December 22nd, 2015 by Mark Bristow

The Night Appliance Delivery Before Christmas (with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore and Henry Livingston) (source: Kevin Kahle on Wikipedia) 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. My rugged old fridge was filled up with care, So tomorrow our guests would eat the food there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of iPad apps danced in their ... Read more

December 21st, 2015 by Mark Bristow

Have you STILL not done your Christmas food shopping? If so, you may be a contender for the world's greatest procrastinator (I'd fight you for the title, but can't be bothered). Unfortunately, shoppers tend to get increasingly competitive in the leadup to Christmas, frantically clearing the supermarket shelves as if needing to stock up their fallout shelters in preparation for the bat-winged-space-lizard apocalypse. This means that by ... Read more

December 17th, 2015 by Mark Bristow

When you’re in the market for a new washing machine, you could opt for a more-or-less identical replacement for your current model. "If it ain't broke" and all that (though if you're buying a replacement, it may actually BE broke...). Or, with just a bit of extra research, you could find a machine that’s even better suited to handling the unique laundry needs of your particular household. With ... Read more

December 11th, 2015 by Krissy Davis

Have you just been invited to a friend's housewarming party and would rather not be the typical party guest that shows up to the door with a $15 bottle of wine (that they may or may not even like) you just quickly picked up on the way? Now, I’m not dissing $15 wines because there is definitely some good-tasting wine for $20 and under, but perhaps you ... Read more

December 8th, 2015 by Mark Bristow

To get ready for the festive season, many Australian households invest in a spare fridge to go in the garage, spare room, even the laundry. This extra storage space can be really handy if you’re hosting Christmas lunch, letting you chill plenty of food and drink for your family and guests. No-one knows this better than former Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott: My husband with Tony Abbott ... Read more

December 3rd, 2015 by Mark Bristow

If you’ve had your fridge or freezer for a while now, there’s a chance that its interior may start to resemble Antarctica – all frost and ice, but without the fun of penguins. source: Piotrus at Wikimedia Commons Here’s our guide to defrosting your fridge or freezerand removing that icy build-up so your appliance can keep running smoothly: Note – we won’t be talking about defrosting or thawing out ... Read more

November 30th, 2015 by Mark Bristow

If you’ve been exploring the streets of Sydney recently, you may have spotted some appliances in unusual places: OR SO IT WOULD SEEM! source: City of Sydney This isn’t just some interesting street art, but a clever campaign from the City of Sydney Council encouraging people to book a council pickup to dispose of their broken-down whitegoods, rather than dumping them on the street. While we’re always happy to see ... Read more

November 25th, 2015 by Mark Bristow

When summer rolls around, if an air conditioner isn’t a practical or affordable option, a fan is often the next best choice. Sometimes a refreshing breeze is just what you need to stay comfortable during the year’s hotter seasons. So what should you keep an eye out for when it comes to choosing a fan? Let’s take a look: Size It’s always important to pick an appliance that’s the ... Read more

November 11th, 2015 by Mark Bristow

Sony Japan has announced that as of March 2016, it will cease production of cassette tapes for the Betamax. If your reaction to reading that was "wait, is Betamax still a thing?", apparently it was, but won’t be for much longer. And if you have no idea what I'm talking about, read on: A brief history of the Format Wars Know, o reader, that before the age of the Smart ... Read more

November 10th, 2015 by Mark Bristow

Roaming the aisles of my local supermarket the other day, hunting and gathering my household’s weekly food supply, I was struck by a sudden craving. A craving for something sweet, or maybe something savoury. A craving for a breakfast treat that goes beyond mere toast and coffee. A craving… for pancakes. What inspired this craving? Why, a fully-loaded shelf of pre-packaged pancake mix, available in all manner of flavours. These ... Read more

November 5th, 2015 by Mark Bristow

One tip that we regularly recommend to anyone planning a kitchen renovation is to choose appliances with similar finishes, to help give the room a consistent, unified appearance. Stainless steel appliances tend to look especially good when matched with one another - a home kitchen can be given an elegant and professional look and feel simply by including a few sleek and stylish stainless steel appliances. However, while ... Read more

November 4th, 2015 by Adriana Zanchetta

It’s November, and you know what that means - the silly season has arrived. In the lead up to Christmas, we indulge ourselves in endless work parties, school functions, Secret Santas and a heap of scrumptious belly-filling food. In preparation for the mandatory ‘bring a plate of food to share’, impress your friends with home-made spaghetti from the Phillips Pasta and Noodle Maker. Just add flour, water, egg and ... Read more

October 29th, 2015 by Mark Bristow

Organisation is essential in any kitchen. The mark of a great home chef is knowing exactly what ingredients are stored where, so they can be used to whip up a recipe at a moment's notice. Plus, by correctly storing different ingredients in the pantry or fridge, you can ensure that they'll remain fresher for longer, saving you from having to toss out spoiled and wasted food. Making ... Read more

October 28th, 2015 by Mark Bristow

With Australia and New Zealand set to face off with one another in the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final, the old rivalries between our two nations have flared up once again. But nothing inspires more trans-Tasman rivalry than arguing over which nation is responsible for creating some of the iconic recipes that are unique to this part of the world. To be fair, Australia does have a long ... Read more

October 26th, 2015 by Mark Bristow

“Can I share with you my worldview? All of humankind has one thing in common: the sandwich. I believe that all anyone really wants in this life is to sit in peace and eat a sandwich.” - Elizabeth Miervaldis "Liz" Lemon The humble sandwich doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves. It’s not often considered a “proper” meal, but rather the quick n’ dirty replacement for one, ... Read more