It’s been 2 months – and I’m again. A lot has occurred!
2 months in the past, I took a break from publishing new recipes on this web site, confessing that I used to be burnt out. I wanted the time to recalibrate, get up to the mark and resolve how I used to be going to alter issues so I may transfer ahead with a greater work-life steadiness so I can proceed doing what I do *ceaselessly* with out burning out once more. As a result of I adore it, and I by no means need to cease!
I didn’t get quite a lot of days off right here and there, however not creating, writing up, photographing and filming new recipes freed up a whole lot of my time. So life’s been busy, however manageable, and importantly, I discovered my fun-spark once more and made some optimistic adjustments. Right here’s what’s occurred!
Higher Properties & Gardens TV present
SO EXCITING!!! We had Johanna Griggs from the beloved TV present Higher Properties & Gardens spend a day with us to movie varied elements in a “day within the lifetime of”. We began on the development web site that’s my home-to be:
We then moved onto RecipeTin Meals (“RTM”, my foodbank) the place we confirmed Joh our kitchen and she or he bought to see first hand the workforce making and packing a whole bunch of meals!
We even bought Joh to assist with the packing. I believed she was a bit stingy with the garnishes. JB thought she was a bit sluggish. Possibly they’ll pace her up within the edits. 😂
And the ultimate cease was my mom’s home, the place we wrapped gyoza collectively then sat right down to take pleasure in a Japanese feast:
It was an enormous and lengthy day, with a whole lot of transferring components, properly over 40 folks concerned within the day, from the tradies on the development web site, to my workforce at RTM, my RTE employees working behind the scenes serving to on the day, in addition to after all the great BHG crew.
However SO MUCH FUN! All of us assume Joh Griggs ought to run for PM. Sensible as a whip. Everyone loves her.🥰
Talking of my house
It began out as slightly kitchen renovation.
It’s developed right into a head-to-toe heritage home restoration. 😩 Each stone upturned revealed one other set of issues, from termite harm requiring the entire removing of all of the flooring and joists all through the entire home, to putting in a whole new stormwater system all through the entire property to interchange the non-existent one, and rewiring the entire home.
Proper at this second, I’m in a little bit of denial, simply coping with one downside at a time, placing on a poised calm facade (OK, that’s a blatant lie, there have been dismal wails aplenty). And feeling fortunate that I’ve a workforce I can belief so we will work by way of these challenges collectively, and that now we have an important line of communication with the native council.
I additionally know that it was not a smart determination, selecting a run down heritage home as my new house. Fact is, I fell in love with the thought of a house crammed with character and I used to be determined to maneuver out of the workplace (after 9 years of it, I used to be carried out!). So I didn’t do sufficient analysis. I used to be ready to do a good quantity of works to repair it. I didn’t count on each inch of the home – each blade of grass, each slate tile on the roof, each gutter – to want full restore or alternative.😭
Onwards. No extra complaining! I introduced this on myself.
My motley crew – Crew RecipeTin
Thrilling information on the workforce entrance!
Chef JB is again at HQ!
JB, our RecipeTin group head chef, was seconded to RecipeTin Meals for the previous 12 months to assist optimize the brand new kitchen, increasing meal manufacturing from 500 to 600 every day, and tripling the meal selection we provide.
Although typically pulled into particular RTE initiatives, he’s now again full-time! His return lightens my workload and brings top-tier “cheffy high quality” to every part – from fast meals to more difficult dishes that retains issues fascinating round right here (Singapore Chilli Crab, anybody? 😊).
It additionally opens up the alternatives for us to do enjoyable issues like pop ups and stay cooking reveals. So glad he’s again – and excited for the 12 months forward!
New kitchen hand at RTM!
And in associated thrilling information, now we have a brand new member at workforce RTM – meet Harry!
Harry simply began with us yesterday, changing JB at RTM. I’m not positive that Harry anticipated his first day in his new job to finish with an enormous photograph of his face on my web site! He was additionally somewhat shocked that we welcomed him with cake and a balloon on his first day. 😂
MEET DENELLE, MY NEW ASSISTANT!
Yaaaay!! I’ve a proper hand girl!
The seek for Denelle was actually an expertise. Anticipating solely maybe 100 candidates as a result of location limits, I deliberate to do the recruiting myself – till over 2,000 functions flooded in. Everyone desires to work with Dozer! 🦮
Overwhelmed, I rapidly realised I’m not constructed for recruitment (I’d’ve employed 48 out of the primary 50 who utilized 😅).
Enter Est 10, a specialist recruitment agency that made the method seamless with their unbelievable effectivity, professionalism, and private contact. Their experience turned a frightening job right into a pleasure, and I met some really distinctive candidates alongside the way in which. Which brings me to my subsequent level:
An enormous thanks to everybody who utilized!
To everybody who took the time to use, thanks so very a lot. The response was really overwhelming, and I used to be blown away by the unbelievable expertise, ardour, and enthusiasm that was obvious in so many functions.
I understand how a lot effort goes into placing your self ahead for a job, and I need you to know that each utility was reviewed by a recruitment specialist and never a machine. If I may have employed extra of you, I completely would have!
Wishing you all the very best in your careers, and who is aware of – our paths could cross once more sooner or later!
RecipeTin Meals Information
There’s at all times happenings at RTM!
torrential rain harm
We had a ceiling collapse and water pouring into the kitchen about 6 weeks in the past throughout sudden torrential rains. It occurred in the midst of the day when the workforce was proper in the midst of the cook dinner.
Due to the short pondering of the workforce, we misplaced little or no inventory to water harm. That is Stephen, the pinnacle chef at RTM, saturated from head to toe after diving beneath the waterfall to save lots of what he may:
Amazingly, we solely had in the future we couldn’t cook dinner. And we nonetheless managed to offer meals as we hold a stash of frozen meals for such emergencies so we had been nonetheless capable of present our every day meals.
We elevated our meals to 600!
And on the subject of the meals we make – we elevated our meals to 600 per day, up from 500! This equates to 156,000 meals per 12 months – that’s a whole lot of hungry tummies crammed!
We’ve progressively elevated meals since transferring into our present kitchen, growing by 50% from 400 to 600. Partially as a result of new tools which allows us to cook dinner at scale extra effectively, and partially as a result of proceed enchancment in workflow efficiencies.
I’m so pleased with my workforce, these working at RTM who make the meals occur daily, and people engaged on the RTE facet of the enterprise that makes RTM potential (as a result of the earnings we earn on the RTE facet is what funds RTM). We haven’t hit the ceiling but. There’s extra to return, extra meals help we will supply!
My ebook launched within the Netherlands!
The primary non-English version of my ebook, Vanavond (Dutch for this night), launched within the Netherlands final week – so thrilling! Any Dutch readers round? Get it right here!
However I had slightly mix-up when asserting it – “I’m within the Netherlands!” I posted on Fb, solely to have folks eagerly ask the place I’d be signing books. 😂 Needed to rapidly make clear – it’s my ebook that’s there, not me!
Launch of Incomes Energy
I used to be honoured to be featured as a case examine in Incomes Energy by Roxanne Calder, founding father of Est 10 recruitment. The ebook explores closing the gender pay hole and is a priceless useful resource about maximising earnings potential, and our lined my company profession in addition to the journey of constructing RecipeTin.
I used to be so glad to see Incomes Energy so properly obtained at launch and admire Roxanne’s dedication to empowering ladies – with out diminishing males. Truthfully, my mentors within the company world had been males.
PS: I couldn’t match a single cupcake in that itty-bitty bag. Therefore my love for big luggage!
You’re caught up!
And that. my associates, (largely) catches you up on the happenings of the final 2 months.
For me, the 2 largest issues that may change the way in which ahead is having an assistant once more – simply having an additional pair of fingers round has been an instantaneous assist – and JB coming again to HQ. I’ve caught up on sleep, life admin, I’ve been capable of spend extra time at RTM (which I actually take pleasure in doing, I similar to being there), and simply usually getting a greater work-life steadiness.
I’m even going to attempt to drop right down to 4 days per week for the following short time (I do know, gasp, shock, horror!!).
That may be slightly bold, however one should have objectives!
Importantly although, I’m recharged, again to my chirpy self, and impressed to get again within the kitchen once more. Right here’s to an important the rest of 2025 crammed with scrumptious new recipes! – Nagi x
Lifetime of Dozer
A handful of photographs and nothing new. Nonetheless thinks each steak has his identify on it:
At all times my shadow within the kitchen:
Substantial pool time (although his days of leaping into the pool are over, nowadays he simply tends to spa):
No such factor as a peaceable brunch when he’s round:
Resigning himself to the most recent dog-wear:
And simply trying cute:
Love this fur ball so, a lot. ❤️
