Less than 60 minutes

The traditional paella pan is shallow and wide. One large or two smaller frying pans can be used. The mixture should only be about 4cm deep. Note

There's nothing more rewarding than making your own pizza dough like a true Italian.

You need 10 ice-block sticks. If the choc orange balls don’t stick to the cookies, secure them with a little melted chocolate. Note

While this frilly little cake is ideal for a baby shower or christening, it would also delight any budding prima ballerina in the family. Use shades of pink to resemble a tutu, and top with a pair of ballet slippers. The frilled strips of icing should still be slightly soft when positioned on the cake. […]

The technique to split open and flatten quail so that it cooks quickly and evenly is called `butterflying’. Place quail, breast-side down, on a chopping board. Using poultry shears or kitchen scissors, cut down both sides of the backbone; discard the bone. Turn over, open out and press down on the breast plate to flatten […]

Ho ho ho and a bottle of red cordial will soon have Pete smiling again. We were lucky enough to find an odd-shaped chocolate- coated sultana for the eyebrow, but use some licorice instead. Note

To test the conserve: when the mixture has thickened, place a saucer or a small plate in the freezer for 5 minutes or until chilled. Spoon a little of the hot conserve onto the cold saucer. Return to the freezer for 2 minutes or until chilled. Touch the conserve. Note

Harissa is a North African paste made from dried red chillies, garlic, olive oil and caraway seeds; can be used as a rub for meat, an ingredient in sauces and dressings, or eaten as a condiment. It is available from Middle Eastern food shops and some supermarkets. Note

Tender pork fillet wrapped in sage and prosciutto and served with creamy potato mash and green beans.

We don’t recommend that you freeze cooked vegetables as they tend to have a spongy texture and “leftover” look about them once they’ve been thawed. Mushrooms, eggplant and members of the squash family are especially freezer unfriendly. Note

Sweet and sticky maple-glazed chicken with a fresh and nutty salad; a wonderful summer dish.

Daikon are large, long, white radishes that have a sweet, fresh flavour without the bite of the common red radish. Used extensively in Japanese cooking, daikon are also great eaten raw in salads, shredded for a garnish, or cooked in stir-fries. Note

This cake serves 20. Store the cake in an airtight container for up to three days. Note

“I love making pizza at home… and this versatile and easy dough can also be used for loaves, rolls, foccacia… anything.” Cynthia Black came to the Test Kitchen in the early 1990s, and left in 1993, continuing her food career at Darling Mills, her family’s restaurant in Sydney. She has now gone into business for […]

Checkerboard cookies look and taste wonderful. These biscuits make a perfect gift. Stack the cookies, then wrap securely in cellophane to keep airtight. They will keep fresh for a week or two. Note

Generally the meat filling and lettuce leaves are served separately; guests fill and roll their own lettuce leaves. Note

Equipment: Deep 22cm (9-inch) square cake pan 7cm (2¾-inch) round cutter 30cm (12-inch) square cake board Note

Canned whole baby beets can be substituted for fresh beetroot, if preferred. Potatoes, beetroot and peas can be cooked in advance and refrigerated, covered. Combine salad just before serving or beetroot will “bleed” into egg and potato Note

You can use blueberries or cranberries instead of goji, if you like. Store bars in an air-tight container for up to 1 week. Note

Grand Marnier or Cointreau can be used for the orange-flavoured liqueur. Store truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. Truffles, without cocoa coating, can be frozen for up to 3 months. Remove from freezer 1 hour before serving and dusting with cocoa. Note

This cake is perfect for the little girl who dreams of having her very own pony. Note

Edible gold leaf and candy thermometers are available from kitchenware stores and cake decorating suppliers. Note

If you don’t have a candy thermometer, boil the syrup until it’s thick with heavy bubbles. Remove from heat, let bubbles subside, then reassess the thickness of the syrup. Note

Some butchers sell a pork and veal mixture. If itis not available as a mixture, buy half the amount as pork mince and half the amount as veal mince. Passata is available from most supermarkets. If you can’t find it, use pureed canned tomatoes instead. You can freeze this dish in an airtight container for […]

These cookies can be topped with nuts before baking or, once cooked, iced then dipped into various sprinkles, or simply dusted lightly with sifted icing sugar. To flavour the dough, beat your choice of essence or extract with the butter and sugar mixture, or beat in a teaspoon or two of finely grated citrus rind. […]

Pizza bases are available from most supermarkets Note

Inserting the base of the springform pan upside down will make it easier to slide the cake from the base. Note

Store cake pops in an airtight container at a cool room temperature until ready to serve. Pipe eyes and mouths on the day of serving. They will keep for up to a week. Note

Dried lavender is available from gourmet food stores and cake decorating stores. Note

We used desiree potatoes in this recipe. Season this dish carefully as the haddock and stock are already salty. Note

Buy the freshest beef available; it is always a good idea to check with your butcher to find out if the meat you purchased can be eaten raw. It is very important to keep the beef as cold as possible when preparing this recipe. Use a sharp knife to chop the beef so that it […]

A light and summery dish of char-grilled scallops with a zesty corn salsa.

We used large, 25cm diameter, packaged pizza bases for this recipe. Note

Equipment you will need for this recipe, 23cm x 34cm number 4 cake pan and a 25cm x 40cm rectangular cake board. You can decorate this cake with single or multi coloured lollies. Place lollies such as Smarties on butter cream close to presentation time to prevent the colours running. Note

The chicken can be marinated a day ahead. Recipe best made close to serving. Note

Use hundreds and thousands as an alternative to the orange sprinkles. You can use cream-filled rollettes, if you prefer. If using butter cream instead of the vanilla frosting, you will need two quantities. White icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on wedding cakes). It is available in packets from the […]

The number one cake for your baby's first birthday!

You can use any small, whole, white-fleshed fish for this recipe. Note

This gorgeous French dessert is worthy of any dinner party or family event. The combination of cream-filled puffs, crisp, spun toffee and a buttery pastry base creates the ultimate sweet recipe.

Hundreds & thousands 18 milk chocolate freckles 30cm yellow ribbon The cutter we used was about 5cm (2 inches) deep, which made it easier to cut right through the cake. You could use a sharp pointed vegetable knife to cut out the cake rounds, cutting around the markings of the shorter cutter. Freeze the little […]

You will need about 3 limes for this recipe. Nam jim can be made a day ahead; keep tightly covered in the fridge until ready to use. Note

Dried lavender is available from selected delis and spice shops. If you prefer, you can use 1 teaspoon finely grated orange or lemon rind instead. Note

Spanish-style spiced meatballs with a romesco sauce; a great tapas dish or sharing platter.

Use a clean piping and tube for each different coloured meringue. Note

Use frangelico (hazelnut) or crème de cacao (chocolate) flavoured liqueurs. Cut cakes with a serrated knife. Note

You need two oranges for this recipe – one for the salad and one for the juice. You can substitute fresh baby beetroot with canned baby beets, or the chicken with pork fillet or salmon, if you like. Note

Cook dumplings, in batches, in a large saucepan of boiling water for about 5 minutes or until filling is cooked. Remove dumplings from the water with a slotted spoon. Note

Cover gow gees with a damp tea towel to stop them drying out while making the tortellini. The tortellini can be made a day ahead; store, in a single layer, covered in plastic wrap, in the refrigerator until ready to cook. Preserved lemons can be bought from delicatessens and some supermarkets. Remove a piece of […]

Recipe is not suitable to freeze. We used snapper in this recipe, but you can use any white firm-fleshed fish you like. Note

Pink petal dust can be purchased at specialty baking or cake-decorating shops. Note

Rösti can be eaten hot or cold. Swap sweet potato for potato, squeeze excess liquid from potato first. Note

Flaked coconut can be bought from a store which stocks Indian and Fijian food. Note

The perfect Asian starter dish; homemade spring rolls.

Ballerina cake toppers are available from cake decorating suppliers, or top with tiny ballerina dolls from toy stores. Note

A bright, colourful and exquisite lamb, spinach and spiced peach salad.

Create the flavours and textures of a slow-cooked meal in under an hour by using your pressure cooker. This delicious chickpea and lentil soup can be ready in no time at all, perfect for a cool weeknight dinner.

We used blue-eye trevalla cutlets in this recipe, but you can use any white fish cutlets. Vietnamese mint is not a mint, but a pungent and peppery narrow-leafed member of the buckwheat family. Also known as laksa leaf and cambodian mint. It is available from Asian greengrocers. Note

Exquisite and delicious Asian-style marinated duck with peppered strawberries from Australian Women's Weekly.

Place any leftover lime leaves in a resealable plastic bag and freeze for another use. Add three or four to a curry, scrunching the leaves first to release the flavour; toss thinly sliced leaves through a tropical fruit salad; or add sliced leaves to a jug of iced water for a refreshing citrus flavour. Mango […]

Who said sausage sausages have to be boring? These ones are packed full of strong flavour, and are presented beautifully - perfect for a picnic lunch with loved ones.

You can find artificial spider’s web at novelty shops. If you can’t find it, use fairy floss or cotton wool instead. Be sure to remove spider’s web or cotton wool and skewers before cutting and serving the cake. You will need approximately 3 x 100g bars of Toblerone for this cake. Note

Sometimes called Indian blood plum, the large plum used in this recipe has a distinctive dark red to purple fibrous flesh, is extremely juicy, pleasantly sweet, and is the plum most often found canned. Canned apricots or peaches can be substituted for the plums. A delicious time-and waist-saving recipe. Note

Flavoured Milk Bottles can be found in packets of Allen’s Milk Bottle Mania; you will need about 3 x 170g packets. Note