Kit-Kat flavours: 'Cause you're big in Japan!

Now I know I am a skinny cook, but confectionery is of such interest to me. The packaging, creative flavours and pure diversity is just so darn enticing! Damn those clever marketers! I am still coming to grips with the fact that while chocolate and candy should comprise a tiny part of our diet, it takes up half our grocery stores. While I resist the urge to buy chocolate most of the time, one chocolate bar that has sparked my interest is the humble Kit-Kat. While it may not have an illustrious career in Australia, the Kit-Kat is Japan's most beloved snack. And conquering the competitive snack food market in Japan is no small feat. Visiting a convenience store in Japan is a breath-taking experience, with glittering packaging, inventive and umimaginable foods, and endless choices. For someone like me, who would admittedly buy anything in pink or glitter, I would find an excuse to pop in just to gawk.

Now while I think chocolate dominates our grocery stores enough, in Japan, Nestle's faithful chocolate bar the Kit-Kat has its own dedicated aisle. Visitors to this aisle will find Kit-Kats in a stunning array of flavours, from soy sauce or sweet corn, to salty caramel or blood-orange. Kit-Kat has something for everyone.... I'm sure there is someone out there who just has to have that soy sauce Kit-Kat!

Over a decade, Nestle has produced more than 200 Kit-Kat flavours to suprise and delight. So famed, one advertisement depicted a student taking a rhinestone emblazed Kit-Kat to an exam as a good luck omen and now one quarter of Japanese students do the same! Some flavours are traditionally inspired, such as pickled plum, mashed edmame or red azuki bean. Others capitalise on particular seasons in Japan, such as the cherry blossom Kit-Kat, only sold in Spring. Some Kit-Kats are sold in specific regions, the potato Kit-Kat is sold in Hokkaido, which is famous for producing spuds.

While it is impossible to list all the Kit-Kat flavours, let your tastebuds imagine these: pineapple, green tea, chestnut, caramel macchiato, apple, espresso, pumpkin, muscat grape, watermelon, vegetables galore, sweet vinegar and beef! Beef?! Have you tried any of these? I think I need to do further investigation... think of the cupcake possibilities!

How to not eat lots of chocolate at night

This extract is taken from Backwards in High Heels by Tania Kindersley and Sarah Vine. 


For some reason, it has taken us almost forty years to master this one, and even now we're not sure we've quite managed it. You know how it is: you've been good all day, you've eaten your five fruits and colourful vegetables, you've drunk water, you've avoided caffeine and crisps. You've eaten your nutritionally complete supper and now you're just settling down to watch a nice bit of television, or read a book, or wander about on the internet and something, somewhere, in the darkest recesses of the most primitive corner of your brain, starts up the mantra: cho-co-late; cho-co-late. It's like some ancient drum-beat, an irresistible siren call. Before you know it, you're surrounded by empty wrappers, and you can't even remember how. Or why. All you know is how much, and it's a lot, enough to awaken the serpent of self-loathing, who more often than not takes one look at the carnage and says, in a hissy voice: Oh what the hell, you may as well scoff the whole lot! 


Rule number one: count to ten before you reach for the box, bar or tin. It's a very simple rule but it works. Then select no more than three chocolate and put them on a small plate. Now put away the remaining chocolates. Do not take them with you. Eat your chosen chocolates slowly and consciously. Savour it. It helps also if the chocolate is of highest grade. Embrace the smug feeling of being in control. 

Kim K's pop of pink style

I love an excuse to wear pink, especially a vibrant shade to pop some colour into your outfit. Take these style tips from Kim, by using the hot trend on a blazer or cardigan, stilettos or a casual scarf. 

I

My favourite Oscar looks

Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford

Mila Jovovich in Elie Saab

I've posted some pictures of my favourite Oscar looks from 2012. What were your favourites?

Natalie Portman in vintage Dior

Jennifer Lope in Zuhair Murad

Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton

Miss Phryne Fisher's tea cake and julienne soup

Miss Fisher from ABC's Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries

To celebrate the release of ABC's Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, I am posting a couple of recipes from 'A Question of Death', one of the books from the series based on Phryne Fisher. The Honourable Phryne Fisher captivates with a Lulu bob, green eyes, Cupid's Bow lips and diamante garters. She is Melbourne's most elegant sleuth in the 1920s and the book, and now television series, follows Miss Fisher on her adventures in solving crimes. Taking place in a most glamourous era, Miss Fisher indulges in extravagant hats and shoes, freely sips sinfully strong cocktails and escapes the most persistent of suitors.

Her author, Kerry Greenwood, began writing mysteries on her quest to become a published writer. On some advice, she changed her tactic from historical writer to mystery writer. In forming her character for her new mystery novel, Kerry decided she wanted her heroine to be just like James Bond, with fewer gadgetry and a more lavish wardrobe. Kerry wanted to create somewhat of a role model, a woman who didn't doubt herself and worry about neglecting her diet, doing more exercise or the perils of growing fat.

The following recipes are taken from my copy of 'A Question of Death', which is a beautifully illustrated Phryne Fisher collector's item, with extracts from Miss Fisher's various titles, recipes, fashion tips and general Miss Fisher trivia.

The first recipe is for a elegant tea cake, which is actually very low in fat and can be made gluten-free, dairy-free or even vegan by making the relevant substitutes. The second is for another low-fat recipe and one that makes me feel instantly comforted just by reading the recipe. It's for soupe julienne, made with matchstick vegetables and warming chicken broth.

An illustration from 'A Question of Death'

Miss Fisher's Tea Cake
Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 1/2 cup of caster sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 cups of self-raising flour
• 2 tablespoons of milk
• a pinch of salt

For the topping:

• 1 tablespoons of melted butter
• 1 tablespoon of cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon of caster sugar

Method:

1. Cream the butter and sugar. 
2. Gradually add the egg to the creamed mixture, then add the flour and milk alternately, half at a time, and beat well.
3. Place mixture in a greased sandwich tin and bake for 25 minutes, until golden and spongey.
4. Turn cake out onto a cake cooler and while warm, brush with topping.

Soupe Julienne

Ingredients:

• 1 onion
• 2 carrots
• 1 parsnip
• 2 sticks of celery
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of brandy
• 1 litre of strong chicken stock
• 5 peppercorns
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 sprig of thyme

Method:

1. Chop the onion and cut all other vegetables into matchsticks.
2. Cook onion in a little olive oil until soft then add vegetables, stirring.
3. Add brandy to deglaze.
4. Add chicken stock, herbs and pepper and simmer for one hour.
5. Remove herbs before serving. 

Kate Spade plates and glassware

I drool over Kate Spade's gorgeous homewares collection, not to mention her clothes and bags! But her glassware and dinnerwear is something I think all sophisticated girls' kitchens should contain whether for entertaining purposes or sheer private delight.

My favourite is the 'silver polkadot' ceramic set called Larabee Road Platinum Set, which comes with matching glassware including old-fashioned round champagne glasses. Kate has also released a range of Florence Broadhurt designs, which are of course stunning.

If you are getting married soon, put this on your wedding registry stat!

3 easy steps to make candied rose petals

Taken from http://photos.weddingbycolor.com 

Vogue Living has a beautiful blog and spending a quiet Friday evening traipsing their site, I found this gorgeous post on how to make candied rose petals. 

As a tribute to one of America's best-known restaurants Chez Panisse on its 40th birthday, David Prior showed how to make candied rose petals, which adorns many of the restaurants beautiful desserts.

How to make candied rose petals:

1. To produce candied rose petals gently pluck the individual petals from unsprayed roses. 

2. With a soft-bristle paintbrush, carefully paint with egg whites.

3. Cover in fine organic sugar. Leave candied petals to dry on a rack.


Serve them the Panisse way, atop a Rose Geranium Pavlova.

This recipe appeared as part of ‘Organic Uprising’, a story by David Prior on pages 63 to 69 of Vogue Living Sept/Oct 2011.

Cool blue tones for the hot summer days

For those of you that live in the Southern Hemisphere, you will know all too well of the scorching heat that January brings. As I was browsing through the Chanel beauty store, I found a deliciously refreshing range of new nail polishes, all in different hues of blue. I felt inspired to adorn my nails with these cool shades instead of warm oranges, reds and pinks. An added bonus is that the navy blue matches my gym wardrobe, and as I often say, any way to inspire oneself to schedule in a gym session should be welcomed.

Headscarves to style up your gym attire

Be inspired by the old Hollywood style to infuse some fashion into your gym wardrobe. Think Audrey Hepburn and Nicole Richie. Hottest prints of the moment are in safari colours and bright summer hues.

The aroma of christmas

Scented Christmas candles are a must for this holiday season. They create the sweet aromas of Christmas without anyone needing to step into the kitchen.

My favourites are:
- The Body Shop in Candied Ginger or Cranberry
- Glasshouse candle in Night Before Christmas, triple scented in plum pudding flavours
- Yankee candles in Christmas Eve and Christmas cookies
- Jo Malone candle in Wild Fig and Cassis
- Dusk Temptation candles in Cinnamon Glazed Figs, Winter Nights, and Walnut and Maple Syrup Pancakes.

Create your own happy space

The way my apartment looks and feels is an integral part of shaping my mood. A messy space equates to a disorganised day; I just don't feel as in control of my environment, which tends to lead to wayward diet habits and neglectful exercising philosophies. The first picture of this post is of my little living room, my favourite happy place. While the second picture attached to my post is not that of my apartment - sadly - (it is pictures of Megan Hess's gorgeous home and an accompanying illustration from her collection), the look does inspire me on how to decorate my own home.

Adding lighting, candles, vintage frames, fresh blooms, rugs and artwork are a way to make your space looked 'lived in' and stylish. I fill my apartment with scented candles, my fave cooking and fashion books, kitchy colourful pieces, vintage crockery, old Hollywood prints and faux flowers in hand-me-down vases.

When I have spent an hour dedicated to sprucing up my space, it really puts a kick in my step for the day when I am proud of my own little piece of the world. A happy home translates to a happy you, which is an important part of taking care of yourself. This weekend, think about a few little touches you could add to your home; pop down to your local antique store, make a day trip to Ikea (is a work-out in itself!), travel to the markets for some cheap and cheerful blooms, or rip out the vacuum - yes it really can make all the difference! You will be surprised how good it can make you feel.

Nicole Richie perfect summer style

Summer doesn't have to mean scary skimpy clothes that give you a panic attack as the cooler months draw to a close. Nicole Richie shows that floaty dresses are the most gorgeous summer option and don't involve needing to douse yourself in cellulite cream, fake tan and forgiving shimmery bronzer. I like to pair a maxi dress of this style (my fave brand for stunning pieces is naturally Nicole's own line - Winter Kate) with another Nicole trend, the vintage denim jacket. I recently bought a cute pale blue Wrangler jacket that dresses up summer outfits instantly, paired over a floral dress or even to walk to the gym.

As my gym is in the middle of the city, I like to feel more put together than wearing a singlet and shorts when I venture in to do a workout. I roll the sleeves of my jacket up, put of some bright Napolean lipgloss (I love pink) and braid the side of my hair to make my ponytail look a little more special. That way I can run errands after my work out without feeling like a sweaty betty!

wedding shoes - glitter bows by Kate Spade

While not a skinny sweet, these gorgeous glittering gold creations are certainly a treat. In fact, they are my wedding shoes. Not too high, they are so comfortable but absolutely breathtaking. I will make sure I have many moments to reveal them in all their glory... Just a note, the glitter on these heels makes for a catchy finish and my shoes were pulling the threads underneath my wedding dress. Haven't figure out how to solve that problem yet!