How cool is this, a CD from Plunket, with a whole host of Kiwi talent singing Christmas songs.  With the likes of Opshop, Annie Crummer, Shona Laing, Hollie Smith just to name a few it’s a must have in the CD player this Christmas.

The initiative was taken by Monique Rhodes, a singer song/writer living in France, who on her visit back to New Zealand felt moved to do something to give back and she chose Plunket to do just that.

‘Titled ‘Merry Christmas Baby’, the album combines original songs with a handful of unique versions of traditional Christmas songs. It is my Christmas wish that with the help of this album our children have the chance of a good life.’        Monique Rhodes

Proceeds of the CD go to Plunket to help Kiwi kids get a better start in life and personally I can’t think of a better cause to support at Christmas.

Check out www.merrychristmasbaby.co.nz for a complete list of artists but this is definitely one to put in the CD stack at home, or in my case the car so my children can get the benefit of my singing as well.  Funny that they don’t seem to appreciate that.

Available: Plunket, The Warehouse, the CD Store, JB Hi Fi, Real Groovy, Marbecks or shop online at www.merrychristmasbaby.co.nz

Price:$25.95  or if you pop into Plunket, Level 5, Plunket House, 132 Lambton Quay, it’s only $20.00.

  I have found two really great cookbooks for those who aren’t the Gordon Ramsey type.  I was so impressed with them that I have kept them for myself, which means once again there will be another little parcel under the tree that I will have to pretend to be surprised about when I unwrap them.

I have really been looking at making my life a little more exciting in the food department and I’m sure that the fact that I have been watching Masterchef lately has something to do with it.  But all that aside I was really thrilled to find these two cookbooks and are aimed at making our life less complicated in the kitchen but a little more exciting. 

 

Any One Can Cook  by  Annabel Langbein

Put quite simply in her words ‘this book is deigned to empower the beginner as well as the harried home-maker.  Providing people of all ages with the building blocks to become confident and successful in the kitchen.’  

Available: all leading bookstores       

Price:32.99                 

 

Fit Food Fast by the Millennium Institute

The Millennium Institute of Sport & Health and Nestle’ have designed this book to help Kiwis make good nutritional choices – you don’t have to be the top athlete to benefit from it’s recipes.  You also get an insight into the habits, likes and dislikes of some of out famous athletes. 

Most of the recipes contain six ingredients or fewer and are designed with both health and taste in mind.

                                          Available: all leading bookstores       

                                          Price:$32.99