Planning your summer feasts #3

Celebrating three awesome Auckland eateries who've launched cookbooks this year. These books also give you a behind-the-scenes look at the experiences of those visionaries who set out to do something a little bit different in the Auckland foodie scene.

A life at Mudbrick : stories and recipes from Waiheke's famous Mudbrick Vineyard and restaurant by Robyn Jones. Over 20 years ago, Robyn & Nick Jones planted a small vineyard on Waiheke Island. This book details their journey and shares award-winning recipes from Mudbrick.

La Cigale : recipes and stories from the family who brought a slice of France to New Zealand by Elizabeth Lind. If you've not yet had the pleasure of perusing the French-style markets in Parnell, then you're missing a real treat. Get yourself along to experience a slice of France here in Auckland.

The Engine Room : No. 115 eatery by Natalia Schamroth and Carl Koppenhagen. Based in Northcote Point, this restaurant has become a drawcard for foodies across Auckland. My highlights from the cookbook include Ricotta Gnocchi with tomato basil sauce, Balinese Pork Belly with Tumeric Rice & Tamarind Salad and Salted caramel & chocolate tart.

Treat yourselves to a little bit of decadence & difference this Christmas, try out some of the delicious recipes on offer in these books. Be inspired by the people who've taken a different path to create the foodie magic.

Planning your summer feasts #2

I can't go past planning for easy & delicious summer feasts without reaching for cookbooks written by Annabel Langbein.

In my opinion, Annabel Langbein is New Zealand's answer to Nigella Lawson. Annabel makes the recipes all seem completely do-able, no matter what your level of cooking ability is. She combines down-to-earth ingredients, with an occasional dash of unusual ingredients, to conjure up amazing feasts. She has nearly 20 cookbooks to her name, as well as the recent Free Range Cook TV series.

Her latest cookbook, Simple pleasures : the free range cook, features several recipes that I want to try out at upcoming summer BBQs, including Corn & Israeli Couscous Salad. If you're a fan of Pinterest, visit Annabel's page for ideas & photos to inspire you. You can also check out her website for more food ideas as well.

And with a tip of the hat to Nigella (since Whittakers have featured her in their recent TV promotions), I'm going to recommend Whittaker's passion for chocolate as the go-to present for all the chocoholics in your life. They will love you for it.

Planning your summer feasts #1

With summer heading our way, and various holiday plans being hatched, now is the perfect time to pour over the cookbooks, plan some easy-to-put-together meals, write a shopping list, and maybe even think about giving great cookbooks for holiday presents.

I'm going to tempt you over the coming weeks with delights from some new Kiwi cookbooks.

Peter Gordon : everyday

I've long been a fan of Peter Gordon's food, so I was very happy to read through this one and be inspired several times over. The recipe for Banana and Coconut Fritters with Passionfruit Sauce is definitely on my list of recipes to try out this summer.

My favourite section of the books has to be Tea Trolley & Desserts. I'll be trying out Chocolate Ganache and Membrillo Tart with PX Cream (though I probably won't make my own sweet short-crust pastry) and Strawberry & Ginger-Beer Jellies.

The Food truck cookbook by Michael Van de Elzen.

I thoroughly enjoyed the TV series earlier in 2012 (the DVD is currently on order) , so am eagerly awaiting to get my hands on a copy of the book so that I can recreate some of the healthier versions of takeaways and fast food.

Let's see what I can tempt you with next week ...

The quiet power of introverts

A lot of people meet me and think I'm an extrovert. I can be loud, gregarious and a bit over the top. And for a long time, I would have wholeheartedly agreed that I was an extrovert. My family is full of extroverts, so I learnt how to "be" by following their model of behaviour.

However I was often grumpy and exhausted after hours of chatter and adventures, wondering why I was so damn tired all the time. Why couldn't I keep up with the energy of my family? I just pushed through and persevered, and probably did a not-very-good job of showing my grumpiness (I was a hormonal teenager after all).

Turns out it wasn't anything medical related, I was actually an introvert hanging out with extroverts all the time. And while they were all thriving in a busy, energetic, talkative environment, I was just longing for some peace and quiet to sleep and recharge my energy levels.

Growing up, I didn't actually know what the terms really meant. I know now that not all introverts are shy, and not all extroverts are in your face. In reality, it's all about where you draw your energy from to be who you are. So, ask yourself these two key questions :

1. Do you draw strength and energy from interacting with other people? (extrovert)
2. Do you recharge by taking time out from other people to be by yourself? (introvert)

Your answer might be a surprise to you. Now ask yourself about your family, your kids, your partner, your co-workers, your boss. As the introvert child of two extroverts, I'd ask gently that you try to see the world through your children's eyes. It might make sense of some of their behaviours if you see them as extroverts or introverts.

Introverts can be gregarious and enthusiastic and full of fizz, as long as they can also balance that with having time out to recharge. Extroverts do sometimes need time away from other people, even if it is just to sleep before they charge off on their next adventure.

Two books opened my eyes and changed my way of thinking :

• The introvert advantage : how to thrive in an extrovert world by Marti Olsen Laney
• Quiet : the power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking by Susan Cain

So I can finally admit that I am definitely an introvert, who grew up in an extrovert family, and I've learnt how to survive in the extroverted world. But it's been such a relief to know that it isn't unusual to need time and space away from other people to recharge my batteries, to think things through and to regroup by myself.

I'm different from the rest of my family, but they are learning to live with me needing time out to regroup rather than just ploughing on with the rest of them. Vive la différence.