My five top tips for when you get to New York City (including some extra Christmas shopping tips)

I have so much to tell you about New York and Christmas in New York it's really quite overwhelming, so I'm trying to 'chunk it' a bit so you I both don't overwhelm you with detail and so I can focus and give you as much information as I can in a useful way! This post follows the how to prepare for your trip before you go post, this...

Bookmark and share this: Common cooking substitutes

You'd be lying if you said you never got motivated to cook something and then realised: 'Oh #*^%, I don't have X'!  I also find that some recipes call for ingredients that are hard to get where I live, and I just don't want to throw away good recipes because I can't get one ingredient. And, even though I meal plan, even though...

A weekend in Tokyo

Finally I'm getting around to documenting some of my travels - travelling is one of those things that if you do it a lot as part of your job - it loses it's glamour very quickly.   You get tired of queues, taxis, airports, packing, converting currency in your head and you really, really miss your bed.  Of course you really,...

My top 7 tips for preparing to spend Christmas in New York

Almost 11 years ago, a newly married couple who were planning to embark on a belated honeymoon to celebrate New Years in Times Square discovered they had an unexpected wedding gift.  Their first child. Into the first few months the newlyweds decided that their honeymoon may need to be further delayed because the mum-to-be couldn't...

The most freaking awesome cookies I've ever made (aka cake batter choc-chip funfetti cookies)

I love that kind of cookie that looks crispy on the outside and is chewy and soft on the inside.  Reminds me of Anzac biscuits served at the local David Jones food hall as a child... As we would come down the escalator and the smell of those cookies baking would summon me to whine at my mother 'Muuuuummm... can we buy a biscuit? PLEEEEEASE?????'....

Simple and delicious chicken biryani

Those who love a good Indian and even those who may not be as adventurous, this is one for you.  A great introduction to Indian - this is like an Indian risotto, but much, much lighter.  Biriyani is one of those dishes you can pull together very quickly.  It's great in cooler weather, it's like a warm hug.  Not too...