Quick & Easy

To peel grapes, make a shallow incision at the stem ends with a paring knife, to separate skin from pulp. To make it easier, first dip grapes in boiling water 30 seconds, then into cold water. Note

Choose seedless grapes to please the kids, and different coloured and sized ones to add extra interest. Note

Aperol is a bitter orange flavoured Italian aperitif. Alcohol freezes at a lower temperature, so add it towards end of churning or halfway through freezing. Note

If you don’t have a reliable oven grill, use a well-oiled chargrill on medium-high heat. Note

You can use half brown and half white bread to make these sandwiches, if you like. Note

Makes 4 Note

Do you know: Quiche is a traditional French open pie. Originally made from bread dough topped with egg and cream, it was later made with a puff or shortcrust pastry base. Over time, it gained the addition of bacon and grated cheese with the name “Lorraine” from a region in north-east France. Our recipe gets […]

Add a little bite to this soup by serving it with grated vintage chedder instead of parmesan. Note

Smoked fish is first salted, then either “hot smoked” (cooked close to the heat source, becoming opaque) or “cold smoked” (not smoked close to the heat source therefore not heated, so it’s translucent). You can use other types of hot-smoked fish for this recipe too, such as salmon, trout, cod or mackerel. Note

You’ll have 1 1/4 cups of creamy feta sauce from this recipe. Note

Large shell pasta is ideal for scooping up chunky sauces such as this one. Drain shells well after cooking to ensure there’s no water inside. Note

health tip: Processed foods are a source of excess salt, so choose low-salt versions of your favourites when shopping. Note

Warm, and zesty, these flavoursome potatoes are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the middle, and are the ultimate comfort food or warming side dish for your next roast dinner.

To prevent the oregano and chilli from burning, cook the drumettes in a GLAD BBQ Tray so the flames don’t come into direct contact with the food. Note

For special occasions, layer different flavoured jelly into glasses, allowing each colourful layer to set before adding another. Note

You could bring a bush flavour to this dish by choosing a chutney that includes native ingredients. Note

For a makeshift piping bag, place melted chocolate in a small snap-lock bag and snip off a corner. Push out air left in the bag, reseal and use to pipe chocolate over meringues. Note

It’s best not to place the mozzarella under the decorations, as they will slide off the pizzas as the cheese melts. Note

Delicious Mongolian lamb, with silky and tender lamb in a rich and savoury Chinese brown sauce that is ready in less than 15 minutes, and goes perfectly served with steamed rice.

This marinade, called chermoula, is very popular in Morocco. It can be used with other fish, chicken or lamb. Long chain omega-3 fats from oily fish are more effective than shorter omega-3 fats from plants as they can be used directly by the body without having to be changed first. Your heart and blood vessels […]

Garlic can make blood vessels more flexible, helping to keep blood pressure down. Note

When you’re quartering a spring onion, leave the root attached so it doesn’t fall apart while cooking. A microwave can he a great help for cooking this side dish when you’re busy preparing the rest of the meal. Note

This comforting, creamy dish uses simple, ready-to-hand ingredients just the way Italian grandmothers, or nonnas, like to do when they want to spoil loved ones. Note

Thanks to its divine tenderness, filet mignon is one of the most sought-after cuts of meat. Because it is so versatile, steak mignon is a fitting choice for any time of the year.

For a non-alcoholic tropical treat, simply leave out the white rum and double the amount of pineapple. Pineapple juice can be used instead of crushed pineapple. Note

These are a great lower-fat alternative to deep-fried chips. For added flavour, before baking toss wedges with freshly chopped herbs, rind and juice of 1 lemon and a grinding of pepper, or 2 teaspoons cajun or mexican seasoning mix. Note

To ensure the radish retains its colour and crunch, dress this salad at the last possible moment before serving. Note

Remove raspberries from the freezer only when ready to use, so they don’t have time to thaw. Note

Using oil together with the butter when frying increases the heating point, ensuring the butter doesn’t discolour or burn.

If you want to extend the hollandaise or find it too strong, whisk in a little crème fraîche or sour cream.

A sexy dessert that can be prepared in advance: make the mousse the day before and keep refrigerated, then whip up the zabaglione crema just before serving.

Cheap but so tasty, here’s our take on an alternative kiwi christmas.

A hearty soup with carrot, courgette, lentils and more.

Lovers of blue cheese, rejoice! This creamy dressing is a natural match for pear and toasted walnut salad.

Gingerbread creations brought to you by New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Glazing a ham is a Christmas rite of passage for the home cook. You can’t beat the look of a nice ham all dressed up in cherries or pineapple. It makes you look like a whiz in the kitchen and it’s dead easy.

These nuts are a great stand-by when you need a little nibble with drinks for pop-in guests.

A garnish of flowering herbs and fresh peas makes this comfort-food favourite extra special.

You don’t have to use scallops – cooked prawns or crab meat would also work.

The cranberry jelly and pomegranate seeds add a touch of fun, and they look stunning too.

Packed full of flavour, this Swedish potato gratin is the ultimate comfort food for the whole family. Serve on it's own straight from the oven, or enjoy as a side dish with your favorite roast meat.

In these enlightened times we feast in all manner of ways on the 25th. But the traditional New Zealand Christmas dinner of a perfectly glazed ham, carrots, spuds and peas followed by a berry-packed and boozily indulgent trifle is still incredibly hard to beat. Sophie Gray aces a classic

Light, fresh and tasty, this healthy zucchini, asparagus and broad bean salad makes the perfect side dish for an outdoor Summer dinner party.

Add a dash of pizazz to your table with this colourful, fresh and healthy layered vegie dish.

Eleanor Ozich adds a gluten-free twist to traditional Christmas fare

This simple and beautiful apple and sage dish is the perfect side dish to serve alongside dessert or a family roast dinner.

Ensure your summer dining table is alive with colourful, fresh and healthy flavours with this tropical fruit platter with chilli and peanut dipping sauce

This delicious treat looks makes a wonderful Christmas gift for family and friends. And it's gluten-free and dairy-free too!

Eleanor Ozich adds a gluten-free twist to traditional Christmas fare

A timeless Australian dessert, we've put a healthy twist on the classic pavlova, using creamy Greek yoghurt and fresh raspberries to create an irresistible sweet treat for the whole family.

The perfect side dish to any roast dinner, these gorgeous brown sugar and orange glazed carrots are wonderfully sweet and packed full of flavour. You'll have the whole family reaching for more!

These festive goodies are so delicious and healthy there's no need to hold back. And they're gluten-free and dairy-free too!

Julie Biuso adds a dash of pizazz to vegetable sides, ensuring your summer dining table is alive with colourful, fresh and healthy flavours. Imaginative vegetable sides can turn a meal into a fabulous feast. We’re not talking plain boiled carrots – we’re talking flavour, colour and attitude. Bring in ginger, spices and chilli for a little zing; nuts for the crunch factor; edible flower petals for colour; then yellow and red capsicum to contrast with the green vegetables.

Julie Biuso adds a dash of pizazz to vegetable sides, ensuring your summer dining table is alive with colourful, fresh and healthy flavours. Imaginative vegetable sides can turn a meal into a fabulous feast. We’re not talking plain boiled carrots – we’re talking flavour, colour and attitude. Bring in ginger, spices and chilli for a little zing; nuts for the crunch factor; edible flower petals for colour; then yellow and red capsicum to contrast with the green vegetables.

Christmas recipe our Taste writers have recieved the most compliments for over the years.

Luca Villari raids the liqueur cabinet to add extra dimensions of flavour to this elegant dinner dish

Luca Villari raids the liqueur cabinet to add extra dimensions of flavour to this elegant dinner dish