Sweet Living magazine

sweetliving Crafts • DIYs • Food • Green Living • Backyard Sustainability Issue 1

December 2011 - January 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Inspiring ideas for everyday living www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Issue 1

December 2011 - January 2012 sweetliving

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sweetliving Issue 1

December 2011 - January 2012

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sweetliving

Inspiring a sweeter life Welcome to the first issue of Sweet Living, a magazine to inspire and delight. In today’s economy, many of us are looking for smart ideas for a better life. Sweet Living is all about good living, offering fresh ideas and practical solutions for everyday life. Our emphasis is on economising (we hate the word budget!) – how to reduce household bills, how to save money (and your health!) with homemade cleaning products, how to create delicious meals for less, how to craft beautiful handmade gifts, plus DIYs for your home and garden… and more. We have lots of free goodies for you to download – in this first issue, we have free Christmas gift tags and labels for you to print. We’ll have many more free downloads in future issues.

We have lots of readers’ tips too. And our magazine is completely interactive. Just click on the links within the text and they’ll take you straight to the highlighted websites.

In this and future issues, we hope we can inspire you to make, bake, buy or DIY your way to a better living. We hope we can inspire in you a Sweet Living.

Jane

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

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New, views, tips & snips

Latest updates, inspiring ideas, thrifty tips and websites we love.

Santa’s workshop

Beautiful Christmas decorations and advent calendars to make this festive season.

Free gift tags

No need to buy pricey Christmas gift tags. Download ours for free!

Contacts www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz Editor: Jane Wrigglesworth Designer: Geoff Fitzpatrick Editorial enquiries: 22 jane@sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz Advertising enquiries: admin@sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz Readers’ tips: tips@sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz Join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/sweetlivingmagazine

The merry gift guide Christmas 23 A10 tasty 43 40 gifts for under $40, plus delightfully good-looking and suitably scrumptious sweet gifts for Christmas.

luck 33 Pot Taking a plate? Our readers share their ideas for tasty yet budget-conscious dishes.

gifts to make 37 Great Get your craft on and create inexpensive prezzies for friends and family.

some stylish luxuries for a little bit more.

sustainability 53 Backyard Grow your own veggies, build a terrace raised bed and quirky kids’ fence, and make your own organic fertiliser.

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news, views, tips & snips

5 toxins tainting your home

Organic Gardening magazine says even the most healthconscious homeowners can overlook toxins found in favourite everyday products. Their guide to toxins lists alternatives to offending items (click here to read more).

Check out their recipes for green cleaning supplies too (click here).

Community giving

The Freecycle Network is a nonprofit organisation with more than 6,5000,000 members worldwide – including New Zealand. The grassroots operation allows members to exchange items for free in their area. Their mission statement: “To build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources and eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community.” Join up – it’s free – and you can gift items to your neighbours, or find what you’re looking for, also for free. Go to the freecycle.org/ group/NZ to check out groups in your area.

No-knead bread

For the cheapest, tastiest, easiest bread ever, try Roger Doiron’s no-knead bread. We followed his recipe to a tee – and the results were divine! The bread, which features over at Mother Earth News, uses the heat and humidity of a Dutch oven to achieve the perfect crispy crust. Click here for instructions.

Snowmen blues Make friends with vinegar

Don’t just cook with it. Use it to clean your home. The Parenting Squad lists 7 natural cleaners to replace harsh chemicals, including vinegar, baking soda and vegetable oil. And for the ultimate natural cleaner, they recommend hydrogen peroxide “for inexpensive and environmentalfriendly cleaning in the kitchen.”

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Keep the kids amused with these melted snowmen cookies. Stacey Hill, of Truly Custom Cakery, made these fun Christmas cookies, which have been posted on blogs and websites around the world. Stacey’s even provided a tutorial for making them. Visit Truly Custom Cakery for step-by-step instructions.

Photo: Stacey Hill.

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Ingredient substitutes

Don’t get caught short. If you’re missing a particular ingredient for a recipe, there might be another you can use instead.

Recipe calls for:

Use instead:

Beef stock

Instant coffee

Breadcrumbs

Crushed Weet-Bix or Cornflakes

Buttermilk

Milk + vinegar (recipe here), or plain yoghurt

Chocolate, grated (30g)

3 Tbsp cocoa + 1 Tbsp margarine

Coconut milk

Milk + coconut essence

Cream, 1 cup

210 ml milk + 2 Tbsp melted unsalted butter

Cream of tartar (1/2 tsp)

1/2 teaspoon white vinegar or lemon juice

Honey

Jam, sugar or golden syrup

Mayonnaise

Natural yoghurt

Molasses

Honey

Sour cream

Plain yoghurt

Stock cube

Marmite or Vegemite

5 websites we Family Fun

Full of easy recipes, fun crafts, free printables (everything from colouring pages, games, puzzles, activity sheets, party decorations, cards and invites), party and playtime activities, for kids through to 12 years old. Includes how-to videos as well. A fun site for kids and parents.

Love Food Hate Waste Homegrown flowers

Pick flowers from your garden and deliver a handcrafted bouquet to the hostess with the mostess. Next time you’re invited to a friend’s for dinner give your host a bunch of flowers – from your own garden! Daisies, hydrangeas and roses are dead easy to grow, but pretty annuals like cosmos and dahlias are a breeze too.

Or make a wreath for that special occasion.

It’s simple. All you need is a floral foam wreath, which is available from florist shops, or some emporium stores. Wet the foam, then poke holes in the foam with wire. Insert the flower stems into the holes. Whip it up a day or two before the big day and keep the foam moist.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

The Love Food Hate Waste website provides helpful tips on how not to waste food. There’s a great section chock full with recipes for leftovers, plus storage tips and advice on how to revive wilting food.

Cheap Cooking

Lots of clever tricks and tasty recipes for cooking on a budget. Sections include: budget cooking, family menu planning, freezer meals and batch cooking, grocery shopping tips, home food storage, leftover recipes, crockpot recipes, beef recipes, chicken recipes, dessert recipes, and more!

Gymcost

A handy website that provides up-to-date gym membership prices at your fingertips. Lists gyms in your area as well as yoga facilities and posts news on current and up-and-coming deals. Lets you review membership fees and compare facilities without leaving home.

Priceme and PriceSpy

Looking for the latest mobile phone, breadmaker, bike or trike? These two websites offer price comparisons from retailers around the country. Check here to see where the best deals are.

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The thrifty cook Readers’ tried and true tips for saving money in the kitchen.

Make meat go further

If you haven’t quite got enough mince to make hamburger patties, you can make it stretch further by adding rolled oats. We also found a recipe in a magazine for chicken hamburger patties that included grated zucchini. It was absolutely delicious.

Lee, Auckland

Homemade chicken stock

Save the carcasses of whole cooked chickens and the bones of chicken pieces to make chicken stock. You can store bones in the freezer until you have enough.

One chicken carcass is good for 2 litres of stock.

Add 2.5 litres water; chicken carcass; 1 large carrot, chopped; 1 leek, chopped; 1 stalk celery, chopped; 1 onion, quartered; 2 bay leaves; fresh thyme or rosemary; 8-10 peppercorns; lemon peel. Bring to boil and simmer for 2 hours. Cool, strain, refrigerate or freeze. The chicken pieces and vegetables that are strained are given to the dog!

Adrienne, Dunedin

Homemade beef stock

Weevils and pantry moths

Scatter fresh bay leaves onto your shelves to repel pantry moths.

Judith, Taupo

Weet-Bix crumbs

When you finish all your Weet-Bix, there are always broken bits left at the bottom of the box.

I use this as a topping for fruit crumbles.

I put a bay leaf in with my rolled oats container to keep out weevils.

Yolanda, Dairy Flat

Rosie, Auckland

Citrus fire starters

Milk powder

When a recipe calls for milk, we use milk powder, which you make up with water. It might not appeal for drinking purposes, but you can’t taste the difference between fresh and powdered milk when used in pancakes, cakes or rice puddings, etc. Milk powder is a darn site cheaper than fresh milk.

Save all your lemon and orange peels and put them into a bucket to dry. They make excellent kindling for fires.

John, Orewa

Track leftovers

Ann, Stratford

Keep track of leftovers with a list that can be stuck to the fridge with a magnet. That may sound silly, but for me it’s literally out of sight out of mind. Write the name of the food and the date it was cooked. That way, no wasted food.

Baking tins

Beryl, Gore

Save salmon tins and the likes for baking. Clean them thoroughly then use them as mini cake moulds.

Pat, Auckland

My mum makes her own beef stock by boiling up mince and straining off the water then letting it cool and skimming off the layer of fat on top (which you can use for roasting/frying). Then she fries the mince to make any mince dish (lasagne, spaghetti bolognese, etc) and the meat seems softer. When my son was on a gluten free diet, I used this beef stock because the gluten-free stock is expensive. I also boiled up veggies and strained the water off for veggie stock.

Maximise cinnamon flavour

If your cinnamon has lost some of its scent, add it to melting butter in your frypan. Cinnamon and other spices ‘bloom’ when added to hot fat.

Add both the cinnamon and butter to your mix.

Dale, Auckland

Leigh, Auckland Page 8

sweetliving Issue 1

December 2011 - January 2012

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Santa's Workshop

Be crafty this festive season and make your own Christmas tree and decorations.

It’s curtains for Christmas trees Got some old net curtains lying around? Use them to make a Christmas tree. You’ll need about 6m of 1.5m-wide net curtaining (if you don’t have any spare, you can buy it for $3 a metre at one of the discount emporiums), plus a single-size white sheet and a cone-shaped frame. We used a 120cmhigh bamboo garden obelisk.

Wrap the sheet around the frame first, then wind the net curtaining around it from top to bottom. Secure at the bottom with pins. Then decorate!

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Santa's Workshop

DIY Christmas stockings Sarah Moore’s new book, Homemade Gifts Vintage Style, provides inspiring ideas for vintage gifts from teacup candles to Christmas stockings There is something really special about hanging out stockings at Christmas time, and one that is roomy enough for the most wished-for present makes a great gift in itself. You will need quite a large piece of thick woollen fabric, so an old blanket is perfect.

Choose a plaid picnic rug, complete with tassels, or a thick bed blanket, often found with a satin ribbon edging.

You can make these special stockings as simple or as fancy as you like. Adding initials or names is both decorative and always good for avoiding any confusion in the early hours of Christmas morning, or you can just use a simple bauble design or pocket to embellish the stocking.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

YOU WILL NEED: paper for template | pencil | paper scissors | large piece of woollen blanket | pins | tailor’s chalk | tape measure | fabric scissors | contrasting vintage fabric or felted woollen fabric for appliqués | embroidery threads | embroidery needle | sewing machine (optional) | iron | length of ribbon | little bits of sparkle, buttons or pompoms if you like

S tart by making a template: have a look at the stocking in the picture, or copy one that you have already. Draw it out freehand on a piece of newspaper or, alternatively, draw around the biggest pair of Wellington boots that you have in the house and then add quite a few centimetres all around. Cut out the shape. lankets are perfect for this project as they have a helpful B finished edge already. If the blanket is different on the front and the back, place it right-side down. Pin the top of the stocking template along the fringed or finished edge of the blanket and chalk around it to make the sewing line. Remove the template and cut out the stocking shape about 2cm outside that line. Turn the template over, chalk a mirror image of the stocking shape on the blanket and cut it out in the same way.

If you want to add appliqué decorations to the 50 inspirational ideas for vintage gifts stockings, now candles, button bracelets,so choose strong is the time to sew them from on.teacup Simplicity is best, Christmas stockings to baby blankets, suitcases and muchor more…

Christmas shapes such covered as baubles ormuch, gifts, the stocking for every occasion from birthdays of all vintage fabrics or recipient’s initials or name, and cut them from * Presents ages to housewarming gifts and festive celebrations felted wool. Or cut pocket shapes from more of the blanket and * Projects are easy and accessible – made by hand, sewn with a simple stitch, or one easy stitch on a sewing machine sew them to the stocking to hold extra-special little presents. * All items can be made in a couple of hours,

HOMEMADE GIFTS VINTAGE STYLE

so you can create gorgeous gifts in an evening

Pin the appliqués in place, ensuring they do not stray over the sewing line or they will disappear into the seam. Either handsew all around the edges with blanket stitch (see page 21), or machine-sew them on using the zigzag setting.

Sarah Moore is a self-confessed vintage addict and mother of three. She makes and sells vintage inspired pieces at local craft fairs and Christmas markets. She is the co-author of The Biscuiteers Book of Iced Biscuits published in 2010.

Design by Victoria Sawdon at Big Fish Photography by Debi Treloar

Kyle Books Ltd. www.kylebooks.com

£16.99

When you have finished the appliqué, place the stocking shapes right sides together, making sure that the fringed or ribbonedged tops are level with each other. Pin the stockings together and then sew all around the chalk sewing line using backstitch (see page 21).

Turn the stocking right side out and trim off any excess seam allowance. You need to add a loop of ribbon to the top so that it can be hung up. Press open the back seam at the top of the stocking with a warm iron. Pin the ends of the ribbon loop across the seam allowances and sew them in place using backstitch on the machine or some good, strong handstitches.

You can sew a pompom to the tip of the stocking toe, and sequins, buttons and trims to the top edge if you have used fabric without a finished border, or just want to add a bit more sparkle.

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Extracted with permission from: Homemade Gifts Vintage Style

By Sarah Moore Photography by Debi Treloar Published by Kyle Books, distributed in New Zealand by New Holland

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Counting the days Raid your sewing box (or your mum’s or grandmum’s) for pieces of festive-looking fabric and make an advent calendar.

Appliqué an angel onto linen or calico, arrange a patchwork of 24 squares around the edges, then pop little prezzies inside.

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Santa's Workshop

Crafty reindeer Kids will love this freestanding advent calendar.

Make your own using a Kaisercraft reindeer (pictured above) and little goody bags. Make your own bags or buy them for a song from a craft store.

Stencil numbers onto them and you’re finished!

‘Tis the season Blogland has a plethora of gorgeous DIY advent calendars for crafty folk to make. We particularly love these four from the lovely blogs (pictured from left): The Marion House Book; Visual Heart; Charm Design; Stylizimo. www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

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sweetliving Sparkly tree Sara Duckett from Sadie Olive made this oh-so-beautiful sparkling Christmas tree. It’s a lovely way to utilise vintage pieces passed down in the family. Sara collected a range of vintage jewellery to use in the design and stayed to a mostly neutral colour scheme of silver, gold, cream and white.

She then used vintage buttons, beads and glass shards to fill in the rest.

A bracelet acts as the tree skirt, and a beaded necklace outlines the tree. “The frame was an estate sale find, and I drilled holes in the board and covered it with green velvet using some spray adhesive. There is a battery powered strand of white lights that pokes through and lights the tree.” Beautiful! Visit Sara’s blog Sadie Olive for more inspiring ideas, and check out her online boutique too.

Photo: Sara Duckett.

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Santa's Workshop

Star attraction

Never underestimate the beauty of a button. Lisa Moran’s buttonembellished star is worthy of its cult status. Laden with creamy vintage buttons, Lisa says her signature star has found its way all across the globe.

Take inspiration from Lisa’s design and use up all those buttons your mum has been hoarding. Or you can simply buy one from Lisa’s online store, Bilancia Designs.

Photo: Lisa Moran.

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Burlap wreath Go beyond convention and make a festive wreath out of torn-up sheets, old sacking or burlap. You’ll need: 1 x 35cm polystyrene wreath (from florists or craft shops); 1.5m burlap; 2m ribbon (for bow). Cut strips of burlap about 5cm x 40cm long.

Tie the strips around the wreath (pictured), positioning them close to one another so that the polystyrene doesn’t show. Slip a ribbon through the finished wreath and tie a bow.

Attach any decorations with strong craft glue or pins, then hang!

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Santa's Workshop

On a shoestring

We adore Madeline Jacks’ yarn and string snowmen.

Madeline made this cute snow family for Christmas celebrations last year. Each year she and her family get crafty – and thrifty. “One year we had a “Thrift Store Christmas,” where everything we gave to each other could only be from a bona fide thrift store. Mind you, this was before trendy vintage and recycled clothing stores existed.

Quantity vs. quality was the big debate that year. But my goodness did we end up with a lot of things under the tree. Last year was the best yet. We dubbed it “Crafty Craft Christmas!” And no one was let down. Everything had to be handmade and one of a kind.” What a great idea! Check out Madeline’s lovely blog, Spidatter.

Photo: Madeline Jacks.

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Gift tags

No need to spend money on labels.

Download your free Christmas gift tags here.

Click here to download your free gift tags.

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Free gift tags DownloaD

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Free

ads o l n dow

We’ve made it simple. Just click on the link provided, download the PDF, then print your gift tags on white card stock. Or print them on adhesive paper for self-adhesive labels.

Click here to download your free gift tags.

Free gift tags DownloaD

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The Toymaker’s printable gift tags Marilyn Scott-Waters, aka The Toymaker, has one admirable goal: “To help grownups and kids spend time together making things.” Visit her website thetoymaker.com, and you’ll definitely want to do that. Her site offers a large selection of paper toys, all free for visitors to download. Fairy houses, puppet theatres, animal friends, birds and butterflies… We promise, you won’t be disappointed. Over 7 million paper toys have already been downloaded! Marilyn designed these adorable gift cards too.

Click here to download them for free.

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Free

s load n w do

Click here to download them for free.

Great Book Alert!

Marilyn Scott-Waters’ brilliant book The Toymaker’s Workshop features 11 three-dimensional paper toys with movable parts for you to make. Just punch out the perforated pieces, fold and glue together to construct a flying machine, a tooth fairy palace, a miniature theatre (complete with cast), a pirate ship with a gold-filled treasure chest to open, a unicorn forest, and more. Beautiful illustrations for loads of fun. Available from all good book stores.

RRR $12.99, David Bateman www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

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Sugar and spice

FFrreeee

sweetliving

Vanilla sugar

Vanilla sugar is very easy to make and requires only two ingredients – vanilla and sugar. Once you’ve made it, don’t throw away the beans. They can be reused. Pour the vanilla sugar into glass jars, download your free labels – and you have the perfect gift! Punch holes in the labels and attach with ribbon or string.

Ingredients • 1 vanilla bean • 2 cups granulated sugar

s load n w do

Free labels

ds nloa dow

Vanilla Sugar

Vanilla Sugar

Directions Slice your vanilla bean in half lengthwise and scoop the seeds out into an airtight container that’s big enough to hold 2 cups of sugar. Add the sugar and the vanilla bean (push it into the sugar). Seal tightly and let sit for 1-2 weeks. Pour into jars and label.

Vanilla Sugar

Vanilla Sugar

Vanilla Sugar

Vanilla Sugar Vanilla Sugar Click here to download your free gift tags.

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A tasty Christmas

10 delightfully good-looking and suitably scrumptious sweet gifts for Christmas

Dear Santa, 40 gifts under $40 plus some stylish luxuries (for a little bit more)

Fondant-covered cookies

These delicious cookies will be the star attraction at any gathering. Make a basic cookie dough and cover with fondant icing. You can buy pre-made fondant icing at supermarkets or cake decorating shops. Roll out the fondant and cut with a cookie cutter. Score pattern with a knife, and decorate with silver cachous (from supermarkets).

Basic cookie recipe on page 35.

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Sugared fruit Turn an ordinary cake into an extraordinary one with sugar-coated fruit.

Not only does it add fruity appeal, it’s a great way to cover up cake disasters.

All you need is fruit, egg whites and caster sugar.

Simply brush fruit with egg whites, roll in sugar, then set aside to dry.

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A tasty Christmas

Caramel apples A slightly different twist on the toffee apple, these delicious sweets are dipped in Jersey caramel sauce.

Recipe on page 35.

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Pistachio chocolate This has to be the easiest sweet treat ever! Line a baking tray with wax paper and set aside. Melt a 375g packet of chocolate melts in the microwave on 50% power for 1 minute. Stir, and repeat in 30 second bursts until melted. (A double boiler on the stove works too.) Spread the chocolate onto the wax paper using a spatula, then sprinkle over crushed pistachios. Place in fridge to set, then break into pieces.

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A tasty Christmas

Mini Christmas cakes

Make a batch of festive fruit cake then divvy up small portions into 1-cup muffin tins. Recipe on page 35.

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Gingerbread cookies Gingerbread men are a traditional Christmas treat.

But there’s no need to stop there. Make gingerbread stars, bears, baubles or layered Christmas trees.

• 125g butter • 1/3 cup sugar • 1/3 cup golden syrup • 3 teaspoons baking soda • 3 cups flour • ½ teaspoon ground ginger • 1 teaspoon cinnamon • 1 egg • 1 teaspoons vanilla essence 1. P lace butter, sugar and golden syrup in saucepan and heat gently until butter melts.

Allow to cool, then add baking soda.

2. A dd sifted flour and spices and mix well, then add egg and vanilla. Mix to form a soft dough.

Roll dough out thinly, cut into shapes then bake on a greased oven tray at 180°C for 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack, then ice.

For the Christmas tree, use different sized cookie cutters and place one star on top of the other in order of size.

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A tasty Christmas

Poke holes into the top of your cookies before baking and use them as scented tree decorations. www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

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Fancy sugar cubes

You don’t need a degree to make sugar shapes – just a tiny mould, a cup of sugar and a splash of water. These fancy cubes make a fabulous gift for party hosts. Instructions on page 35.

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A tasty Christmas

Paint your cake Take a leaf out of Natasha Collins’ cake-decorating book and paint your cakes. Natasha is a baker, artist, designer, illustrator, and all-round clever lady. Take inspiration from her beautiful designs and draw on your cakes with food colouring or a food writing pen (available from cake decorating shops). See more inspiring designs at Natasha’s blog, Amelie’s House.

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Whole strawberry jam

Who doesn’t like homemade fruity jams? Especially when the succulent fruit remains whole – all the better for the bite. Raid your strawberry patch (or your neighbour’s) and whip up a batch of the freshest, tastiest jam. Recipe on page 35.

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A tasty Christmas

Pot luck

Taking a plate? Our readers share their ideas for tasty yet budget-conscious dishes.

Plum galette

If I’m asked to take dessert I usually take my homemade plum galette. We have a plum tree, which is absolutely laden with fruit around Christmas time. What we can’t eat fresh I bottle, so we have yummy plums year-round. Photo: Vanilla, fotolia.

• 2 ½ cups plus 2 tablespoons flour • 230g unsalted butter, cut into pieces • 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon sugar, plus more for dusting • 1 teaspoon salt • ½ cup ice water • ¼ cup whole almonds, toasted • 6 plums, sliced • 1 to 2 tablespoons heavy cream 1. P lace 2 ½ cups flour, butter, 1 teaspoon sugar, and salt in food processor and mix to a coarse meal. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup ice water. Mix until the dough holds together when squeezed but is still a little crumbly. Slowly dribble in more water if necessary, one tablespoon at a time. You may not need to use all the water.

2. E mpty the processor and knead until the dough comes together.

Wrap in cling film and chill in fridge for 1 hour.

3. Place almonds, 3 tablespoons sugar, and 2 tablespoons flour into food processor and grind coarsely.

4. P reheat oven to 180°C. Remove dough from the fridge and place on a floured surface. Roll out dough as circularly as possible, to about 5mm thick.

5. Transfer to a greased baking tray. Sprinkle over almond mixture, then place plums on dough, overlapping slightly, leaving a 10cm border. Fold the edges over the fruit and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake until crust is golden brown and crispy, about 60-70 minutes.

Bread nibbles

The kids love these starry breads, and they can easily make them by themselves. They are a very quick, very easy and very cheap nibble dish to go with bubbles (champers for adults or fizzy for kids). You just need two different coloured breads, cream cheese (I mix in chives or other herbs from the garden) and a small cookie cutter. Cut several squares, then cut out shapes with the cookie cutter. Slot the cut-out shapes into the square pieces, spread one square with the cream cheese mix and sandwich together.

Geraldine, Auckland.

Potato salad

If I need to take a salad to a BBQ or pot luck I like to do a potato salad using purple Maori potatoes. We grow our own, but you can buy purple potatoes at some supermarkets and greengrocers. All I need to buy is the salad dressing. I mix in some seasoning and plenty of herbs from the garden, and two large bowls cost me less than $5. Brenda, Rotorua.

Photo: Sarsmis, fotolia.

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A tasty Christmas

a slightly damp feel and stick together when squeezed.

2. Spoon a teaspoon of sugar into your cutter and press down with the back of the spoon or your finger.

3. Turn out onto wax paper and leave to dry for a few hours. Store in an airtight container.

4. For coloured cubes, use a few drops of food colouring in the mix.

Mini Christmas cakes

Fondant-covered cookies Basic cookie dough • 125g butter • ⅔ cup caster sugar • ⅓ cup honey • 1 egg • 1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional) • 3 drops almond essence (optional) • 3 cups flour, sifted

1. C ream butter, sugar and honey until light and fluffy.

2. Add egg (and optional extras) and beat well.

3. Mix in flour to form a dough. Wrap in cling film and chill in fridge for 30 minutes.

4. Roll dough out thinly and cut into shapes.

Bake at 180°C for 10-12 minutes, or until firm.

Cool on wire rack, then ice.

• 500g mixed dried fruit • 125g blanched almonds • ½ cup sherry or brandy • 1 ½ cups firmly packed brown sugar • 1 teaspoon baking soda • 2 cups plain flour • 1 cup self-raising flour • 2 teaspoons mixed spice • ¾ cup milk • 3 eggs, beaten • 250g butter, melted

Whole strawberry jam

1. P lace dried fruit, almonds and sherry in large bowl, then cover and set aside for 15 minutes.

2. M ix in sugar, then add sifted flours, baking soda, and spice.

3. P lace milk, eggs and butter in a bowl and combine.

Pour over the fruit mixture and mix well.

4. P our mixture into greased 1-cup muffin tins and bake at 160°C for 2 hours 45 minutes, or until firm to touch. Allow to cool then ice and decorate with a glazed cherry and ivy leaf. Makes 12.

Caramel apples

• 1 or 2 packets (about 50 sweets) Jersey caramels

• 2 tablespoons water • pinch salt • 6 apples • sliced almonds, pecans or coconut • 6 wooden skewers 1. P lace Jersey caramels and water into a double boiler and melt over simmering water. Stir frequently until melted. If syrup is too thick, add a few drops of water. Stir in salt.

2. Push a skewer into the bottom of each apple.

Dip apples in caramel and turn to coat.

Immediately roll in almonds or coconut. Set on a baking tray lined with wax paper. Chill until firm. www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Fancy sugar cubes • 2 cups sugar • 2 tablespoons water • small cookie cutter

1. P lace sugar and water in bowl and mix until the sugar begins to hold its shape. Add more sugar or water if necessary. The mixture should take on Issue 1

• 1.5kg small, whole strawberries • juice of 3 lemons • 1.5 kg jam-setting sugar • knob of butter

1. Wash and hull strawberries and place in a large non-metallic bowl. Sprinkle lemon juice and sugar over the berries and mix gently. Place a tea towel over the bowl and let stand overnight. This helps to keep the strawberries whole.

2. Next morning, place a saucer in the freezer.

3. Transfer the berries and juice into a preserving pan or large, heavy-based saucepan. Heat gently, stirring until sugar dissolves.

4. Turn up the heat, then boil hard for 4 minutes exactly. Remove pot from the heat to test for setting point. Pull the saucer from the freezer, and drop a small teaspoon of jam onto it. Leave it to cool for a minute, then run a finger through it.

If it wrinkles at the edges and stays in two separate sections, it is ready. If not, return to the boil for 2 minutes, then re-test.

5. W hen ready, mix in the butter. Skim any scum from surface, then cool for 10-15 minutes. Stir, then poor into sterilised jars.

Photo credits: Page 23 & 29 Elisabeth Coelfen, fotolia; Page 24, 25, 27 & 32 Sarsmis, fotolia; Page 26 Kati Molin, fotolia; Page 28 Matka Wariatka, fotolia; Page 30 Ingrid HS, fotolia; Page 29 Natasha Collins, Amelie’s House.

December 2011 - January 2012 sweetliving

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The Bead Hold

BEADS!

Hand selected from all over the world C lasses * Parties

Jewellery Repairs 161 Pt Chevalier Road Pt Chevalier, 09 845 1345 www.thebeadhold.co.nz Page 36

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sweetliving

Gifts to make Handmade gifts are super trendy right now.

Get your craft on and create inexpensive prezzies for friends and family.

Leather-bound notebook This classy leather-clad book is perfect for guys or gals, and it takes no more than an hour to make!

You’ll need scrap leather (we bought ours for $3 at a discount emporium), leather cord (from craft shops and emporiums), and a notebook. We used a sewing machine to attach our leather ties, but you can hand sew them instead if you prefer.

1

2

Cut two narrow strips of leather for tying, one long (to wrap around the book) and one short. Sew onto the flap of your leather jacket, as shown, with strips positioned in opposite directions.

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3

Measure your notebook then cut a leather jacket to fit. Cut big enough to allow the flap to come halfway across the front.

The length of your jacket will be about 3 x the width of your notebook.

Place the leather jacket in its correct position, then thread the leather cord through the centre of the book and tie on the outside.

Snip the ends a little shorter to make them tidy.

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Make a

pincushion

Any crafter or sewer will love this cute little pincushion. Can’t crochet? No problem.

Take a trip to your nearest op shop and pick up a crocheted blankie for a song.

Remove a couple of the granny squares and sew them together, leaving one corner open. Fill with stuffing then sew the corner shut. Embellish the top and sides with a crocheted trim (you can buy these from craft shops, or you may find some at an op shop). Go one step further and sew a hair scrunchie to the bottom of the cushion to turn it into a wrist pincushion.

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Gifts to make

The easiest soft toys ever!

Need a gift for the littlest member of your family?

Whip up a wool-blanket bunny in less than an hour. Draw a bunny shape onto brown paper (large brown envelopes are perfect for this) then pin your pattern onto an old blanket (or an old shirt or any fabric you have stashed in the cupboard) and cut out two bunny sides. Pin right sides together and sew around the edges, leaving one corner open.

Turn right sides out, then fill with stuffing. You can use the stuffing from an old cushion or pillow.

When full, sew the corner shut. Stitch a mouth with embroidery thread, stitch on a button for a nose and add adhesive eyes (from craft shops) - or use felt for the eyes instead.

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What a hoot!

Australian crafter Paula Storm posted this owl softie tutorial on her blog to give Kiwis the know-how to make cute little soft toys for the kids affected in the Christchurch earthquakes.

She says they’d make excellent Christmas gifts too. Step-by-step instructions are available on her website, Sew Little Fabric.

A collection of Paula’s patterns, including her new booklet pattern Ready Set Sew: a kids guide to sewing, is available from Hugs ‘n Kisses.

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Gifts to make

Goodnight pillow

Tuck youngsters into bed with their favourite toy right beside them.

1 Materials: • Pillowcase • 4 x 14cm x 17cm pieces of fabric (use 4 different patterns) • 1 x 16cm x 17cm piece of fabric (for pocket) • 1 x 50cm x 17cm piece of fabric (for back) • 1 x 15cm length of braiding (trim for pocket) • Cotton • Embroidery thread

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2

3

1. Cut 15cm off the end of the pillowcase.

2. Pin the four 14cm x 17cm pieces together, allowing for a 1cm hem on each end, then stitch. Zigzag edges to stop from fraying. Iron edges flat.

3. Use tailor’s chalk to write “Good Night” on one of the pockets.

Embroider with embroidery thread.

4. Fold pocket top under 1cm then fold under 1cm again. Stitch. Sew trim to top of pocket on right side. Pin pocket to bottom of patchwork strip.

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6 5. Take the 50cm length of fabric and place it on top of the patchwork strip, with right sides together. Sew bottom and top ends together.

6. With right sides still together, place over pillowcase and pin the top edges, as shown. Stitch.

7. Turn the pillow case inside out, pulling the patchwork strip out too and stitch together the remaining open edges.

December 2011 - January 2012 sweetliving

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Want to see your ad in Sweet Living?

Email us at admin@sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

share your

money-saving tips.

email us at

tips@sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

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sweetliving

Merry gift guide Stuck for Christmas gift ideas? Peruse our festive emporium for fabulous gift ideas for him, her, them and us.

Dear Santa,

The team at Sweet Living write their Christmas wish list.

40 gifts under $40 plus some stylish luxuries (for a little bit more)

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For her‌ Frangipani candle

Beautifully scented candle made with a blend of natural botanical vegetable and soy waxes, and fragrant oils. NZ-made. $20, from Green with Envy.

Owl vase

One part cute, one part practical – display your flowers in style. $29.99, from EziBuy.

Notebook

Pretty cut-out design with natural, unruled pages. Small $9.99; medium $12.99, from Trade Aid.

Ring holder

A pretty foxglove in white porcelain to bring a touch of spring to your dressing table. $45, from Monde Green.

Tin opener

Cute butterfly in a range of colours and patterns, $24, from Pylones.

Time for a cuppa

Vintage tea cups from op shop, about $25 for cup, saucer and plate set; Harney & Sons tins with tea, $19.95, and Tagalons (take them with you in your handbag), from $6.95 each.

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Merry gift guide

50 inspirational ideas for vintage gifts from teacup candles, button bracelets, Christmas stockings to baby blankets, covered suitcases and much, much more…

HOMEMADE GIFTS VINTAGE STYLE

* Presents for every occasion from birthdays of all ages to housewarming gifts and festive celebrations * Projects are easy and accessible – made by hand, sewn with a simple stitch, or one easy stitch on a sewing machine * All items can be made in a couple of hours, so you can create gorgeous gifts in an evening Sarah Moore is a self-confessed vintage addict and mother of three. She makes and sells vintage inspired pieces at local craft fairs and Christmas markets. She is the co-author of The Biscuiteers Book of Iced Biscuits published in 2010.

Design by Victoria Sawdon at Big Fish Photography by Debi Treloar

Kyle Books Ltd. www.kylebooks.com

£16.99

Clothes pegs

Gift making

Perch a row of swallow pegs on your clothes-line. Set of 8, no suction $28; with suction $35, from Pylones.

Paperclip holder

Liven up your desk with this chirping bird paperclip magnet – it chirps when it moves!

One of six designs, $26, from Pylones.

Homemade Gifts Vintage Style by Sarah Moore offers 50 inspirational ideas for vintage gifts, from Christmas stockings (see our excerpt page 11) to baby blankets, button bracelets and covered suitcases. A beautiful book to inspire any crafter. RRP $45, New Holland.

Hummingbird matches

The most beautiful matchboxes you’ve ever seen! 100 matches per box. $9 each from Mondegreen.

Make Cheese

Hot off the press, NZ Lifestyle Block’s special edition How to Make Cheese & other dairy products by Kiwi Jean Mansfield will get your juices flowing. Step-by-step instructions for making butter, cream cheese, haloumi, ricotta, feta, camembert, parmesan, mozzarella, edam, cheddar and more. $19.90, from supermarkets, or buy online at mags4gifts.

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Rolling pin

This carved wooden rolling pin is just the ticket for pressing patterns onto shortbread and gingerbread. $44.99 from Trade Aid.

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For him…

Hair & skincare

Keep the man in your life looking fresh and smooth with homegrown brands Primal Earth (an organic skincare range) and Dominate (for some serious hair styling). Primal Earth gift pack RRP $34, from The Warehouse; Dominate gift pack RRP $18, from The Warehouse and online at Mighty Ape.

The Man’s Manual

For the man who needs to know how to tie a bow tie, talk lingerie, flirt with a waitress, bake brownies, organise a poker game, land an airplane safely, work out to actually get a workout, hunt down venison, determine how to become a sex object, and more. $24.95, from Fishpond.

Dish brush

Jack Scully makes washing dishes fun. Available in red, black, white and purple. $16.90 from Iko Iko.

Beer

A beer lover’s paradise – choose from a range of beers from around the world. Pictured: Coney Island Human Blockhead (650ml bottle) $19.88; Lost Abbey Avant Garde Ale (750ml) $26.27; Rogue Chocolate Stout (650ml) $19.42, from The Beer Store.

Doggy doorstop

This quintessentially British pooch will politely hold doors open. $34.99, from EziBuy.

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Merry gift guide

Flash drive

The Bone Collection Ninja 4GB USB flash drive has to be the coolest flash drive around. Encased in a removable waterresistant silicone jacket, it conceals secret magnets that let it climb right up (ferrous) walls! $54 each, from Urbanites.

Egg cups

Dine in style with these ceramic egg cups by Quail.

Owl $28; wolf $27; badger $27, from Mondegreen.

Organic coffee

Better Day Blend is a smooth, well rounded espresso blend, sweet but with enough bite for a satisfying cup. Coffee grinds or beans $7.99, from Trade Aid.

Jazz & Blues

Putumayo Presents: A Jazz & Blues Christmas features some oldschool cool such as Ray Charles and BB King, along with traditional jazz (Dukes of Dixieland), souljazz (Ramsey Lewis), and a few flourishing talents (Mighty Blue Kings, Topsy Chapman). Available from music stores.

Cufflinks

Handcrafted in alpaca silver by artisans in Mexico. $29.99, from Trade Aid.

Gorillatorch A flexible, handsfree torch with wrappable legs and super strong magnetic feet.

It clings to just about anything, and includes a dimmer so you can adjust the level of brightness. $59.99, from I Want That.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Clocky

Clocky is an alarm clock that gives you one chance to get up. If you snooze, Clocky will jump off your nightstand and wheel around your room. And he won’t shut up until you get out of bed. Black $74.99; chrome $89.99, from gumboot.co.nz.

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For boys & girls…

Climb@Tron robot Using a powerful vacuum suction system, the Climb@ Tron Rex easily scales smooth surfaces like glass. Lots of fun for kids of all ages. $29.99, from I Want That.

Ninjago books

LEGO® Ninjago: The Chosen Four and LEGO® Ninjago: Spinning Power come complete with everything you need to build your very own Ninjago mini figure. Both activity books feature stories, puzzles and lots of fun for the LEGO fan.

Penguin, RRR $12.99, from bookstores.

Tiger game

Baag Chaal – Tiger Game – is the national game of Nepal. The trick is to encircle the goats with the tigers, or prevent it if you’re playing the goats. $36.99, from Trade Aid.

Heist puzzle

Hidden away behind 13 pieces and 57 vault locks are the world’s most precious gem stones. This devious puzzle challenges you to steal them, one by one. The clever thief may manage one or two, but can you get all of them? Not a puzzle for the faint of heart. Ages 12-112 years. $27.99, from I Want That.

Temporary tattoos Host an hilarious hand show with these temporary tattoos.

Hands become animals! Safe and simple to apply with water. Pack of 8 animal tattoos, $10.29, from I Want That.

Ornamental clocks

Add sparkle to your home with these decorative clocks.

Penguin $15; Owl $20.99, from EziBuy.

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Merry gift guide

DIY Flip Dolls

Two-sided dolls, ready for colouring in! These 30cm-high dolls have illustrated linework, ready for creative kids to draw on.

Each side has a different face and design. Pictured are Bill the Pirate & Caption Bob; and Nurse Olga and Emma. $19.95 per doll, from Unique Boutique.

Takeaway puzzles

Treat yourself to a night in and get stuck into a tasty Pizza or Chinese Takeaway Jigsaw Puzzle.

Low in calories, high in amusement, each puzzle has 400 pieces and is approximately 45 x 45 cm in size. $19.99 each, from I Want That.

Bike lock

Stand out from the crowd with a slithering snake lock. Made from steel. Four designs to choose from. $58, Pylones.

Envirosax

Fun, colourful and quirky, these waterproof bags fold down to a tiny package that fits into a pocket or school bag. They’re strong too – they hold up to 20kg. Many different designs. $9.90, from Green With Envy.

Rocking chair

A creative cardboard throne to be coloured and decorated by budding Picassos. $55.97, from Unique Boutique.

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For little ‘uns…

Magnetibook

A fun magnetic toy to build a variety of different scenarios. Includes 32 magnetic pieces to create 8 different costumes. $27.96, from Unique Boutique.

Soft toy menagerie

Eddie the elephant and Moo Moo the sock monkey are beautifully handcrafted right here in New Zealand. Many more to choose from.

Eddie $16; Moo Moo $20, From Baby Bird.

Felt balls

Made from 100% merino wool. $7.99 each, from Trade Aid.

The Toymaker’s Workshop

Finger puppet cards

Make your own paper toys. It’s easy – just snip and fold. See book review on page 21.

RRP $12.99, from bookstores.

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The perfect gift to send in the post – finger puppets on a card (the puppets can be easily removed). A lovely range of animals, aliens and sea creatures, plus an adorable tui. $8 for card and finger puppet, from Lola Duck.

December 2011 - January 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Merry gift guide

Pecking bluebird Wind up the classic tin bird and she’ll peck her way along the ground. $7.90, from Iko Iko.

Fun pencils

Make writing fun with these pencils and felt animal toppers. $10.99 each, from Trade Aid.

Tiger slippers

These 100% wool slippers will keep small feet toasty warm. Assorted sizes, $39.99, from Trade Aid.

Pull-alongs

What youngster doesn’t like pulling their own fun character alongside them? A selection of wooden toys, $2 each, are available from several of the $2 variety shops.

Dog and horse

These miniature tin ornaments (10cm high x 10.5cm wide) double as toys, with wheels that allow them to be pushed or pulled along. $12.90 each, Iko Iko.

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sweetliving

Backyard sustainability Grow your own veggies, make your own organic fertilisers and harvest the healthiest crops

Plant a rainbow

Carrots are nutritional heroes, but the more purple the carrot, the more antioxidants.

Plant a rainbow of carrots and you’ll have your A, B and C’s (vitamins) covered. To plant, dig your soil over to at least 20cm and remove any stones or bark or you’ll end up with forked roots. Sow seed directly in the ground.

When plants reach seedling size, thin them out so they’re about 5cm apart, to give plants room to grow. Feeding is not necessary if your soil has enough organic material (like compost) incorporated. In fact, too much nitrogen fertiliser results in leafy tops and no bottoms. Provide ample water though while the roots are developing. You can continue sowing carrots right up to early autumn.

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Plant now Brew a weed tea

Next time you plan to turf your weeds, throw them into a bucket instead. You can cook up a great fertiliser from most leafy weeds.

Like other plants, weeds absorb nutrients from the soil through their roots, which are then absorbed into their cells. If you steep those weeds, the nutrients seep out into the water.

Kids’ garden fence

This quirky faux-birdhouse fence is the perfect backdrop to a children’s garden.

Use different hues for each paling for a striking result. The brighter the colours, we say, the better! For step-by-step instructions, click here.

• Sow carrots, beetroot, silverbeet, radishes, lettuce, rocket, spring onions and parsnips.

• In warmer districts, dwarf and climbing beans can still be sown for autumn harvest.

• Plant seedlings of cabbages, cauliflowers, celery, courgettes, cucumbers, capsicums, leeks and sweetcorn.

• Last chance to plant tomato seedlings for autumn harvesting.

Different weeds harvest different nutrients. Comfrey, for example, harvests good amounts of potassium, while clover harvests nitrogen. Dock accumulates calcium, potassium, phosphorus and iron, while sorrel takes up phosphorus. Chickweed absorbs potassium, phosphorus and manganese, and dandelions absorb quite a host of minerals. You can also use grass clippings, which are high in nitrogen.

• Plant potatoes for harvesting in autumn.

Keep it up

• Water tomato plants regularly.

If moisture levels fluctuate, blossom-end rot (a disease that forms at the bottom of the fruit) may occur. Alternating wet and dry periods can also cause skins to crack.

Half fill a large bucket with weeds and grass clippings and top with water. Leave for at least 3 weeks, stirring occasionally. Then dilute to the colour of weak tea – a ratio of about 1 part tonic to 10 parts water.

• Feed tomatoes fortnightly for a bountiful crop.

Share seeds

Have a swap party with friends and divvy up seeds to save money. Many seed packets contain hundreds of seeds – far more than one family can eat in a season.

Sharing seeds is especially ideal for shortlived seeds, which only live for one or two years after packets are opened. Short-lived seeds include parsnips, onions, leeks, sweetcorn, rhubarb and parsley. Capsicums last a little longer – but not much.

Vegetable cocktail

• Feed leafy vegetables regularly with a liquid fertiliser. One high in nitrogen is ideal for leaf production.

• Mound up the soil around your potatoes as they grow to prevent the developing spuds from greening.

• Encourage cucumbers to grow up supports to allow for bigger, better and straighter fruit.

If you’re inundated with veggies this summer, use them to make a nutritious vegetable cocktail for your plants. Silver beet and spinach make great fertiliser. Roughly chop 2 cups of leafy greens and place them in a blender. Fill with warm water and whiz together. Strain the mixture before using.

The strained leaves can be placed around the base of your plants or in the compost bin.

Lure bugs away

Aphids can be lured away from your crops by placing a yellow bowl half filled with water in amongst your veggies. Aphids, being attracted to yellow, will land on the water and drown. Make sure you empty the bowl regularly so that you don’t harbour mozzies!

An alternative method is to cut some yellow card, smear with petroleum jelly, attach to a stick and plant amongst your veggies.

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DIY terrace garden bed

Raised beds are easy enough to whip up, but if you have a sloping bank that’s going to waste, terrace garden beds are just the ticket. While it’s possible to plant on slopes without using raised beds, water run-off means the soil and plants dry out quickly. Head on over to our sister site Flaming Petal for easy, step-by-step instructions for building a terrace garden bed.

December 2011 - January 2012

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Backyard sustainability

When to harvest your crops Summer has arrived and with it comes an abundance of homegrown crops. Tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, potatoes, beans… they’re all ripe for the picking. But how and when you pick them can make all the difference between sweet and succulent and bland or bitter.

For maximum flavour and the best texture, most vegetables should be harvested just before full maturity. Cucumbers are a good example. They should be firm and smooth when picked; overripe cukes are soft and bitter and often start to turn yellow.

Potatoes

Main potatoes are harvested when the foliage has died back. Dig them out gently and leave exposed for a few hours to dry (not overnight or slugs and snails will have a field day). Place in thick paper sacks, seal and store in a cool spot. Be careful not to bruise potatoes when harvesting as this will cause rot to develop.

Carrots

The best way to determine if your carrots are ready is to dig one out, but they’re generally harvestable about 8-10 weeks after sowing.

Immediately cut off the foliage after harvesting to prevent it taking moisture from the carrot.

Carrots can be stored in boxes between layers of dry sand. Keep in a cool spot.

Corn

About three weeks after the silks on sweetcorn form, they’ll turn dry and brown. This is the time to pick them. You can double check that they’re ready, as the kernels should exude a milky substance when jabbed. Don’t pick your corn unless you’re going to eat it in the next few hours.

Corn is at its prime (sweetest and juiciest) for only 72 hours, after which most of the sugar has turned to starch. When first picked, the ratio of sugar to starch is typically 80% to 20%. In three days after picking the ratio in non-refrigerated corn will change to 20% to 80%. www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

Courgettes

Keep a close eye on your courgettes. They can literally grow into marrows overnight when water, food and heat is abundant. Harvest when young, using a sharp garden knife. Pick daily and store, unwashed, in the fridge. Wash just before use.

Eggplants

Eggplants should be firm and shiny when picked.

If the skin is dull it’s overripe, and flesh will be spongy and bitter. If you press ripe fruit gently with your thumb, the flesh will press in but bounce back. Hard flesh that doesn’t give means your eggplants are immature; if the flesh presses in but doesn’t bounce back, it’s overripe. Use secateurs rather than breaking or twisting the stems, and leave the calyx attached to the fruit.

Eggplants don’t store well, so eat as soon as you can after harvesting.

Beans

It takes about 50-70 days from sowing to harvesting. Harvest beans while still tender, otherwise they’ll go stringy, and pick regularly to promote a continuous supply. Check daily.

It doesn’t take long for beans to go from tender to tough. Store in the fridge, or freeze.

Beetroot

Beetroot is best harvested when still young, about 5cm in diameter.

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Mature globes often become hard and fibrous. As with carrots, remove the foliage to prevent it taking moisture from the beetroot. Store in boxes between layers of damp sand (they shouldn’t be allowed to dry out) and keep in a cool spot.

Radishes

Dig out when young and tender, as little as five weeks after sowing. Overmature radishes will loose their crispness and taste bitter. Pickle or store in the fridge.

Onions & shallots

Both onions and shallots are harvested when the tops wither and turn brown, usually mid to late summer. Close to harvest time, lay off the nitrogen fertilisers to ensure better storability. Dig up your shallots and leave them to cure in a warm, dry place for about a week, then store in a mesh bag in a cool, dry spot. Slatted trays that allow good air movement around the bulbs also work well for storage, or you can plait the tops together and hang them up.

Pumpkins

Pumpkins should be harvested when they have a deep, uniform colour and hard rind. When you press the rind with your fingers, they should resist denting. For most pumpkins this will be after the vines have shrivelled and died but before frosts have set in. If storing pumpkins, leave about 5cm of stalk attached to the top. If you pull it off, disease may occur once stored. Let your pumpkins cure in the sun for a few days then store in a dry cool spot.

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Nifty, thrifty readers’ tips Tried and true methods to save money in the garden.

Slimy compost

If your compost bin is wet and slimy, it means it’s not getting enough carbon (‘brown’ materials such as twigs, cut-up branches, dried leaves, paper, cardboard, wood ash, etc) in relation to nitrogen (‘green’ materials such as kitchen scraps, grass clippings, tea leaves, coffee grounds, garden wastes, etc). Instead, it’s overloaded with green materials. If my bin is lacking carbon, I wrap my kitchen scraps in newspaper to balance it out.

Lynn, Horowhenua

Foil birds

In previous years the birds have always pecked at my ripening raspberries. This year I strung up a line of small tin foil pie pans to scare them away, and it’s working a treat! I’ve heard that Christmas tinsel also works well.

Pat, Auckland

Prolific crop

The most prolific veggie in my garden that the kids love are snow peas. We get hundreds of them. The kids eat them straight from the vine, but they’re also great in stir-fries.

Leigh, Auckland

Half-price fruit trees

Buy your fruit trees during plant sales. Garden centres have an annual boxing day or New Year’s sale with fruit trees 50 per cent off.

Edith, Auckland

Recycling woolly jumpers

Easy eggplants

I don’t seem to be able to grow the large eggplants very well but the long thin ones are a breeze. If you like eggplants, grow these instead. They are great for stir-fries and you can stuff them too.

When clearing out your drawers, don’t throw away old woollen jumpers. You can use them to line hanging baskets when the old coconut fibre goes past its use-by date.

Megan, Silverdale

Margaret, New Plymouth

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Backyard sustainability

Recycled timber compost bin

I thought you might find it interesting how we make compost here. Hubby is a gardener so he ‘brings home his work’. We have a tractor-mounted chipper and every weekend he shreds the week’s work. Any that is guaranteed non-poisonous is used as animal bedding… in shelters and chook houses. Later, of course, that is cleaned out with the ‘animal matter’ and used in the garden. The real woody chips are used to line our paths through the chook area and orchard... fantastic in winter! The green and leafy mulch is spread on the ornamental garden. In peak season we have so much we dump it in what used to be the stock yard. The big chooks get in there and scratch away happily, looking for bugs and worms. This ‘turns’ the pile for us and in no time at all we have lovely rich dark soil to go back in our raised beds or use for potting up plants.

Hubby has also made a couple of smaller compost bins from recycled pallets (pictured above). These live in the vegetable garden and get some grass clippings, animal manure and anything that can’t be eaten by the animals, like rhubarb leaves and potato tops.

Jeannette, Nelson (visit Jeannette’s blog, Stoney Acres)

Natural weedkiller

Save the water from boiled potatoes to throw over weeds in paths to kill them.

Rosie, Nelson

Free wood

The number of times I’ve driven past an industrial area and there are wooden shipping pallets left outside for the taking is amazing.

We picked up several and my husband made raised beds and a compost bin – completely free!

Sarah, Auckland

Free capsicum seeds

No need to buy capsicum seeds. Buy a fresh fruit from a greengrocer’s, scoop out the seeds and plant them.

Tim, Invercargill

Free plant labels

Cut up ice cream containers for plant labels and use a permanent marker to write on them. Then apply a layer of clear nail polish over the writing to fix the ink. The permanent ink is not so permanent otherwise – it fades in the sun.

Robert, Greymouth

Free tomato plants Hay bale beds

Save money on soil and wood for raised beds and plant in a hay or straw bale. All you need is a bale (you can buy them on Trade Me for as little as $7) and whatever fertiliser you have in your garden shed.

Each year I buy two potted tomato plants. As the plants grow, I remove the first side shoots and pot those up for growing on. They develop roots really quickly and it gives me many plants for the price of just two. They fruit slightly later than the first two plants, but that just means I don’t have a huge glut of tomatoes all at once.

About 10 days before planting, apply compost tea or a liquid fertiliser that’s high in nitrogen to kick-start decomposition. Keep the bale wet for the next two days.

Helen, Papakura

On the fourth day sprinkle on some blood and bone and water in. Keep the bale wet for another two days.

Slug slammer

On the seventh day, add more blood and bone, followed by another two days of watering. On the tenth day, apply a balanced fertiliser.

The next day you can start planting. Add a 10cm layer of potting mix to serve as a bed for your plants, then get planting.

Most veggies grow well in hale bale beds, including tomatoes, capsicums, cucumbers and melons, even flowers. You can grow potatoes in your bale bed too – just make sure you feed with a fertiliser high in potassium.

The neat thing is, as the bale continues to decompose, heat is generated, which keeps the plants nice and warm.

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz

To catch slugs the natural way, scrunch up sheets of newspaper and place them in amongst your veggies. Check them in the morning and you’ll find lots of slimy critters hiding inside. It saves you wasting money on slug bait – which doesn’t actually work on slugs.

Steve, Hamilton

Send us your tips

Share your best money-saving tips for backyard sustainability and be in to win! The two best tips printed here will each win a $100 gardening voucher. Email us at: tips@sweetliving.co.nz

Issue 1

December 2011 - January 2012 sweetliving

Page 57

sweetliving

next issue Out February 2012

Make your talents pay: 20 ways to earn extra cash Best school lunches Jams, jellies and pickles Make ginger beer Back to basics: natural cleaning Felt crafts Free downloadable games Readers’ money-saving tips

Page 58

sweetliving Issue 1

December 2011 - January 2012

www.sweetlivingmagazine.co.nz