EDITOR’S LETTER

My late father used to say our lives were mapped out by fate from birth. If that’s the case, then my fated life of loving food and delivering feel-good recipes to you each month is awesome. Thank you, universe! I must admit that food is my safety blanket. Whenever I’m a little stressed, feeling a bit down, or just in desperate need of some “me” time, I turn to cooking – or even shopping for food, because I actually find online shopping for groceries therapeutic! Cooking seems to chase my darkest days away, so, even on a bleak winter’s day, I can always find a massive pot of sunshine. This could be a good spicy curry, a massive hearty bowl of hot soup or a slow-cooked lamb shank casserole. This sunshine feeling is contagious, so I try to spread the enthusiasm wherever I go. To me, food and all it has to offer is one of the finest things in life. It brings us together. My son, Orlando, came home from school the other day to ask me if I knew what a slow cooker was. Keeping a poker face, I said, “Yes... but why?” He then plunged into a “slow-cooker hard sell”, stating everything from “easy meal preparation” to “how tender it makes food”. I had to laugh, and was well impressed that a 10-year-old could be so intrigued by a cookery appliance. Apparently, he learnt all this information from one of his teachers. Between us, a good old-fashioned slowly simmered meal is one of my all-time favourite things to eat. Slow-cooked meat takes on a whole new level of richness in texture and flavour – and, even better, is the aroma that filters through the house. You can use a stovetop or oven to slow-cook most foods, or invest in a slow cooker appliance

(just ask Orlando). You can just pop it on in the morning, then arrive home to a luscious meal patiently waiting to be devoured.

For some slow-cooking inspiration, see our casserole feature (page 14), slow-cooked vegetable soups (page 30) and our bread and spread story (page 40). However, just because it’s the middle of winter, the blinds are tightly closed, the heater’s cranked and the ugg boots are pulled up as high as possible, it doesn’t mean it’s also time to hibernate and eat high-carb meals. I embrace the cooler weather and make it my foodie mission to get in tip-top shape for spring. So turn to our low-carb pizza feature (page 82). These filling, comforting meals will help you stay on some sort of healthy track throughout the colder days. And then, for a little fun that doesn’t involve too much cooking but the kids will love, check out our edible necklaces

(page 128) and give the gift of giving with a sweet piece of jewellery. Now remember that all you need to get through most days is a little food in your belly and a smile on your dial. ’ Til next month! EDITOR