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. 😂
Thank you Nagi for all that you do! It is greatly appreciated. You have produced plenty of delicious recipes for us to try. Now we have some time to do it! Take care of yourself!
We need you Nagi and we love you and more importantly you need your beauty sleep we don’t have high expectations of you .. you are human and we love you just the way you are ❤️and DOZER TOO of course🌸
I completely understand your need to “press pause”. I love everything you post and am looking forward to your cookbook so please take your time and do what you have to do. We will survive 😊.
Oh Nagi, you are anything but a failure! I’m sure you know we’re all waiting with baited breath for your book, so if a break means being able to focus on that, take all the time you need! I very much doubt anyone has made every single recipe from the bounty on your site, so this will give us a chance to go back through the archives and catch up on things we haven’t gotten to try yet – you’re not abandoning us and you’ve left us with plenty of old friends in the meantime 🙂 Take care of you and Dozer, and enjoy your creative process, you deserve it!!
Everyone needs a pause once in a while. Take as long as you need. We’ll be here when you’re ready to resume because you are my favorite on-line cook.
Take all the time you need, I’ll still be here when you come back ❤
You are definitely not a failure. Your recipes are amazing and I always love what you do. Your recipe book is so important to all of us! Look after yourself
Your website is a total comfort, Nagi! Old or new recipes, all welcome! Play those favorite re-runs 🙂 It’s wise to focus on the cookbook at important stages of development! We’ll still be here and so looking forward to seeing your cookbook once you are satisfied with it!
Thanks Nagi!
Your recipes are wonderful and you are a star. Take a good break from the posts and focus on your wonderful cookbook. I can’t wait until it’s published a
It’s not a sign of failure, but maturity! Take all the time you need. We are so looking forward to the result, but it has to be perfect for you first and foremost. You have a Nagi army of supporters behind you!
Take the time you need, I’ll wait :).
You should definitely never feel like a failure! Take all the time you need to make your cookbook awesome like all your recipes. I can’t wait to see the end result. I hope it will be available for sale in Canada, or at least on Kobo.
Hi Nagi, I love your website and look forward to your delicious recipes and seeing what Dozer is up to. However, your cookbook will be a ” must have” and I am excited to see the result. Take the time you need, guilt free and get back to us when you can. We don’t want you burnt out, your health is important to us, your devotees! Take care and look after yourself. Cheryl
You do so well to give us as much content as you do Nagi! Just means I have to search through the archives and find another winner I haven’t tried cooking yet ☺️
Just want to say you are a fabulous person but honestly girl (we are all human and need time out for all sorts of reasons and you have a darn good reason for doing this)!!
I will miss your stories of you and Dozer but look forward to them even more when you’re back. I love your honesty and hard work you put into everything you do. Take care sleep, eat,relax and ENJOY THE RIDE LOL 😂
Good for you for recognizing the time you need in this whole process! 😊 For me, there are so many recipe treasures to explore and re-explore on your site! Thank you for all you do!
I know you don’t need my encouragement but I am giving it! Take time for you and enjoy the process. We will be here when you return!
You are absolutely not a failure. You are strong, passionate and have Dozer. Every superwoman recognises when she needs a fear change. I will use your time away wisely and eat lettuce so I’m ready for feasting on your return xx
Take all the time you need. The wait for all of us, will be SO worth it. 🥰
Oh, Thank you Nagi! I needed a break from your new recipes to have time to go back and try all the ones I missed before I found your website! Now I can have the time to find those earlier recipes and give them a try! Do try to keep Dozer well fed during this time tho.