IN Kids Cooking

Cooking is fun for the whole family and is an activity kids can easily take part in too over the summer.


The Mirmikidis children will probably remember their time in the kitchen as some of their fondest memories. At least their dad hopes so.


Dad Athan says the up-coming holidays are a perfect time to spend some time in the kitchen with your kids, teaching them basic recipes which they’ll always be able to cook.


The father of three has been cooking for as long as he can remember. His grandfather was a chef and his mum taught him to cook when he was little, something Athan started passing onto his own three from the moment they could put on an apron.


The first dish Athan learnt was a classic spaghetti bolognaise, a perfect one to use with summer beef. He says that beef offers plenty of easy recipes for parents to try with their kids including favourites in his house like gourmet burgers, chilli con carne, nachos and a Greek dish called keftethes, which are savoury meatballs made with mince, garlic, onion and parsley.


“Keftethes are perfect for kids to be able to mix and roll into balls. It’s like playing with play dough,” says Athan. “You can eat them as a meal or have them cold as a picking dish.”


Athan’s Greek heritage means that dishes like keftethes are staples amongst all his family but cultural exploration also plays a big part of life in the Mirmikidis home. What better way to do it than with food from around the world. It’s a perfect way to teach Jasper, 9, Amelie, 7 and three-year-old Rosie about different countries.


Athan is the managing director of catering company Heyder & Shears and says it’s a Saturday morning ritual to take his children to the commercial kitchen to watch others cooking as well as going to the butcher.


“They learn about cooking, get more familiar with a kitchen and get to know other people who know how to cook. Jasper can deliver a dinner for the family. Of course his first dish was spaghetti bolognaise. I think it’s all the kids’ favourite meal.


“The older ones already appreciate a good cut of beef which we’ll serve with some kind of relish rather than tomato sauce.”


Being able to help in the kitchen can do wonders for a child’s confidence, says Athan. That sense of accomplishment and pride as well as being a little creative is great for them.


“Kids will try and mimic their parents and I think learning to cook is a fantastic habit for them to have as well as a great pleasure.


“My kids have never eaten from a fast food outlet. They know that the food from home is healthy and developing good eating habits in them is important.


“When we’re in the kitchen together the kids ask why we do something and it forces us to get back to basics too and think about what we are doing step-by-step. We see it through new eyes because of that.”


For information on Heyder & Shears Catering, visit www.heydershears.com.au

IN Rent vs Buy

 
"Rent or Buy – that is the question"


We’re hearing of reports about increased first home buyer activity  in the market again due to a shift in market conditions.


The median house price has no doubt fallen and remained relatively flat for a protracted period, providing a window of opportunity for renters wanting to move to property ownership.


Recent statistical data suggests that currently  there is little difference between monthly mortgage repayments and rental payments providing that much-needed incentive for first home buyers.


The October RP Data Buy vs Rent report found it was cheaper to pay a mortgage than it was to rent in 388 suburbs across the country, with 44 of those in Western Australia.


These statistics can be exciting news for people who’ve been renting but aspire to own their own property, and up until now haven’t been able to afford it. Initial purchase and ongoing affordability is the key issue in this consideration.


However, before you jump into a mortgage of your own there are a few important aspects to take into account.


The first, and the most important is knowing what stage of your life you’re at and what style of life you’re after.


Owning a home is both an investment and a lifestyle choice and comes with a certain amount of responsibilities. Home buyers must take into account their own personal situation and assess each and every aspect of home ownership because both renting and buying property has its perks.


For those thinking of buying for the first time remember to consider other costs such as capital gains if you are an investor plus stamp duty, finance establishment costs, statutory  outgoings plus strata title fees for apartments and villas.


There are other costs of home ownership such as upkeep and maintenance which all add to the cost of buying - as opposed to renting, where none of these costs are a direct issue.


The suggestion that buying is cheaper than renting is somewhat true but in reality not everyone wants to own a property.


Renting has its fair share of benefits and these include its limitations. Increasingly people are choosing renting as a long-term option and approaching renting with a different attitude , for example taking long-term lease periods and set rent reviews to provide security and certainty.


Not being tied down to a mortgage for say 25 years can be what makes renting so attractive because it can facilitate more flexible lifestyle choices which is what many people are after.


Putting all the data and academic debate to one side, it  is a choice between the heart and the mind, and the right choice is what suits the individual depending on their aspirations and life stage. Notwithstanding seeking the advice of an informed property professional can assist in making the right choices.