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. 😂
I love you cooking I can’t wait you beautiful and delicious recipes.thank you for sharing.x
Thanks! N x
Enjoy your pause, Nagi, well deserved. Always delicious and easy to follow recipes (even for me!). Don’t beat yourself up – as you say, you are 100% human and therefore need plenty of rest. Looking forward to your book but there’s no rush, you’ve already given us more than enough to keep us going. Thanks, Nagi, for all your hard work, humour and, of course, wonderful Dozer. Take care. Love from the UK xx
Thank you! N x
Yes Slow down lovely
nothing is more important than your health.
Your fans will still be there for you in 3 weeks.
Thank you!! N x
Nagi,
do what you need to do, take your time and we will all look forward to your return in due course.
Nagi, It is NEVER failure to recognise that you have reached a point where you need to step back. Even perfectionists who think they are Superwomen hit walls! Go gently and know we are happy for you to go slower, and breathe, but will be eagerly waiting for your book……. When, and only when, you are ready.
Best wishes for the cookbook. (On a selfish note I’m looking forward to it)
Meanwhile be gentle on yourself and take care. Enjoy the next few weeks of less pressure. Hugs to Dozer.
Hi Nagi,
Please don’t think you’ve failed, you’ve got so many recipes on here I’m sure we can all find new ones to try.
You deserve time to get your new book on track and there will be plenty of new recipes that we can try when it gets published.
Dont push yourself too hard, have a break, you need it.
Love to you and Dozer from Sue and Max (my golden) xx
Good luck with the cookbook, I am sure it will be brilliant, look forward to your new recipes when you can 🙂
Nagi, it is NOT a failure! Don’t you dare apologize for being WISE !!! The Tin is so full with marvelous recipes that we would have almost as much work as you just trying to do one per day…
Just let us know from time to time how you and Dozer feel, maybe send a picture and have a GOOD PAUSE, do GOOD WORK!
“he that too much embraceth, holds little”, as we say in France. Take care and stay safe. We just love you!
Mireille, from Hungary
Best wishes for writing your new cookbook.
I enjoy your recipes and info more than any others. I’ve been hoping for a cookbook from you, so yeah!! 🥳 Congrats in your success! Hope you can get some well deserved rest. Hi to Dozer.
I appreciate ALL your and your teams efforts to bring us such a delicious variety of recipes for home cooks to try. Love them! Well done to you and your team!
Failure is never recognising your limitations!
Failure is killing yourself trying to be everything.
We love your recipes and will wait with anticipation for you to return, never think badly of you and be in line to buy your book when it is published!
PS – my dogs Monty & Jasper (Westies) eat raw carrots as treats 🙂
Well done you for looking after yourself – after all it is mental health week! It is not a failure to take the pressure down. You have just given your followers permission to let go, regroup and regain their mojo 🌸
Dear Nagi
We will wait for your return with bated breath. Keep doing what you are doing Nagi at a slower pace maybe and we are happy to wait until you can get yourself together. We love your explanations regarding your recipes so don’t stop giving us those for heavens sake in your posts. We can’t wait to see your Cookbook. Look after yourself…..
Love to you and Dozer
Marilyn Perry
Wodonga Victoria
You can’t pour from an empty vessel! Protect your energy and take care of yourself. Sending lots of love!
So true! N x
Goon on you Nagi! Fail would be if you didn’t hit pause! We will be here when you get back x
Knowing when to press pause is a characteristic of a successful person. Failing to press pause when required is a failure.
Dear Nagi,
Thank you for all you do and I am so happy you’re taking care of yourself.
Love your recipes and can’t wait for the cookbook, yoshimi
Nagi you need to stop and breathe! We have heaps of your recipes to keep us going. Take care of yourself.