.

Now that we welcome the

New Year and try to enforce our resolutions, we also aim to be better people, eat healthier and get fitter. So we’ve included recipes along those lines, such as the ice-cream sandwiches on page 74. This is icecream with a difference, as it’s low in both fat and sugar. Great news!

As the year gets into full swing, we celebrate Australia Day, one of the best days of the year. For this proud Aussie, it’s close to my heart. We all join hands and unite in peace and harmony, with family, friends and neighbours, and, of course, good food. I usually bake a pavlova (sorry, my Kiwi friends who wish to claim this as your own); however, this year, I’m seriously swayed towards our luscious cover recipe, that Aussie icon we grew up with, Vanilla Slice, page 8. But with a twist – who doesn’t love a good passionfruit icing drizzle, making the most of this seasonal fruit? Yum!

It’s time for me to watch the waves, embrace harmony, feel blessed and daydream about what amazing food we can all share and enjoy during 2018.

Wishing you all a peaceful New Year. Love the ones you’re with…