Finding comfort in preparing and sharing food

The latest from NZ House & Garden magazine. [padding] [If you are unable to view this message correctly, click here]( [padding] [padding] [spacer] [Stuff Logo]( [spacer] [spacer] [padding] [stuff header]( [spacer] [padding] Hi {NAME}, After the terrible destruction and loss suffered across the North Island following torrential rain, floods, and Cyclone Gabrielle, our hearts and thoughts are with those who have been so dreadfully affected. At times like this, a gift of food has the ability to bring comfort as well as nourishment, be it to feed our loved ones, or to make and take to others in need, when possible. The recipes in this newsletter, below, are for generous, transportable dishes that can be made and shared to help soothe, reassure and sustain. I got to thinking about how the notion of comfort food tends to have a bad rap, often being mostly associated with guilty pleasures, but this doesn’t have to be so. At its core, comfort food is really about dishes that both fill the stomach and warm the heart – food that has the power to make us feel secure, content, cared for and therefore comforted. It’s food that hits the spot in the right way at the right time – whether that be an occasional slice of cake or a bowl of pasta. And sometimes only nostalgia food will do the trick. My go-to comfort meals are my mum’s fish pie or my nana’s chicken soup for the soul, which unfailingly fill me with a genuine sense of calm and wellbeing when times are tough. Our latest issue features modern Asian-inspired dishes, packed full of uplifting, vivid flavours that are sure to bring a bright spot to anyone’s day. These are clear-cut recipes for tasty, quick-to-table meals that are great for sharing, too. [padding] [Editor] [padding] Julie Le Clerc [padding] Food Editor [padding] [spacer] [padding] [spacer][separator] [padding] [spacer] [padding] [padding] [spacer][Advertisement]( [spacer] [padding] From the files [spacer][separator] [padding] [spacer] [padding] [spacer] Mac & Cheese Bolognese Bake [padding] With a bolognese-type base and creamy macaroni cheese topping, this pasta bake combines two family favourites. [padding] [Get the recipe]( [spacer] [spacer] Weeknight Baked Chicken Curry [padding] Try this baked version of a chicken curry for an easy midweek meal. Serve with a simple chopped vegetable salad. [padding] [Get the recipe]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] [spacer][separator] [padding] [padding] [favourite find]( [spacer] Sponsored content [padding] Homes made beautiful [padding] Make your home beautiful with Harvey Furnishings’ wide range of fabric collections. We have your home covered – no matter the season. Head into one of the nine North Island stores, or shop online now. [spacer] [order now]( [padding] [spacer] [padding] I'm loving... [spacer][separator] [padding] [spacer] [padding] [spacer] Biroix cast-iron cookware [padding] Arrowtown-based Biroix, known for its colourful Dutch ovens, has added a skillet pan and a new blue shade to its range. Set to become an everyday essential in any home, the new premium cast-iron pan is heavy-duty and can withstand and maintain high temperatures for longer while distributing heat evenly. Similar to the popular Dutch oven, the new pan can be used in myriad ways, going from the stovetop to the oven with ease. Another clever innovation is that the pot lid of the Biroix Dutch oven also fits perfectly on the skillet, completing the ideal cast-iron set. Available in glossy statement hues: vibrant green, orange, yellow and blue, to bring the joy of colour back into your kitchen. $174 from [biroix.co.nz]( [spacer] [spacer] River Cottage Good Comfort [padding] By Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Bloomsbury, $55 Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, of River Cottage fame, has also been rethinking the concept of comfort food. He believes the food we love and crave and food that is good for us can come together. Here, he has tweaked much-loved family favourites by packing each dish with more wholesome ingredients that taste good and will do us good, as well. He’s added more colourful, seasonal fruits and vegetables, more nutty wholegrains and seeds, more gut-friendly ingredients like fermented veges and probiotic yoghurt so that these classic dishes remain comforting but nourishing too. [padding] [spacer] [padding] [spacer][separator] [padding] [spacer] [padding] [favourite find]( [spacer] Sponsored content [padding] How is your brain health? [padding] A healthy diet can reduce the risk of dementia. March is Brain Awareness Month and to raise funds for Kiwis living with dementia, we’re encouraging people to take a step for their own brain health. You can take a step yourself or support those in our community living with dementia by donating. Find out more at [stepsfordementia.nz]( [spacer] [read more]( [padding] [padding] [spacer][separator] [padding] [spacer] [padding] [favourite find]( [spacer] Sponsored content [padding] FREE Kitchens Look Book [padding] Renovating? Building? Order your FREE 2023 [Mastercraft Kitchens Look Book]( for ideas and inspiration to help you plan your new kitchen. Featuring a stunning collection of kitchens and cabinetry designed and created by Mastercraft Kitchens nationwide. Make all your moments special, in a kitchen you will love for years to come. Get your copy today! 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