A very big Merry Christmas from Team RecipeTin!!
We really did try for a respectable photo. Think – iPhone set up precariously on a DIY tripod involving a ladder, upturned bucket and jam jar to hold it upright. She sets the timer, yells “SMILE EVERYONE!”, dashes into the shot.
Multiple takes later, with feedback such as “STEPHEN WHY DO YOU LOOK STRESSED” and “HERRON, STOP HIDING!!!”, this was the best of the bunch:
Which, truthfully, looks entirely awkward and is not us at all.
THIS is us:
One take was all it took!
The RecipeTin Crew
So there I am with my motley crew on the last day of work at our new RecipeTin Meals food bank kitchen. Starting from the front left:
RecipeTin’s head Chef JB who has become very much a part of the face of RecipeTin over the past year, touring Australia with me for food demo events and working alongside me every single day to create, test, photograph and film the recipes on our website and other publications;
Mama RecipeTin aka the Queen, the voice, cook and photographer behind RecipeTin Japan and the one person who will tell me off without hesitation, in front of anyone, at any time;
Me!
Dan-the-Man, our Kitchenhand at RecipeTin Meals!
Herron my video editor, hiding on the very left, our shy, innocent one – until she unleashes her wicked sense of humour….
Elke, the most recent addition to our team, my new assistant. Only with us for 2 months, but it feels like 2 years!
Chef Hannah, part of our RTM team, trying to hide. Do not let her size fool you, she is a pocket rocket in the kitchen!
My brother Goh, IT guru and a walking food encyclopaedia. His knowledge about foods and cooking from all around the world is mind-blowing.
Inggrid our human calculator who makes sure our books are squeaky clean and that I’ll never go to jail for tax fraud; and
Stephen, hiding at the very back, our boss Chef at RTM. One of the funniest people I have ever met in my life – and also the man at the helm of the RecipeTin Meals kitchen where we have never, ever missed a meal delivery to those in need since we started.
I call us a “motley crew” because any outsider looking at us would see a mish-mash of people from all walks of life, representing 8 different countries, yet all Australian at heart. Together, with Mr Dozer, we make up Team RecipeTin, and we want to wish you all a very, very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Ah, yes, speaking of Dozer! He wasn’t in the team photo because it was at RTM which is a proper commercial kitchen subject to health and safety regulations. Which includes – no dogs. Which we do not complain about because these rules are in place for a reason.
But, as you would know, Christmas related photos of Dozer are in no way lacking. In fact, my camera roll is filled with them:
Ahh look, here he is, claiming ownership of a present that isn’t his (but it does contain food – so we must all commend him for his superior sense of smell):
Then there he is a mere 5 minutes later – given up. Dozer! I’m surprised, you know perseverance is rewarded!
Merry Christmas!
Thank you for cooking along with us, your kind messages of support as we’ve moved through (another!) year of many firsts, from searching for and finding a new kitchen for RecipeTin Meals, touring Australian with the Good Food and Wine Show, TV slots, magazine shoots, hosting reader dinners, selling my forever home, living in the RT office (yes I’m still living at work!!😭). We visited Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, MUDGEE, Newcastle, Hunter Valley and next year we’ve got Adelaide & Tasmania in our sights!!
Through it all there’s been so much laughter, and SO MUCH GOOD FOOD. And you, our readers, you are the reason we are here doing what we do and the reason we love what we do. The feedback you give us, the emails you send, the messages you leave on recipes, the interactions on social media – you are our community, our world, the reason we get so much joy in what we do.
So THANK YOU!! Sending you all a giant virtual hug!
I’ll be offline for a few days from today until the 28th of December. I’ve been answering some emergency cries for help on top-hitting Christmas recipes here on my website and no doubt if I happen to spot some during my “break”, I won’t be able to resist. So leave your questions on the recipe!
Merry Christmas everyone! – Nagi & Dozer x ❤️
Grace says
Merry Christmas Nagi to you and your team and thank you for what you are doing.
Love to Dozer the gorgeous
:))
Maxine says
Merry Christmas to you, Dozer and all the team. Love your recipes and thank you for all you do for the community
Deanna says
Good heavens Nagi, you and Dozer could pass for twins🤭!!! Bless you all and may the New Year bring joy and peace.
Robyn says
Merry Christmas, love your team photo. ❤️
We have enjoyed every one of your recipes I’ve tried, looking forward to trying more.
Big cuddles for Dozer.
Teresa says
Merry Christmas to you, your team and Dozer of course. Best of luck for 2024 and thank you for the good work you do. Looking forward to more wonderfully delicious recipes!
Cinzia Perazzo says
Marry Christmas
Dear Nagi and Dozer
Live all your recipes
jeff Taylor says
Merry Christmas, you and your team are awesome, I look forward to every recipe and enjoy cooking things out of your book, which is fantastic by the way.
Rhonnie says
Wishing you all a beautiful Christmas. Big hugs for Dozer
Diane says
Merry Christmas to you ALL including Dozer!
Thankyou for all the awesome work you do.
Wishing you all a sensational 2024 full of love, fun, creativity, good health and continued success. You deserve it!
. xxx
LESLEY JACKSCH says
I will be making your delicious mac and cheese recipe again for our Christmas dinner tomorrow. My great granddaughter just loves it. We all do. It goes so well with all our other food we are making like the turkey and stuffing and all the veggies and so many more. Thank you for this recipe. Merry Christmas.
Josie Tavone says
Merry Christmas Nagi & Dozer🥰🌲
Thanks for sharing your cute pictures. And, thanks for your great recipes!! Bless you for all you do for the needy🙏😍
Sandie says
Merriest of Christmas Nagi. When are you coming to San Francisco. This Aussie would love to host you! Bless you for all the meals you give away.
IRENE G says
Merry Christmas. God bless you and Dozer and your team!
It’s Christmas day and I’m looking for recipes. Haha! It’s my go-to websites every week or every few days. Thank you!!
Jonathan says
You and the entire staff are amazing. Not just with recipes, but with the wonderful work you do in feeding those less fortunate. May the New Year bring you all health, joy, rest, and peace.
Cheryl Chin says
Thank you for all the Best Recipes throughout the year. May the good LORD bless you and your Business & Dozer.
Philip Parker says
Hi Nagi,
I’ve been a quiet admirer of you and RTE since I discovered your curried sausages early this year. Every recipe I/we have tried has been fabulous. Thank you so much for your hard work, creativity and humour. Huge hugs to Dozer as well of course. Much luck and success in 2024.
Lois says
I love the Christmas pictures! Very Fun!! My one “big ask” for a present this year is your cookbook! My husband questioned it because he knows that appliances/work items are not presents… but I assured him that I really wanted it! Fingers crossed!!
Erin says
Thank you team for the most amazing recipes. We do Christmas Eve with our family and almost every dish was RTE this year and a huge success. Love to all of the team and Dozer.
Barbara Kelton says
Merry Christmas to all. Thanks for the recipes. A special Merry Christmas to Dozer..
Lynne Bliss says
Thanks Nagi for being my ‘go to’ cooking guru. Despite 60 years of cooking I now ALWAYS check your recipe first. My technique has improved so much because I’m not an ‘intuitive’ cook & I love your science & tips. I’ve got a slow cooking lamb shoulder in the oven right now. Happy Christmas to you & Dozer & the team.