Who couldn’t love the idea of a chocolate factory tour??!! That amazing smell of chocolate permeating everything in the building. Oompa Loompas singing as they work (ok, that’s just me dreaming). Being unleashed with chocolate samples to eat to your hearts content (still me dreaming – sigh). BUT – there are many aspects of…
Whether you’re shopping for Christmas gifts, for birthday, or ‘just because’, the gifts below may be perfect for the travelers in your life. Or yourself!  They may also spark an idea for another track for you to go down.  However you use this list, I hope it’s helpful. This post may contain some affiliate…
Take one mason jar, layer in a few basic baking ingredients, handwrite a recipe card, and you have a thoughtful, unique, home made gift. You can choose from a variety of cookie in a jar types, so it really is a perfect gift for everyone. I mean, who doesn’t like cookies?!! If you’re needing a…
Here’s a gingerbread cookie recipe that is ready to become your new family tradition. It’s a recipe that’s made for making memories. It’s been mine to make with my kids, my nephews and nieces, for more than 20 years. I love it because it couldn’t be any easier, they taste delicious, and for such a…
Welcome back, I’m super glad to have you back to continue my top tips for practical kitchen design. (Missed part one?) Today I’m excited to share how you can create zone areas to improve the functionality in your kitchen. Stay tuned to see how I created a baking, cuppa and breakfast zone. This post may…
Oh you are going to LOVE me for sharing this. This is seriously one of the nicest, most refreshing summer desserts you will ever eat. And what people won’t realise, is how amazingly easy it is to make. As delicious as this is, there are two other, no, make that three other things that propel…
Have you been dreaming about a kitchen renovation? Or are you about to embark on a kitchen remodel? If you’ve answered yes, lucky you! Read on for top tips to ensure your kitchen is the ultimate in practical kitchen design. Beautiful. Organised. Functional. That was me a year ago (well actually, the dreaming went on…
With another week of enforced lockdown upon us in Auckland last week, I took the chance to tick off a couple of creative projects I’ve been wanting to do for ages. I’ve shared earlier some photo designs that I created and put into large Ikea frames (Ribba 19 3/4″ square). Here’s one in case you…
Are you looking for something delicious to eat, special to serve, and simple to make? THIS IS IT! This Vanilla Bean Donut Cake brings the beautiful taste of vanilla to the forefront, highlighted with a cinnamon sugar crust. The cake itself is delightfully light – a cake of this texture surely can only be…
Lockdown loaf – an easy, quick, make at home bread recipe When NZ went into its first Covid lockdown in March 2020, like many countries, our supermarkets were overwhelmed with demand for toilet paper, bread, and pasta. This situation quickly rectified itself, only to be replaced by new in-demand items. The hardest things to buy…