Moderate

This is a traditional French lamb stew loaded with hearty vegetables. It can be cooked a day in advance and reheated when required – just fold in the peas, broad beans and parsley at the last minute.

This dish is old-fashioned French comfort food at its best. The chicken is braised with wine and vegetables and finished with cream for richness. The fricassée has many variations depending on the region but the great thing about this dish is that it’s a one-pot wonder and ready in under an hour.

Fondue is a dish of melted cheese served in a fondue pot over a stand heated by a candle or lamp. It is ideally served with crusty bread or crudités (a selection of whole or sliced raw vegetables). For my version, I’ve added some smoked mussels, ham and pickled onions for an added dimension.

The perfect starter, ham hock terrine containing fresh herbs with baby gherkins and Dijon mustard

If you’re lucky enough to have a quince tree, you’ll know it's a true autumn treasure. The fruit makes a gorgeously rosy and fragrant paste that's the perfect accompaniment for cheese and crackers

Who can resist a succulent roasted duck draped in an orange and mustard sauce with crispy potatoes? Not me, that’s for sure! This recipe suits a farmed duck, not a wild one and will feed four at a pinch, as long as you offer plenty of veges on the side.

A leek and salmon fettuccine with lemon crumb that will ensure an appetising meal

This Milanese specialty slow braises veal into a tender, rich and comforting dish. Pair with handmade gnocchi for an impressive Italian feast

A lasagne with roast veg mixed in that is guaranteed to feed the entire family

With this fun variation on the classic curry, you can now enjoy a traditional Indian chicken korma with your hands with these stuffed pitta breads. Perfect for a quick dinner in front of the telly!

This citrus cake recipe is a winner at all times of the year. The tangy syrup and toasted coconut create an amazing flavour combination you'll be sure to love

This pork stew is a version of Brazil’s national dish, the black bean and pork concoction known as feijoada (pronounced fay-ju-ada). It takes time to prepare and cook, but there’s a real sense of achievement when it’s completed

For a sweet dose of Easter extravagance try this decadent chocolate layer cake recipe with layers of chocolate cake and mascarpone

Citrus tarts are a favourite with many, and my mum’s made her own version of Australian cook Stephanie Alexander’s tart recipe for years. It’s insanely silky and light as a feather.

Magnificent mums call for only the most magnificent cakes! This is an easy chocolate cake to bake and once generously filled with lashings of cocoa-laced whipped cream, drizzled with white chocolate ganache and topped with roasted rhubarb to add a slightly tart note, it is truly spectacular.

Cooking your chicken this way – stuffing orange and herbs under the breast skin and bread stuffing in the cavity – gives you lovely moist meat.

Two incredible desserts combine in this tiramisu brownie recipe. Take the time to treat yourself to a decadent doubledecker slice

An irresistible combination of red velvet, cheesecake and brownie will have your mouth watering just by the reading the recipe!

This loathsome crime lord has many enemies, but when Jaffa The Hutt is in cake form, he's not so scary. This epic Star Wars brownie birthday cake from Disney's Star Wars Party Cakes cookbook will win everyone over - adults included.

Looking for a great fig recipe? Perfectly caramelised figs and frangipane combine in this luscious tart

Crispy grated potato combines with corn to make this potato rosti recipe, served with chilli aioli and pancetta

Top this buttermilk waffle recipe with crispy maple bacon, fried eggs and blanched asparagus

Croissants are transformed into a delicious savoury, cheesy bread and butter pudding recipe that's dotted with antipasto goodies

A Japanese pancake recipe that will become a firm favourite - topped with hot-smoked salmon and wasabi mayo

A tasty cauliflower omelette recipe flavoured with brie, leek and tomato

A quinoa and kale salad topped with a poached egg and dotted with edamame, radish, feta and herbs

There’s just something about a sponge cake that fills you with delight! Nici Wickes' mum made them often when she was growing up, with fillings of strawberries, passionfruit, peaches or whatever fruit was in season and always with plenty of whipped cream.

Tofu fans will love this vegetarian recipe served with beans and sliced wombok

Crispy and golden on the outside, tender and flaky in the middle, these crunchy fish goujons make a brilliant weeknight family dinner. Serve them up with homemade wedges for fish and chips at home.

Top this chilli chicken with cheese quesadillas recipe with guacamole, sour cream, avocado and coriander. Finish with lime wedges.

For a lighter way to enjoy your classic Indian curry, try serving this classic beef korma inside lettuce cups with steamed rice for a fun, hands-on way to experience dinner.

Tick all the flavour boxes with these hearty pot pies, complete with a creamy, cheesy filling, salty bacon and fresh broccoli. Break off your crumbly crust and soak up the filling for extra goodness.

This gorgeous frittata combines three strong flavours to create a flavour-packed lunch or dinner. From the sweetness of the caramelised onion and the rich salmon fillets, to the creamy, tart goat's cheese, every mouthful will leave you wanting more.

This Argentinian-spiced empanadas make a brilliant weeknight or weekend dinner to enjoy on the couch with your loved ones. Their spicy, flavoursome filling goes brilliantly with a buttery pastry crust.

Hearty and delicious, this nutritious stew is the perfect way to warm up your family's bellies on cooler evenings at home. You'll get a nice dose of veggies, protein and fibre with every serving, too.

The richness of this creamy coconut and prawn risotto goes brilliantly with a homemade zesty kale pesto. Dish yourself up a bowl and enjoy rugged up on the couch as a warming dinner.

These delicious swordfish skewers are great for a quick and filling weeknight dinner. The kids will love using their hands to eat the skewers, and you'll love knowing you're getting a good dose of protein. Win, win.

This hearty, warming dinner uses lentils instead of flour to thicken the sauce and add extra fibre at the same time, creating a healthy but delicious weeknight dinner.

There is something special about a crispy, golden crumbed outside and a tender, juicy middle that makes veal schnitzel so popular. This version uses gluten-free ingredients, so even people with allergies can enjoy this classic dish.

This delicious Italian-style prosciutto and tomato flatbread pizza is wonderfully indulgent, but is easy enough to enough as a quick weeknight dinner. The whole family will love tucking into this one.

This iconic children's birthday cake was inspired by the character, Dolly, in one of Charles Dickens' novels. She's since gone on to influence fashion, fish (one is named after her), a cake pan (in the shape of her dress) and all manner of embroideries...what a girl she must have been!

While most jams are made using fruit, this tasty savoury-style recipe from The Australian Women's Weekly's 'Made From Scratch' cookbook is brilliant dolloped atop a steak sandwich, or served with blue cheese.

This all-in-one dish is a family favourite for dinner in a flash.

There’s nothing like a warm nourishing bowl of rice pudding as the weather turns chilly. This creamy recipe, with its gentle spice notes of vanilla and cinnamon, is sure to become a family favourite. Serve with tinned preserved fruit or this decadent fruit compote for a final flourish (shown)

Who doesn’t adore pasta? This creamy dish of wholesome whole-wheat linguine will definitely bring out your ‘inner Sophia Loren’. It is doused in a light, but decadent, creamy tomato sauce full of healthy baby spinach. You can easily serve it without chicken for a vegetarian alternative

Chicken wrapped in a cheesy filling that is quick yet tasty to make.

The perfect meal for a cool and in-door day that is quick to make to allow you to lounge around for the rest of your day.

Cottage pies are a kiwi favourite which contain both quality and quantity - satisfied guaranteed!

Indulge yourself with this rich and decadent tart filled with sweet goodness.

A strudel made from a mix of earthy Portobello, brown and white button mushrooms, and slender straw and oyster mushrooms. Whatever funghi you can lay your hands on will make a delightful filling when bound in a sauce scented with red wine and rosemary, then encased in a thin shell of crispy pastry.

Sink your knife though a crisp, golden pastry to reveal a hearty, creamy middle... This delicious family pie takes all the flavours of steak and Diane sauce and combines them to create the ultimate comfort food.

Ditch the Chinese take-away and recreate this popular Asian noodle dish at home - your family will love it! Plus, you'll get your protein from the beef and all the vegetable goodness you want - win, win!

This is a simple and quick option for a platter – ideal as a party canapé or pre-dinner snack. The terrine and parfait on crostini are perfect on their own but I’ve added a crisp apple and radish slaw for a touch of sharpness.

Panettone is a light, airy Italian version of a fruit cake, usually eaten at Christmas and Easter. It varies slightly from region to region but generally is studded with raisins and fruit peel. My favourite brand is called Dal Forno (available from specialty food stores). It is fabulous eaten on its own with an espresso or sweet liqueur, or lightly toasted as I have done in this recipe.

Curious Croppers provided Luca Villari with the most amazing tomato varieties for this salad. He's used a mixture of ‘Spanish Red’, ‘Orange Blossom’, ‘White Doris’ and ‘Little Miss Sunshine’. If you ever get the chance to visit the Clevedon Farmers’ Market, stop by their stall and sample their fantastic selection of tomatoes; they also supply restaurants and Farro Fresh.

Luca Villari is a heat-seeking missile when it comes to sourcing top-notch produce.

Sfoglia di mozzarella is a very thin layer of mozzarella which looks similar to a pastry sheet. Stuff and roll it, then slice it up just before serving.

These little dark cakes are sized to share, but you could also bake them in Texas muffin tins – just shorten the cooking time. Recipes and styling by Fiona Hugues. Photography by Jani Shepherd; Gatherum Collectif.

These chocolate crêpes are thin and soft, with a nutella filling. Recipe and styling by Fiona Hugues. Photography by Jani Shepherd; Gatherum Collectif.

These remind me of the steamed puddings we had growing up. They are so light and fluffy, and the caramel sauce is extremely moreish!

This tart is super-simple to make and whenever I serve it up for friends, they always ask for the recipe. It’s the most divinely textured and flavoured tart and perfect as a dessert or anytime sweet treat!

This rich, textured, buttery tart is made sweet with slow-cooked onions and sharp with knobs of blue cheese – a great combination.

A light but not overly sweetened cake including ricotta which adds that rich goodness needed to treat yourself.

You can't go wrong with a rich and creamy semolina that not only looks crave-worthy but also tastes it too!

These tasty zucchini, parmesan and basil muffins from Anneka Manning's cookbook, 'BakeClass', are a great alternative to the sweet ones, especially when served as a snack or instead of bread alongside soup or salad.

This rich, but not too-sweet, mocha roll is one of Anneka Manning's favourite desserts from her cookbook 'BakeClass'. It's perfect for entertaining, and it's much easier to make than you’d expect!

Bringing together sweet blueberries and sour lemons, this simple cheesecake from Anneka Manning's cookbook 'BakeClass' is light but luscious. It’s the perfect end to a lazy summer meal.

This feijoa paste is great on cheese boards and antipasto platters. It's is a labour of love but uses up lots of feijoas and in the long run, potentially saves you buying the pricey store-bought ones

Delicious feijoa, lemon and coconut muffins that are great for a picnic basket, or as an anytime snack!

The perfect family meal for when the weather is not so perfect.

Licence to gorge! A full-on family feast

A cool yet filling sweet treat that will leave your taste buds wanting more.

A little slice of heaven with the combination of rich goodness through the chocolate sweetness and the fluffy sensation left by the meringue will leave you wanting more!

A creative and tasty way to try and get the kids to eat their veggies whilst also bringing out the inner child in all of us!

With eggs being the main ingredient for Easter, it is the perfect occasion to get imaginative with these egg like chocolate mousses!

Easter's very own egg baskets just got creative! Why not add an edible twist to your next Easter egg baskets making the Easter thrill even more magical.

Bring out the inner child in everyone with a fairytale feast that’s full of fun!

A rich and creamy pie that will most definitely stand out at your next potluck dinner!

Whether it's starting from scratch or making use of that leftover roast chicken, this is the perfect combination which brings out the expected tasty flavours required in a pie.

Former Australian Masterchef contestant and experienced vegatarian chef, Renae Smith, has shared her gorgeous roasted autumn vegetables recipe with us. Topped with grilled cacao beef, it's a flavour-packed dish perfect for dinner parties.

This hearty dish from Sophie Hansen's cookbook 'Local Is Lovely' is great recipe when you want to impress someone special. The creamy, tender meat pairs beautifully with crispy homemade potato chips and fragrant mushrooms - delicious!

A fresh tomato and cheesy filling will have your cravings satisfied in moments!

A puff pastry pie recipe with a creative twist! This vegetarian pie recipe is taken to new heights with two types of cheese and a lovely olive salsa.

This pie recipes takes two Kiwi favourites - a lamb roast and a pie - and combines them in one delicious savoury pie recipe.

Instead of taking a trip to your favourite burger joint, why not create your own homemade burgers with your own creative twist? This lamb burger recipe features lamb shanks that have been cooked until tender

This was one of my all-time favourite desserts as a child and when I’d see Mum preparing it, I’d lick my lips with anticipation. By all means use filo pastry but Mum always used flaky pastry as we’d not yet heard about filo in the ‘70s!

I am very fond of green peppercorns and their floral, warming flavour goes beautifully with pork. In this recipe, I’ve combined crushed green peppercorns with grated fresh apple for a wonderful “stuffed” meatloaf.

Yes, you read that right, this apple pie has a hint of sharp aged cheddar added and it is a taste sensation!

The secret of this pudding is in having a variety of colourful fruit. I’ve used late-season plums to add colour and flavour but you could also use quince or rhubarb.

This pear and cinnamon cake recipe by Nici Wickes is quick and easy to make as a dessert, served with lashings of butterscotch sauce, of course!

This Thai version of fried rice is a delicious combination of simplicity and flavour.

Soft Italian cheeses (ricotta, mascarpone, mozzarella) are simply irresistible to cook Nici Wickes! It’s fun to dabble in making them at home and while most require a certain degree of skill or equipment, ricotta is a cinch, she says

I very clearly remember the little restaurant in Venice where I first ate “pesce in saor” or marinated fish. I immediately fell in love with the sweet and sour combination of this dish. Served at room temperature, the fish, often sardines, are first pan-fried, then bathed in olive oil with sweet, cooked onions, raisins and pine nuts along with the vinegar which adds a note of sharpness.

Homemade focaccia is easy to make and impressive! This recipe is from a cooking school in Siena, which Nici Wickes has adapted to make it faster for any home cook to make. It’s bread-making at its best!

These sweet and fruity gluten-free cakes from Anneka Manning's cookbook 'Bake Class' combine tart raspberries and aromatic passionfruit – it’s where summer meets autumn.

Cooked to crispy, golden perfection, these potato and sweet corn rostis are brilliant served with a creamy chilli and garlic aioli for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

This gorgeous venison rack recipe from Sophie Hansen's book 'Local Is Lovely' is fantastic for dinner parties. It’s easy to cook, portions up perfectly and looks great on a bed of creamy mash with a sour cherry chutney.