Quick & Easy

Tender lamb forequarter stuffed full of exquisite Mediterranean flavours.

You could use tahini (sesame seed paste) instead of grinding the toasted sesame seeds. Beans or watercress can be used instead of spinach in this salad, and peanuts or macadamia nuts could be substituted for the sesame seeds. If you like, you can sprinkle the cooked spinach with smoked dried bonito flakes. Note

A quick, healthy and simple Asian-style stir-fry of chicken and spinach noodles.

It is easier to spread the sauce on the pasta squares while they are flat on a board. Note

Early season imperial mandarins have a lovely aromatic rind, however, as they have a loose skin, a microplane grater is the best tool to use. You could substitute lemon or orange rind. Note

You can use any combination of berries you like or seasonal fruits such as mango or banana. Note

Spiced chicken breasts with a flavourful blend of onions, tomatoes, capers, white wine and broad beans.

A French pastry of unknown origin whose modern form was influenced by Marie-Antoine Carême.

A delicious and warming pepper beef stir-fry with brussels sprouts from Australian Women's Weekly.

Also goes well with grilled pork sausages; barbecued veal steaks; pan-fried chicken breasts. Note

A warming winter soup of slow-cooked chickpea and tomato soup from Australian Women's Weekly.

Peanuts can cause reactions in some children. They are not recommended for children under one year old. Note

Spicy Southern-style beef with homemade cornbread dumplings.

To make a quick cocktail sauce, add a couple of teaspoons of tomato sauce and chilli sauce or Tabasco to the mayonnaise. Note

You need about 3 large overripe bananas (690g) for the amount of mashed banana in this recipe. Note

Run a teaspoon down the centre of the cucumber to remove the seeds. If using bamboo skewers, cover the wooden ends with foil toprevent them from burning during cooking. Note

This recipe makes 18 cake pops. A quick way to make cake crumbs is to break up a ready-made cake bought from the supermarket. The cake pops become quite firm, and can be placed in a bowl or basket with little or no damage to the pops. Note

This Asian-style dish creates the perfect lunch box for busy days.

Ask the butcher to cut the rib racks into pieces that will fit your slow cooker. Note

Use a fish such as snapper or perch. Note

Any kind of dried beans can be substituted for canned beans, if preferred. Soak beans overnight. Boil until tender; drain. Use patience when spreading polenta into prepared pan; it tends to move and slip but can eventually be worked into corners of pan. Polenta can be made 1 day ahead to the refrigeration stage. Note

You can quickly peel the capsicum with a vegetable peeler if you don’t like the skin peeling off when it’s cooked. To freeze, complete the recipe to the end of step 2. Pack into freezer-proof containers, leaving a 2.5cm space to allow for expansion. Seal, label and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight […]

Meet Geraldine the giraffe, a fun and delicious cake that is great for kid's birthday parties.

This traditional Spanish frittata combines salty chorizo and fresh veggies to create a flavour-packed dinner dish the whole family will love.

For this spicy traditional Indian milk tea, we used English Breakfast tea ­but try experimenting with other varieties until you find one that suits your taste. Note

Green lentils can be substituted for red lentils. Note

A spicy sausage that originated in Tunisia, merguez has become traditional fare throughout North Africa and Spain.

Pastizzi are a traditional Maltese food. These flakey pastry pockets are traditionally filled with either fresh ricotta or mushy peas, but nowadays, the variety of fillings are endless and can be sweet or savoury. Fillings are usually distinguished by the unique shape, ricotta-filled pastizzi are diamond shaped, pea-filled pastizzi are a rounded semi-circle. It is […]

Quick and easy steamed Asian greens from Australian Women's Weekly.

Teppanyaki is the name given to a traditional Japanese cooking style where the food is cooked rapidly on a searingly hot grill plate on or near the table. Pink pickled ginger, also known as gari, can be found in most Asian grocery stores. Note

A smooth and creamy pumpkin soup packed full of zest and spice and served with a dollop of cinnamon cream.

Tzatziki is a Greek yoghurt dip made with cucumber, garlic and sometimes chopped fresh mint. You can buy tzatziki ready-made in supermarkets and delis. Note

Spelt is an ancient form of wheat that has a higher level of protein and wider range of nutrients than ordinary wheat. It still contains gluten, making it unsuitable for coeliacs. You can use any form of long pasta instead of the spelt fettuccine. Note

A sweet puff pustry pie that hails from France, where desserts simply taste better.

Bread can be toasted 2 hours ahead; store in an airtight container. Pumpkin can be cooked 1 hour ahead. Note

You need a 6cm (2-inch) flower-shaped cookie cutter. Don’t use boiled lollies for the centres as they will melt during cooking. You can vary the lollies used, but gelatine-based ones (jelly babies and the like) are probably best. Note

Lamb’s lettuce, also known as mâche or corn salad, has a mild, almost nutty, flavour and tender, narrow, dark green leaves. You need a 225g punnet for this recipe. It is available from most greengrocers. Note

This recipe also makes 6 texas muffins (¾-cup/180ml); bake about 40 minutes. Note

Plain (un-crumbed) chicken breast schnitzels are available from most supermarkets and some butchers and chicken shops. Chicken rolls can be prepared several hours ahead. Serve chicken rolls with salad or vegetables of your choice. Keep covered in the refrigerator and cook as required. Note

These jaffles are not suitable to freeze. Note

American-style pork spareribs in a rich and delicious plum and star anise marinade with a light Asian-style pear, ginger and chilli salad.

Instant mash is a dried mashed potato mix reconstituted with boiling liquid to give a light buttery flavour. It is available from most supermarkets. Note

Sprinkle with nuts, season to taste. Note

Choose an oyster-flavoured sauce without any seafood content such as mushroom oyster sauce. Check the label if you are unsure. Note

You can buy cleaned mussels to save time. Recipe is best made just before serving. Note

If you have one, use a melon baller to scoop perfectly round balls of truffle mixture. Note

Pizza fingers can be prepared the day before; put the toppings on, then cover them with plastic wrap and store them in the fridge. Bake when ready to eat. Note

Delicious sweet and spicy Asian-style ribs are great for summer barbecues and dinner parties.

Store in an airtight container for up to a week. Note

If you have time, the pork mixture at the end of step 1 can be marinated for a few hours or overnight in the fridge. Note

Suitable from 6 months Store, covered, in the fridge for up to 2 days. Purée is suitable to freeze, in 1-tablespoon portions in ice-cube trays, covered, for up to 1 month. Note

These delicious little Asian-style morsels are perfect tapas or cocktail food.

Slow cooker: suitable to the end of step 2. Pressure cooker: suitable to the end of step 2. Not suitable to freeze. Note

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

Serve with a bowl of combined yoghurt and coarsely chopped fresh coriander, if desired. 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

A super quick and easy pork sausage dish with crispy potatoes and cabbage for those busy midweek dinners.

Use a stiff brush to scrub the mussels under cold water. 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