Innholdsfortegnelse for 1 January 2018 i New Idea

As I sit down to write this column in our very last issue before Christmas, I know the school summer holidays are upon us which means I can take a break from making school lunches and remembering to sign and send back permission notes. However, I’ve got weeks ahead of me trying to keep the kids entertained and happy during their six-week break. This year my daughters have asked to go to Code Camp where (apparently) you learn to make your very own iPhone app – something my mother-in-law can’t believe! My eldest daughter thinks that by the end of the holiday she’ll be a millionaire thanks to her new skills – here’s hoping! Merry Christmas everyone – wishing you and your families a very happy and safe day from…

‘HE TOLD CHARLOTTE HE’D LOVE TO HAVE A BABY WITH HER AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FALL PREGNANT’ Just one year after his shock divorce from Angelina Jolie, it looks like Brad Pitt is set to become a dad again. Sources tell New Idea that he and new girlfriend Charlotte Casiraghi – the daughter of Princess Caroline and ninth in line to the throne of Monaco – are desperately trying for a baby, as their relationship goes from strength to strength. The pair fell in love in September, before debuting their romance at a Hollywood event in LA last month. Even though Brad has been careful not to be photographed with his new love while his divorce settlement is still before the courts, sources tell New Idea that he’s ‘totally…

It’s lunchtime and adorable two-year-old Claire Polley smiles as she waves enthusiastically across the kitchen table. ‘She’s learning sign language and she thinks she’s a little genius,’ proud mother Megan Smith, 30, tells New Idea with a laugh. Claire was born with Down syndrome and her mum candidly admits that the shock diagnosis – which came soon after her daughter’s birth in September 2015 – caused her world to ‘fall apart’. ‘Nothing can prepare you for that moment,’ she says. ‘The room was silent and I felt the walls crash in around me. ‘How could there be something wrong with my perfect baby? They had to be wrong. It was a mistake. ‘As I looked around the room, everyone was crying. My midwife held my hand with tears streaming down…

Coconut, Mango & Dark Chocolate Vacherin Serves 12-14, Prep 45 mins, Cook 2 hours 200g dark chocolate, melted 2 mangoes, thinly sliced Drinking chocolate, to decorate COCONUT MERINGUE 4 egg whites, at room temperature 1 cup caster sugar ½ cup desiccated coconut, toasted 2 tblsps cornflour MARSCAPONE FILLING 300ml tub thickened cream 2 tblsps caster sugar 1 tblsp orange-flavoured liqueur 2 x 250g tubs mascarpone cheese 1 Using the base of a 22cm springform pan, trace one circle each on three sheets of baking paper. Place each sheet on an oven tray, trace-side down. 2 To make coconut meringue, beat egg whites in a large bowl of an electric mixer until soft peaks form. With motor operating, add sugar 1 tablespoon at a time, beating between each addition, until thick…

Ham Enchiladas Serves 4-6, Prep 25 mins, Cook 20 mins 1 tblsp olive oil 1 red onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp ground cumin 500g leftover sliced ham, finely chopped 200g jar mild taco sauce 310g can corn kernels, drained 400g can kidney beans, drained ½ cup coarsely chopped fresh coriander 4 green spring onions, thinly sliced 6 tortillas 1½ cups grated mozzarella cheese 1 tsp paprika Green salad and sour cream, to serve Extra coriander and sliced red chilli, to garnish 1 Heat oil in a large frying pan. Add the onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, until soft. Add the coriander and cumin. Stir for 30 seconds. Add ham, taco sauce and corn. Stir until hot. 2 Place kidney beans in a…

NEXT-DAY CREATIONS Don’t despair when you open the fridge or pantry to find lots of leftover food from Christmas. Try these great ideas on making meals or a dessert the family will enjoy! ✶ Turkey Quesadillas: Slice or shred cooked turkey over flour tortillas. Arrange slices of brie or camembert cheese over turkey and dollop with cranberry sauce. Top with extra tortillas. Pan-fry in a medium, non-stick frying pan until golden and cheese is melted. ✶ Roasted Vegie Couscous Salad: Chop roasted vegetables into small pieces. Add to cooked couscous with chopped parsley and coriander. Add combined lemon juice, olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. ✶ Asian-style Shredded Ham Salad: Add ham strips to kale coleslaw mix, thinly sliced green spring onions, toasted slivered almonds or pepitas. Toss…

MEGHAN epitomises effortless elegance. When in doubt, a simple LBD, smoky eye and nude lip never fails. Seek inspiration from Meghan, whose look is always on-trend. NICOLE shows how a pop of colour to the lips instantly glams up any outfit. If you’re not a fan of red, modernise it like Nicole, with a hot pink hue… perfect for Australian summer nights. EMMA sparkles. Update your up-do with some on-trend hair jewels. Our pick: These easy-to-use beads and hair charms from Kela (see bottom left). Simply clip into long hair or around a messy chignon for instant glam. MARGOT braves a fresh, modern look, accenting her beautiful blue eyes with pretty pink hues. TIP “Don’t be afraid to use blush on the eyes – all the pinks, raspberry and peachy…

‘THEY OVERSCHEDULE THEM BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE, IN KINDERGARTEN, THAT THEY GET INTO A GOOD COLLEGE. ALL THIS STUFF WE DO TO OUR KIDS NOW, THAT’S JUST INSANE!’ Susan Sarandon, actress and mother of three It’s the most polarising debate in parenting: should mothers go back to work or stay at home? Many of us have concluded that it’s possible to have a job and be a good mum, but a new book has reignited the issue – it argues that mothers are ‘biologically necessary for babies’ in the first years. Psychoanalyst Erica Komisar used research in psychology and neuroscience to make the case that mothers ‘need to be there as much as possible, both physically and emotionally, for children in the first 1000 days’. In Being…

ARIES MAR 21 – APR 20 Travel or holiday plans will gather exciting momentum. Making a sentimental journey to see someone dear, connecting with friends or relatives from afar and revisiting a place of personal significance will be a nostalgic joy this festive season. Over Christmas, it will take a super effort to fulfil that meaningful commitment. Intuitive flashes will help point the way with an ambitious career, financial or personal undertaking that’s unfolding. LUCKY NUMBERS: 9, 19, 20 TAURUS APR 21 – MAY 21 A grand financial venture or complex matters will pervade this festive season. There will be ambitious plans, paperwork and loose ends to work through – you will also need to juggle funds to meet commitments. Quiet reflections will bring insights with an emotional issue. Christmas…

HOPE FOR GRANT I couldn’t believe what I was reading, about the troubles Grant Denyer and his wife Chezzi are enduring (NI Dec 11). Grant gives me such enjoyment while I’m watching his program Family Feud, and yet behind the smiles and jokes, he is really hurting. I do hope Chezzi’s health problems are relieved by the surgery she would have received recently. I wish them and their children a happy Christmas. Grant gives so much pleasure to his audience, he really deserves some himself. ELAINE RICHARDS, SALT ASH, NSW. A LIFE OF SUCCESS Thank you for your fascinating story on Brendan O’Carroll, the star of Mrs Brown’s Boys (NI Dec 18). Brendan has led a fascinating past life off screen –…

With parents like Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Suri Cruise was always going to be a natural performer. The 11-year-old recently proved her showbiz potential when she joined mum Katie on stage at the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball to introduce Taylor Swift’s performance. Suri may have won over the crowd, but dad Tom was reportedly ‘furious’ at the on-stage display. ‘He really thinks Suri is too young to go into show business,’ a source says. Tom also has concerns about Suri talking to the media – and what she might say publicly about him. ‘The fact that he hasn’t been around much since the divorce from Katie – it will cast him in a negative light,’ the source adds. INSPECTOR ROD! Has Rod Stewart been spending too much time watching cartoons…

NICOLE KIDMAN Nicole shows us why she is the queen of the red carpet this year. We were green with envy over her sequinned Gucci gown at the SAG awards in January. BLAKE LIVELY  We’re going bananas for Blake! The actress stepped out in a vibrant Brandon Maxwell pantsuit for an appearance on Good Morning America. Only Blake can make yellow look this good! KATIE HOLMES  The star looks every inch the lady in this red strapless gown by Zac Posen at the American Ballet Theatre Spring Gala. CHARLIZE THERON  The star is on-trend in this glamorous, metallic Christian Dior gown at the 89th Annual Academy Awards. Now that’s what we call an atomic blonde! DUCHESS KATE  Bow down! Kate is regal in an off-the-shoulder Alexander McQueen gown as she…

TOUCHING MOMENT Obviously, there were a lot of potential candidates for this award, but in September Pete Evans decided to show his softer side and ‘reconnect to some very special beings’. Neigh competition, really. CUTEST SELFIE Teri Hatcher takes out this hotly contested award with her photo of a shocked, snacking quokka. Although, maybe it was the quokka’s snap of a laughing Lois Lane that she uploaded... BEST ACTION SHOT Ricky Martin cheered up our April with this shirtless shot in the desert. Some people reckon that there’s a helicopter in the photo, but we still can’t see it... #THROWBACK OF THE YEAR #FlashbackFriday was a big thing in 2017, and Lisa Wilkinson knocked it out of the park by uploading a shot from 1978 that fully embraced the fashion…

As she celebrates one final Christmas in Australia, Princess Mary will be preparing to ring in the New Year as the queen of Denmark. This is set to be revealed in dramatic style during Queen Margrethe’s traditional New Year’s speech, with royal insiders predicting the 77-year-old monarch will announce her abdication. In an interview with Danish magazine Kendte, royal expert Sebastian Olden-Jorgensen says the writing is on the wall for Mary and Fred to become king and queen in 2018. Speculation about the abdication reached fever pitch recently when it was revealed there are some changes this year to the Danish queen’s New Year’s Eve speech to the nation. The plans are markedly grander than usual with adjustments to the broadcast arrangements. The address will be delivered from the palace’s…

Tender-hearted Melissa Doyle is sometimes moved to tears by the stories she covers for top-rating public affairs program Sunday Night . Occasionally, try as she might, when the emotion gets too much she simply has to take a moment to step away and clear her head. Talking recently to devastated mother Tonya Dwyer – whose teen daughter Brittney callously killed her own granddad for his $100,000 life savings hidden in the garden shed – was a case in point. Another was her close encounter with courageous Brenda Lin, sole survivor of her uncle’s vicious murder of her entire family – her mother, father, two brothers and an aunt – at their Sydney home. ‘It’s almost like I need to stop and take a moment after completing some…

It was an everyday thing to do. Stacy Dunbar popped into another room, leaving her eight-week-old baby Eve alone for a second in her bouncer. But suddenly, realising where she’d left Eve, panic seized her. ‘I had this massive meltdown,’ Stacy, 36, remembers. ‘I just ran to her and grabbed her out of the bouncer, crying.’ The little room they were in might look innocent enough to anyone else. A pale yellow colour on the walls, a change table, a few toys and clothes strewn around. But horrendously, it held the memory of where Stacy’s eight-month-old son Nate was horrifically killed in his cot when a drunk driver ploughed through the wall of their Perth home five years ago. Back in January 2013, Stacy and her husband Justin were awoken…

When Jo Parkes’ daughters tear open their many presents on Christmas morning, she knows she’s already given them the best gift possible – a happy and healthy mum. ‘This year I plan to take as many pictures as possible to make up for all the years I’ve spent trying to dodge the camera at Christmas,’ Jo, 32, tells New Idea. ‘I’ve just a handful of pictures with my kids at Christmas, and each one leaves me mortified.’ Jo, from Leicestershire, UK, recalls the time she built a snowman with six-year-old daughter Faye. The mum looked at the snap of that time and was horrified to see she was twice the snowman’s size. ‘My whopping frame had even made Santa’s belly look small when I’d taken Faye to meet him at…

Grilled Haloumi with Fresh Cherry Vinaigrette Serves 6, Prep 20 mins, Cook 8 mins 2 tblsps olive oil 2 x 225g packets haloumi, cut into 1cm thick slices 60g baby rocket leaves 250g fresh cherries, pitted, halved ¹/ ³ cup fresh mint leaves FRESH CHERRY VINAIGRETTE 75g fresh cherries, pitted, finely chopped ¹/ ³ cup extra virgin olive oil 2 tblsps red wine vinegar 1 small clove garlic, crushed 2 tsps wholegrain mustard 1 tsp honey Salt and pepper, to taste 1 To make vinaigrette, combine all ingredients in a jug. Stir well. 2 Heat oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add haloumi in two batches. Cook for about 2 minutes on each side, or until golden. Remove. 3 Arrange rocket on a platter. Top with…

Wonton-Wrapped Lemongrass Prawns Makes 20, Prep 20 mins, Cook 6 mins 20 large, raw king prawns (650g) 20 wonton wrappers 1½ tblsps Gourmet Garden Lemongrass Cold Blended Paste Vegetable oil, for deep frying Chilli and lime mayonnaise Fresh coriander leaves, to garnish (optional) 1 Peel prawns, leaving tails intact. Devein. 2 Spread ¼ teaspoon of lemongrass paste onto one wonton wrapper at a time. Place a prawn on one corner of the wrapper, with tail overhanging. Fold opposite corner over prawn. Roll up to enclose, folding in the side opposite to the tail. Seal edge with water. 3 Heat enough oil in a wok over a medium to high heat to deep-fry, until hot. Add half the prawns. Fry for about 3 minutes or until golden and prawns are cooked…

TOOTHY PEGS My great-granddaughter was looking at my false teeth soaking in a cup, she told me, ‘Nan, I like your pretending toothy pegs!’ JUDITH JEFF, PORT MACQUARIE, NSW. LIVING THE DREAM My five-year-old great-grandson, Jimmy, has a head on his shoulders before his years. My daughter asked him to help me with my walker, and he handled the task with great dedication. I asked Jimmy why he and the rest of my family were so good to me, he looked me in the eye and said, ‘Gram, we are trying to keep you alive.’ In 87 years I have never been speechless, but Jimmy took my breath away. DOROTHY O’LEARY, NEWTOWN, VIC. ART OF POLITENESS I had taken my four-year-old grandson to meet my new neighbour. When the lolly…

Q I know this bloke that looks after his elderly father full-time. The thing is that he complains he’s restricted and can’t meet his friends or go away due to being a full-time carer. But if I suggest looking into aged care and respite care, I get told this is his responsibility and duty. I don’t know if there is much assistance around in aged care unless he has finances. What could I say if this bloke vents about how stuck and restricted he feels? In a way it is his choice to be a full-time carer. SAM, VIA EMAIL. A I was my mother’s full-time carer for seven years. It was thankless and all consuming. I did avail myself of services for the aged. There are lots to choose…

Princesses aren t made overnight! Fortunately for Meghan Markle, she has the perfect mentor in Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. As Meghan embarks on the delicate transition from commoner to royalty, Kate has already begun to take Meghan under her wing. Kate’s effortless style and grace are what have endeared her to the public – and Meghan is now taking her cues from Kate’s shining example. And it appears Kate’s influence has already started to rub off on Meghan. Here’s what she’s learnt so far... LADY IN RED Formal occasions are always on the royal social calendar – and it’s important to dress appropriately. Meghan has already begun to follow Kate’s lead on the dress code, by opting for a demure red evening gown. ROYAL OFF-DUTY Being out and about is…

DREAMS DO COME TRUE FOR THE MUCH-LOVED SONGSTRESS ‘I TRIED TO GET MY MIND OFF MY TROUBLES BY FOCUSING ON THE THINGS I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT’ The festive season is a time to reflect on the year that’s just passed – and what a roller-coaster 2017 has been for Olivia Newton-John. Earlier this year the Aussie songstress was at her lowest ebb, after being rocked by a series of health crises. As she was forced to cancel a string of US tour dates, it looked doubtful that the veteran performer would ever be well enough to take the stage again. However, fast forward just six months and Olivia’s fortunes have completely turned around in what friends are calling ‘a Christmas miracle’. As she heads into the festive season, the singer…

‘THE WAY THEIR DIARIES ARE FILLING OUT, IT COULD BE EVEN WORSE NEXT YEAR’ Watching their young children ice-skating in London last week, Victoria and David Beckham looked just like any other proud parents out enjoying the festive season with their family. But behind the scenes, it seems Posh and Becks are fighting off new claims that they spent just 33 nights together in 2017 – and it’s been nearly six months since either of them posted a couple photo, raising even more eyebrows. Sources say the time apart can be attributed to their hugely successful and demanding careers, while numerous scandals have tested their marriage along the way. And with a new $52.7 million boost to her fashion business announced last month, it seems there could be even more…

‘I’M ACTUALLY TOO SCARED TO HAVE SEX NOW, SO I’M JUST NOT BOTHERING. IT’S JUST NOT WORTH THE STRESS’ Emma Brown had never planned on having a big family. In fact, she didn’t want kids at all! ‘I enjoyed my social life way too much, and all I dreamed of was having a great career and travelling the world,’ explains Emma. But now, at 31, Emma is a mum to four kids – Sofie, 12, Sarah, 11, Stevie, five, and one-year-old Reginald. And each child was born against the odds. At 17, Emma met 18-year-old truck driver Leigh in a club. She’d had the 99 per cent-effective contraceptive injection and had no intention of getting pregnant, but after returning from a girls’ holiday less than a year into her relationship…

Christmas Tree Meringue Pops Makes 20, Prep 25 mins, Cook 45 mins 4 egg whites, at room temperature 1 cup caster sugar ¼ tsp cream of tartar ½ tsp green food colouring 20 wooden ice-cream sticks 1 tsp red sprinkles 1 tsp green sprinkles Christmas baubles, to decorate 1 Grease and line two large oven trays with baking paper. 2 Beat egg whites in a large bowl of an electric mixer until frothy. Add sugar, one tablespoon at a time, beating until dissolved. Continue to beat for 3 minutes, or until thick and glossy. Beat in cream of tartar, then colouring. 3 In two batches, transfer meringue to a piping bag fitted with a 1cm star nozzle (8-point). 4 Place 10 sticks, well-spaced apart on each oven tray. Pipe six…

Peach Melba Frozen Parfait Serves 6-8, Prep 30 mins 1L tub vanilla ice-cream 2 yellow peaches (160g each), stones removed, finely chopped Sliced yellow peaches, to serve RASPBERRY CREAM 2 cups frozen raspberries, thawed 2 tblsps icing sugar mixture 300ml tub thickened cream 2 tsps vanilla bean paste 395g can Nestle Sweetened Condensed Milk 1 Grease and line a large, deep loaf pan (15cm x 23cm x 9cm) with baking paper, extending paper 5cm above edges. 2 Soften ice-cream in a large bowl at room temperature. Stir in peaches. Pour into pan. Smooth over top. Freeze. 3 For raspberry cream, blend raspberries and sugar in blender until texture is smooth. Strain through sieve into a large jug. Discard seeds. 4 Beat cream in a large bowl of an electric mixer…

HAIR SOS! Don’t forget to treat your tresses. UV rays, air conditioning and swimming all wreak havoc on hair. ‘Treatments should be part of your regular routine, especially in the warmer months,’ says Pantene Hair Ambassador, Remington Schulz. Use haircare products that are intensely hydrating and offer UV protection to keep hair in the ultimate party shape. TREAT YO’SELF Getting through Christmas can be a tough gig... it’s now time to unwind and treat your skin with a little extra TLC. Try an overnight mask. These work wonders for restoring moisture in tired, dehydrated skin. Need a detox to clean skin and tighten pores? A clay mask is sure to boost skin before you party. NAIL IT Splurge on a mani and pedi to heighten your spirits. Have fun and…

Keep the mozzies at bay Decorate your outdoor table with citronella candles in pretty coloured jars. They will protect your guests from annoying mosquitoes and create a relaxing ambience. Play time It’s always a good idea to have some games handy in case the conversation dwindles! Unbreakables You can still impress your guests without risking your favourite glasses and china. Pick up some fun hard plastic homewares that you can re-use over and over. Pre-make your drinks There’s no need to spend the party in the kitchen preparing cocktails. Make a big batch beforehand or set out the ingredients on a cart and let your guests help themselves. Make it moody Lighting is key to creating the perfect party atmosphere, and you can’t go wrong with cute string lights and…

ALLISON DUBOIS SAVING CHILDREN FROM BEING PAWNS IN A DIVORCE Q I am a long-time nanny of a family that has gone through a rough breakup. I thought we were through the worst of it but the youngest child is really not coping well and had a breakdown recently. Will the child get past this? Do you see it affecting them in the future? Melissa, via email. A Melissa, divorce is never easy and yes, the children are affected. How a child copes usually hinges on how the parents treat one another. If they use the kids as pawns, it only hurts the children. If the parents are amicable and treat each other with respect, it gives the children a sense of security and is much more harmonious for everyone.…

WHEN GOOD NEIGHBOURS BECOME GOOD FRIENDS! Former Neighbours stars KYLIE MINOGUE and GUY PEARCE led the glamour at the Sydney premiere of their latest flick Swinging Safari . It’s the first time the pair have appeared together on screen in 30 years. They were joined on the red carpet by fellow cast members ASHER KEDDIE and JULIAN MCMAHON. Royals or movie stars? PRINCE WILLIAM and PRINCE HARRY – who make a cameo as stormtroopers in the latest Star Wars film – hung out with their co-star BB-8 at the European premiere of Star Wars: The Last Jedi in London. We wonder if Harry asked Meghan for tips! We’re seeing double! KERRIANNE KENNERLEY put the fun…