The best bad birthday meal

I love cooking for someone’s birthday; preparing their favourite meal with their favourite wine or drink, and a delicious something sweet to end... The thought and care that goes into it is my display of love and happiness to celebrate that person’s special day. But, and this is a big but, I am a perfectionist- and everything must go according to my plan.

The Sweetest Thing

Whether it’s end of the weekend blues, Monday procrastination, or sheer curiosity that got you to read this, I'm glad you are- because it’s around that time that January gets a little shook up. I think it’s safe to say that by this stage of the month, we’re all either repeatedly hung over, giving up on resolutions, in a new year funk, or majorly depressed about going back to work. The new year glimmer starts wearing off, or at least the complete optimism of it does. I'm really hoping that by reading this and taking on the challenge, you can keep that optimism and happiness glowing and growing.

The problem with news year’s resolutions is that they always tend to be long term, so that by the end of the second week you start losing interest or don’t make time for them anymore. I reckon one week challenges are the way to go, you put your whole heart into something and leave no room for excuses. So while you’re reminiscing about that six pack you’ll have by December, or your summer holiday to Spain, here’s your challenge for this week:

For just one week, focus on looking outside your life and at the people and things around you. I know you may think I’m going all airy fairy on you, but just hear me out. So many of our resolutions and goals focus on selfish needs, and we spend so much time worring about these things that we forget to appreciate what has been given to us. So instead of obessing about how thin you’re going to be by next summer, consider when you last stopped to take the time to help someone less fortunate. Pick your cause and do something for it; providing a warm meal for a hungry tummy may be how I choose to spread some love, but it could be anything- a visit to the SPCA if you love animals, a day spent with someone young or old who is without any family, going green and recycling, whatever motivates you to see the world in a new way! The idea is to remind yourself that there are much bigger things in life, that whatever your worries or concerns, you are reminded of how fortunate you still are. If you’re having a wonderful year and things are going swimmingly, then remember to share the happiness and positive energy.

Obviously, I really hope that we all spend more than just one week this year dedicating time and energy to a good cause, but it’s a start. I can hear some of my friends teasing me about my so-called Rhodes hippy-isms, but just you wait- when you’ve made someone smile through some small or big gesture, you’ll realise that the happiness you share with them is not just a fad. The Beatles had it right all along, all you need is love, so let this be the week of spreading lots and lots of love and happiness!

The best birthday cake in the whole world!

Master Chef Australia will be the death of me... that damn show plays on my biggest weakness: perfectionism. I thought making a delicious risotto was good enough, but then they would create these 20 component risottos that set alight spontaneoulsy and the ashes turn into dessert or something. It gave me a serious inferiority complex. AND on top of that, they came out with Junior Master Chef, so then I had to endure 9 year olds creating dishes I couldn't even pronounce. It was all just too much for me, I HAD to up my game, I refuse to be left looking like a peasant chef with my unsalted caramel and homeless gingerbread man.

Bring on 2012 please!

December is a funny time. It’s supposed to be about wonderful frothy feelings of festivity and carefree bliss, and there are a million advertisements, movies, celebrities, tv jingles and first-on-the-shelf-November-Woolies gammon to remind you about how you’re supposed to feel- problem is, not many people feel that way around December anymore. By the time the last month of the year arrives you’re either over-worked, broke, stressed, emotional, stressed, broke, unorganised or broke. And then you walk through the shopping centre on the first of December to sound of Christmas carols playing at a pitch louder than usual, but still at a sort of subliminal background pitch too, and you have a mild panic attack and begin hyperventilating. The endless list of things that need to get done starts to form in your head. You can see yourself running out of time and Christmas is still three weeks away. The days all blur into each other as you rush from work to shops to dinners, until the next thing you know, it’s Christmas eve and you’re rushing around spending your bonus buying ridiculously over-priced last minute gifts. Quite frankly, the only people these days that are really so blissfully happy all December long are those who are touring some exotic country sans extended family, those who will be getting a six figure plus bonus, or Nigella Lawson (because at this time of year, no one will judge you for using an extra vat of goose fat).