ONE POT WINTER WONDERS

When the temperature drops and the days feel shorter than ever, the last thing we want is to be stuck at the sink scrubbing multiple pans after dinner.

That’s where the magic of one-pot meals truly shine. They’re comforting, flavour-packed, and— best of all—they make clean-up a breeze!

By Simone Anderson

@simone_anderson

More from Simone: Edition 6, Page 10.

As a mum, business owner, and content creator, life is full and fast-paced. But I still want to nourish my family (and myself!) with meals that feel indulgent without being complicated. That’s why I gravitate toward recipes that come together in one pot or pan, especially in winter. There’s something grounding about a simmering pot on the stove, the house filled with warm, spicy aromas, and dinner being only a few scoops away.

One of my favourite hacks? Cook once, eat twice (or even three times!). Doubling the recipe doesn’t take much more effort, but it means you’ve got backup meals ready for the week ahead, whether that’s dinner on a chaotic Tuesday night or lunch for work the next day. These dishes also reheat beautifully and freeze well. Future you, will be grateful when dinner is sorted with zero effort!

My biggest advice? Don’t overthink it. Keep things simple, play with flavours you love, and give yourself permission to enjoy the process (and the ease of it all). Winter doesn’t have to mean complicated meals or hours in the kitchen, just warm, nourishing food that feels like a hug in a bowl.

Why One Pot? Here’s Why I’m Obsessed

• Less Clean-Up: One pot = one dish to wash. Enough said.

• Layered Flavour: Cooking everything together helps ingredients absorb more flavour, creating deeper, richer dishes.

• Hands-off Cooking: Once everything is in the pot, you can often just let it do its thing—ideal when you’re juggling a million other things.

• Easy Meal Prep: Double the recipe and freeze half for an effortless meal later on.

One Pot Fakeaway Beef Panang Curry Serves: 2-4 By Simone Anderson

Ingredients

- 8 Tbsp Panang curry paste.

- 1kg diced beef.

- 8 Tbsp peanuts, ground into a fine powder.

- 3 tsp fish sauce.

- 4 tsp neutral oil.

- 800ml coconut milk (plus extra to drizzle if you’re feeling fancy).

Instructions

- 10 makrut lime leaves, roughly torn.

- 3 tsp raw sugar.

- 1 red capsicum, thinly sliced.

- 2 carrots, thinly sliced.

- 1 onion, thinly sliced.

- Handful peanuts.

- Steamed jasmine rice to serve.

1. Mix the ground peanuts into the curry paste and set aside.

2. Add 1½ tsp fish sauce and oil to the beef, and massage it well. Let it soak up the flavour.

3. In a large pan over medium-high heat, reduce ¾ cup of the coconut milk until it thickens and starts to separate.

4. Stir in the curry paste and drop the heat to medium-low. Let it cook for a few minutes, stirring constantly.

5. Add raw sugar and torn lime leaves, and cook for another minute until the sugar dissolves.

6. Add the beef and toss it through the curry paste— break up the pieces as you go.

7. Once the beef is about 50% cooked, pour in the coconut milk and cook for a minute more. Turn off the heat.

8. Stir in your capsicum, carrot, onion, and the remainder of the fish sauce while the curry’s still hot (they’ll stay crisp but soak up the flavour).

9. Sprinkle over a handful of crushed peanuts for crunch.

10. Serve over fluffy jasmine rice with an extra drizzle of coconut milk and a few slivers of lime leaf if you’ve got them.

Craving more easy, wholesome meals? Find me on Instagram@simone_anderson for inspo and real-life kitchen moments.

A Slower Pace Of Life For This Kiwi Midwife

From the birth room to the classroom. Midwife, Becca O’Leary’s is now empowering parents in a new way, through her antenatal education venture, My Little Kiwi.

For over seven years, Becca O’Leary lived life on-call. As a Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) midwife, her days and nights revolved around other people’s births.

She answered calls at all hours, dropped everything to attend labours, and poured her heart into walking alongside families through one of life’s most significant transitions. It was sacred work, but it was also relentless.

Behind the scenes, Becca was on a personal journey of her own. She faced infertility and underwent IVF, all while continuing to support others through the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Supporting people to birth their babies while longing for her own was emotionally complex but deepened her understanding of how much those moments matter.

When Motherhood Meets Midwifery

During this time, Becca became a mother, twice. She breastfed during postnatal calls and emailed urgent referrals while rocking her baby to sleep.

The line between midwife and mum often blurred. It was fulfilling but exhausting and eventually, something had to give.

She realised she couldn’t keep going at that pace. The early years with her children were precious and fleeting, and she didn’t want to miss them. It wasn’t about leaving midwifery but reshaping it to fit her family. That decision sparked the creation of My Little Kiwi, a new direction focused on what she loves most: education.

A New Chapter

Through My Little Kiwi, Becca now teaches online and in-person antenatal classes in Kirikiriroa (Hamilton). She blends clinical expertise with lived experience, creating a supportive and relatable environment for expectant parents.

She also works occasional shifts at a local birthing unit to stay hands-on without the 24/7 pressure. This slower pace has brought balance. Mornings now begin with coffee and cuddles, not phone calls and rushing out the door. She’s still supporting whānau in a way that honours her passion and her own family.

Impact, Redefined

Stepping back from traditional midwifery wasn’t easy. Like many in care-based roles, Becca had to redefine what it means to make an impact. “Midwifery isn’t just about catching babies,” she says. “It’s about walking alongside people, helping them feel informed, prepared, and supported.”

That’s exactly what, My Little Kiwi offers: practical, holistic, and evidence-based antenatal education that empowers parents to give birth and parent with confidence.

Becca’s warm, down-to-earth approach has quickly made My Little Kiwi a trusted resource for families across Aotearoa.

Expecting a baby?

My Little Kiwi offers:

• In-person antenatal classes in Hamilton.

• Self-paced online antenatal course.

• Evidence-based, relatable education for every birth journey.

@mylittlekiwi_ www.mylittlekiwi.co.nz

Hello,

I’m Minty, the one who holds the paintbrush for Felice Paintworks. I have a unique blend of skills and experiences that have ultimately lead me to where I am today. I gained a bachelor degree in Dental Hygiene & Therapy in 2010 and then shifted to Australia to live with my husband.

After having two children and experiencing postnatal depression my path took an unexpected but deeply transformative turn. I found solace and healing in creativity and resonated with the quote “The opposite of depression isn’t joy, its expression.”

In 2023 I completed a diploma in Interior Design to help me with a full house renovation in Tamahere, Hamilton. I found it very difficult to find affordable large scale artwork, so I picked up a paintbrush and began painting. My belief is everyone should be able to enjoy the uniqueness of an original painting!