The Australian Women's Weekly

Everyone who knows me knows I am an unapologetic Christmas tragic. I love it all, from the cutest kindergarten pageant, to the campiest Christmas panto (thanks, years in London and English husband). I still get teary over It’s a Wonderful Life (watch

The best part of the Christmas season comes in reconnecting with your nearest and dearest. So it was a real treat when cameras started rolling on this year’s Christmas with The Australian Women’s Weekly TV special. Sarah Harris has returned to host w

Dolly Parton initially declined her nomination into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame but the honour turned out to be a prompt for the star to record a rock album. “I thought, ‘Well, no better time to do it.’ I’d always wanted to. My husband is a big hard

winging open her front door, the only thing brighter than the Sydney morning’s unexpected sunshine is Jessica Rowe’s beaming smile. Delivering a flurry of hugs and cheek kisses, Jess’s excitement is palpable as she rushes to offer tea, coffee, water,

While other dads spend Christmas mornings knee-deep in wrapping paper with their kids, a long-standing tradition means Anthony starts the day with children other than his own. Since co-founding The Wiggles in 1991, Anthony and the band visit the Sydn

For 28 weeks and five days Olivia and Zoe were as close as two souls can be. The girls are momo twins – monochorionicmonoamniotic twins – meaning that from the moment they blinked into existence they shared one home (a single amniotic sac) and one li

The people of wild, windswept, northern Tasmania are a passionate lot. And they’re prepared to fight for the things they treasure – their rugged coastline, their families and communities, their language and their towering, ancient forests. In recent

Christmas, like everything else in Jimmy Barnes’ childhood, was a bit of a mixed bag. Growing up, first in Glasgow, then in working-class Elizabeth, South Australia, he watched his parents struggle just with the everyday demands of life. “Then Christ

There are two types of people in the world: those who celebrate Christmas Day sharing plates piled high with food, Christmas cracker jokes and thoughtful handwritten cards with their loved ones around the family table; and those who think it’s just a

The day that changed Dr Alison Thompson’s life – as it did so many – was September 11, 2001. A blonde-haired, blue-eyed surfer girl, maths teacher and nurse from the Sutherland Shire in Sydney, she was living in New York City when the World Trade Cen

Christmas was a traditional affair when Julia Morris was a child. The Catholic family would attend mass the night before in their hometown of Gosford, open their gifts the morning of and then hit the road to see their Sydney-based relatives. “My fath

A nor-westerly was howling through the tinder-dry gumtrees outside Lillian Marshall’s bedroom window, but that wasn’t what woke her. It was 4am, still dark but already too warm for comfort. There was smoke in the air, and down the hall her phone was

Ever since he quit university and Ireland, to jump on a plane bound for New York, Graham Norton has been surprising himself. “I never felt like a confident child, I never felt like that guy, I always felt very timid. So I don’t quite know where I got

The strange tale of Sydney recluse Eliza Emily Donnithorne has haunted the world for over 150 years, just a little longer than the strange tale of Miss Havisham, whose tragic figure paints a distressing picture of unmarried women’s prospects in Charl

For once, I wasn’t homesick on Christmas Day. Back in Perth, some 13,000 kilometres away, my family would be finishing their traditionally excessive Christmas lunch of prawns, quiches and salads. I missed them, but this year I was spending the festiv

Betty Gemmell has always been fiercely independent. She was born on her grandparent’s property near Berrigan, in the Riverina, in 1917, and inherited a knack for numbers from her accountant father. When World War II broke out she became one of Austra

Little unsettles the five million hardy subjects of King Harald V of Norway, but on June 7 a surprise proclamation from the Royal Palace in Oslo brought the country to a near standstill. “His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen send their most

Melissa Leong vividly recalls the thrill she felt every time her favourite soup was dished up for dinner when she was a child. “It was very simple,” she tells The Weekly. “A clear purity of beautiful pork broth with the richness of the bones and the

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year for me. Every year, we pile the kids into the car and pilgrimage north to see my parents who would otherwise likely spend it solo. There’s every reason to be jolly: it’s often our only break for the ye

Leading the way in haircare technology, the innovative Dyson styling tools take your tresses to new levels. 1. Dyson Supersonic™ Hair Dryer Nickel/Fuchsia S.SONICFUCIAV3 $599 2. Dyson Corrale™ Limited Edition Cordless Straightener Fuchsia/Nickel with

With a charming town centre, picturesque vineyards and vintage feel, Yass Valley is a country gem with something for everyone. The town and its surrounds were the stunning backdrop to our Christmas issue fashion shoot and helped capture the essence o

Yes, that’s me you can hear muttering. It’s 10pm on Christmas Eve and I’m in the linen cupboard. I’m looking for my giant white linen tablecloth. I washed, ironed and packed it away 12 months ago. Now I can’t find it. It’s not an ordinary tablecloth.

These easy gift tags add a special handmade finishing touch to your presents. See overleaf. Use scrap fabric to create your own twine. Then, use it to upcycle your baubles (page 147), or to secure your gift wrap. Cut out circles from some scrap w

Try a combination of sparkling white, pink and gold for a whimsical take on tradition. Using a flourish of fresh burgundy in your flower arrangements will make the colours pop. Heritage Luxe poinsettia 12pc floral dinner set, $159.95. Heritage Flore

A long table out in the sun with all my family gathered around is my idea of Christmas lunch perfection ... and you can just keep adding trestles if numbers blow out! SERVES 8 PREP + COOK TIME 45 MINUTES Inspired by my Danish grandfather’s own fami

SERVES 8 PREP + COOK TIME 2 HOURS 40 MINUTES 3kg boneless pork loin, rind on, scored at 1cm intervals (see Test Kitchen note) 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 3 teaspoons sea salt flakes gravy or apple sauce, to serve STUFFING 250g Italian-style

SERVES 6 PREP + COOK TIME 55 MINUTES There is a bit of science behind great roast potatoes. Using the right type of potato and par-boiling them first achieves the requisite fluffy interior, while a scorching hot oven and generous amount of extra virg

SERVES 4 PREP TIME 15 MINUTES (+ STANDING) Sgroppino is a refreshing dessert cocktail from the Veneto region. The word sgroppino translates as ‘untie’, with the drink designed to counter a heavy meal. 125g ripe strawberries, hulled, halved1 tablespo

SERVES 20 PREP + COOK TIME 1 HOUR 40 MINUTES 1 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns1 tablespoon medley peppercorns1 teaspoon fennel seeds2 teaspoons dried chilli flakes1⅓ cups (430g) peach jam1 tablespoon grated ginger⅓ cup (115g) honey½ cup (110g) firmly p

SERVES 10 PREP +COOK TIME 20 MINUTES (+ SETTING TIME) 1000g boiling water1 small lobster or crayfish tail, uncooked (approx.250g with shell)1 level teaspoon gelatine powder2 shallots, halved120g cream cheese120g sour cream1 tablespoon lemon juiceTab

SERVES 8-10 PREP + COOK TIME 3 HOURS 45 MINUTES 4.5-5kg turkey, at room temperature1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oilAPPLE & CRANBERRY STUFFING75g unsalted butter1 large (200g) onion, chopped finely2 cloves garlic, crushed⅔ cup (100g) Ocean Spray®

SERVES 8 PREP + COOK TIME 1 HOUR 40 MINUTES (+ RESTING TIME) 1 large single turkey breast, skin on (about 1.5kg)20g dehydrated cumquats⅓ cup (80ml) boiling water80g unsalted butter300g fresh free-range chicken livers⅓ cup (80ml) extra virgin olive o

SERVES 6-8 PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR 25g butter2 tablespoons Kikkoman Soy Sauce500g mixed mushrooms, chopped finely½ cup (120g) fresh ricotta2 tablespoons finely chopped flat leaf parsley50g butter, extra50g plain flour½ teaspoon ground white pepper

STORAGE AT HOME Place seafood on a plate, tray, or in a lidded container. Cover with a damp cloth, then plastic wrap or a lid. Place in coldest part of fridge; usually bottom shelf. CONSUME WITHIN 2–3 DAYS. Consume live crustaceans (crabs and lobster

SERVES 4–6 PREP + COOK TIME 1 HOUR 15 MINUTES 2kg whole duck, butterflied¼ cup (70g) kecap manis½ cup (80g) cherry jam2 tablespoons finely grated ginger1 teaspoon ground cinnamon¼ cup (60ml) red wine vinegar1 bunch rhubarb (500g), trimmed, cut into

SERVES 8 PREP + COOK TIME 15 MINUTES 500g frozen broad beans500g green beans500g yellow beans1 lemon½ cup (80g) pine nuts, toasted2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley 1 Blanch frozen broad beans in a medium sa

SERVES 8-10 PREP + COOK TIME 2 HOURS (+COOLING TIME) 6 egg whites (at room temperature)1½ cups (330g) caster sugar2 teaspoons white vinegar1 tablespoon cornflour, plus extra for dusting2 tablespoons cocoa powder300ml thickened cream300g sour cream2

MAKES 1 SLAB PREP + COOK TIME 15 MINUTES 600g white chocolate melts, melted red gel food colouring 12 mini candy canes 1 Line a 20cm x 30cm slice pan with baking paper. 2 Pour two-thirds of the melted chocolate into the prepared pan. 3 Stir 2-3 dro

The room was darkening as the woman moved across the carpet of woven faded roses to switch on the lamp. It was quiet save for distant cars which didn’t bother her as her hearing wasn’t as good as it had been. She considered her fading eyesight and co

Win 5 x $50 We’ve hidden a host of Christmas-related words in the grid. These words can be spelt horizontally, vertically, diagonally, backwards and forwards, but always in a straight line. When you have found all the words listed below you should h

Ask any Melburnian which was their favourite Myer Christmas window display and they will have a ready answer. It may be the floating golden carriage of The Nutcracker (1957, pictured), the chubby Gumnut Babies dressed in feathery wattle (1995) or per