I recently learned that you must squeeze grated zucchini by hand to get rid of the moisture if you want a perfectly fluffy zucchini slice.
It still seems a strange thing to do, in my opinion. But I also thought putting frozen cabbage leaves on your chest to avoid mastitis when you are breastfeeding was bonkers. But I can tell you, both actually work.
Okay, so clearly I am no Nigella Lawson in the kitchen, but I am trying hard to impress my kids with my new life where I am working part-time instead of full-time.
I am loving making school lunches and doing pick-ups with treats in the car (ice blocks for the win) for my little people.
More mum time and less work time is my idea of success now that I am in my fifties. Yes, there is less money coming in, but it has been a long time coming after working full-time since I was 14 years old.
What does success look like to you? Is it a Range Rover? Is it having kids? Is it being strong and healthy?
I have been spending a lot of time thinking about what success looks like for me, and I think it is regular trips to the beach, more time with my brother, sister, mum and my husband and kids (not yelling at them but actually enjoying their company).
Success for me is travelling more, feeling healthy, sleeping through the night and having plenty of meaningful connections with friends who I have put off seeing regularly for decades. It is growing some flowers I can pick and put in little vases all over the house.
Success is also drinking a coffee every day (not in a takeaway cup) and spending time reading with my dogs at my feet.
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Having more time to help others less fortunate than me is my idea of feeling truly good.
A cold glass of bubbles and plentiful food on my plate is also another huge tick for my bucket list.
Success for me is still working and using my brain.
This all sounds a very contented life, if you ask me. And for good measure, I am going to throw in baking the perfect zucchini slice to impress my tough critics.
Amen to that miracle happening.
Sami Muirhead is a (now semi-retired) radio announcer, blogger and commentator, wife and mum of three.
