More than 2 hours

Equipment paper towel; food processor (for breadcrumbs) sharp knife; frying pan; wooden spoon; large baking dish; butchers twine; foil; skever; sleve; whishk 5kg (size 50) turkey, rinsed well inside and out, then patted dry Roasting the turkey upside down for most of the cooking time will ensure lovely moist breast meat. The duck fat (available […]

You can use boned and rolled lamb leg instead, cost will vary. Note

Use marsala instead of tokay or Muscat if preferred. If nuts start to oven brown, cover cake with foil. Note

Marzipan is in the cake decorations aisle; check ingredients label for gluten. Note

Megan May uses sprouted seeds to transform the South Asian thali into a delicious, nutrient-rich raw feast.

Luca Villari guarantees it will be you when you wrap your laughing gear around this tantalising pastry creation

Luca Villari guarantees it will be you when you wrap your laughing gear around this tantalising pastry creation

To freeze: Cool casserole. Spoon into airtight containers. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in fridge overnight. Choose cheap meat cuts: These have a higher percentage of marbled fat, so won’t toughen during long cooking times. Beef cuts include casserole steak, gravy beef, chuck and blade. Sear meat and chicken first: This locks in […]

This cosy and gorgeously tender beef in red wine is packed with loads of fresh vegetables, topped with smooth mashed potato, creating a beautiful and comforting midweek family meal

Chill soup overnight to thicken; bring to the boil and stir in a little more stock or water if necessary. Note

Omit wine – use extra stock. For best result, place oven shell so top of roasting pan is at centre of oven. Use white balsamic instead lemon juice. Note

Nut skins can be bitter; rub toasted hazelnuts in a clean tea-towel to remove skins before chopping. Note

Cut melon into 1 cm pieces; if pieces are too large, jelly may split when unmoulding. The quantity of water added to the jelly crystals makes the jelly firm and easy to unmould. To make a softer jelly (if serving in glasses), you can add an extra 1/2 cup water. Note

To make spiced custard, warm bought gluten-free custard with 2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Note

Omit shortcrust pastry and spoon beef mixture into a 21cm (base measurement) pie plate. Top with puff pastry. Cooking time will vary. Note

Use cooked thin pork sausages instead of chorizo. Use bought frozen sheets of shortcrust pastry, instead of making your own. Note

To melt chocolate in the microwave, place chocolate in a small microwave -safe bowl. Microwave on High (100%) in 30-second, stirring, until melted and smooth. Note

Serve with your favourite mash – carrot and parnsip, pea and potato or kumara and ginger

Big flavour comes in small sizes

Strain peaches through a sieve; drain on paper towels. This slice uses gelatine so is not suitable for vegetarians. Note

To prepare couscous, soak 1 cup couscous in 1 cup boiling water or stock for 5 minutes or until liquid is absorbed, fluff grains with a fork to separate. Note

You can make this in an ice-cream machine following the manufacturer’s instructions. White making custard, don’t increase the heat to speed up cooking- mixture will curdle. Note

Luca Villari gives you the tools to turn out authentic Italian-style pizza, just like the pros. Pizza is a Kiwi favourite and has long been one of the world’s most popular foods. Being very versatile, with endless topping possibilities, it can cater to a wide variety of tastes and dietary requirements.

Luca Villari gives you the tools to turn out authentic Italian-style pizza, just like the pros.

Luca Villari gives you the tools to turn out authentic Italian-style pizza, just like the pros.

Paneer is firm ricotta-style Indian cheese and can also be bought at supermarkets. Replace cream with coconut milk. Note

Refrigerate in pudding basin. To serve, reheat on a plate in microwave on Medium (50%) for 5 minutes or until just hot. Note

A delicious yet simple slice with a very exciting Crunchie Bar topping.

Julie Biuso shares her crafty, clever ways to turn out fabulous meals night after night

Pulled pork takes time to prepare due to the long, slow cooking process. So while the grill is crowded with sausages and steaks, use the oven to prepare this.

You can make the meringue discs in advance, then assemble the cake just before eating.

Ham hocks, the shank end of a leg ham, are available at delicatessens, specialty stores, and some butchers. Shop around; hocks vary greatly in price, size and ‘meatiness’. Note

If you don’t have time to soak fruit, place fruit and brandy in a heatproof bowl. Microwave on Medium (50%) for 2 minutes. Cool. After glazing, sprinkle with chopped toasted nuts. Note

The ultimate comfort food, whip up a gorgeous homemade lasagne dish for your family tonight. Layered with chunky beef pieces, tender pasta and a cheesy sauce, it is packed full of flavour.

You’ll need 4 x 40cm-square pieces of unbleached calico. Before using, soak in cold water overnight. Boil for 20 minutes the next day; rinse well. Make ahead: Cook fruit mixture 1 month ahead. Store in a cool dark place, stirring occasionally. To reheat: Boil for 1 hour in unbleached calico; suspend puddings for 10 minutes […]

To reheat: Boil for 1 hour in a greased pudding basin. Check label to make sure the custard is gluten free. Note

Like more dumplings? Double dumpling mixture; spoon the extra 16 measures onto a baking paper-lined baking tray, then bake on bottom shelf as goulash cooks. Note

You’ll need 6 large paper muffin cases for this recipe. Note

Use a flat-based glass to evenly press crumbs over base of pan. Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. When ready to serve, place cooled sauce in a resealable food storage bag; snip a corner, then drizzle over cake. Note

Rolled and tied pork shoulder is in the refrigerated butchery section at most supermarkets. You can also use pork scotch fillet. Price will vary. Note

To melt white chocolate melts, place in a microwave-safe bowl, then microwave on High (100%) in 30-second bursts, stirring, until melted and smooth. Use a teaspoon to drizzle onto cheesecake. Rotate brownie halfway through cooking to ensure it cooks evenly. Try milk chocolate instead of dark. Note

Use a vegetable peeler to make chocolate curls. Note

You’ll need to steam or microwave about 300g peeled pumpkin for this recipe. You can also make this in a 19cm (base measurement) square pan. Note

Seasoned flour is plain flour with added seasoning’s to taste. Cook pasta in a large pan of boiling salted water 10-12 minutes, until tender. Drain well. Toss with a little butter, if desired. Note

Use other fruit of choice such as chopped mango and passion fruit, or mixed chopped stone fruit. Note

Un-iced cake suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Run out of time to make a proper Christmas pudding? You can still have a tasty treat on your festive table with this last-minute recipe thanks to Julie Goodwin.

The clever toppings for this cake can be whatever you can make or buy – there are many excellent cake shops selling decorations during October.

Use any glace fruit of choice, about 1/2 cup chopped fruit and 2 tablespoons blanched almonds. Note

Other dried fruit may be used in place of glace cherries, if preferred. Note

Casseroles can also be cooked on top of the stove – and it take a little less time. Note

Canned lentils can be used – simply drain, rinse and add to the soup with the meat. This soup thickens on cooling, so add a little water. Note

A hearty soup that�s perfect for using up festive ham leftovers or as a comforting and warming soup for those cooler winter nights. It�s pea and ham soup at its best.

As a guide, cook turkey for 15-20 minutes per 500g (including stuffing weight) plus 20 minutes, until juices run clear when tested. Add chipolatas to pan for the last 20 minutes, or pan-fry just before serving. Note

Seasoned flour is plain flour with added salt, pepper or herbs. Note

Refried beans have many uses in Mexican cookery – think of them as potatoes or rice with the wonderful health benefit of protein.

This chilli recipe should ideally be made with stewing steak, not mince. Serve with polenta, re-fried beans or crisp taco shells with salad.

Any dry red wine can be used in this recipe, if preferred. This recipe is suitable to freeze but not suitable to microwave. Note

Suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Slow-cooking the filling of this chunky pork and fennel pie brings out the natural sweetness of tender pork, and softens the aniseed flavour of the fennel.

Rendang paste is available from the Asian section of most supermarkets Make your own rendang paste in a food processer – combine 1 small onion with 1 tablespoon each fresh ginger, garlic, lemongrass and dried red chillies. Process to form a smooth paste. This freezes well. Note

Make a cucumber pickle to cut through the richness of this sweet pork. Dissolve 1 teaspoon sugar in 2 teaspoons brown vinegar. Stir through 1 small chopped birdseye chilli and sliced seeded cucumber, and serve as an accompaniment. Note

Use dark, milk or white chocolate according to taste. Try other fruit, such as strawberries and pineapple. Note

Welcome the Christmas season into your household with a decadent Christmas cake with dried and glace fruit. This moist fruitcake not only looks good but it�s extremely delicious!

Nothing announces the Christmas season quite like a classic and decadent Christmas cake. With dried and glace fruit, this moist fruitcake not only looks good but tastes amazing!

Served with a sweet fruit salad drizzled with honey, bittersweet green tea ice cream is paired perfectly with the refreshingly crisp heat of ginger. A great dish for dinner parties.

Juniper berries are available in the spice section at the supermarket. When buying your fish, ask to have it boned. Note

Use canned mango if fresh is unavailable. If using a metal muffin pan, line each hole with 2 strips of crossed baking paper so ice-cream can be easily removed. Note

“Frenched” is when the shanks are trimmed of all excess fat and sinew. Both ends are often trimmed as well for presentation. It is not a necessary step. Note

Apples will split if cooked on a setting that’s too high. Check them regularly after 2 1/2 hours. If you don’t have a slow cooker, bake apples in a moderate oven, 180°C, for 40-45 minutes. Note

This is perfect for a weekend dinner and the leftover meat makes the best sandwiches – just use a little pickle and lettuce on soft bread with the beef.

Without a doubt, this is the best fruit pudding I’ve ever made – without all the hassles of topping up water in a large pot on the stove.

Traditional pea and ham soup at its best. This recipe uses yellow split peas and gets its flavour from a whole ham bone. Top with croutons for a comforting and warming soup for those colder nights.

Terrine must be weighed down to achieve correct texture. Note

Some think the crackling is the best part of roast pork. Prepare it by rubbing pork skin with juice of 1/2 lemon and salt, then set it aside for 30 minutes to dry out. Place the skin on an oven tray and bake in a hot oven, 200°C, until the crackling is golden, crisp and […]