Hello everyone! I just wanted to let you know that I’ll be pressing pause on new recipes for the next two to three weeks so I can devote some uninterrupted time on the cookbook.
It takes a lot for me to concede defeat and accept that I can’t do it all – run a business*, renovate a home, work on a cookbook and maintain my existing recipe posting schedule. Lockdown certainly didn’t help matters to increase my workload – though on a cheerier note, as of Monday of this week, the lockdown rules have been substantially relaxed here in Sydney. 🙌🏻
I found myself getting up earlier and earlier (currently 4.30am 😩), going to bed later and later. And while I always declare that I operate best under pressure, the reality is I’m only human and darn it, I need my beauty sleep!!!
* Yes, I finally realised this year that I have a real business! This “it’s just a food blog” somehow grew into a proper business over the past year with a team of 9, including RecipeTin Meals, the recently established philanthropic division where we use recipes from the website to make homemade meals for the vulnerable community here in Sydney.
Another fail! Well, it was ok…but not good enough for the cookbook! 
Planning mode. No, this is not a cookbook for vegans…
I’m in a particularly intensive planning stage of the cookbook right now and am struggling to split my focus between new recipes for the website and the cookbook. To be honest, it was the cookbook that was suffering – because I would never hit publish on a recipe I didn’t give my all.
So on Sunday night, I made the call for the first time ever since I started the website – to temporarily press pause on new recipe content for this website.
It somehow feels like failure – this is my job after all – and like I’m letting my team down. We worked so hard to create a stash of new recipes to get ahead, test and retest them, make videos and photos. There’s weeks’ of digital media for ridiculously delicious new recipes ready to go, just waiting for me to write up.
The problem? It takes anywhere between 4 to 8 hours to write the posts, depending on the complexity of the recipes. As an example, last weeks’ Flan Patissier? That took me a good 8 hours to write the post, edit the photos, do the step photos, describe the ingredients and write the recipe. And many multiple times that in recipe development and testing time!
Yes, a lot goes on behind the scenes to produce the recipe content that gets published on this website. And I love everything about what I do, and I look forward to getting back to it!
The Flan Patissier recipe that took around 8 hours to write up. 
I think this final version was the 23rd Flan Patissier I made in the last 4 months!
But for now, the cookbook. I’m going to give myself 3 weeks to make a big dent in the cookbook, then I’ll be back with new recipes!
In the meantime, you may see some old favourites coming back to the homepage over the next few weeks with new videos or photos that I’ve had ready to go.
And, well, you know me. I probably won’t be able to resist popping back into your inbox to let you know how I’m getting on, and a peek behind the scenes of the making of the cookbook!
Until then, stay well! I’ll be back with brand new recipes before you know it.
Love – Nagi & Dozer 🐶 x
REMINDER: Mock cover! Mock cover! 😇
Life of Dozer
New discovery during cookbook recipe development – how to make Dozer eat carrots!!! Puree them with a hint of spicing, top with a braised baby carrot, drizzle with organic olive oil and finish with an edible flower. 😂
Dear Nagi, thank you for all the amazing dinners you have provided my family over these last few years!
We have the amazing Recipetineats to go to for reference! The book will be amazing so we will rejoice when in print…
Thank you xx
No, thank you!! N x
Thank you so much for all your recipes I have used and have never had a failure.
You absolutely deserve a break. Look forward to when you are back on line.
Christine (Aotearoa/NZ)
Don’t be so hard on yourself Nagi. Human yes, failure no! I’m sure we all appreciate how hard you work to bring us easy tasty recipes such as the “Oven Baked Chicken and Rice” (which is in the oven as I type). The house smells of buttery, garlicky yumminess! Thank you for making my life easier. Enjoy your sleep in tomorrow!
You have done so much for us fans, you deserve a break. There are already so many fantastic recipes here for us while you work on the cookbook. So please take care of yourself… and Dozer of course!
Simple one pan recipes
Take care of you Nagi (and Dozer … that goes without saying)! Now we have a couple of weeks to go back to a few oldies but goodies!
The classics! N x
Stay safe – keep well and …..relax! We can all wait – even though we will miss you ! 😀
Ohh I think we have enough recipes to get though on your site Nagi, so a break won’t be so bad. Don’t burn out cause we all think the world of what you’re doing.
I’m sorry for your “fail” buy my family would think that was pretty good! Your Coq au Vin was super but next time I won’t use a Cockerill we’ve killed ! A young rooster (we have an old one we’re not killing) how do the French do it? Your Asian noodle soup was perfect last night. Thankyou Nagi. Have a good rest.
You kill your own chickens to eat?!! I am impressed!! N x
You’re right we can’t do everything so good for you to prioritise the big picture and keeping some balance. Sending love! xx
Nagi! Stop being so hard on yourself. You are soooo amazing and I for one CANNOT WAIT for your cookbook!!! Take your time and do whatever you need to. 🙂
Hi Nagi,
Thank you for providing/posting such delicious recipes!!
My family appreciate my cooking so much thanks to your hard work.
I’m sure I speak on behalf of all your followers & look forward to your new Nagi cookbook!!
Good luck!
Cheers,
Aivars
Thank you!!! N x
Did you think that you were superwoman? Wrong again. Take care of your health mentally and physically. It will all come out in the wash. Good luck with your cookbook.
Take your time Nagi! I can’t wait to buy your cookbook 🙂
Oh Nagi! Please don’t burn yourself out. I (and my family) need your recipes!!!! Take that break and get some sleep x
Take care of yourself and get your sleep! It’s easy to work too hard, especially when you’re passionate about what you’re doing. So rest and delegate – we will still be here! xx
Yes I have got to work on the delegating!!! N x
Taking time for you is important! You have so many wonderful recipes for us all to look through while you work on the book and hopefully get up heaps later! Hit that snooze button.
Yes!!! N x
Take your time, we’ll wait. Love your recipes
Hi Nagi, will miss you and Dozer but wishing you every success with the Cookbook!
Hang in there Nagi, take all the time you need. Love your work!