Hello! I’m Ella McKenzie, a Newcastle local, mum, and lifelong home cook. My love of food started in my Nan’s kitchen, where the butter was always soft, the kettle always on, and there was usually a tray of slice cooling on the counter for a school fundraiser. Those recipes handwritten on spotted index cards—taught me that food doesn’t need to be fancy to be special.
At AustRecipes, I publish the dishes many of us grew up with: lamingtons and Anzac biscuits, shepherd’s pie, rissoles, pavlova, caramel slice, curried sausages, and plenty of quick weeknight dinners. I also share lighter and gluten‑friendly options when they make sense for our family table. Every recipe is tested with metric measurements, supermarket‑friendly ingredients and step‑by‑step photos. I include timing cues, notes on substitutions and storage, and honest tips on what can go wrong (and how to fix it).
Australia cooks in many languages and traditions. Where our terms differ, I include the international equivalent the first time it appears capsicum (bell pepper), zucchini (courgette), plain flour (all‑purpose) so the recipes work wherever you are.
When I’m not in the kitchen, you’ll find me chasing waves with the kids at Bar Beach, hunting for vintage CWA cookbooks, or testing another slice for the eternal question: “What should I take to the school morning tea?” Thanks for being here happy cooking!