Because I am a Girl

There is no doubt that I have an extremely blessed life. I have a beautiful family - parents who did anything for their children, brothers and a sister who are close, a husband who adores me. I have a fabulous group of friends and am surround by so much love and support. I have a dream job - I work on MasterChef - I produce the MasterClass episodes and I look after all guest chefs on the show - booking them, working with them...It's probably one of the best jobs in TV at the moment! I am an educated woman with an established career that I love. I am grateful for everything I have.

Not everyone is as blessed as I am. Girls around the world and in our own backyard go through their whole lives wishing they weren't born a girl, wishing that they were allowed the same opportunities as boys, hoping they will have freedom to chose their husband, dreaming of what it would be like to go to school, praying they'll survive to the age of 5.

We can make a difference in this world if we want to. My mum, Lalani, is making a difference. She is a true women's advocate and has been for as long as I can remember. After the Tsunami hit Sri Lanka, my mum and dad (who were in Sri Lanka at the time) did everything they could to get food, water, clothing and medicine to those affected in the South. But when they returned to Australia, my mum decided that she couldn't just forget what she had seen and so she began a project to help rehabilitate the people affected - in particular the women. The project would

seek to educate and empower the many women who had lost their husbands by helping them to use skills they already had and could develop such as sewing, cooking and rope making, to gain an income.

This project is now in it's 5th year and we, as a family, have all pledged to keep this going. We recently witnessed first hand how powerful our help had been as we met with the women and heard their stories. It has been all because of my mothers relentless efforts from fundraising to speaking about the cause.

My mother has been the most influential woman in my life and this is just one reason why. I am so glad to be a girl, to be a daughter, a wife, a sister, a girlfriend. My hope is that girls around the world will all feel this way - proud and happy to be a girl.

Because I am a girl...I can change the world.

http://becauseiamagirl.com.au/2010/

MasterChef Top 50 Pavlova Trial

This is a story about a girl trying to pretend she can cook and offering to recipe test a trial Pavlova recipe – trial because the producers (the ones higher up than me) wanted to see if a bigger pav could be made by changing an existing recipe… Names have been changed to protect…well to protect me in all honesty!!! I will warn however that there is much swearing…much much swearing, for which I do apologise!

So, to start with I pre heat the oven, once at right temp I start the clock....

It takes me 30 minutes before I get the pav in the oven. I don't think I beat the egg whites enough before adding the sugar, but the mixture has that lovely glossy sheen to it anyway. I beat it longer once the sugar is added in hopes that the mixture firms up a little. It does, but maybe not enough… [I realize later on that I am using the wrong part of the mixer to beat the eggs because I didn’t see the proper piece until I was putting the mixer back in the box!]

Be fore I go further I must say that my mum is a gun pav maker and makes perfect pavs every attempt…I now how a pav is made!!

There is nothing to do whilst the eggs are beating - so it's a fairly uninteresting first 30 - except of course when I put the mixture on the tray....

When I place it on the tray I can see it's not firm enough. In a true demonstration of a lack of loyalty the pav mixture spreads it way across the tray - looking like a 'cow pat' as Spencer notes in reference to a picture of it I send her. But I don't have time to re-mix it. I get it in the oven.

After 10 minutes you're meant to turn the heat down which I do - but it takes a further 10 minutes for the heat in my oven to get down to 120. F*$#*^g Gas Ovens.

The pav is looking like a slightly risen meringue disc. Not the pav my mum makes! F*$#*^g Pav. F*$#*^g Mrs Producer for making me do this.

Whilst in the oven it takes me 10 minutes to beat the cream and chop the strawberries - then it's a further 40 minutes of sitting and waiting and looking at the oven and licking the spatula, then feeling sick, then washing the utensils then looking at the oven then getting mad at husband for laughing at my pav, then looking at the oven again, then contemplating trying again in hopes of cheating my way into looking like I am the pavlova queen...which clearly, I am not.

The recipe says to take pav out of the oven to cool down...this goes against my instinct which is to let the pav cool in the oven, but I dutifully take pav out of oven and watch it deflate, then crack - stupid task anyway. I let it cool and it cracks some more (great...) then when cool, I slap on the cream and strawberries and hope that Mrs Producer says don't worry about bringing it in tomorrow, pics will be fine, but of course, she doesn't and now I must walk into to the office with deflated pav and a deflated ego to go with out....plus the pictorial evidence of my failure. F*#k F#*k F#*k!!!!!!!

I will never make it as a contestant on MasterChef, but at least I make it as good producer on MasterChef!!

New Years Resolutions

Oh yes, just like everyone else, I have foolishly made New Years Resolutions...I have a proven track record that clearly shows I don't stick to them, yet here I am with a fairly long list and a hopeful, positive attitude.

So why should this year be any different? It probably shouldn't be - but damn it I am going to give it a red hot go. Again.

Wondering what's on the list?? Exactly what you would expect from a person who makes New Years resolutions.

There's the obligatory weight loss (at the top of the list every year - though with a 35th birthday looming I am definitely making this a huge priority - 20 Kilos in 12 months...EEEEEK!!!!)

There's the overseas holiday (An actual possibility seeing as though we have said yes to a trip to Sri Lanka)

The home makeover (Already started - but will it be finished?)

Remembering birthdays anniversaries and special occasions before they happen not after (Already failed at this one)

Being more giving of my time and my heart (Making a good effort thus far)

swearing less (Never, ever going to happen)

Praying and reading my bible everyday (I only have 10 days to catch up on...wait, what date is it today? The 10th? oops!)

Prioritising God, Church, Husband Family and Friends over Work (Already setting a cracking pace on this - lets hope it lasts!)

Making sure I make it to date night, which is once a fortnight (Husband does not like date night without his date and I don't like date night being spent with my computer or work colleagues!)

So there's the list. It's fairly long but you know what this year I am determined to keep and achieve at least half of them and I shall blog about it to keep me honest!

That reminds me - last resolution - to blog about resolutions...Tick!

SuperSize TakeOver

It started with a simple line "Do you want fries with that" and then it became "Do you want fries and a coke with that" and then the whole super size phenomenon took the world by storm.

Is it just me or is this completely out of control and now, it's not just confined to the fast food chains. I can't even walk into a service station to pay for my petrol without being asked if I want any 'specials' from the counter - two chocolate bars for the bargain price of $4 or two packets of mints for the price of one - what? Do I have bad breath?

Even the supermarkets are out to get me with their sneaky two for the price of one or two for $4 routines, and let me tell you - here, I do get sucked in. Of course I'll get two bottles of hand wash for $4 especially when you've noted, quite clearly, that buying one on it's own will cost me $3...i mean it would be rude not to...wouldn't it?

In a world where one is not enough and just going out for a bottle of milk is never really that, it seems that someone somewhere is always leave me wanting more, sucking me into thinking one is not enough, never being satisfied with what I've got.

Well I'm fighting back - I'm saying no to the fries and coke no to the two for one or reduced prices for multiple hand wash, NO, NO, NO! I have enough stuff!

However, I'll never say no to two for one cocktails, shoes or handbags.

What I learnt from Matt Preston

I currently have a 'no dessert' rule at work. Our caterer, Zee catering serves up beautiful food and everyday they serve up delicious desserts. Now these are not your low fat variety, these are tasty, suger filled, high caloried fabulousness on a plate.

But one day after weeks of holding out and sticking by my 'no dessert' rule, I caved. I caved for a lemon delight pudding with ice cream. As I walked out to the area where the cast and crew have lunch George asked loudly what I was doing - this caused the entire crew to start chanting 'Don't do it Laki' - embarrassing to say the least! Then Matt Preston appeared.

With a booming voice he asked 'Laki - what are you doing?' He then promptly asked me to hand over my bowl of dessert. I did so...reluctantly. He walked away and gave my dessert away to someone else, returning with just one spoonful for me. Matt explained that one spoon full is all I really needed. He suggested I swirl it around my mouth, that I savour taste. And so, in front of the crew, I did so. And Matt was right. I savoured the taste, I swirled it around my mouth and I got my sweet fix, minus the mega calories.

I was given a little insight into how Matt approaches tasting so many dishes during MasterChef and I am quietly grateful he showed me that I don't need the whole bowl of dessert - I can enjoy the taste with a spoonful. Sure I will always want dessert, but if I am feeling weak, I'll go for the spoonful.

MasterChef Made Me Do It!

That's right! MasterChef made me do it - the cry from households all across the country! Cooking is the new cool and we have MasterChef to thank. The family dinner table has been set and dinner now comes with garnish. Kids are not only eating their greens but demanding better food from parents and eating out is all about discovery rather than simply being the easier option.

Whether you cook or not, if you watched MasterChef, then you too were probably hit by food stick too.

Restaurants featured on MasterChef commented on the increase in bookings from new customers, food suppliers ran out of Croquenbouche 'cones' and groceries ran out of whatever core ingredient was featured on the show the night before. But will this new-found relationship with food last? I hope so!

It's unsure why MasterChef was such a hit - was it the upbeat, positive, encouraging tone? Was it the excitement of wandering what on earth contestants would cook with those Mystery Box ingredients? Was it the passion the wannabe chefs showed. Whatever it was it worked. In these 'Difficult Economic Times' staying in is the norm and so is cooking at home. Perfect timing for a show like MasterChef!

The Friday night MasterClass was a hit - giving viewers the opportunity to learn recipes & tips from 2 of Australia's top chefs. It was an opportunity for contestants to pick the brains of the very people judging them. There was something for everyone.

The contestants were passionate and knowledgeable, competitive but caring. Their goals were clear and I hope they all go on to do great things. What the public wanted was more positive role models and That's what they got. Everyday people with a love for food, pushing themselves, jumping way outside their comfort ones and putting themselves firmly in the firing line but all the while smiling, laughing and simply trying harder every challenge!

And so, MasterChef has left an imprint on households across the country and we hope it's a lasting one. Eat up peeps - it's good for you!

A blog about potential Blog Topics!

Whilst husband and I went on road trip I wrote a small journal, which eventually turned out to be more of a food diary than a journal. Here is a list of blog topics that i did manage to note and will hopefully actually blog about... eventually.

1. MasterChef Made Me Do It: How the MasterChef phenomenon has taken Australia by storm - Adults and Kids are spending more time in the Kitchen, at the dinner table, being inventive and creative, trying new things. Cooking is the New Cool!

2. Ten Tips for a successful Road trip (How to not kill your partner when in a car for long periods)

3. I've Married a man Exactly like dad: Dad Jokes, Love of Cricket... it's all starting to seem eerily familiar!

4. Road Trip Music I swear by!

5. Women in TV - the Behind the Scenes ladies who make it all come together!

Ok - So these are the topics I am hoping to cover this week before i start work again. And given my procrastination (writing a blog about writing blogs!) it could all fall in a heap!!