Articles in ‘Home & Living’

There is something about strawberries that says Christmas in New Zealand. The bright red, sweet summertime berry is in full season mid-December and there are plenty to go around. In some places you can even pick your own. They are beautiful just as they are, with whipped cream or dipped in Chocolate or try some of the below recipes to mix things up a bit this Christmas. They are easy enough to even get the kids involved! Christmas Tree…

Self-sufficiency is the new ‘en vogue’. Housing shortages, rising costs and a mistrust in the way our food is produced are fuelling a move to the way that our grandparents used to live. Vegetable gardens are popping up in apartments and back yards alike, chickens are becoming more commonplace, and entire groups on social media are sharing and devoting their time and energy to a way of life that promotes the basics and arguable a better way to…

We have been eating a lot of Kumara in our house recently, and this Kumara Cake can be enjoyed by those with sensitive tummies. In Moderation of course! Ingredients: · 1 ½ Cups Soft Light Brown Sugar 3 Eggs 1 Cup Sunflower Oil ½ Cup of Pineapple crushed. 1 ½ Cups Gluten Free Flour 1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda 1 tsp Baking Powder (check the brand, but most Baking powder is gluten free) 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon, plus extra to decorate ½…

Have you ever wondered why people say, “history repeats itself”, or why some people, with everything going well, suddenly crash and burn? · You know that every individual, including you, has a history. Through hindsight, you accept that some past decisions were the wrong ones. And in the present time, you continue to suffer their consequences. · Imagine if you had access to a proven and personalised system, a “futurology” that gave you…

It is well documented that COVID can upset the gastrointestinal tract, even after more traditional symptoms have disappeared. So, if you are suffering from intestinal discomfort and are at a loss why, make a big bowl of this delicious soup and give your digestive system a rest from foods that can irritate it. Even if you are not, it makes a delicious lunch or dinner meal making the most of winter vegies that are in season. Ingredients 5…

The RBNZ is set to lift the cash rate, again, by 50bps on Wednesday. The assertive move will see the cash rate hit a neutral setting of 2%. But there will be more rate hikes to come. The focus is on the RBNZ’s forecasts. We expect to see the OCR track pulled forward and shunted higher. We’re interested in the RBNZ’s thoughts around unemployment and inflation into 2023 and beyond. The Government delivered its 2022 budget with a strong…

Ingredients 1.5C rigatoni pasta or similar uncooked 2 tbsp. olive oil, divided 12 fresh sage leaves 1/4C. pine nuts, toasted and roughly chopped 1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest 1 shallot, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, pressed Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1C. pure pumpkin 2 oz. Parmesan cheese, grated (about 1/2 cup), plus more for serving 1/4C. cream 1/8 tsp. fresh grated nutmeg · Directions 1. Cook pasta per…

Hampered by tightening credit conditions, the housing market continued to cool in February according to the latest data from REINZ. The house price index (HPI) recorded a modest 0.5% gain in the month. However, the data overall paint a picture of a market in decline. Seasonally adjusted, house prices recorded their third consecutive monthly decline. Annual house price growth decelerated further in February to 14.3%, that’s more than half of the…

In 1923 Elizabeth Welsman Dawson, a Takapuna resident, wrote and sent a humorous poem to the newspaper about the difficulties of travelling on the Takapuna Steam Tram. The noisy, black smoke belching little tram was the main means of public transport on the North Shore between 1910 and 1927. · Now almost one hundred years later Elizabeth Dawson’s grandson, writer Terry Carson has taken the poem and aided by former North Shore retired librarian…

Nestled in the countryside of Waiuku near Kariotahi beach is a hidden treasure if you are looking for a perfect wedding or party venue that will provide you with a celebration that exceeds your expectations, without the huge costs. Dellrian Gardens, is a botanical oasis set amongst 17 acres of outstanding gardens and farmlands that can see you meandering down pathways, along the creek and amongst ponds or bathing in the colour and scent of an…