It’s been 2 months – and I’m again. A lot has occurred!
Two months in the past, I confessed I used to be burnt out and wanted to take a break from publishing new recipes so I had time to recalibrate and discover a higher work-life stability.
I like what I do and by no means wish to cease. So I needed to make adjustments to keep away from burning out once more.
Although I didn’t get a lot day without work, stepping away from creating and filming recipes freed up time so I might implement some optimistic adjustments. Issues have been busy however manageable, I’ve cleared my to-do record and regained my spark. Right here’s what’s occurred!
Higher Houses & Gardens TV present
SO EXCITING!!! We had Johanna Griggs from the beloved TV present Higher Houses & Gardens spend a day with us to movie “a day within the lifetime of”. We began on the building website that’s my home-to be:
We then moved onto RecipeTin Meals (“RTM”, our foodbank) the place we confirmed Joh our kitchen and she or he acquired to see first hand the group making and packing a whole bunch of meals!
We even acquired Joh to help with the packing. I believed she was a bit stingy with the garnishes. JB thought she was a bit gradual. Perhaps they’ll velocity 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 plenty of transferring elements, properly over 40 individuals concerned within the day, from the tradies on the development website, to my group at RTM, RTE employees working behind the scenes, in addition to in fact 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 dwelling
It began out as slightly kitchen renovation.
It’s advanced right into a head-to-toe heritage home restoration. 
Each stone upturned revealed one other set of issues, from termite injury requiring the whole elimination 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 exchange 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 drawback 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 group I can belief so we will work by these challenges collectively, and that we have now an excellent line of communication with the native council.
I additionally know that it was not a sensible determination, selecting a run down heritage home as my new dwelling. Fact is, I fell in love with the thought of a house full of character and I used to be determined to maneuver out of the workplace (after 9 years of it, I used to be finished!). 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 anticipate each inch of the home – each blade of grass, each slate tile on the roof, each gutter – to wish full restore or substitute.
Onwards. No extra complaining! I introduced this on myself.
My motley crew – Group RecipeTin
Thrilling information on the group entrance!
Chef JB is again at HQ!
JB, our RecipeTin group head chef, was seconded to RecipeTin Meals for the previous yr 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 tasks, he’s now again full-time! His return lightens my workload and brings top-tier “chef normal” to every part – from fast meals to more difficult dishes that retains issues attention-grabbing 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 exhibits. So glad he’s again – and excited for the yr forward!
New kitchen hand at RTM!
And in associated thrilling information, we have now a brand new member at group 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 picture 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. Apparently that doesn’t occur in regular kitchen jobs.
MEET DENELLE, MY NEW ASSISTANT!
Yaaaay!! I’ve a proper hand girl!
The seek for Denelle was definitely 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 unimaginable effectivity, professionalism, and private contact. Their experience turned a frightening activity right into a pleasure, and I met some really distinctive candidates alongside the best way. 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 unimaginable 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 might have employed extra of you, I completely would have!
Wishing you all the perfect in your careers, and who is aware of – our paths could cross once more sooner or later!
RecipeTin Meals Information
There may be all the time happenings at RTM!
torrential rain injury
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 group was proper in the midst of the prepare dinner.
Because of the fast considering of the group, we misplaced little or no inventory to water injury. That is Stephen, the pinnacle chef at RTM, saturated from head to toe after diving below the waterfall to avoid wasting what he might:
Amazingly, we solely had in the future we couldn’t prepare dinner. And we nonetheless managed to offer 600 meals on that day as we preserve a stash of frozen meals for such emergencies.
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 yr – that’s plenty of hungry tummies crammed!
We’ve progressively elevated meals since transferring into our present kitchen, from 400 day by day after we first moved to 600. Partially as a result of new gear which allows us to prepare dinner at scale extra effectively, and partially as a result of continued enchancment in workflow.
I’m so pleased with my group, these working at RTM who make the meals occur daily, and people engaged on the RTE facet of the enterprise that makes RTM attainable (as a result of the earnings we earn on the RTE facet is what funds RTM).
We haven’t hit the ceiling but. There may be extra to return, extra meals help we will provide!
My e book launched within the Netherlands!
The primary non-English version of my e book, 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 individuals eagerly ask the place I’d be signing books. Needed to rapidly make clear – it’s my e book that’s there, not me!
Launch of “Incomes Energy”
I used to be honoured to be featured as a case research in Incomes Energy by Roxanne Calder, founding father of Est 10 recruitment. The e book explores closing the gender pay hole and is a helpful useful resource about maximising earnings potential. The discussions coated my company profession in addition to the journey of constructing RecipeTin.
I used to be so completely satisfied to see Incomes Energy so properly acquired at launch and admire Roxanne’s dedication to empowering girls – with out diminishing males. Actually, my mentors within the company world and the enterprise individuals I admired essentially the most had been all 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 pals, (principally) catches you up on the happenings of the final 2 months.
For me, the 2 greatest issues that may change the best way ahead is having an assistant once more – simply having an additional pair of arms round has been an prompt assist – and JB coming again to HQ. I’ve caught up on sleep, life admin, I’ve been in a position to spend extra time at RTM (which I actually take pleasure in doing, I identical to being there), and simply typically getting a greater work-life stability.
I’m even going to attempt to drop right down to 4 days every week for the following few minutes (I do know, gasp, shock, horror!!).
That is likely to be slightly formidable, however one will need to 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 excellent the rest of 2025 full of scrumptious new recipes! – Nagi x
Lifetime of Dozer
A handful of images and nothing new. Nonetheless thinks each steak has his identify on it:
All the time 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 newest dog-wear:
And simply wanting cute:
Love this fur ball so, a lot. 
