delicious December 2017 - January 2018

CHRISTMAS IS THE MOST intriguing dichotomy of tradition and dining anarchy. Of excess, then penance (if FebFast is not reparation, then I don’t know what is). It is a charming mishmash of rituals that demand you break all the rules you set all year; moderation is a dirty word and anything, almost, is acceptable. We spend all year trying to save time and do things quickly; at Christmas, when we eat, drink, cook and prepare, we’ll spend hours, maybe months on customs like turkeys and puddings. For the most part, I find this time of year so very pleasurable. Eggnog on the eve that leads into Champagne breakfasts; seafood, ham and rosé for lunch; and the good whisky for dinner is really my kind of life. However, while this issue should…

#MAKEITDELICIOUS PHOTO OF THE MONTH Loaded these pantry bars (No Waste, October 17, p 112 ) with seeds, nuts, coconut and fruit, combined with honey. Feel ready for the working week! #makeitdelicious @mamma_butters FEAST FOR THE SENSES: I love arriving home to find a treat in my mailbox. Instead of the usual junk mail and bills, it’s my delicious. magazine, ready to inspire me with wonderfully creative and tempting dishes. I’ll find a sunny spot in the house where I can flip through the pages and let your magazine ignite my imagination with inventive recipes and chic styling. Tonight we feast! Rani Singh SWEET SURPRISE: Despite not being one to bake, I couldn’t resist Shannon Bennett’s baked white chocolate cheesecake from the cover of the November issue. My eight-year-old daughter and I started the…

FESTIVE FEASTING CHRISTMAS DAY Honey butter & saffron carrots with feta, p 92 Harewood Estate Flux-II Pinot Gris 2016 Maple & paprika glazed ham with festive nuts, p 70 Rod McDonald Wines Mister Rosé 2016 Pistachio & orange blossom trifle, p 131 Morris of Rutherglen Classic Liqueur Muscat NV “Pure as an alpine stream, this pinot gris suits the carrots and feta to a tee. For sweet, salty and spicy ham, I can’t look past a deliciously versatile rosé. As for the trifle, think luscious and fruity, like this Rutherglen Muscat.” Sabine Duval, Certified Sommelier, The Wine Society GRAZING TABLE BOXING DAY Salami dip with fried cheese and lavosh, p 144 Prawn & green mango salad, p 114 Rhubarb, pomegranate & kombucha punch, p 152 “It’s part of the fun to let your hair down on Christmas Day, but the day after needn’t be a…

GOLDEN CHICKEN BIRYANI SERVES 4-6 “This recipe is based on an Emirati dish known as Mandi biryani, where the chook is roasted above the rice so the juices drip down into the rice.” Begin this recipe 1 day ahead. You will need kitchen string. 1.6kg whole chicken 3 tsp ground turmeric 150g unsalted butter, softened 2 tbs olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 3 cardamom pods, bruised 3 cloves 1 tsp black peppercorns 3 long green chillies, seeds removed, finely chopped, plus extra thinly sliced to serve 2 bay leaves 1 bunch flat-leaf parsley, stems finely chopped, leaves picked 2/2 cups (500g) basmati rice 4 cups (1L) chicken stock 1 tsp saffron threads Nigella seeds, toasted flaked almonds and lime halves and wedges, to serve HAWAYIJ SPICE MIXTURE 1 tsp each ground cloves and ground cinnamon 6 cardamom pods, crushed, seeds reserved, pods discarded 2 tsp each ground turmeric, ground coriander,…

In the Christian tradition, the biblical Magi visited Jesus after his birth bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. In the gospel of Matt Preston, the Three Wise Men were also culinary connoisseurs with sheaths of recipes up their gilded sleeves. Preston’s whimsical retelling of the Nativity, illustrated by the exotic and exquisite dishes on these pages, adds a lavish note to Christmas entertaining. “The Middle East is a font of religion and also a source of wonderful cooking ideas,” says Preston, who inhabits the food world like a latter-day high priest. The prolific columnist, cookbook author and cravat-wearing MasterChef Australia judge is one of the country’s sharpest epicures. A polymath in a chef’s apron, Preston reflexively avoided the usual suspects when tapped to create holiday-themed dishes. “Turkey, goose and pudding…

Delicate and aromatic, Sì captivates the senses with florals, fruit and musky light wood. Strong yet subtle, sophisticated and independent: these are qualities that define what it means to be a modern woman. Sì fragrances by Giorgio Armani beautifully capture the essence of these winning characteristics, making them ideal gifts for someone special this Christmas. A gift of Sì is a tribute to femininity and, with her irresistible combination of grace, strength and spirit, no one embodies that better than Oscar-winning Australian actress Cate Blanchett, the face of the luxury fragrance range. The Sì message is clear: grant yourself permission to be assertive and allow your true self to shine. Sì was made for the woman who says yes to pursuing her dreams, yes to making her own decisions and yes to living…