Indulge
May 2011
www.indulgemagazine.com.au
spirit|soul|body
SPIRIT
Joy Graetz
Faithfulness
SOUL Brandi Clements
The Art of Mothering Candice Schmidt
Nurture
BODY
Dr Cris Beer Tips for Busy Mum’s Winter Jackets! Delicious Dinner PartyDelights
Kay Weight’s African Journey Indulge
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Indulge eMagazine is part of the iluvthoseshoes Project which seeks to empower women in their journey through life by resourcing them, spirit, soul and body. Empower = make more confident; to give authority Resource = source of help; solutions to problems
Publisher
iluvthoseshoes Project www.iluvthoseshoes.com
Editor-in-Chief
Charissa Steffens editor@indulgemagazine.com.au
Creative Director
Natasha Smith info@nspstudio.com.au
Technical Director
David Steffens info@indulgemagazine.com.au
Senior Editors Christy Carey Nicky Hurle
Theological Advisor
Reverend Malcolm Keynes (Dip. Ministry)
The Cover
Cover Photography Natasha Smith, NSP Studio Photography Beauty & Styling Tanya Epis
Fashion Editor Tanya Epis
Food Editor Angela Frost
Editorial & Production Assistant Andrew Nicholson
Technical Adviser Brendan Smith
iluvthoseshoes Project www.iluvthoseshoes.com
General Enquiries T 0450 066 116 E info@iluvthoseshoes.com
Indulge eMagazine is published monthly by the ILTS Project Pty Ltd (ACN 147832906). All rights are reserved and the contents are copyright and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. ILTS Project (“the Publisher”), their related companies and officers herby disclaim, to the full extent permitted by law, all liability, damages, costs and expenses whatsoever arising from or in connection with copy information or other material in this magazine, any negligence of the publisher, or any person’s actions in reliance therein. Any dispute or complaint regarding placed advertisements must be made within seven days of publication. Inclusion of any copy must not be taken as any endorsement of the Publisher. Views expressed by contributors are personal views and they are not necessarily endorsed by the Publisher. All reasonable efforts have been made to trace copyright holders by the Publisher. The Publisher and the authors do not accept any liability whatsoever in respect of any action taken by readers in reliance on the recommendation set out in this magazine.
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Phone 0405 066 116 Email info@indulgemagazine.com.au
Accountants
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contents spirit
Kay Weight
Joy Graetz
A Mother’s Heart
Faithfulness
Nicky Hurle
Brandi Clements
The Art of Mothering
Candice Schmidt
Opportunity
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body
soul
Nurture
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Top Tips for Busy Mum’s
Prevention is Better than Cure
Taking Control of Your Family’s Financial Future Winter Jackets!
Delicious Dinner Party
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This month... Joy Graetz
International Speaker/Author Joy Graetz has been an active part of the body of Christ since childhood. As the daughter of pastors and bible college principals, she has seen the Church go through five decades of dynamic change, from seasons of revival to seasons of questioning. Joy is a pastor, mentor, encourager, author, preacher and trainer. She speaks with authority and wisdom to all generations and genders and has built relationships across many denominations in Australia and overseas. Joy has a prophetic gift and a skill for helping people understand God’s call and God’s grace. She is both passionate and practical about discipleship and is able to speak to the complexities of Christianity with insight. Joy is a wife and a mother of three adult children.
Nicky Hurle Educator/Writer Nicky is a talented and passionate educator who has taught in both Primary and Secondary school in a career that is a vocational calling. She has a Biblical Diploma and a recently completed Masters in Gifted Education. Her involvement with young people spans more than twenty years in various roles including youth leader and mentor. Nicky is currently a House Parent at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra where, with her husband David, she is responsible for looking after the welfare of residential athletes. She is presently writing her first novel and loves reading, movies and music.
Angela Frost Food Editor
Angela has had a passion for food and cooking for many years. “I enjoy cooking for a crowd, but most of all I love cooking for my family and friends.” Angela is happily married with two beautiful daughters and you will find her most days in the kitchen with her 7 month old baby, attached to her hip, eagerly watching every mouthful she tastes. She hopes she can pass on to her daughters her passion for cooking. Angela believes the dinner table is a very special place, a time to share your thoughts from the day and to enjoy delicious food together.
Darren Rieck Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist/Director Adjust Health Clinics Darren is a musculoskeletal physiotherapist and director of Adjust Health Clinics located at Coomera and Springwood. These centres offer physiotherapy, massage, pilates, yoga and acupuncture. Darren has been practicing for 13 years and has worked in the UK with elite athletes and premier league soccer clubs as well as on the Gold Coast with various rugby, soccer and AFL teams. He has completed his master’s degree on the cervical spine and has a real passion for all sporting and musculoskeletal conditions. Darren has four young children and an interest in running and golf. He has a great passion for excellence in physiotherapy and being a leader in his field.
Brandi Clements Writer/Photographer Brandi currently lives in Nashville, TN with her husband and three children. Recently she took the very brave step of starting her own photography business. Brandi says that her journey in faith can be summed up in one word; ‘rough’. “Faith didn’t come to me in a moment of clarity, or overwhelming emotion. I can only describe it as an ongoing, soul searching, sometimes gut wrenching quest to dig deeper”. Through the book “Captivating” by John & Stasi Eldridge, Brandi had a life changing encounter with God and has not looked back. Brandi regularly blogs and has a heart to share with other women. She says “keep digging, keep searching.....don’t ever stop the quest for your own personal truth”. 4 | www.indulgemagazine.com.au
Candice Schmidt Counsellor Candice desires to see people thrive in every area of life. She has been married for 15 years to a Paediatrician and they have lived in South Africa, New Zealand and Canada but have called the Gold Coast, Australia home for the last 4 years. They have four children between the ages of 4 and 12. Her passion is to “Live well, laugh often, love much”. She has a Degree in Psychology and a Diploma in Counselling. She loves to help people live to their full God-given potential spirit, soul and body. She enjoys counselling and watching God bring healing and restoration. She is a trained facilitator of ‘Toolbox Parenting’ which offers families hot tips on parenting well. Tanya Epis Fashion Editor
Tanya has been a hairdresser and make-up artist for 25 years. Originally from Melbourne, where she trained and won industry acclaim, she now runs her own business on the Gold Coast. She has worked in the television and film industry. Tanya loves hairdressing. “l feel very passionate about it even after all these years.” She is currently expanding her creative talents by studying photography and has a desire to help women feel beautiful.
Dr Cristina Beer Medical Practioner Cristina was born in Portugal to Portuguese parents and immigrated to Australia at the age of 5 years old. She has lived and studied for the most part on the Gold Coast. Cristina attained university degrees in Biomedical Science and Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery. She is also a qualified personal fitness trainer and nutritionist. “I have a special interest in holistic medicine, with a focus on natural and anti-aging medicine”. She is currently working in general practice on the Gold Coast. “I have a burning desire to see people live whole, healthy, and balanced lives in the fullness of God’s plan for them”. Kay Weight Educator/Writer Kay is a daughter, sister, mother, aunty and friend....a lover of nature, literature, chocolate and small children (in no particular order!) She is pursuing a heart and soul venture as an educator, blogger and fellow sojourner and longs to live more destined, devoted and daring....She has an audacious dream of being a writer, humanitarian, philanthropist or missionary to remote parts of the earth, but the truth is she is just a girl living each day in the light of eternity, with all her heart and soul.
Natalie Griffin Financial Adviser Natalie has over 15 years experience in the Financial Services industry. Having started her career in Banking, she is now a Financial Adviser who specialises in Life Insurances and consults between Brisbane and her home on the Gold Coast. Her husband and 2 young boys keep her busy away from the office, where her life is full of surfboards and fishing rods. Her true passion lies with helping families establish good financial “back-up” plans to complement their saving and investment goals.
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from the editor Here in Australia we traditionally celebrate Mother’s Day this month and I love it! (Especially now that I’m a mum!). I love being pampered a little; the hugs, kisses and precious presents that my children give me are priceless. I also get to pay tribute to my mum and mother-in-law, who are both very special women. I am so fortunate to have these two ladies in my life who love and adore their grandkids. I am very blessed too, that my mum has brought me up with such a rich understanding of God and spends endless hours praying for us all! Thanks mum. Mothers come in all shapes and sizes (figuratively as well as literally!). There are some who do not get to raise their own biological children, but are given the opportunity to nurture and love others around them. In this months issue we honour all the women who care for and love another and wish you a blessed month where you can be appreciated and loved in return. I am very honoured to be able to share with you a wonderful article by international speaker and author Joy Graetz. Joy is a mother of the Christian faith; she is full of wisdom and love for God and His people. Her article will encourage you to step out into the purposes God has for you! Keeping with the Mother’s Day theme we also have a couple of personal journeys from some great mums in our soul section this month. Kay Weight shares about her reignited passion for missionary work and her trip to the Watoto Baby Homes in Uganda. Brandi Clements from Nashville, Tennessee shares with us her incredible journey of becoming a mum and overcoming her everyday doubts and fears. Part of our mission at Indulge is to resource women, and the many other articles that are included in this months issue do just that! We have great articles that encourage you to take some time out for yourself, help you understand the importance of the role you play as a parent or carer, give you suggestions on how to look after your body and take control of your finances (something that we as women can tend to avoid!). Then of course there is the fun part of our magazine... Some great fashion tips and yummy food to delight you! I hope you enjoy this issue of Indulge!
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Love Charissa
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Spirit
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Faithfulness
1. Constant, steadfast,loyal 2. True to the facts or the origin Joy Graetz has a powerful calling to lead, disciple and nurture God’s people. It would be fitting to call her a ‘mother’ of the Christian faith. Her passion and wonderful sense of humour guide thousands of people every year closer to the heart of God. In our spirit section this month Joy shines a spotlight on her journey with God and what has helped her to remain loyal, constant and steadfast along the way.
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Faithfulness
Words Ps Joy Graetz Photography Natasha Smith NSP Studio Photography Makeup & Hair Tanya Epis
In 1968, I was 16 and at a high school in Christchurch. From within the 1,000 students, a little band of disconnected Christians gathered forlornly every few weeks. Should we (oh horror) see each other in the school corridors in the intervening days, ‘hello’ was a facial twitch. Checking now into the filing cabinet of my mind, I would say that attendance in the group rocketed to eight and hovered around that number in peak revival.
Loving the Lord with all my heart and trusting in His goodness came early to me and has never left nor abated, so to attend such an unpopular gathering as a teenager, was not hard for me. This fact wasn’t a reflection of any particular bravery or even a sense of mission; I was born with a predisposition for God.
The gathering I am recalling met in a lab of sorts science probably. We scattered ourselves around the room that day, carefully avoiding all eye contact with each other. The visiting speaker was a Baptist pastor. He was a youngish man whose dark-rimmed glasses, skinny black tie and white shirt set him precisely in the middle of all things robustly Christian in the 60’s. (The edges were starting to look woolly as the Jesus Revolution gained momentum but its affects had not yet hit my high school.) So there I was, genuinely happily one of this odd little group, in my maroon box-pleated uniform and striped tie, when this devout man of God said something that changed my life. “I made a choice as a young Christian that I would say ‘yes’ to every opportunity that came my way,” he said. And from that day, I did, too. This willingness to have a go at whatever is at hand may sound reckless, even chaotic, in our brisk world of goal-setting and career focus. But the idea of carefully picking out the places, peoples and postures that will get us ahead just wasn’t around back then, so I dived into opportunities without a backward glance.
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In fact, by then, I had been teaching Sunday School for two years; had involved myself in street witnessing (I may well hold the record for leading the greatest number of drunks to the Lord while singing
“I made a choice as a young Christian that I would say ‘yes’ to every opportunity that came my way”
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“The Old Rugged Cross”); and had attended youth meetings with gusto. (There was also the awkward matter of open air meetings, but it is hard to talk about that without feeling a little pain. The only bright spot was when the archaic amplifiers would cut out. In natural voice, we would fearlessly launch scriptures onto those who rapidly passed by. “It is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment!”. With the introduction of these ancient amplifiers, we now had unreliable volume. The message that now boomed forth was more likely to be, “It is .....man.....die..... judgment.”) Now, with my new mandate established, life took off. Over forty years later, I can only say this - that saying “yes” has taken me to places and put me amongst people that I could never have imagined in any goalsetting exercise of youth.
“While you are in your current ‘yes’, give it everything you have”. It has also left me out in the cold on a few occasions because I trusted that the one doing the asking was “for” me. Time proved otherwise. Yet there was never a moment when I regretted that “yes” because I somehow knew innately that Father would notice the slight missing of a heartbeat and then massage my heart into rhythm again. The lessons of life learnt in these times have been invaluable. I haven’t just said “yes” to the blindingly obvious (a crèche or cleaning roster). Saying “yes” to things wildly beyond my ability or experience has also been the habit of a lifetime. Except this one time; I was minding my own business, living and working as a speech therapist
in a country town in New Zealand. The church I attended was flourishing under caring shepherds and life was generally pretty good. Then the director of a mission organisation asked me to move to Hong Kong so I could edit and publish their magazine. I think that was my first ever “no”. Looking back, my “no” did not come from a place of Spirit-led caution. It actually came from a place of inverted pride. It was girlish humility that shot a “no” from my mouth and circumvented the most glorious opportunity. But God is God. When we commit our way to Him, He does a fabulous job of directing our path. Within ten years, I was living in Australia, now a wife and mother of three children, when I was asked to edit and publish a national magazine. Can you imagine how fast I said “yes”? In the space of this short article, I can’t include all kinds of wise-old-owl comments on things like boundaries and priorities. For sure, the “yes” habit can become a disastrous romp into performance, approval-seeking and people-pleasing. I will just have to leave it to you to figure all of that out yourself. Godly faithfulness does not include being used to the point of losing one’s personhood.
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Here are a few things I have learned. Sometimes ‘faithful’ feels like code for ‘boring’. But when we want a boring job done, don’t we look for people who are faithful? If you can say “yes”, do so and be gloriously boring if necessary... but you may need to put a realistic time frame on how long you will stay in that role/function/place before you start. “Yes” doesn’t have to be forever. Revisiting “yes” can make way for new developments. While you are in your current “yes”, give it everything you have.
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If you are naturally energetic and creative, you can easily take the “yes” past what was asked. Ask for a mandate or a frame of reference before you begin. This will avoid the awkwardness and pain of hearing, “We never intended you to do that.” Faithfulness is a huge character plus. The affirmations by the master in the Parable of the Talents were not about the quality of the talents. Rather, he spoke of goodness and faithfulness. Faithfulness is not a ball and chain around the ankle of high-flying ambition. It is a brilliant characteristic that grounds us sufficiently for roots to sink and for fruit to form.
“Faithfulness binds us to the heart of God in that it is one of His own virtues.”
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Faithfulness holds us close to the heart of the Father. I like this idea - that when He looks over His shoulder on a busy day, He sees our head bobbing up and down as we work in His vineyard, He whistles to get our attention, we exchange a wave and the smile of friendship, and then He carries on being God while we carry on being faithful. Faithfulness binds us to the heart of God in that it is one of His own virtues.
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Avoid putting ‘faithful’ and ‘right’ into the same sentence. This can lead to confusion. We can be so faithful to a cause that we begin to set too much value into it, sometimes elevating it to a place of worship (idolatry). It can become the ‘right’ cause/ job/task/ministry. To avoid this trap is to avoid militancy and a crusading spirit.
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Faithfulness and loyalty can look the same but there are a couple of crucial differences. Loyalty can be required or demanded...and can eventually become blind. Faithfulness is given as a free gift...and should remain wide-eyed (thus only adding to the quality of faithfulness as a freely given gift.) When we stand before God and He asks us how we put our lives together, He will listen patiently as we meander around, perhaps trying to impress Him with our many exploits. Finally, we will shrug our shoulders and say, “That’s about it, really”, and He will say, “I have enjoyed you. Thank you for being faithful.”
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Mark 10:45 “ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.�
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What is opportunity? Here is an acrostic definition for you:
Words by Nicky Hurle
I OFTEN PRESENTED PATHS OF RESPONSE TO UNTOLD NEEDS INDICATED TO YOU
I remember a student asking me in class, what would happen if you missed your opportunity to respond to God, what if your chances ran out? I smiled at him and said “Matt, your chances never run out. Opportunities are presented to you and me every day. We just have to be looking for them.” However, that wasn’t the whole story, because of course you have to do more than see them, you have to respond. A pastor at my church gave a sermon one Sunday about the word ‘responsible’. He said it was made up of two words; response and able. We are response able, able to respond to external and internal stimuli, including the myriad of opportunities presented to us each day in our lives to testify, grow, praise, worship, assist, comfort, give and receive. You know that in the milliseconds before responding, our brain is able to receive information from our surrounds that influence how we react. If someone knocks books from your arms in the Library, in the time it takes to turn and see the perpetrator, your response is formulated, adapted, sweetened or soured. If it is a running child, we may growl or criticise; a little old lady and we might smile and apologise to her! Christians often talk about being God’s hands and feet; His instrument; the human face of Christ; and yet we miss so many of the possibilities that He presents us with to become the answer that Jesus meant us to be. Our field of opportunity does not have to be in a foreign land, it is right where we are, among our family, friends and community. Every day we have the opportunity to respond right where we are, to bloom where we are planted so to speak.
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Just as in Lamentations 3:22-23, God’s mercies are new every morning, so are our many opportunities to be Christ to all we meet during any one day... and it starts as soon as we wake up! Ahead of us is a fresh slate and before even getting out of bed, we have the chance to respond to God’s call to be salt and light. Will we arise grumpy, tired and dreading the day, or will we decide to “choose life so that you... may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him.” Deut 30:19-20
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During our day we interact with so many people who are hiding their unmet needs and who are desirous of a kind word, a smile, a touch that will bring them comfort or hope. How we interact with those we meet has a profound impact upon both their wellbeing and ours, because we also have chances to receive from others, shedding pride and independence, and allowing others to bless us. These are such easy things to write about, but in the course of a busy day, they seem so hard to remember to do! However, here are five little practises from the apostle James that you can employ to make the most of the opportunities that God brings across your path each day: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5 Every day we are confronted with situations that require wisdom. Whether it be how we talk on the phone, speak to a family member or a colleague, or deal with a situation of conflict, to be Christlike we need wisdom. All we have to do is ask! In the split second before we respond, fire your request for wisdom to Him and He will provide it.
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“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” James 1:19-20
There is an old adage by Epictetus, a Greek philosopher, AD 55-c.135 that says “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” During our day we should be circumspect about how much we talk to people, for the longer we let them speak without interruption, the more we learn and can target our advice or compassion. It also means that when conflict arises, we are less likely to say something we can’t take back, that may destroy instead of build up. Waiting before we respond gives time for that sweetening to occur!
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“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favouritism.” James 2:1 So often throughout our day we have to deal with people that we wouldn’t choose ordinarily to spend our time with or respond to. They may be clients, colleagues, family members or incidental contacts, but James reminds us that we are to treat all with dignity and grace. If we are already asking Him for wisdom and listening more than we speak, we may find we have misjudged our neighbour. Even so, Christ had time and love for all who intersected His path and responded to them with care and compassion as should we.
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“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead...As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:17, 26 Across our day we will recognise needs as they are expressed by the words and actions of those around us. If it is within our power, we should work out our salvation through the response we make to those needs. Does someone need a lift? Is it out of our way? Can we shoulder another’s burden or cook a meal for the ill? Will we share a chore, even though it’s ‘not our turn’ or mind the kids of a tired neighbour so she/ he can get out for an hour? Jesus was never too busy or tired to go the second mile.
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“You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! James 5:8-9 If we pray for patience remember the only way to get it is to have our patience tried! Utilising the old count-to-ten trick, adding wisdom and thinking before we speak, can minimise the damage that may be done. It is easy to grumble against others, pointing out their failings and criticising their words and actions, but we have been warned that the way in which we judge others, we too will be judged. (Matthew 7:2) Stepping back and asking for Jesus’ eyes and heart as we look upon the person before us enables us to respond to them through the love of Christ. We should meditate on the word ‘response-able’ in the light of James’ valuable writing. Thinking about the daily opportunities God presents to us, leads to us looking for them and responding in a way that gives us the chance to practise living in the light of Christ. Working for the Master should be our greatest privilege, but we will miss so much if our eyes are not open and our will is not trained to respond as Christ would. Make every day and opportunity count!
Top Tips For Opportunities! 1 Wisdom 2 Quick to listen, slow to speak 3 Dignity 4 Helping hands 5 Patience
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rriage a m f a o s s The lo e for r a c n to e r ld i h Two c s ource s e r d side Limite r e h e ot h t n ry o t n u o A c lobe g e h of t love y b d ignite e r am ited A dre a w a tiny s e d e with t a d A
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Living in the Light of Eternity Words Kay Weight Photography Natasha Smith NSP Studio Photography & Kay Weight Makeup & Hair Tanya Epis
The inferno engulfed me, its fiery wrath swallowing me up and spitting me out, a charred, ugly mess. The devastation of divorce is like an unimaginable fire. Its fiery tongue licked savagely at my heels, as it pursued and burned everything in its way until nothing but ruin and rubble remained. The end of my marriage signaled the loss of a dream. The finality was overwhelming. No happy ending it would seem. If you had told me as a little girl that I would one day be a single mum, I would have laughed at you. Our
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little girl dreams see us living happily ever after. At the end of fifteen years of marriage, my life in ruins, I found myself pushed to the brink and on the precipice of despair. I trembled at the expansive hole that spread before me. It seemed as though all my dreams had fallen away and nothing but emptiness remained. My mind screamed its many unspoken thoughts; “Why me?” “How could my life have come to this?” “How can I go on?” Interestingly it is after the devastation of a forest fire that new life springs forth. Buds blossom once again. The seeds of hope and purpose are still there. The fire has burnt away the surface layers, yet that which lies deep within the earth is ready, waiting, quietly biding its time. In the aftermath of heartbreak and heartache I discovered an amazing thing; that the death of one thing can bring forth the birth of another; while one dream died another was resurrected.
I looked with disillusionment at my life. In my pain and emptiness I cried aloud to God. I saw myself gather together the ash and embers and cried, “How can you make anything beautiful out of something so ugly?” I presented all my fears, hopelessness and loss into His outstretched hands, holding up all there was of my life and the pieces of my dreams. I cried out to Him...”Here! This is all that I have to offer you”. It seemed like nothing and I cried bitterly. I had never felt more alone, dejected or desperate, but as I watched, the ashes of my life fluttered on the wind for a while and then … He breathed over them. One gentle breath transformed everything. He blew life back into me; He began recreating, reforming, refashioning. It was my moment of awakening. Suddenly I understood Isaiah 61:3 “He shall bestow on them beauty instead of ashes and the oil of joy in exchange for mourning.” A great exchange occurred - my ashes for something of beauty, value and worth. His breath on my hopes and dreams; the realisation
was breathtaking. It was in this place of loss that He awakened me and I saw my future - a wide-open expansive life. One of my childhood dreams was unexpectedly and graciously reawakened at a ‘Colour’ women’s conference. As a young girl I always believed that my destiny involved going to Africa. I grew up with stories of Amy Carmichael and Isobel Kuhn, female missionaries to remote parts of the earth. Despite a heart for missions that dream seemed impossible now, especially in light of the fact that I was a single mother. Hearing the words of Marilyn Skinner that year opened my eyes to the atrocities in Northern Uganda. As I listened to the stories of the child soldiers it penetrated my heart, a spark of compassion embedding itself securely in my soul, and my heart for humanity spilled over. Earnestly I sang the words “Awake my soul,” as I petitioned God to awaken the sleeping recesses of my heart, soul and mind and so
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He did. My heart broke for what broke His. I wanted to live a more destined, devoted and daring life. Lisa Bevere’s message beckoned me forward. My heart bled for a lost and hurting humanity. Then at last year’s conference the call to ‘be the change’ resonated within me. I desperately wanted to ‘go beyond beyond’ as Priscilla Shirer’s words echoed around me, urging me upward. I longed to extend the hand of kindness to the vulnerable and orphaned, to whisper hope to the abandoned and alone. And so it was that I found myself jumping off that precipice of fear, doubt and hopelessness. My buried dream, quietly biding its time was about to be clothed with possibility and come to life. I was reassured through Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” He could do more than I would be able to imagine, He was about to pour out the immeasurable over my life. I decided to take that leap of faith. I jumped and landed right in my future - Africa. Hurdles had to be overcome, challenges loomed and fears needed to be faced. I had to learn to walk the wild and unknown way every day. Comprehending that we have a purpose on this earth that has eternal significance is often beyond our human understanding. We who have been created by intelligent design - unique and individual - are necessary to an Almighty plan and our lives have been delicately, intricately woven into the pages of divine history. I penned the following thoughts before taking the leap. 26 | www.indulgemagazine.com.au
eternity f o t h g li e h t in “Living l decision to is my intentiona life with consistently live ive. While my t ec sp er p l a n er et ively tethered spirit is tentat hrough my to this earth t I am by no human frailness, ive by this means held capt I am not world’s frailties. istential constrained by ex nt illusions. a r er r o s n io t a expect sically aware in r t in m a I er h Rat ... a song of g in ll ca er h ig h a of hat sings to t y in t es d e in iv d wakened the my soul, it has a of my mind sleeping recesses llow me to and refuses to a mbed by the u n e b in a g a er ev l or vain. I am ia ic rf e p u s , w o ll o h His divine love, encapsulated in uninhibited. er ev r o f is it ir my sp d with hope, u lo a s g n si l u so My one with is t ea b t r ea h y m y breath is for purpose, my ver space between eternity - the er is but a ev r o f e h t d n a now have this time, ly n o I . t ea b t r hea l, his life to fulfil t , t en m o m is h t forever aligned my destiny. I am ose.” with divine purp
Two years of praying the desire into fruition and one year of planning, fund raising and preparing to go above and beyond, saw my dream become a reality. I was bound for Watoto Babies Home in Uganda. When I sent off my application to join the ‘Baby Watoto Global Team’ I was filled with a sense of purpose and destiny. Yet it wasn’t without its challenges and I had to decide continually not be limited by my thoughts, feelings and emotions or my concerns as a single mother. God is able to turn every situation around for good. I began to view my singleness differently. The English dictionary defines single as - 1. Distinct from others of the same kind. 2. Designed for one use. 3. Valid for an outward journey only. This knowledge infused me with determination to rise up and push through. Yes I was distinct from those around me, individual and was useful for a specific purpose on a one-way trip into the light of destiny. Africa was all that I dreamed it would be. My heart has enlarged and I am forever changed. We visited three babies homes and three children’s villages during our stay. The first home we visited was the ‘Bulrushes’ in the heart of downtown Kampala. This facility houses approx 60 babies, caring for the abandoned, premature and sick. Hospitals in Uganda are often ill-equipped and understaffed so the baby’s home provides much needed care for preterm babies that may otherwise die. The little bubs sleep in ‘bunk’ cots so they can house as many as possible at any one time. Financial support is necessary to continue to make a difference on a daily basis. Volunteers play an essential role as they assist with feeding, changing, playtime and undertake a variety of cleaning practices to ensure health and sanitisation standards are adhered to. Many hands make light work. One of our jobs involved cleaning and hosing down the cots. I have to admit I never did this for my own babies. It never occurred to me to scrub the entire cot! Another day our team joined up with a group of volunteers to take seventeen bubs to the local shopping centre. What a sight we must have been as
Indulge | May 2011 | 27
we set off with all these bubs in strollers and baby carriers. A somewhat ambitious task! By the time we returned, I was hot and tired and ready for a nap right along with the babies! While in Uganda we also visited the Subbi village an hour out of Kampala and the new babies home in Gulu (a long, and at times very bumpy six hour drive north). I sat enthralled however as we whizzed passed a breathtaking landscape dotted with worn and weather-beaten communities, peculiar mud hut villages and scantily clad children waving eagerly and enthusiastically at the curious Mzungas. (White fellas) The Gulu children’s village provides trauma rehabilitation for the abducted children affected by the rebel war efforts of the Lord’s Resistance Army or L.R.A. Here children find hope and safety once again as they reassimilate back into the normallcy of village life. Watoto does an exceptional job of rescuing, raising and rebuilding a nation of abandoned and abducted children. The mission is huge and the mandate overwhelming, however lives are being transformed one at a time. Now as I reflect about my trip, I am in awe of what God can do in such a short time. If this trip was only about me being obedient to the call and the resulting heart change for my life I would be eternally grateful, but to have had the opportunity to love those delightful babies and beautiful children was nothing short of miraculous. It was rewarding, fulfilling and significant. I have loved the opportunity to be a voice, to raise awareness and be the change. To inspire others is a beautiful gift and to offer words of hope to humanity is priceless. I am particularly humbled by my fifteen year old daughter who, while negotiating the teenage years, supported my endeavour by making
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jewellery to help raise the funds for my trip. I never imagined my own child would help me fulfill my dream. I love what it has done in her life and also my son’s and believe that the seeds sown in their hearts will have eternal value. I’m glad I listened to the call. How can we not be stirred and inspired to the ‘rise up moment’ in our lives. May I encourage you to walk out your wildest hopes and dreams and live your own God adventure? I hope you are inspired to open your imagination and embrace all your possibilities. Maybe you need to stretch the expectations and go places unchartered. If you expect nothing then nothing will come to you and if you risk nothing.... perhaps you risk everything. Dream big! We gain courage, faith and hope through every experience in which we look fear in the face. You must eyeball it and do the very thing you think you cannot do. I DID!! For when we face the fear that looms it fades away in the presence of His divine light. Go ahead, dream and imagine. Listen carefully to the drumbeat of your heart, and follow its heavenly rhythm before it fades away. Take your heart, soul and imagination right out there and don’t stop. Just keep on going - anything is possible. Kay loves to share her experiences at her blog “Heart and Soul Pursuits”. http://heartsoulexchange.blogspot.com/
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.’ – Helen Keller. Indulge | May 2011 | 29
The Art of Mothering
Words Brandi M Clements Photography Natasha Smith NSP Studio Photography Photography Brandi M Clements Clothing Suse Hocking
I remember the moment like it was yesterday. The excitement, the anxiety, the whole, “what am I doing” feeling, that comes with seeing your baby on the sonogram for the first time. I was ready, or so I told myself. My son, three at the time was ready to welcome a sibling into his heart and our family was ready to grow. It seemed that the stars were aligned for another child. Little did I know on this warm, breezy summer day, a simple sonogram would forever change my heart, my journey of healing, and take my life in a completely new direction. What happened you ask? I found out we were having a girl. A GIRL! Me, the mother of a daughter! WHAT! Shock and disbelief don’t come close to describing what I felt at that moment and throughout the rest of my pregnancy. For some people, this wouldn’t be a big deal. I mean the odds of having a girl are pretty good; 50/50, right? I don’t mean to sound silly, but it honestly never occurred to me that God would give me a daughter. My journey to adulthood, to becoming a woman, to following Christ was complicated. Most stories of healing and wholeness are not neat and tidy. At the centre of my story is the fact that I was raised a motherless child. My mother didn’t die, she left. Needless to say my youth was marked by abandonment, fear, and the trauma that followed my mothers absence. Don’t get me wrong, I had many women come into my life and leave a permanent impression. Among them my grandmother, my aunt, my father’s finance, who eventually ended up adopting me; but none of them filled the void left by “mummy”. I am very thankful to each of them for “mothering” me the best they knew how. Never-theless, it wasn’t the same upbringing a mother provides. I had internal struggles about becoming a mother because I never had it consistently modeled for me.
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Survival was the only thing I learnt, maybe because in the world I grew up in, it was the only thing necessary. When I was pregnant with my son, I remember falling to the floor one day out of desperation, just praying to God that I wouldn’t mess this up, that I would be a good Mom. Being pregnant with my daughter brought up a whole new set of fears for me. Fears I hadn’t handed over to God yet, fears I didn’t even know I had until I came face-to-face with them on a sonogram screen. Over the course of the next few months God and I wrestled with my fears, , my insecurities, my panic. Over and over, I heard God saying to me, “You’ve got this. It’s going to be ok.” I would answer with “But what if...? but what if...?” You get the picture. These few months released my personal journey into freedom, increased my measure of faith and as a result they changed the “type” of mother I’d become to my daughter and the kind of mother my daughter will someday become herself. In those short months after the sonogram God and I made changes for the next generation of women in my family. I learned how to lay my fears at the cross. God taught me how to come to him “as is”. I wasn’t perfect, it was clear I didn’t have my act together, but God was faithful to me, patient and tender with me and I will forever be grateful. When they placed my newborn daughter in my arms, she was wrapped in a beautiful pink blanket someone from our church had handmade for her, a pink gown and pink mittens; all things girly. The colour she was wrapped in was the last thing on my mind given the state of panic I was in. What I can tell you for sure is this. When my nurse placed her in my arms, all fears went away, any panic ceased She was just a baby, she needed my love and my care, my compassion and my heart. God said to me, “See! I told you, you’ve got this. It’s going to be ok.” In that moment, I finally believed him. Eight years later, I can tell you the journey hasn’t been easy. I have been at a crossroads many times in
choosing how to teach her to be a young woman. Does she see me spend more time on my hair before church than I spend preparing my heart for worship? Does she see me have compassion for the poor or does she witness greed in my heart? I tell her stories of practicing bravery, of adventure, stories about the wildness of creation and the God who made it all. Time and patience will tell what kind of woman she will grow into, but if her life so far is any indication, she is well on her way to being amazing.
“Mothers be good to your daughters they become mothers too” John Mayer
Brandi lives in Nashville, TN with her husband and three children. She writes regular on her blog site www.clementsfabfive.blogspot.com
Indulge | May 2011 | 31
MUMS
Candice Schmidt Counsellor
You have what it takes!
Mother’s day is a special time of the year where all we do as mum’s is celebrated. In writing this article, I want to join others in cheering you on, championing you in your role as mum and hopefully inspire you with some thoughts to sustain you through the other 364 days of the year.
and what beauty she finds. She is a wiper of tears, calmer of fears, tender of injuries, instructor, teacher, friend, and confidant who gives advice (whether you ask for it or not!) She is a woman with answers who will tell you who she is (“Because I am your mother, that’s why!”)”
I know how it feels to be battle-weary raising a strong-willed child, exhausted and irritable from yet another broken night with not enough sleep. Maybe you feel lost in the relentless cycle of feeding, changing nappies, washing, cleaning and entertaining your child. Perhaps you are fighting tears as you have a baby who is fussy and hard to settle and you feel like a failure as a mum. Maybe the shift from working, sexy woman to being on call 24/7 as a new mum with the extra “baby weight” kilos you put on has left you struggling and depressed.
What an incredible role we play in our children’s lives and hearts. Yes, there are those times when we feel inadequate, however Hebrews 10:35 says “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.”
You want to be a great mum, you have dreams for your family, but sometimes the reality can be really challenging. We can be so busy surviving that we don’t have the energy to ensure the little ones around us are thriving.
You see, God believes you have what it takes to be a great Mum to your child. Before the world began, your children were in God’s heart and he chose YOU to be their mother. God believes YOU CAN DO IT!!!
I love this Definition of “Mother” by Lisa Bevere from her book “Nurture”: “Mothers are those who lay down life to bring forth life - whether by way of natural childbirth, adoptions, or rescue. Mothers are advocates for children and change, protectors, nurturers, and healers of the sick. They are the ones who respond to a child’s cry in the night. They grow into masters at multi-tasking. A mother is one who feeds and sustains life with warmth 32 | www.indulgemagazine.com.au
God is bigger than your circumstances. When we understand that God is all-powerful and that nothing is too hard for Him, we find confidence that enables us to draw on God’s resources and overcome our weaknesses and failings as parents.
“A Mother children’s h while...and th forever”
“When your child was born God gave you the heavenly mandate to develop that child into all that He has destined your child to be. You have a mandate from God to parent your children.” Jane Evans He promises to “never to leave or forsake you.” He also says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” Jeremiah 33:3. God didn’t leave you to do it alone; he has the blueprint and if you believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Him, He will infuse you with strength and wisdom to parent your children well.
Nurture Nurture Nurture
The Power of Nurture: NURTURE definition (verb) 1. To give tender care and protection to a child, a young animal, or a plant, helping it to grow and develop. 2. To encourage somebody or something to grow, develop, thrive and be successful. Your child has seeds of greatness placed within them, planted by God before the foundations of the world were laid. He chose you to water, nurture and bring them in to the light. Take a moment and look to see in your children what God sees! How you look at your child - the expression on your face, the tone of your voice, your availability, your words, become the mirror our children look at for answers to their identity, value and their self-worth. continued...
r holds her hands for a heir hearts Author Unknown
Indulge | May 2011 | 33 Natasha Smith NSP Studio Photography
I notice with my children that the area of our struggle is often the area where God will use them to have the biggest impact. A warrior child can be challenging, but is most likely to transform the world around them. The sensitive child often has the seeds of compassion and empathy. Those with a strong sense of right, wrong and justice may go on to champion the cause of those unfairly treated. The energetic child may be a great athlete one day; the child drawing crayon all over the walls may have a special creative ability that will bring beauty to the world. The argumentative child who debates with you may well be a lawyer or politician standing for truth, morality and justice. Ask God to show you what is true in the heart of your child. Look for the positive gifts He has placed within them, then speak words that define them. Speak Life into their potential, who God has called them to be. The seeds we plant today are the trees and forests of the future. Your words are seeds that bring life and hope and destiny into their future. Words of prayer, faith and encouragement will water the seeds and hearts of their lives to enable them to flourish. We need to Protect our children. There are influences that are trying to kill the potential in our child’s spirit before it grows and flourishes. Boundaries are good
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– they are fences with gates that keep the bad out and let the good in. We need to set boundaries, teaching our children the why behind the “no” so they can learn self-control and make good choices when they grow up. We are not trying to hide our children from the world but we do need to protect them from those negative influences that the enemy will try to use to destroy their potential. Your child is not called to fit in, but to bring God’s heart and purpose to the world around them. There will be pressure to buy certain things, to watch certain programs, listen to certain songs or go to various places, but we, as parents need to discern and protect our children’s hearts and minds. Are they moving toward God’s heart and living Godly lives or are they becoming selfish and caught up with things and image? Matthew 22:37-10 Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on to these two commandments. Our goal as parents is to raise our kids to Love God and Love others.
So Mums, you are of incredible worth! You have been given a window of time to partner with heaven to raise your precious children. All your efforts count and while you may not see the results today or tomorrow, you can eventually see your children grow into loving, responsible adults who make a positive difference in the world. You are investing and investing (and investing!) and in the longer term you will see the reward for all your hard work investing l” your time, treasure and talent. Don’t throw away your a i t n confidence. You have what it takes. You are needed. pote God is with you and God is for you. Enjoy the journey – they really do grow up fast! You are gifted with an opportunity to give your children ROOTS and to give them WINGS. Natasha Smith NSP Studio Photography
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Body
Celebrate Mothers... 36 | www.indulgemagazine.com.au
Indulge | May 2011 | 37
NurtureYourself
Top Stress-Busting Tips for Busy Mums
By Dr Cristina Beer
As a mum, it is certainly easy to allow weariness from stress and exhaustion to make itself at home in our lives. No matter what the season of motherhood you find yourself in, whether you’re up at all hours of the evening feeding an infant, running after a toddler, or caring for teenagers, this insidious weariness can drain emotional and physical reserves. When this happens we find ourselves exhausted in strength, endurance, vigour, or freshness, and often out of patience and tolerance. Being weary is not something to be ashamed of, but is a sign that we have reached our own emotional and physical limit and need to refresh. This refreshment comes in the form of nurturing. This may be difficult for many of us to justify as we tend to be good at giving of ourselves but not to ourselves! Please keep in mind that to nurture ourselves is not a luxury but a necessity to maintain a healthy body, clear mind, and strong spirit. If we don’t find the time to nurture ourselves many of us will turn to other things to mask this essential need e.g. food, excessive busyness, approval addiction, martyrdom. These behaviours lead to worse situations rather than solving the problem of weariness. So how can we nurture ourselves? 38 | www.indulgemagazine.com.au
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Nurturing may look different to everyone but I have provided some examples of how to take care of each aspect of ourselves – body, soul, and spirit.
BODY
cAsk for help. cDo nothing! Just stop and have a breather. cGoing for a walk or do another physical activity you enjoy e.g. swimming, Zumba. cHave an afternoon nap. cGive yourself a manicure, pedicure or both. cGet your hair done. cDrink water - water balances out our tissues, flushes away chemical and toxins, and makes our body more efficient. cOffset the effects of stress on your body by exercise, eating more fresh fruit and vegetables rather than processed foods, and minimising caffeinated beverages e.g. coffee, Red Bull, Coke Zero.
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SOUL cSet regular rewards for yourself (e.g. I attribute $5 for every exercise session I do per week to my ‘piggy bank’ to spend on a something special for me e.g a book, CD, piece of jewellery – I can either spend this or save it up). cPursue a hobby e.g. creative writing, painting, scrapbooking, reading, shopping, cooking. cWatch your favourite TV show, or a good movie (personally I love periodicals e.g. Pride and Prejudice). cVisit or ring a friend. cSpend time away from the children either alone or with your partner. cListen to music and sing along! cPlanning and taking regular mini-holidays. cWrite a gratitude journal. cRenew your mind with God’s Word – you can only truly replenish your soul by doing this. SPIRIT cMeditate on God’s Word – this is the only way our spirit is fed and nourished. cPray. cSpend time practicing the presence of God. Obviously, the suggestions above are not an exhaustive list. Please feel free to pick and choose those that work for you and to add your own to the list. Also keep in mind that since our body, soul, and spirit are not mutually exclusive neither are the effects of nurturing one of these aspects of ourselves i.e. doing something to nurture our bodies lifts the energy and replenishes the reserves of our soul and spirit also. The maximal benefit is realised when we nurture each aspect of our whole being. I hope that these suggestions have helped you to feel guilt-free about ‘life’s simple pleasures’ and that you use this Mother’s Day as an opportunity to nurture yourself and allow others to nurture you. Indulge | May 2011 | 39
Prevention is better than cure! ...Beat Neck Pain
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hroughout my 12 years as a physiotherapist, neck pain has been the most common complaint I have treated. Neck pain can be caused by stress or muscle strain but can often be prevented by using good posture, getting regular exercise, and avoiding long periods in positions that stress the neck, such as prolonged computer work. So I have put some suggestions together on ways to help avoid neck pain if you experience it at different times of the day.
Day Time Tips If neck pain is worse at the end of the day, evaluate your posture and body mechanics. Avoid slouching or a head-forward posture. If you work at a computer, adjust the monitor so the top of the screen is at eye level. If you use the telephone a lot, consider using a headset or speaker phone. Adjust your car seat to a more upright position that supports your head and lower back. Use proper lifting techniques. Lifting with your knees, not your back, can also help prevent neck pain.
Darren Rieck Adjust Health Clinics
Night Time Tips If neck pain is worse in the morning, check your pillow and sleeping posture. Use a pillow that keeps your neck straight, neither too high nor too flat. Avoid sleeping on your stomach with your neck twisted or bent. If you read in bed, prop the book up so you are not using your arms to hold it up and bending your neck forward. If you are not sure if you have a good pillow, ask your physiotherapist at Adjust, we have pillows available that are adjustable to suit you. If stress is contributing to your neck pain, practice muscle relaxation exercises. Consider getting a massage. Don’t delay. You can also help prevent neck pain by staying at a healthy body weight. Strengthen and protect your neck by doing neck exercises once a day. These can range from general range of motion exercises for your neck and shoulders to advanced core muscle strengthening for your lower back. See a physiotherapist for an individualised exercise program that can target your pain. If you have any questions please drop us an email or give us a call as I am sure we can help you.
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3/2 Fortune Street Coomera 4209 07Indulge 5502 3301 | May 2011 | 41
Taking Financial Control of Your Family’s Future
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Natalie Griffin Financial Adviser We work so hard to achieve a comfortable lifestyle for our family so why are the majority of us prepared to risk it all by not having a financial back-up plan or strategy?! Most of us are pretty good at managing the household budget and mortgage but how much do we know about our “complete” financial position? There are 2 areas in particular which advisers believe more women should give thought to – Wealth Protection & Superannuation. Have you noticed the increasing number of Life Insurance ads on TV at the moment? Within the industry, we are extremely concerned as the majority of Australian families don’t have an adequate financial “back-up” plan. I believe that most of us under-estimate the financial devastation which can occur when a family member becomes ill or is injured - the cost over the long term may be exponential! If your family’s main income earner were to become
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ill today, how long could you keep up with your mortgage payments without their income? (Most people answer 1-2 months). Whilst we can have faith that we will get by, having appropriate cover in place helps reduce the financial stress and allows you to focus your attention on getting better. I look at confronting statistics daily and encourage anyone with children and a mortgage to consider both Income Protection and Life insurances to protect their family. The cost normally can be tailored to budgetary constraints you may have, plus there are potential
tax benefits – which makes this a great time of year to review your cover!! Superannuation is also a bit of an unsung hero for women. Did you know that the government has been making co-contributions of up to $1,000 into Super for low income earners?! Just brilliant for those of us working part-time who are eligible! To make the most of your working years, start looking at your Super statements now and become familiar with how your Super Fund works (refer to your Product Disclosure Statements - PDS, or talk with a qualified adviser).
Obtaining personalised advice from someone qualified would be the next step for anyone wanting to know more. Most Financial Advisers don’t charge for an initial consultation and taking the initiative may prove well worth your time. As women we are great talkers, so I encourage you to bring these topics up when chatting with your family and friends next. Greater awareness will hopefully prompt a greater number of us to take more financial control over our family’s future. WARNING – GENERAL ADVICE ONLY
The information provided in this article is General Information only, so does NOT take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. Before acting on any information contained in this article you should consider the appropriateness of the advice having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.
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There are many Jackets to choose from this winter and so many different looks... Leather jackets, trench coats and everything leopard is in. My favourite (and worth its money) is the 3/4 length black trench coat. Our number 1 pick... It is a timeless classic piece. You can dress it up for evening or wear with jeans for a casual look. Happy Shopping!
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1 3/4 length black trench coat - Dada & Co $289.00 (westfield.com.au) 2 Beige Barkins trench $99.95 (westfield.com.au) 3 Odette wrap jacket by Forcast $49.95 (westfield.com.au) 4 Houndstooth jacket by Queenspark $220 (Queenspark.com.au) 5 Fur jacket by Queenspark $279 (Queenspark.com.au) 6 Double-breasted by Supre $50 (westfield.com.au) 7 Barkins short grey trench $39.99 (westfield.com.au) 8 Leopard print by Alice & Olivia $460 (net-a-porter.com) 9 Black crepe jacket by Forcast $89.95 (westfield.com.au) 10 Maverick hooded leather jacket by Jeans West $199 (westfield.com.au) 11 Red retro swing jacket $89.95 (westfield.com.au)
Indulge | May 2011 | 45
Delicious Dinner Party
46 | www.indulgemagazine.com.au
Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Sweet Chilli Yoghurt Sauce on Creamy Parmesan Mash Serves 4 | Prep 25 minutes | Cook 30 minutes Stuffed Chicken Breasts 4 Boneless chicken breasts 4 Long bacon rashers - rindless 4 Thick strips of char-grilled peppers 1/3 cup Basil pesto - store bought is fine 1 Cut a deep pocket into the thick part of the chicken breast. Fill with 1-2 tsp of basil pesto and a strip of char-grilled pepper. Wrap up each chicken breast with a rasher of bacon and season. 2 Bake at 190-200°c for approximately 25-30 minutes until the bacon is crisp and the chicken is cooked through. 3 Serve on creamy parmesan mash with sweet chilli yoghurt sauce.
Sweet Chilli Yoghurt Sauce 1 cup of natural Greek style yoghurt 1/2 cup of sour cream 2 garlic cloves- crushed 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce Mix all together , cover and chill. Creamy Parmesan Mash Add 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup of pouring cream to normal mashed potatoes.
Indulge | May 2011 | 47
Bruschetta 2 WaysÂ
1 Tomato, Basil and Goats Cheese 2 Salmon, Avocado and Dill Cream Cheese 48 | www.indulgemagazine.com.au
Serves 8 | Prep & Cook 20 minutes 8 pieces of thickly sliced Italian style bread Olive oil Brush both sides of each piece of bread with olive oil. Toast or char-grill till crisp and golden. Cool.
SALMON, AVOCADO AND DILL CREAM CHEESE TOPPING 1 avocado - finely diced 2 tbsp fresh dill - finely chopped 100g sliced smoked salmon 1/2 cup spreadable cream cheese 2 tsp lemon juice Combine avocado, salmon, 1 tbsp dill and 1 tsp lemon juice. Mix cream cheese, 1 tbsp of dill and 1 tsp of lemon juice until smooth Spread the remaining pieces of toast with the cream cheese mixture and top with salmon and avocado. Season and serve You can prepare all of this before your guests arrive. Just add the toppings to the bread pieces just before you are about to serve your guests.
TOMATO, BASIL AND GOATS CHEESE TOPPING 4 vine-ripened tomatoes- diced 2 tsp olive oil 2 tsp balsamic vinegar 2 tbsp fresh basil- thinly sliced 120g goats cheese Combine tomato, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and basil. Spread half the toast pieces with the goats cheese then top with the tomato mixture. Season and serve Indulge | May 2011 | 49
Warm Plum Cake with Vanilla Cream
Vanilla Cream
1 cup cream 4 tsps icing sugar 1 tsp vanilla essence Use a electric beater to whisk cream, icing sugar and vanilla in a medium bowl until firm peaks form. 50 | www.indulgemagazine.com.au
Serves 6-8 | Prep 20 mins | Cook 50 mins 825g can of whole plums 250g butter, softened 1 cup castor sugar 1 tsp vanilla essence 2 eggs 2 cups flour 2 tsps baking powder Topping 1 cup of desiccated coconut 1/2 flour 1 Drain the plums well, then cut in half and remove the stone. Leave in the sieve to drain. 2 Beat the butter, sugar and vanilla until light and creamy. Add eggs one at a time until well mixed in. 3 Sift in the flour and baking powder, stir into mixture. 4 Spread 3/4’s of the mixture on the base of a well-greased and paperlined 23-24cm spring-form cake tin. 5 Arrange the plums over the cake mixture. 6 Add the coconut and 1/2 cup of flour to the remaining cake mixture and work to form crumbs. Sprinkle over the top of the plums 7 Bake at 180°c for 50 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Leave cake in the tin for 10 minutes. 8 Serve warm with vanilla cream This cake can be prepared during the day and baked 1 hour before you plan on serving dessert.