I’m not quite sure how it happened but summer and autumn have skidaddled and suddenly winter is upon us with unwelcome frostiness. Brrrr. I meant to write a Best of Season for summer, I really did, but autumn was too fast for me. And now the two of them have run away like a pair of cheeky kids. Naughty. Well, fine then, ‘Best of Season – Sum-tumn’ it is. And I’ll be darned if it isn’t a pretty snazzy goodie list.

 

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So. The good stuff…

Feeds:

Attended an incredible dinner held in a silo

Made these. The BEST chocolate chip cookies ever

Added thick servings of butter and cherry jam to this Irish soda bread.

 

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Reads:

Super-funny and clever debut novel by local author, Robert Glancy

A Roald Dahl book I’d never heard of (charming and paired with Quentin Blake illustrations)

My favourite Auckland Writer’s festival author, Kim Thuy, was honest, hilarious and wise. I bought both of her spare, beautiful, poetic books, interspersed with semi-biographical tales of war, migration, vietnamese culture and food. “Man” was my favourite.

 

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Flicks:

Like me, did you miss watching this phenomenal Meryl Streep film? What an ensemble. Hats off.

A very funny and real coming-of-age movie

A proper romantic comedy (thanks for the recommendation, Amanda x)

 

Tunes:

Play while cooking and dreaming of travelling where it is summer

This voice could lull me into a happy sleep

Sexy collab.

 

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These seasons have been wonderful. We read, we ate, we travelled, we thrived. May marked our second year living back in New Zealand and I love it more and more as each season goes by. Our girls are growing up so / too fast (the cliches are all true) and make me laugh out loud every day. It’s a revelation that staying in one place and living a routined life is actually pretty nice. I like it. Plus, in April, it was an honour and thrill to launch Season of Salt and Honey and I’ve been so touched by all the interest and comments from those of you who have read it already { 1 September, 2015, North America! We’re coming! } These lists are cherry-picked so if you want a bit more, I’ve been busy posting on Instagram. Over there you will find recipes for roasted brussel sprouts with sage and bacon and poached pears with darkly spiced caramel; plus photos from my food styling adventures (fun!) with the Arkade crew.

 

Can “Sum-tumn” be a new season? If so…you know what’s coming…it’s my favourite.

 

Love, Hannah x