Quick & Easy

Italian-style slow-cooked osso bucco that will melt in your mouth.

Moroccan-smoked trout and chickpea wrap for a quick and healthy snack on the go.

Serve mini baked ricottas warm or cold. Recipe can be made a day ahead, store, covered, in the refrigerator. Note

Salt and pepper prawns taste delicious, too. Shell and devein the prawns, leaving tails intact, then dip into the salt and pepper mix. Like squid, prawns take no time to cook, making them a great dish to serve as a starter. Note

Equipment; 30cm (12-inch) square cake board 12 yellow mini paper cases If using butter cream instead of the strawberry frosting, you will need one quantity of butter cream tinted pink. Note

A Greek New Year’s cake called vasilopita, this recipe is traditionally made with a single coin baked into it, legend having it that the person who is served the slice containing the coin will have good luck in the coming year. This cake can be baked in a deep 19cm-square cake pan. Mix and match […]

Stand nut rolls, upright in tins, on oven tray The tin needs to be coated thickly with melted butter so the roll won’t stick to the inside of the tin. Don’t use cooking-oil spray, as this doesn’t give a good enough coating and the roll will stick and be hard to turn out. Serve nut […]

This mouth-watering salad is full of contrasting flavours and textures, from creamy cheese to crunchy nuts.

Rich and delicious sweet and sour tamarind pork from Australian Women's Weekly.

We used Grand Marnier in this recipe, but you can use Cointreau or any other orange-flavoured liqueur, if you prefer. You need a small, new paintbrush for this recipe. Paper cases can be found in confectionery stores and some supermarkets. Note

An exotic salad with grapes, apples and goat's cheese.

If you don’t have a baba pan, use a deep 20cm (8 inch) round cake pan; line base and side with baking paper. Wash used vanilla pods and add to jars of caster (superfine) sugar to make vanilla sugar, often used in baking. Note

Mascarpone is a fresh, smooth, unripened triple-cream cheese from Italy’s Lombardy region. It is most often used in sweet recipes, such as this decadent raspberry parfait. Note

Cook ½ cup (100g) white short-grain rice for this recipe. Note

Chocolate wheatens are wheatmeal-based biscuits topped with milk or dark chocolate. Instead of the raspberries use other frozen berries like blackberries or strawberries or try using a combination of all three. Note

The recipe can be doubled to serve 4; use two baking dishes for even cooking. Note

Potato and onion bhaji is a spicy and delicious fast food dish from Maharashtra, India.

A classic cheeseburger with caramelised onion, gherkin, tomato and lettuce.

You need about three passionfruit for this recipe. You could layer these trifles in two 1-cup (250ml) glasses, for a prettier look. Note

A sweet and nutty satay pork and noodle stir-fry from Australian Women's Weekly.

An exquisite Asian-style duck dish with citrus peaches and duck fat potatoes.

Traditionally served as an accompaniment to spicy dishes, this recipe would also make a great light vegetarian starter. Note

A quick and easy authentic Italian ravioli with tomato, pea and basil sauce from Australian Women's Weekly.

For a milder pistou, substitute flat-leaf parsley for half of the rocket. Note

A colourful summery salad with smoked chicken and avocado from Australian Women's Weekly.

A rich and delicious sausage and cannellini bean bake from Australian Women's Weekly.

Chicken can be prepared and stuffed with cheese a day ahead; store, covered, in the refrigerator. Remove toothpicks before serving. Note

An authentic Italian spaghetti with homemade basil pesto sauce.

We used green, black and vine-ripened tomatoes. For an extra indulgence, use the larger buffalo-milk mozzarella instead of bocconcini. Note

Cute little green Thai chicken curry bowls that pack an aromatic and flavourful punch.

Equipment deep 20cm round cake pan 25cm round prepared cake board or cake stand. Cake can be made two days ahead and kept refrigerated. A fine serrated knife is best for cutting this cake. Ready-made white icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on wedding cakes). It is available in packets […]

Ahoy there! Let the birthday child head for the high seas with this pirate creation.

Meat & three veg

An exquisite lunch dish of parmesan polenta with a delicate walnut and capsicum salsa.

You can also use coliban or lasoda potatoes for this recipe. Note

Oatmeal, also sold as oatmeal flour, is made from milled oat kernels; it is not the same product as rolled oats or oat bran. It is available at health food stores. Note

An authentic Italian ragù alla bolognese originating from the historic capital of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy, Bologna.

Serve with warm naan and yoghurt. Curry can be made 2 days ahead. Curry pastes vary in heat, so adjust amount to suit your taste. Okra, also known as bamia or lady fingers, is a green, ridged, oblong pod with a furry skin. Native to Africa, this vegetable is used in Indian, Middle-Eastern and southern […]

Either maple syrup or maple-flavoured syrup can be used in this recipe. Note

A bright, colourful and fresh Vietnamese salad with pan-fried tofu.

You need about 2 large overripe bananas (460g) to get the required amount of mashed banana. Note

This simple salad will be all the better for using a good quality aged balsamic vinegar in the dressing. The flavour will be more intense and the consistency more syrupy than those of younger balsamic vinegars. Note

We used blue-eye in this recipe, but any firm white fish fillet is fine. Orzo is a rice-shaped pasta available from Greek delicatessens and specialty food stores; if unavailable, use risoni. Note

.Sumac is a purple-red, astringent spice ground from berries growing on shrubs that flourish wild around the Mediterranean. It adds a delightful tart, lemony piquancy to food without the heat of chilli. Available from the spice aisle of most supermarkets and Middle Eastern stores. Note

Any whole white fish would be fine to use in this recipe. Ask the fishmonger to clean and scale the fish for you. Use herbs such as tarragon, chervil, lemon thyme, dill and chives. Note

Sweet but savoury, this delicious tomato and passionfruit jam can be enjoyed with desserts, atop toast or as a chutney-style spread on a cheese platter.

Fresh samosas are sold in Indian food shops and delicatessens; frozen samosas can be found in most supermarkets. Note

Makes enough for six 210g servings of fried chicken drumettes. Note

Suitable to freeze at the end of step 2. If the potatoes are very small, halve them rather than cutting them into quarters. Note

Gin comes in differing styles, with juniper berry the principle flavour. Choose one with added botanicals (components derived from plants), which will give the cocktail a more rounded, complex taste. Note

If you have time, marinate the steaks, covered, for several hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Note

Try this healthy and simple Asian noodle stir fry for a midweek dinner.

You can improvise with the ingredients in this trifle. Try sponge finger biscuits instead of biscotti, raspberries in place of cherries and a nut-flavoured liqueur as a substitute for the marsala. Biscotti is available at selected delicatessens, specialty food stores and online. Note

To toast sesame seeds, spread them on shallow tray, bake in a moderate oven five minutes, or until golden. Note

Helpful hint Pizza cheese is a commercial blend of processed grated mozzarella, parmesan and cheddar cheeses. Use plain cheddar cheese if you like, or use a tasty or mature cheddar for extra bite. Note

When cooking risotto, it is vital to use Arborio or Carnaroli rice as these grains release the starch that gives risotto its creaminess. Swap the vegetables in this recipe for whatever is in season. Note

Ask the butcher to score the pork skin for you. Note

Cake pops can be made at least two days before the party. Note

You need two punnets of baby mizuna for this recipe. Large mizuna leaves can be used instead. Use drained, canned crab meat, or flesh from cooked crabs. You can also buy fresh crab meat from the fish markets. Note

Boiled lollies are made from a thick syrup of boiled sugar and water, to which colour and flavourings are added before the mixture is rolled, cut into pieces and hardened. Also known as rock candy, humbugs and bullseyes. Note