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How to choose a legal decision-maker as you get older – 3 things to consider

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joseph-ibrahim-252671">Joseph Ibrahim</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amelia-grossi-1280226">Amelia Grossi</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> “It’s my life and I’ll do what I want,” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNzmrEgz_GI">sang</a> Eric Burdon of The Animals to the baby boomer generation. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. As we get older, sometimes we are no longer capable of making our own decisions. Diseases that affect the brain such as dementia, stroke and head injury can impair cognition and thinking. Some people may choose to appoint a <a href="https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/medical-treatment-planning-and-decisions-act-2016/008">medical treatment decision-maker</a> or an <a href="https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/powers-attorney-act-2014/007">enduring power of attorney</a> to make certain decisions on their behalf. Alternatively, a legal tribunal or court may appoint <a href="https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/guardianship-and-administration-act-2019/005">a guardian or trustee</a> to help guide decisions about health care, finances, accommodation and lifestyle. Who is the right person to take on this important role? Is it the family member or partner who knows you best? Or someone with time and energy? Perhaps someone who understands the services you need – like a nurse, accountant or real estate agent? The role of a decision-making representative has <a href="https://www.alrc.gov.au/publication/equality-capacity-and-disability-in-commonwealth-laws-alrc-report-124/3-national-decision-making-principles-2/will-preferences-and-rights-2/#:%7E:text=The%20'best%20interests'%20principle%20is,an%20equal%20basis%20with%20others">changed significantly</a> in recent years, shifting from a paternalistic approach to a more person-centred focus. Our <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35157838/">research</a> looks at the differences between these approaches and how subconscious bias can influence decision-making. <h2>Taking care</h2> These days, guardianship has <a href="https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/guardianship-and-administration-act-2019/005">moved</a> from deciding what’s deemed to be in the individual’s “best interests” to what best reflects their “will and preferences”. While <a href="https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/repealed-revoked/acts/guardianship-and-administration-act-1986/089">previously</a>, decisions were made for the person by their guardian or representative, new laws require representatives to enact the person’s “will and preferences”. That is, to make decisions with them. This is an important difference. The newer model gives the represented person more autonomy over personal, financial and other decisions. It recognises that even though a person may struggle with aspects of decision-making, they should not be excluded from decisions about how they live their life. This fundamental shift was <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6313688/">earlier adopted</a> by the United Nations in the <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/crpd/pages/conventionrightspersonswithdisabilities.aspx">Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability</a>, to which Australia is a signatory. <h2>Challenging in real world situations</h2> The will and preferences <a href="https://supporteddecisionmaking.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/08/Realising-will-preferences-and-rights-reconciling-differences-on-best-practice-support-for-decision-making.pdf">framework</a> may sound simple, but it can be <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09687599.2021.1941781">challenging in practice</a>, when concepts of empowerment are tricky to define and the will of someone with cognitive difficulties is hard to discern. Representatives <a href="https://supporteddecisionmaking.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/08/Realising-will-preferences-and-rights-reconciling-differences-on-best-practice-support-for-decision-making.pdf">bring their own biases, perceptions and lived experience</a> to the role of supporting another person to make decisions. This subjectivity is a natural and an inherent part of decision-making. The representative faces the challenge of setting aside their own opinion and, instead, stepping into the shoes of the represented person to give effect to what they want. A mismatch between the age, gender, ethnicity, religion or socioeconomic status of the representative and the represented person can exacerbate this challenge. An older able-bodied female, who is deeply religious and from a middle-to-high income background might find it difficult to represent a young man with a disability who is an atheist and from a working-class background. Now, imagine a scenario where the young man expresses a desire to go bungee-jumping or parachuting, despite previously showing a fear of heights. What’s his representative to do? Older people and women generally <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1366987032000105315?journalCode=rjrr20">have a lower appetite for risk</a>, as do those who have a faith and with a high socioeconomic status. A heightened perception of danger or a feeling the activity as frivolous, may lead to the representative reframing the situation with their subconscious bias. They may fail to respect the younger person’s will and preferences. Understanding what might shape a representative’s approach to decision-making is essential. Especially when decisions involve <a href="https://theconversation.com/do-you-want-to-be-resuscitated-this-is-what-you-should-think-about-before-deciding-105506">health</a> or <a href="https://theconversation.com/theres-no-need-to-lock-older-people-into-nursing-homes-for-their-own-safety-73954">living arrangements</a>. <h2>3 things to look for when selecting a legal decision-making representative</h2> 1. Deep understanding An intimate understanding of your situation is crucial. An ideal representative is someone who actively listens and has a holistic view of your circumstances. This may come from discussions with you and your loved ones. The representative must be careful your views are not outweighed by those of family or friends who are often more vocal. They should have a deep sense of who you are as an individual. 2. Self-awareness The person you choose should be able to describe their personal views and values and understand how their perspective may influence their decisions. This is vital to mitigate the effects of pre-existing bias. They should be able to reflect on their own lived experiences, to understand how their history shapes their approach to decision-making. They should be able to assess whether what you would do is the same as what they think you should do, and why. 3. Effective documentation A record of conversations between the representative and represented person often helps to illuminate a person’s will and preferences. Writing or recording compels us to commit to an idea and explain what we mean. It helps to clarify what is intended far better than a one-time conversation that may be remembered differently by participants. Further research is needed to better match representatives with represented persons. Improved tools are needed to identify the role of bias in decision-making and evaluate whether the represented person’s wills and preferences are being respected.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/177631/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joseph-ibrahim-252671">Joseph Ibrahim</a>, Professor, Health Law and Ageing Research Unit, Department of Forensic Medicine, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amelia-grossi-1280226">Amelia Grossi</a>, , <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-choose-a-legal-decision-maker-as-you-get-older-3-things-to-consider-177631">original article</a>.

Legal

The ultimate chicken pie recipe

Looking for something impressive (but quite easy) to make this weekend? Look no further than this scrumptious pie. Served with a salad, it’s a delicious meal for summer that will impress the entire family. Serves: Four to six Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 40 minutes Ingredients: <ul> <li>4 tablespoons butter</li> <li>1/4 cup onion, chopped</li> <li>1/4 cup celery, chopped</li> <li>1/4 cup carrot, chopped</li> <li>1/4 teaspoon salt</li> <li>2 tablespoons flour</li> <li>2 cups milk</li> <li>1/2 cup thick cream</li> <li>1 cube chicken stock, dissolved in hot water</li> <li>2 cups chicken, cooked and chopped</li> <li>1/2 cup frozen peas</li> <li>1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme plus more for garnish if desired</li> <li>Frozen shortcrust pastry</li> <li>Fozen puff pastry</li> <li>1 egg</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Allow puff pastry to thaw at room temperature and then gently unfold.</li> <li>In a large pot, melt butter over medium high heat.</li> <li>Add onion, celery, carrot, and salt and sauté until onions are translucent and vegetables start to get tender.</li> <li>Sprinkle flour over vegetables and cook for one to two minutes.</li> <li>Gradually whisk in milk, cream and chicken stock, and bring to a slow boil.</li> <li>Simmer gently over medium heat until sauce begins to thicken (should take about five minutes).</li> <li>Turn heat to low, and add chicken, peas and thyme.</li> <li>Preheat oven to 220.</li> <li>Line the base and side of a pie dish with the shortcrust pastry. Trim the edge. Line with baking paper and fill with rice or dried beans. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the paper, rice or dried beans and bake for a further 8 minutes, or until pastry is lightly golden. Remove from oven and let cool a little.</li> <li>Pour chicken mixture into a baking dish.</li> <li>Place the puff pastry over the top to enclose the filling. Use a small, sharp knife to trim the edge.</li> <li>Using a pastry brush, brush egg onto the top of the puff pastry.</li> <li>Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. The puff pastry will be a deep golden brown colour.</li> <li>Cool for 5 minutes before serving.</li> </ol> Image credit: Shutterstock

Food & Wine

“Grandma meant Elmo”: Cake-maker reveals hilarious baking blunder

An American baker has left the internet in stitches after misreading her customer’s custom cake request, instead delivering a baking blunder for the Sesame Street history books. In a video posted to her TikTok account, Brianna Romero - who is known professionally as Brinni Cakes - confessed her mistake to the world, recounting the story of how a recent order from a grandmother had led her to the creation of her new friend ‘Emo Elmo’. “So my worst nightmare happened,” she said, with audio playing over a timelapse of Brianne constructing another cake. “Last week a lady DMed me and asked me if I could make her an emo cake, and I was thinking ‘yes, of course, I love emo and I love goth, and I know I’ve been perfecting my black frosting so I’m ready for this’.” Brianna went on to explain that she’d gotten all of her customer’s information, and set to work. However, an hour before she was set to deliver the cake, she decided to offer the woman a number candle - an offer that was soon accepted. “She said ‘yes, the cake is for my granddaughter and she’s turning four’”, Brianna explained in the clip. “And I thought that that was a little bit weird, ‘cause I don’t know an emo four year old.” After trying to understand the weird request, Brianna figured that the little girl must just be a fan of something like Netflix’s Wednesday series. Unfortunately, this was not the case. “Something felt wrong,” she noted, before describing how she’d reach out again to ask what the theme of the party was, only to find out it was Sesame Street. “So my heart sinks a little bit because this is now making sense to me,” she said. It was then that Brianna returned to the original exchange between herself and her customer, and had her worst fears confirmed. “I misread emo,” Brianna admitted, “and it said an Elmo cake.” Luckily, Brianna was a quick thinker in her time of stress and rushed out to find an Elmo topper for her cake, before offering the cake for free. <div class="embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; vertical-align: baseline; width: 610.266px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7212109376436391210&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40brinnicakes%2Fvideo%2F7212109376436391210&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2Fe19d4562cc04495c8778154678f1d382_1679200086%7Etplv-dmt-logom%3Atos-useast5-i-0068-tx%2F1ad8d307d5f74948880bf2e0f91228f3.image%3Fx-expires%3D1683669600%26x-signature%3DCxdjPe36YRrx4SrRRwvAPwRsevY%253D&key=5b465a7e134d4f09b4e6901220de11f0&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> Brianna’s audience were obsessed with her tale, and the video shot to viral heights, with over 11.7 million views to its name. “As soon as you revealed it was for a 4yr old I was like ‘oh no, grandma meant Elmo’,” one follower wrote. “Praying it’s Elmo with a side bang,” said another. Her misfortune drew in over a thousand comments, but there was a recurring thought that stood out among the chorus, and that was a request to see the baked blunder. And while Brianna admitted in an update that she hadn’t had the time to snap pictures on the day of delivery, she did her best with her follow-up video, sharing photos of cakes that looked “almost exactly” like her own, to the delight of her worldwide audience. “This is so funny,” someone said. “Elmo with a side bang has me in tears.” Meanwhile, another commenter wanted to know what the recipients had thought about their unique goods. “She tried to pay still but I told her everything that happened and we just laughed it off,” Brianna said. “It was just for a small family party anyway.” Images: TikTok

Food & Wine

Main bomb maker of 2002 Bali bombings released early

Umar Patek, a convicted terrorist and the main bomb maker in the 2002 Bali bombings, has been released from jail. Patek, a leading member of the al Qaida-linked network Jemaah Islamiyah, helped build the car bomb that killed more than 200 people, including two Kiwis and 88 Australians, at two nightclubs in Kuta Beach in 2002. Patek served just over half of his original 20-year sentence and was released from jail after Indonesian authorities claimed that he was successfully reformed. "The special requirements that have been met by Umar Patek are that he has participated in the de-radicalisation coaching program," Ministry of Law and Human Rights spokesperson Rika Aprianti said. Patek will be required to report to the parole office once a week, before it becomes once a month. He is required to stay on parole until 2030, but his freedom can be revoked if he fails to report to the parole office or breaks the law. During his jail stint, Patek received a total of 33 months of sentence reduction with the most recent one on August 17, Indonesia's Independence Day. This saw Patek given a five-month reduction of his sentence after fulfilling the parole requirement of serving two-thirds of his current sentence At the time of the reduced sentence, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government will look at making "diplomatic representations" to oppose Patek’s release. "I feel a great deal of common distress, along with all Australians, at this time," Albanese said. "We had been advised by the Indonesian government of this further reduction. "This will cause further distress to Australians who were the families of victims of the Bali bombings." Image: Nine News

Legal

Shepherd’s pie with sweet potato topping

Not only is this dish the perfect comfort food for a chilly evening, but it’s also a meal with an interesting history. Made to use up any leftover meat, Shepard’s pie dates back to the 1790s. When it is made with beef it's called cottage pie and if it is made with lamb, then it's shepherd's pie. The sweet potato really spices this recipe up a bit to give it some kiwi flavour. Ingredients: <ul> <li>2 tbsp. butter, olive or coconut oil</li> <li>1 brown onion, finely chopped</li> <li>2 medium carrots, medium diced</li> <li>2 celery sticks, medium diced</li> <li>450g lamb mince</li> <li>1 ½ (375ml) cups beef stock</li> <li>1 tbsps. Worcestershire sauce</li> <li>40g tomato paste</li> <li>2 large sweet potatoes, peel and cut to quarters</li> <li>2 more tbsps. of butter</li> <li>Dash of cream or full fat milk</li> <li>½ cup mozzarella cheese grated</li> <li>¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated</li> <li>Freshly ground salt and pepper</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Preheat oven to 180°C for a fan forced oven.</li> <li>Heat butter in a large pan and on a medium heat add onions, carrot and celery.</li> <li>Cook stirring for 5 minutes or until vegetables are softened.</li> <li>Add lamb and cook until browned, for about 5-8 minutes, squashing any lumps with a fork.</li> <li>Add beef stock, Worcestershire sauce and tomato paste.</li> <li>Season with salt and pepper.</li> <li>Reduce heat to low, stirring occasionally and cook for 30 - 40 minutes or until sauce thickens.</li> <li>When meat sauce has thickened, spoon into an oven proof dish and spread with mashed sweet potatoes.</li> <li>Sprinkle with the two cheeses.</li> <li>Bake 20 minutes or until the top is golden and juices are bubbling through.</li> <li>Serve with some simple steamed broccoli.</li> </ol> Image: Getty

Food & Wine

Shepherd’s pie

For a hearty meal that is sure to satisfy, this family favourite Shepherd’s pie will be a hit with young and old alike. Serves: 4 Ingredients: <ul> <li>1 tablespoon olive oil</li> <li>1 brown onion, diced</li> <li>2 carrot, finely diced</li> <li>500g beef mince</li> <li>2 tablespoon tomato paste</li> <li>400g can peeled tomatoes</li> <li>1 cup beef stock</li> <li>1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce</li> <li>1 teaspoon mixed herbs</li> <li>750g potatoes, washed, peeled and chopped</li> <li>¼ cup milk</li> <li>50g butter</li> <li>Salt and pepper, to season</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Preheat the oven to 180°C. Heat olive oil in a frying pan and cook onion and carrots for 5 minute or until softened. Add mince and cook for three minutes or until browned.</li> <li>Season with salt and pepper. Stir through tomato paste, tomatoes, stock, Worcestershire sauce, and herbs. Cover and simmer on low for 15 minutes. Remove lid and cook for a further 10 minutes.</li> <li>Meanwhile, add potatoes in saucepan of salted water. Boil and reduce to simmer. Cook until tender. Drain well and mash with butter and milk until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.</li> <li>Spread beef mixture evenly in an ovenproof baking dish. Spoon potatoes into large pastry bag fitted with star tip. Pipe rosettes over beef mixture. Place in oven and cook for 30 minutes or until topping is browned. </li> </ol> Image: Getty

Food & Wine

News of Bali bomb-maker's sentence cut short sparks fury

The bomb-maker behind the devastating 2002 Bali bombings has been released early from Indonesian prison only days after his sentence was reduced by a further five months. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared this decision will add trauma to the victims’ families and says his diplomats are lobbying the Indonesian government regarding the reduction. This decision means that Umar Patek, the man who made the explosives that killed 200 people, including 2 kiwis and 88 Aussies in 2002, will have served only half of his original 20-year sentence. Indonesian authorities insist he has been ‘deradicalised’ but Mr Abanese has described him as ‘abhorrent’. The sentence had already been reduced by 18 months on a previous occasion, meaning his total reduction is now one year and 11 months. He would have been eligible for parole in January 2023 after serving two thirds of his sentence. Patek admitted making the suicide vests that went off at Sari Club and Paddy's Pub in Kuta but claimed he did not know what they would be used for. After nine years on the run in the Philippines and Pakistan, he was caught in 2011 and spared the death sentence after co-operating with police and apologising to victims' families. This coming October marks the 20th anniversary of the bombings. Images: Australian National Museum / Getty

Legal

“Prince Charles wasn’t happy”: Royal cake-maker spills on Charles and Diana’s wedding creation

Dave Avery, the man who designed and made Prince Charles and Diana's wedding cake for their big day, has revealed it was the prince who called him to make changes to the design – after Diana had approved it. The head baker of the Royal Naval Cookery School, Avery designed the couple's five-tier fruit cake which stood at 165cm for the July wedding 40 years ago in 1981. Avery, then 37, had been selected to bake the royal wedding cake – an auspicious task but one that he was more than capable of. Avery, now 78, told 9Honey via Zoom from the UK, he still clearly remembers walking into Buckingham Palace for his first meeting with Princess Diana – known at the time as ‘Lady Di.’ “I’ll never forget it," says Avery. "She was beautiful. She was very pleasant, very polite, we had a few little chats.” Avery had been given the task of designing the wedding cake and he’d gone to the palace to show his plans to Diana. She had approved the designs with no changes but when Avery arrived back at the Royal Navy Cookery School in Chatham, he received word from the palace that Prince Charles was not happy. "I got a phone call that Prince Charles wasn't happy," says Avery. But thankfully, it wasn't a criticism but rather – something the Prince wanted added. "We hadn't put on the Red Dragon," says Avery. Once we added the Red Dragon symbol of Wales, which was Prince Charles' call sign when he was flying helicopters with the Navy, the Prince was happy. The cake’s design included hand-painted symbols representing Prince Charles' military roles, the Prince of Wales emblem, St Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and Highgrove – one of which took eight hours to complete. How big was this Wedding Cake of the Century? The five-tier cake stood at 165cm and took some time to bake with the bottom tier alone taking Avery 12 hours. As well, Avery used a spirit level and set square to ensure the dimensions were perfect. He was sworn to secrecy during the 14-week process of designing and making the cake and says the pressure was on to get everything perfect: "If there was anything wrong, the whole world would have known about it, not just me," he says. When it came to the baking of the cake, Avery turned to a favourite recipe he had from his mother for a rich fruit cake. "But I had to take things out and add things in to improve it. I had worked on that recipe for up to five years until I got it absolutely perfect." As perfect as it is, Avery says he won’t be sharing this recipe: “I’ve been asked many times, but no,” he adds. The Wedding of the Century 2021 marks 40 years since Prince Charles married Diana Spencer at St Paul's Cathedral on July 29th - a wedding which drew a global television audience of more than 750 million people. A new documentary has been made to mark the occasion which will screen on BritBox Australia, aptly titled Wedding of the Century. The original documentary includes remastered footage of the wedding plus never-before-seen interviews with those closely involved in the wedding planning, including the florist and one of the photographers. Was it all successful? After the wedding, Avery received a letter from the new Prince and Princess of Wales saying "how thrilled they were with the cake." They even saved the second tier to use at Prince William's christening on August 4th, 1982. Diana loved Avery's work so much she asked him to make William's first birthday cake, too, "a sponge with nursery rhymes around it.” These days Avery has retired from the Royal Navy after serving for 22 years. He went on to open a cake shop, baking wedding cakes (naturally) before going back into teaching. As Avery says: "It's the wedding of the century, it's the cake of the century.” Image: Getty Images

Food & Wine

Slow-cooked meat pie hack dubbed a "game-changer"

A fan of a slow cooker has surprised others by using it to cook a meat pie, potatoes and mushy peas. Home cook Alison came up with the idea after seeing a similar meal online and posted it to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/slowcookedwonders" target="_blank">Slow Cooker Wonders</a> Facebook group. "Husband's dinner tonight, hope it works!" she wrote. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842268/slow-cooker-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7f3bbd4791454a5faa4d29fa4ff8fd04" /> <div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post-body-container"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Many were fascinated by the idea. “I hope this comes out good, it’ll revolutionise teatime,” said one. “I need to know too, please, would be a game changer for me.” Others were surprised by the backlash, as group members were quick to criticise. “Those mushy peas (are) definitely going to run all over the pie lid and potatoes! Good idea if it works, but I would definitely put a few air holes in that pie lid or it might explode,” one group member pointed out. “Why can’t people just be kind? She’s cooking, it’s her husband. Are you eating it? No, her husband is. What’s wrong with experimenting and trying things? Jeez, get a grip,” said one. “The peas will soggy it all and potatoes won’t cook. Intrigued.” Alison did not mention how the meal went or whether her husband enjoyed it. Photo credits: Facebook </div> </div> </div> </div>

Food & Wine

Sweet potato crusted shepherd’s pie

Take out your casserole and try this recipe for the weekend. Serves 4 Ingredients: <ul> <li>1kg sweet potato, peeled, diced</li> <li>150g butter</li> <li>Salt and black pepper</li> <li>3 tbsp olive oil</li> <li>1 onion, finely sliced</li> <li>1 carrot, finely diced</li> <li>1 stick celery, finely diced</li> <li>2 clove garlic, finely chopped</li> <li>500g lamb mince</li> <li>2 tbsp tomato paste</li> <li>2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce</li> <li>½ cup red wine, optional</li> <li>1 cup chicken stock</li> <li>1 x 400g tin tomato</li> <li>1 cup frozen peas</li> <li>½ cup grated cheddar cheese</li> <li>Green leaf salad, to serve</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Steam or boil the sweet potato until cooked and soft then drain, mash and mix with the butter, salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.</li> <li>Heat a medium saucepan over a high heat, add the olive oil, onion, carrot, celery, garlic and lamb.</li> <li>Season with a little salt and cook over a medium to high heat to colour the lamb and cook the vegetables, stirring to break up with a spoon as it is cooking. Add the tomato paste and continue to cook for another minute then add the Worcestershire sauce, red wine, chicken stock and tinned tomato and cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally, for approx. 30 minutes.</li> <li>Preheat the oven to 190C. Adjust the seasoning of the lamb ragu then spoon the lamb mix into a baking dish, stir through the peas and top evenly with the mash sweet potato. Cover with the cheddar then bake for 15 -20 minutes before serving with a green salad if preferred.</li> </ol>

Food & Wine

A sweet treat: apple pie from Milan

Serves 8 Is there anything better than a delicious home cooked apple pie? Get ready for rave reviews to roll in! “I have such beautiful memories of my early days in Lombardy. The lessons I learned about family, food and tradition, and how intertwined they are, are at the heart of everything I do today,” says chef Alessandro Pavoni. “This dish reminds me of British apple pie. Russet apples have the perfect texture for it, plus they don’t release too much liquid. If they’re unavailable, use another similar apple that’s not too juicy, such as gala.” Ingredients <ul> <li>1 kg russet apples</li> <li>1/3 cup (80 ml) dry white wine finely grated zest of 1 lemon 180 g caster sugar</li> <li>1 pinch of fine salt</li> <li>¼ cup (40 g) sultanas 60 g mixed peel</li> <li>60 g unsalted butter 18 slices white sandwich bread, crusts removed</li> <li>1½ tablespoons dark rum Mascarpone Cream (to serve)</li> </ul> Directions Preheat the oven to 180°C. 1. Peel and core the apples and cut each one into 16 thin wedges. Place in a heavy-based saucepan over high heat with the wine, lemon zest and 90 g of the caster sugar. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to medium and cook, covered, for 10 minutes. Uncover, add the salt and cook for another 15 minutes or until the liquid has evaporated. 2 Remove from the heat, stir in the sultanas and mixed peel, then cover and set aside. 3. Beat the butter and remaining sugar with a wooden spoon until well combined. Use three-quarters of this mixture to butter the base and side of a 23 cm round springform cake tin. Completely line the base and side of the tin with the bread, cutting the slices to fit as necessary and reserving some for the top, pressing gently to secure them in place. 4. Fill with the apple mixture, then top with the remaining bread and spread the remaining butter mixture over the top. 5. Bake for 40 minutes or until the bread is lightly golden. Remove from the oven, immediately pour the rum over the top and set aside for 30 minutes. 6. Serve warm with a bowl of mascarpone cream on the side. Recipes from the book, <a href="https://www.penguin.com.au/products/9781921383380/lombardian-cookbook">A Lombardian Cookbook</a> by Alessandro Pavoni and Roberta Muir, with photography by Chris Chen, published by Lantern, RRP $59.99. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/apple-pie-from-milan.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a>

Food & Wine

4 Ingredients: Delicious shepherd's pie

This recipe serves eight. Serve up the perfect winter warmer dish with just only four ingredients! Ingredients <ul> <li>500g lean beef mince </li> <li>300g fruit chutney </li> <li>800g potatoes, peeled, boiled and mashed </li> <li>¾ cup (75g) grated cheddar cheese</li> </ul> Directions 1. Preheat oven 180˚C. 2. In a nonstick frying pan over moderate heat, brown the mince, season and stir through chutney. Reduce heat and simmer for 8 minutes. 3. Pour into a casserole dish, top evenly with mashed potato and sprinkle with grated cheese (a combination of cheddar and parmesan is also nice). 4. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until cheese is nice and bubbly. Tips Slice a tomato or two over the mince before topping with potato or finely chop in any number of vegies to the mix. It’s the delicious sweet and savoury flavour of the chutney that the children like. Serve with healthy steamed greens. Featured in <a href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/69171/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2F4-ingredients-menu-planning-kim-mccosker%2Fprod9780980629491.html">4 Ingredients: Menu Planning</a> By Kim McCosker, RRP $24.95. Written by Kim McCosker. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/4-ingredients-shepherds-pie.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a>

Food & Wine

Vanished holiday-maker: Search called off for missing woman who fell off cruise ship

The search for a female passenger who reportedly fell overboard a cruise ship into the Mediterranean Sea has officially been called off. The cruise was heading from Cannes in France to Palma de Mallorca in Spain when a 63-year-old Korean passenger fell off the ship on Saturday morning, a cruise line spokesperson told <a rel="noopener" href="https://people.com/travel/female-passenger-falls-overboard-norwegian-cruise-search-called-off/" target="_blank">PEOPLE</a> in a statement. “As soon as the report was made, the authorities were notified and a search and rescue operation ensued,” the statement explained. “The search ceased after several hours, and sadly, the guest was not found. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the individual’s family during this difficult time.” According to reports, the passenger was last seen wearing pink pyjamas. The ship was due to arrive in Palma on Saturday but turned around to search for the missing woman, returning to where she was believed to have fallen off the ship before circling the area. “It took us two hours to get back to the place where they were last seen. We stopped there for four hours to try and find the person,” British passenger Claire Murphy told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/9252958/missing-woman-cruise-ship-overboard-search-majorca/" target="_blank">The Sun</a>. “They asked everyone on board to help look for that person, so a lot of people were looking out of the windows or were on the edge of the ship but no one could see anything.” The incident added to the growing list of individuals disappearing after going overboard from cruises or ferries. According to a <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.cruisejunkie.com/Overboard.html" target="_blank">website</a> that collects information on missing cruise and ferry passengers and crew, there have been 340 known overboard cases since 2000, averaging to roughly 18 victims per year.

Travel Trouble

This beef red wine pie will melt in your mouth

These tasty pies are full of flavour and a great winter warmer! Recipe reproduced with permission. © 2015 National Heart Foundation of Australia. For more healthy recipes visit <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/recipes" target="_blank">www.heartfoundation.org.au/recipes</a> or speak to the Heart Foundation’s Health Information Service on 1300 36 27 87. Ingredients 2 tsp peanut oil* 1 large onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1kg beef chuck steak trimmed of all fat and cubed* 2 tbs plain flour 200g Swiss brown mushrooms, quartered 2 tbs fresh thyme chopped 2 tbs fresh parsley chopped 2 sheets canola puff pastry defrosted 1 tbs reduced fat milk* 375ml red wine 375ml reduced salt beef stock 2 carrots thinly sliced 2 tbs reduced salt tomato paste Mashed potato and steamed beans to serve *Products available with the Tick. Remember all fresh fruit and vegetables automatically qualify for the Tick. Method <div id="ctl00_PlaceHolderMain_ctl10__ControlWrapper_RichHtmlField" class="ms-rtestate-field"> 1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. You will need 6 x 2 cup capacity ovenproof pie dishes. 2. Heat the oil in a large pot, add the onion and cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes or until golden. Add the garlic and the beef and cook for 5 minutes until the beef is browned. 3. Add the flour and tomato paste and cook for a further 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in the red wine and stock and bring to the boil. Add the carrots, mushrooms and chopped thyme. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for about 1 hour then remove the lid and cook for a further 45 minutes until the beef is tender and the sauce is reduced and thickened. Stir through the parsley, transfer to a bowl and allow the filling to cool completely. 4. Using the top of a pie dish as a guide, cut 6 circles from the pastry, about 2cm larger than the dish. Spoon the cooled filling into the dishes. Brush the edges of each pastry circle with a little water then cover the dishes (damp side down); pressing the pastry to the side of the dish to seal. Cut a small cross in the top of each pie, insert a sprig of thyme and lightly brush with milk. 5. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the pastry is crisp and golden and the filling is hot. Serve the pies with mashed potato and steamed beans. Would you try this delicious pie? Let us know in the comments below. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/beef-and-red-wine-pies.aspx">Wyza.com.au</a> </div>

Food & Wine

Delicious chicken pie

In just 35 minutes, this hearty chicken pie will be ready to be served up, hot and fresh - it's sure to keep you warm this winter. Ingredients <ul> <li>1 tbs olive oil*</li> <li>460g skinless chicken breast, trimmed of fat, cut into 5-cm strips*</li> <li>200g mushrooms, sliced </li> <li>250g can chicken soup*</li> <li>1/2 cup frozen peas*</li> <li>1/2 tbs low fat Greek-style yoghurt</li> <li>Cracked black pepper, to season</li> <li>1 bunch broccolini, stalks trimmed </li> <li>1 1/2 sheets reduced fat puff pastry, thawed*</li> <li>1/2 egg yolk, beaten* </li> <li>Steamed vegetables or green salad, to serve</li> </ul> Method 1. Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). <div>2. Heat 1/2 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large frypan and brown chicken strips for 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Remove chicken from pan and set aside.</div> <div> 3. Heat remaining oil and sauté mushrooms for 2 minutes.</div> <div> 4. Return chicken to pan with mushrooms; add soup, peas and Greek yoghurt. Season with cracked pepper. Bring to the boil, then turn off the heat.</div> <div> 5. Transfer mixture to a pie dish approximately 28 cm x 21 cm.</div> <div> 6. Arrange broccolini on top of chicken filling.</div> <div> 7. Cover pie dish with puff-pastry sheets, cut a hole in the centre using a sharp knife and press down edges with the prongs of a fork.</div> <div> 8. Brush pastry surface with beaten egg yolk and cook in oven for 25 minutes.</div> 9. Serve with extra steamed vegetables or salad. Republished with permission of<a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/chicken-pie.aspx"> Wyza.com.au.</a>

Food & Wine

Delicious apple pie

A warming slice of apple pie is a classic dessert and a perfect finish to any meal! Ingredients: Pastry: <ul> <li>185g butter, chilled</li> <li>335g flour</li> <li>75g sugar</li> <li>2 teaspoons milk</li> <li>2 eggs</li> </ul> Filling: <ul> <li>6 Granny Smith apples</li> <li>110 g brown sugar</li> <li>2 teaspoons ground cinnamon</li> <li>45g unsalted butter</li> <li>40g pecans, chopped</li> </ul> To serve: <ul> <li>1-2 eggs, whisked to become an egg wash</li> <li>Raw sugar, to finish</li> </ul> Directions: Pastry 1. Grate the chilled butter into a food processor then add the flour, sugar, milk and eggs and blend until the mix forms a dough. Do not overwork at this will make the dough tough. 2. Remove from the food processor and gently knead until the dough is well combined. 3. Wrap in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before rolling. Filling 4. While the pastry is resting, core and peel the apples then chop into 2cm cubes. 5. Place the apples in a pot with the brown sugar, cinnamon and butter then gently cook for 25 minutes until the apple is tender. Once the apple is cooked, allow the mix to cool then stir the pecans into the mix. To serve 6. Preheat oven to 160°C. 7. Cut the dough in half then roll 1 piece of pastry into a circle large enough to fit into a deep tart shell. 8. Gently lift the pastry into the tart shell, pushing the pastry into the sides. Trim the edges to fit. 9. With the remaining pastry, roll to 5mm thick and cut into ribbons. Fill the pastry shell with the cooked apple mix, then criss-cross the pastry over the top of the pie. 10. Egg wash the apple pie then sprinkle with raw sugar. Place in oven and bake for 40 minutes. 11. Remove, allow to cool slightly and then serve. This recipe is featured in <a href="https://smudgeeats.com.au/product/flavours-of-sydney/">Flavours of Sydney 2nd Edition</a>. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/centennial-homestead-apple-pie.aspx">Wyza.com.au</a>.

Food & Wine

Kmart fans meltdown as cult favourite disappears from shelves

Kmart fans have expressed their dismay after one of the discount retailer's most sought after kitchen appliances has disappeared from shelves. The $29 pie maker, that even has its own Facebook page with over 16,000 members, is currently unavailable in stores because of its sheer popularity. The affordable and versatile pie maker can be used to create pies, scones, quiches and even doughnuts all under 10 minutes. <img width="500" height="300" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7819833/kmart-pie-maker_500x300.jpg" alt="Kmart -pie -maker"/> "When your 3 Kmarts in the area are sold out of pie makers and they don't know when the next delivery is -- why?!" one shopper wrote on the Kmart Pie Maker Recipes Australia Facebook page. "The pie maker continues to be sold out. Kmart has even removed it from their website now!" another added. "Kmart have them for $29 but most stores are sold out and I believe from comments today online they have disappeared?" one fan wrote. According to <a href="http://www.news.com.au" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>, Kmart has confirmed that the pie maker has sold out but the retailer hopes to have them back on shelves in September. "Due to popular demand the Kmart pie maker is currently sold out," the spokesman said. "Deliveries of stock will arrive in stores across the next six weeks with a larger shipment due in September. We thank our customer for their patience." Last month, one Kmart shopper revealed how she used her pie maker to create Nutella filled doughnuts only using eight ingredients. Others have shared their creative recipes using the pie maker, which include making cupcakes, muffins and quiche. Do you own the Kmart pie maker? If so, share how you use it in the comments below.

Money & Banking

The latest Kmart $29 hack fans are going crazy for

It’s the $29 Kmart pie maker that has sent social media users into a tizzy. Why you may wonder (or not)? Not only can it create pies, pizzas and even pancakes in minutes, but a mum has discovered it can create a Nutella filled doughnut in less than 10 minutes. <img width="411" height="308" src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/e601fabc5bbc2db5de1c2b183b548213" alt="The inside of the doughnut is filled with Nutella." style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Posting to the Kmart Mums Australia Facebook page, group member Linda says the discount department store’s $29 pie maker can create the delicious treat in just eight minutes. And that it seems is enough to send a page into meltdown, with the post receiving more than 600 comments of praise and delight. <img width="316" height="421" src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/7e5774d6579d656209c93aa1d18119e1?width=316" alt="The ingredients will take under 10 minutes to cook. <a class="capi-image" capiid="981bcfc2e71c0db2d63a36ce23aaebeb"></a>" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Th pie maker, which creates your traditional pie, can easily be utilised to make many other concoctions. Instead of using pastry and mince in the shells of the pie maker, users have shared ways to create other treats by using bread, eggs, flour, pancake mixture and even muffin batter to cook both sweet and savoury dishes. “I’m using my pie maker for cupcakes & muffins more than pies,” one person commented. “I made them too but put maple syrup in the middle,” another added. “Made quiche in mine, school lunch sorted,” one woman suggested for a savory option. <img width="399" height="300" src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/f82caf78dc962cdd0a1369dbbd6d439f" alt="The pancake pies use batter and a filling of your choice." style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Instead of using Nutella, one user put a small piece of solid chocolate into the centre and used pancake mixture instead. How to make Nutella Doughnut: Makes: 12 doughnuts. Ingredients: <ul> <li>1 cup self raising flour</li> <li>¼ cup caster sugar</li> <li>¾ cup milk</li> <li>2 eggs</li> <li>dash of vanilla essence</li> <li>2 tablespoons vegetable oil</li> <li>60g melted butter</li> <li>Nutella (1 teaspoon for each doughnut)</li> </ul> For the doughnut coating <ul> <li>1 cup caster sugar</li> <li>1 teaspoon cinnamon powder</li> </ul> Method: 1. Put self raising flour, melted butter and caster sugar in a mixing bowl. 2. In a separate jug, add milk, eggs, vanilla essence and vegetable oil. 3. Pour mixture in to flour mix, whisking until combined. 4. Heat up pie maker, and spoon in mix until it’s just below 3/4 full. 5. Gently dollop the teaspoon of Nutella into the centre of each doughnut mix. 6. Close the lid and cook for 8-10 minutes. They will be cooked fully when spring to the touch. 8. Remove doughnuts from pie maker, brush all over with butter and toss through doughnut coating.\ <img width="415" height="234" src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/77328cd52657021d14f2b38437386416" alt="Some try putting jam or maple syrup in the centre of the pancake pies instead of Nutella." style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/>

Food & Wine

Strawberry and rhubarb pie

There’s not much nicer for dessert than a slice of a sweet fruit pie. Combine this strawberry and rhubarb filling recipe with your favourite flakey pastry for a decadent treat you’ll be raving about. Ingredients: <ul> <li>3 ½ cups chopped rhubarb</li> <li>3 ½ ups strawberries, sliced</li> <li>1 tablespoon lemon juice</li> <li>½ cup granulated sugar</li> <li>¼ cup brown sugar</li> <li>⅛ cup cornflour</li> <li>¼ teaspoon salt</li> <li>2 tablespoons butter</li> <li>Raw sugar</li> <li>1 egg</li> <li>1 tablespoon water</li> </ul>

Food & Wine

Cherry Pie

Try out this delicious, easy dessert classic yourself to bring sweetness and colour to your tabletop. Ingredients: <ul> <li>1 cup of sugar (adjust according to the sweetness of your cherries)</li> <li>4 cups of sweet cherries, pitted</li> <li>¼ cup of flour</li> <li>½ teaspoon of cinnamon</li> <li>One double-crust pie crust</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>In a large zip-loc bag, add cherries, flour, sugar and cinnamon and toss.</li> <li>Preheat oven to 220°C.</li> <li>Place pastry in pie pan. Add tossed filling.</li> <li>Place top crust over pie. Cut ventilation slits and flute pie edges. Bake for 25 minutes.</li> <li>Reduce heat to 175°C and bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes.</li> <li>Let cool – length of time with depend if you want to serve warm or cool. Cut and serve.</li> </ol> Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/08/pumpkin-pie/">Classic pumpkin pie</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/07/apple-butterscotch-pie/">Apple and butterscotch pie</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/07/pecan-pie/">Pecan pie</a>

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Kmart fans meltdown as cult favourite disappears from shelves

The latest Kmart $29 hack fans are going crazy for

Strawberry and rhubarb pie

Cherry Pie