Pumpkin

To make boiled eggs easier to peel, refresh first under cold running water. Pan-fry or hard-boil eggs instead, if you desire. Cook eggs at the last minute so yolks are warm and ooze when cracked. To blanch asparagus, cook in boiling water for 1 minute; drain. Refresh under cold water. Note

Replace red capsicum with green capsicum. Make ahead: Prepare salad ingredients ahead, then assemble just before serving. You can use any pumpkin variety you like. Try white wine vinegar instead of white balsamic. Note

Panko are Japanese dried breadcrumbs, available from the Asian food aisle of supermarkets. Use packaged dried breadcrumbs; the colour and texture will vary. Note

Don’t discard the baking paper used for rolling out pastry. Use one to bake pastry blind, the other to line the tray for roasting the vegetables. Quiche is cooked when a knife inserted at centre comes out clean. Note

Use 3 x 400g cans corn, drained, instead of fresh. Steam pumpkin instead of roasting. Cooking time will vary. Use spreadable cream cheese mixed with 2 tablespoons water instead of cream. Note

You’ll need to cook 1 cup jasmine rice. Note

Health tip: For better heart health, use reduced-fat dairy spread instead of butter. Note

You’ll need to cook 500g peeled, seeded pumpkin to make the mash. No buttermilk? Place 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice in a measuring jug. Add enough reduced-fat milk to make 1 cup. Mixture will thicken slightly. Note

Panko are dried japanese breadcrumbs; they’re available from the asian food aisle and asian grocery stores. If unavailable, use packaged dried breadcrumbs, colour and texture will vary. Note

Try regular couscous instead of pearl couscous; prepare as packet directs. To make this dish gluten-free, you could use quinoa instead of couscous. Price will vary. Note

Light, crispy and wonderfully moorish, enjoy these tasty homemade kumara chips as a healthier version of the once-naughty snack.

Swap butter for reduced-fat dairy spread. Note

Kumara is orange sweet potato. You can use any small pasta shape. Save time: Use bought char-grilled vegetables from the deli counter. Note

Replace kumara with pumpkin. Add a thinly sliced fresh long red chilli. Note

Replace feta with fresh ricotta. Use 200g sliced cabanossi instead of cooking sausages. Note

Haloumi can be swapped for 100g firm feta, such as Greek. 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

Use 3/4 cup grated tasty cheese instead of parmesan. Low fat: Omit cream. Use light dairy spread instead of butter. Use reduced-fat parmesan and milk. Note

You can also use chopped chicken thigh fillets, and add sliced zucchini during last 10 minutes of cooking. Note

Onion, swede or sweet potato may be added to this mixture. Note

A few snipped chives or a dollop of light sour cream are delicious with this soup. Note

For quicker cooking time, blanch the cannelloni tubes in boiling water for 1-2 minutes. Drain, cool and fill. Note

Cook pasta in a large pan of boiling, salted- water for 10-12 minutes, until just tender. Note

Rich, creamy and delicious - this pumpkin risotto is a great dinner party dish. When it's cold outside, this beautiful and colourful pumpkin risotto is like a big, warm hug.

For lemon mayonnaise, combine 1/2 cup whole-egg mayonnaise with 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest and a little lemon juice. Season to taste. You could coat the cakes in dried breadcrumbs in place of flour if preferred. Note

Kumara could be used in place of pumpkin, if preferred. Note

Suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Chicken or lamb mince are great alternatives to beef. Note

This loaf also freezes really well – so why not double the recipe and make one for later as well?

“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

Place baking dish on a tray in oven as it may bubble over. Note

Use kumara, if preferred. Tails can be lapped with some toasted pine nuts. Note

Pumpkin and thyme loaf is delicious lightly toasted and topped with grilled prosciutto and poached eggs. Note

For ease, dust tofu in seasoned flour in a plastic bag. Canned pineapple can be used in place of fresh. Note

Alternatively, this recipe is enough to make 1 large pie. Bake in a 23cm pie dish, 45-50 minutes, until set. Note

Cover tortellini with a damp cloth to prevent them drying out. This recipe will make about 30 tortellini. Note

This quiche can also be made in a 23cm quiche pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Note

A great way to use up leftover roast pumpkin. To roast pumpkin, toss in oil and bake in moderate oven for 20-25 minutes until tender and golden. Note

If desired, you could cut the pumpkin into smaller pieces and toss it through hot pasta for a delicious main meal. Note

Make sure you drain the beetroot well on paper towel. Cook pumpkin the night before, or make this salad with leftover roast vegetables. Note

If liked, use chicken thigh fillets. If skinless, spread tapenade mixture over the fillet before baking. Note

You could also accompany this curry with naan or paratha bread or pappadums. Note

Suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Make bugs using 8 pitted black olives and leaves of 1 rosemary spring. Using a skewer, pierce three small slits on each side of olive. Insert leaves into each to create legs Note

If liked, add some finely chopped canned beetroot during last 5 minutes of cooking. Note

Remove pumpkin seeds easily by scraping them out with a spoon. Note

Use as a meal accompaniment or as a meal in itself, served with crusty bread and salad, if you like. Note

If you can’t find kale, use English spinach or rainbow chard. Make your own garlic-infused olive oil by adding 1 crushed garlic clove to 1/4 cup olive oil. Note

Make the salad with 80g packet baby rocket leaves, 1 cored, sliced pear and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Note

Use leftover roasted potato and pumpkin from any roast meat meal. Note

Creamy and delicious roast pumpkin risotto is a great dinner party dish for friends and family. With its beautiful colours this risotto is perfectly warming when it�s cold outside.

With the combination of roast vegetables, basil and eggs, drizzled with balsamic vinegar, this frittata is the perfect dish to whip up for a quick and easy lunch or dinner.

This hearty soup is full of delicious Moroccan spices, lamb, pumpkin and chickpeas to create the perfect warming winter dish. Serve with a sprinkling of coriander and with plenty of flatbread