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I’m Melanie Eady, creator of Melanie’s Kitchen. I’m a registered nurse, wife to Guy, and mum to Oliver, Toby, and Anabella. I divide my time between Auckland and Wānaka and have a passion for creating delicious, great-looking food and sharing it with others.

I’m not entirely sure where this passion began, but as a mum and the daughter of a seriously good cook, I suspect that’s where it all started. I’m one of those “active relaxers” — I find it hard to sit still for long periods because if I do, I’ll probably just nod off!

My family loves to entertain — and we do it a lot! Sometimes it feels like the kitchen has taken over the whole house. It’s often hectic but never dull.

My approach to cooking and entertaining is simple:
  • Don’t be afraid to entertain
  • Cook something that looks complicated but often isn’t
  • Make entertaining look effortless
  • Prepare things in advance
  • Try new dishes regularly
  • Use seasonal vegetables and minimise food waste
Melanie’s Kitchen on Instagram began a few years ago to inspire friends and family to enjoy cooking simple, delicious meals. At first, my followers were mostly my kids’ friends, and since then it has slowly grown a loyal community.
 
I now find myself in a new season — a little uncertain, a little quiet, and ready for a new adventure. I didn’t want to look back years from now and say, " I should have launched that website I always talked about.” So, here we are — the next chapter of Melanie’s Kitchen.
 
I’m excited to share a collection of my favourite recipes with you — well over 200 and counting — as I continue photographing and refining the site. It will evolve over time - I hope you’ll come along for the ride. It’s sure to be tasty, fun, and filled with love (and probably a few spelling mistakes).
 

 

I am Melanie Eady, creator of Melanie’s Kitchen, I am a registered Nurse, wife to Guy and Mother to Oliver, Toby and Anabella. I live in Auckland and Wanaka and I am passionate about cooking great tasting, great looking food and sharing my food with others.

I am not too sure where it all started, this passion of mine but as a Mum and a daughter who’s Mum is a seriously good cook I presume this is where it began.

I am also one of those active relaxers (which basically means I struggle sitting down for long periods, because if I do I simply just nod off!).

My Family love to entertain and we do it a lot!! Sometimes I feel the kitchen just takes over the entire house, which is often hectic but never dull.

My focus with my cooking has been...
  • Don't be afraid to entertain
  • Cook something that looks complicated but often isn’t
  • Make entertaining look simple, use it as a means to do those annoying jobs you have been meaning to do around the house
  • Cook things in advance
  • Use your freezer
  • Cook new dishes all the time
  • Use veggies seasonally, try minimise food waste

Melanie’skitchen_ instagram was created a few years ago to help friends and family become reinspired about cooking easy great food, the followers on the site initially were my kids friends whom were at University, this has coasted on for a bit gaining a small amount of traction.

Now as my youngest child is about to embark on her own adult years, I find myself at a sense of loss and ever so slightly scared, the house has become a little lonely. So I need to create the next phase of being Melanie. I do not want to wake up in 20 years and say “God Guy I should of done my website and cooking experience I talked about all those years ago’. Hence why this journey has begun.

My vision to compliment the cooking experience was to put a few of my favourite recipes up on the site but I simply couldn't choose which ones so I have narrowed it down to over 200 so bear with me as I continue working on the photographs and the site. It will change format and develop from time to time and new experiences are in the pipe line.

Thank you for visiting my site, if you come along and enjoy the ride with me it's bound to be tasty and fun, filled with love and the odd spelling mistake.