In the heart of Winter… Let’s be rid of the Winter Blues and aim to infuse some therapeutic remedies!

Some essential oils to assist with Winter Remedies - burn and infuse! Have a look out in your local stores or online (much easier!) for the electric burners – safe and efficient.

EUCALYPTUS OIL
Eucalyptus helps cleanse your body of toxins and harmful microorganisms that may cause you to feel unwell. A few drops goes a long way.

LAVENDER OIL
Lavender Oil has a harmonising effect, can be calming to the mind. It can also help relieve nervous tension, anxiety and promote a restful nights sleep. Lavender has antibacterial and antiviral qualities that make it perfect for defending the body.

TEA TREE OIL
Tea Tree Oil is well documented to destroy many strains of bacteria and viruses. Its natural antiseptic properties help cleanse the air that you breathe too.

WINTER FASHION TIPS

SOFT LINES AND COLOURS
After a few seasons of sharp, tight silhouettes in bold colours there is a relaxed trend for Winter….. Think soft colours and soft cuts. Buttermilk yellow, heather grey, oatmeal and sage green, Soft, silky fabrics, draped and dressed softly over the shoulders, and loose fitting around the bodice and legs (with a little show) YA!

ULTRA-NEUTRAL ALL THE WAY
In the dreary embrace of winter, colour acts as an instant pick-me-up. But sometimes it is better to skew neutral—and when you do, make sure to lean in all the way. Forgo the traditional 'pop of colour' and go tonal from head-to-toe. Layer camels, oatmeal’s, khakis, creams, beiges and rusts together for the ultimate blend. It’s the trend…..

TEXTURE – TACTILE TIPS
This winter, think tactile. Velvet, corduroy (Yes it’s back), silk trousers, woollen turtlenecks, blazers - all accessorised with faux furs, scarves, brooches.

SOME INTERESTING FACTS

Internet - Did you know that currently the WORLD averages an internet usage rate of 55.1% - in 2013 this was 35%.... Technology and future..

Nutty - Cashews actually grow on trees in fruits called cashew apples. Cashew apples can be eaten and fermented into alcohol called feni, however the green shell of the cashew contains a toxin similar to that of poison ivy. Hmmmm

Hmmmm - Coca-Cola would be green if coloring wasn’t added to it.

Sweet Dreams? - You cannot snore and dream at the same time

For the lefties - 10% of the World’s population is left handed

Interesting – quickly check this - A broken clock is right two times every day

Try this - Chewing gum while you cut an onion will help keep you from crying

Importantly - Wine Facts

Off we go - There's a real-life wine train in California.

Handy – Christmas in July - Not complete without a handy booze station that doubles as a decoration. The more you think about it, the better it sounds, right?!



TRAVEL TIPS: Hope this inspires some Winter Getaways – and sure to impress the bucket list.

Andaman Islands

For anyone who’s ever fantasized about running away to a remote island, the Andaman Islands are the stuff of dreams. A chain of more than 300 islands (some sources cite as many as 572) strung between India and Thailand, they seem almost too perfect to be real, with unspoiled beaches, clear water, coconut trees, and tropical mangroves. Many of the archipelago’s islands are uninhabited or off-limits in order to protect the tribes who live there. But one, Havelock Island, became more accessible this year in March, when Taj Exotica Resort & Spa — the Andamans’ first five-star resort — opened on Radhanagar Beach. Spread out over 30 acres, the property comprises 75 luxurious villas inspired by the huts of the indigenous Jarawa tribe, three restaurants serving local specialties and global cuisine, and the tranquil Jiva spa. Days here are spent swimming and diving amid the coral, kayaking in the mangroves, hiking in the forest, and relaxing on the beach. For now, the Andamans remain far less developed than the Maldives, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. Go before that changes.

Alberta, Canada

Jasper and Banff’s rugged, powdery trails should be enough reason to add Alberta to your winter travel wish list. But this year, happenings off the ski runs have made the Canadian province a hot destination. If you’re flying into Calgary, make a detour before hitting the slopes to see the month-old Snøhetta- and DIALOG-designed Calgary Central Library. Covered with 460 white hexagonal panels, it’s set to become an architectural icon. Away from the cities, Kananaskis Nordic Spa, the first of its kind in the province, just unveiled a collection of hydrotherapy pools — as well salt exfoliation cabins and eucalyptus steam rooms — right in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. And if you’re in Banff National Park, keep an eye out for bison. Due to overhunting, the animals haven’t been spotted in the area for over a century, but in June 2018, a herd of 31 was released on Banff’s eastern slopes.

The Adirondacks, New York:

New York’s Adirondack Mountain region has been luring travelers since the late 19th century with clear lakes, pure air, and 46 high peaks to climb. You can still visit in classic style. Built in 1927, the Hotel Saranac reopened in 2018 after a much needed renovation that brings a touch of urban grandeur to the charming town of Saranac Lake. Hidden in the woods outside of town, The Point is a sumptuous lakeside resort that occupies what was once a “great camp” belonging to members of the Rockefeller family. A change of ownership has brought a welcome refresh to the elevated woodsy décor.

RECIPES – TO WARM THE SOUL

Potato corn and salmon chowder



INGREDIENTS

• 5 smoked bacon rashers, finely chopped

• 1 large brown onion, finely chopped

• 1 large fennel bulb, finely chopped, fronds finely chopped, reserved

• 3 large carrots, peeled, finely chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, crushed

• 800g red-skinned potatoes, scrubbed, cut into 1.5cm pieces

• 4 corncobs, kernels removed

• 1L (4 cups) Massel salt reduced chicken style liquid stock

• 1 strip lemon rind

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, plus extra sprigs, to serve

• 2 tablespoons cornflour

• 125ml (1/2 cup) milk

• 300ml thickened cream

• 500g salmon fillets, cut into 3cm pieces

• Finely grated lemon rind & lemon wedges (optional), to serve

METHOD

Step 1

Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Cook half the bacon, stirring, for 2 minutes or until golden. Add onion, fennel, carrot and garlic. Reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring, for 4-5 minutes or until softened. Transfer to a 5.5L slow cooker. Wipe pan clean with paper towel.

Step 2

Add potato, corn, stock, fennel fronds, lemon rind and 1 tablespoon dill to slow cooker. Stir to combine. Cook, covered for 6-7 hours on Low or until potato is tender.

Step 3

Combine cornflour and milk in a bowl. Heat frying pan over medium-high heat. Add remaining bacon. Cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes or until crisp. Drain on paper towel. Add cornflour mixture. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until thickened. Stir in cream.

Step 4

Add salmon, remaining dill and cream mixture to slow cooker. Cover. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until salmon is just cooked. Season.

Step 5

Top with bacon, rind and remaining dill. Serve with lemon wedges, if using.

Sticky date pudding with burnt caramel sauce – The old time favourite



INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups pitted dates, finely chopped

• 1 cup boiling water

• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

• 125g butter, softened

• 3/4 cup brown sugar

• 3 eggs

• 1 cup self-raising flour

• 1/2 cup plain flour

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• Double cream, to serve

BURNT CARAMEL SAUCE

• 1 cup caster sugar

• 300ml pure cream

• 1 teaspoon sea salt flakes

• 50g butter

METHOD

Step 1

Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan-forced. Grease 8 holes of 2 x 6-hole, 3/4-cup-capacity Texas muffin pans. Line base of each hole with a round of baking paper.

Step 2

Combine dates, boiling water and bicarbonate of soda in a large heatproof bowl. Set aside for 10 minutes to soak.

Step 3

Using an electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition until just combined. Stir in combined flours, cinnamon and date mixture. Spoon evenly among prepared holes. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of 1 pudding comes out clean. Set aside for 10 minutes to cool.

Step 4

Meanwhile, make Burnt caramel sauce Place caster sugar in a large, deep frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for 6 to 8 minutes until sugar melts and caramelises to a dark brown. Remove from heat. Carefully pour in the cream (mixture will spatter at this stage). Add salt and butter. Return to low heat. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until toffee dissolves and sauce thickens slightly.

Step 5

Transfer puddings to serving plates. Drizzle with hot caramel sauce. Serve with double cream

ENJOY!