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 steadiness.
I like what I do and by no means need to cease. So I needed to make adjustments to keep away from burning out once more.
Although I didn’t get a lot break day, stepping away from creating and filming recipes freed up time so I may implement some optimistic adjustments. Issues have been busy however manageable, I’ve cleared my to-do listing and regained my spark. 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 “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”, our foodbank) the place we confirmed Joh our kitchen and she or he obtained to see first hand the staff making and packing tons of of meals!
We even obtained Joh to help 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 all the way down to get pleasure from a Japanese feast:
It was an enormous and lengthy day, with a variety of shifting components, properly over 40 folks concerned within the day, from the tradies on the development web site, to my staff 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. Good as a whip. Everyone loves her.🥰
Talking of my dwelling
It began out as a little bit 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 injury requiring the entire 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 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 staff I can belief so we are able to work by means of these challenges collectively, and that we have now an amazing 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 concept 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 performed!). 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 wish full restore or alternative.😭
Onwards. No extra complaining! I introduced this on myself.
My motley crew – Group RecipeTin
Thrilling information on the staff 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 usually pulled into particular RTE initiatives, he’s now again full-time! His return lightens my workload and brings top-tier “chef normal” to the whole lot – 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 dwell cooking reveals. 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 staff RTM – meet Harry!
Harry simply began with us yesterday, changing JB at RTM. I’m not certain 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 fairly stunned 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 actually an expertise. Anticipating solely maybe 100 candidates attributable to 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 job 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 task, and I would like you to know that each software 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 one of the best in your careers, and who is aware of – our paths might cross once more sooner or later!
RecipeTin Meals Information
There’s 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 staff was proper in the midst of the cook dinner.
Because of the fast pondering of the staff, we misplaced little or no inventory to water injury. That is Stephen, the pinnacle chef at RTM, saturated from head to toe after diving beneath the waterfall to avoid wasting what he may:
Amazingly, we solely had someday we couldn’t cook 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 a variety of hungry tummies crammed!
We’ve progressively elevated meals since shifting into our present kitchen, from 400 each day after we first moved to 600. Partially attributable to new tools which permits us to cook dinner at scale extra effectively, and partially attributable to continued enchancment in workflow.
I’m so pleased with my staff, these working at RTM who make the meals occur day by day, and people engaged on the RTE aspect of the enterprise that makes RTM attainable (as a result of the revenue we earn on the RTE aspect is what funds RTM).
We haven’t hit the ceiling but. There’s extra to come back, extra meals assist we are able to supply!
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 a little bit mix-up when saying 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 e-book 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 e-book explores closing the gender pay hole and is a invaluable useful resource about maximising earnings potential. The discussions lined my company profession in addition to the journey of constructing RecipeTin.
I used to be so completely happy to see Incomes Energy so properly obtained at launch and admire Roxanne’s dedication to empowering girls – with out diminishing males. Truthfully, my mentors within the company world and the enterprise folks 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 associates, (largely) catches you up on the happenings of the final 2 months.
For me, the 2 largest issues that may change the best way ahead is having an assistant once more – simply having an additional pair of palms 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 get pleasure from doing, I identical to being there), and simply usually getting a greater work-life steadiness.
I’m even going to attempt to drop all the way down to 4 days per week for the subsequent short while (I do know, gasp, shock, horror!!).
That could be a little bit formidable, however one should have targets!
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 amazing 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, lately 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 wanting cute:
Love this fur ball so, a lot. ❤️
