Tomato

You can use brown onion instead of red. This recipe is gluten free. Note

We used American skinless hot dogs. Cook hot dogs in boiling water 5-6 minutes or until hot, instead of microwaving. Note

This simple lamb and chickpea curry is incredibly delicious and is far tastier and healthier than takeaways. Serve with poppadoms to bring the taste of India into your home.

You can use beef, pork or chicken mince instead of lamb. Note

You can prepare the meatball mixture a day ahead. Cover, then refrigerate. Meatballs of any flavour are good in this recipe. Mix it up a little by adding pitted black olives, or give the subs a Greek twist with fetta instead of ricotta. Note

Lamb steaks are chargrilled to perfection and served atop a bed of quinoa with roasted cherry tomatoes and an Italian balsamic dressing

Sizzle steak is thinly sliced beef steak (minute steak) available from major supermarkets. Use a sliced beef or chicken schnitzel instead of sizzle steak. Note

Fusilli is spiral pasta, but you can use any pasta shape you desire. Ratatouille is great served with chicken or beef. Note

Reduce fat: Omit the butter and use chopped basil instead of pesto. Note

You can add 1 teaspoon sugar to pasta sauce as it cooks to reduce the acidity of the tomatoes, and a pinch of ground chilli for extra heat. To speed things up, use bought fresh or frozen meatballs. Price will vary. Note

Pressing tofu between paper towels removes excess moisture; this prevents it going soggy when cooked and gives an extra-crisp coating. Buy piri piri seasoning in the spice aisle of supermarkets; adjust quantity according to taste. Note

For a milder variation, you can use shaved ham instead of salami. Children may like pineapple instead of artichokes. Replace basil dip with roasted capsicum, chilli or spinach dip. Fresh pizza bases are available in the chilled section of the supermarket. Note

Make salad just before serving. Buy parmesan shavings in packets or from the deli counter. To make your own, use a vegetable peeler to shave pieces from a parmesan block. You can use grated or shredded parmesan instead. Note

Try using walnuts or pecans instead of pistachios, and 1 tablespoon basil pesto instead of sun-dried tomatoes. Fill chicken with cream cheese mixture just before cooking. Note

Replace trussed cherry tomatoes with regular cherry tomatoes. Scatter over some fresh basil leaves. Note

You can prepare silverbeet leaves up to 1 day ahead. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Bring to room temperature 10 minutes before filling. You’ll need 3/4 cup long-grain white rice to make 2 cups cooked. For a vegetarian option, omit mince and replace with 2 x 400g cans rinsed brown lentils. Note

Substitute pasta with low-GI noodles, such as udon, rice or hokkien. Note

For added spice, add 1/2 teaspoon dried chilli flakes to tomato during cooking. You can use any canned beans in this recipe. Note

For full flavour and vibrant colour, choose ripe aromatic tomatoes. Pasta needs plenty of boiling water, to prevent it clumping during cooking. Stop pasta from sticking to pan by stirring 2-3 times while boiling. Shake colander vigorously to drain. Always reserve a little cooking water for adding to sauces if necessary. Note

Packed full of delicious flavours and the goodness of beans, this hearty bolognese sauce is beautiful served over freshly cooked pasta.

Soup will thicken on standing. For a thinner consistency, stir in 1/2 cup stock. Note

Tuscan bean soup

For best results, cook pizzas just before serving. Note

Warm, hearty and packed full of goodness, this tasty bolognese and meatball pie is the ultimate comfort food. Serve it up for your family - we guarantee they'll all love it.

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

Serve with bacon or sausages. Replace chives with basil, parsley or green onions. Egg-white omelets are best made just before serving. For perfectly round omelets, cook them in oiled egg rings or a 7cm round cookie cutter. Note

You’ll need 8 skewers. Soak bamboo skewers in water before using. Note

This flavoursome and scrumptious taco beef salad served on a bed of crisp, fresh shredded lettuce, is a delicious salad and is perfect enjoyed for a quick yet satisfying lunch

The classic Italian dish of chicken cacciatore resulting in a rustic braise of chicken, aromatic vegetables and tomatoes, makes this the perfect dish to serve with risoni.

Save time – Use bought croutons instead of making your own. Make ahead – Cook croutons a day ahead, then keep in an airtight container. Add olives and basil to salad. To shallow-fry, add oil to a depth of 3cm. For extra protein, serve with 330g low-fat fetta, 480g tofu, 300g baked ricotta or 12 […]

Use baby spinach leaves or fresh herbs instead of rocket. Use any type of canned beans in this recipe. Note

Make noodle cakes just before serving. For a stronger cheese flavour, replace half the mozzarella with cheddar or parmesan. Use cooked bacon instead of ham. Note

Use beef leg steaks instead. Cooking time will vary. You can use lemon juice instead of lime, and swap palm sugar for brown sugar. Tomato medley mix includes a variety of fresh tomatoes, such as cherry, grape and tear drop If unavailable, use 4 medium regular tomatoes, quartered. Note

If time allows, marinate chicken for up to 1 hour. Note

A ‘Maryland’ is a chicken thigh and drumstick portion with skin on. If unavailable, you can use a combination of drumsticks and small thigh cutlets instead. Marinated char-grilled artichokes are available at the deli counter of the supermarket. Note

You’ll need to process 4 slices of white bread (crusts removed) to make bread crumbs. Verjuice is a green juice made from sour grapes. If unavailable, you can use lemon juice instead. Note

Use a vegetable peeler to shoe zucchini into long thin ribbons. Note

A big platter of these oven-baked rice and lamb mince-stuffed tomatoes goes well with grilled meat or fish. Besides being flavourful, the tomatoes make a zesty addition to any dinner.

Ham, spinach and tomato risotto

Make sure onions are soft, not brown, or the flavour will overpower the delicate risotto. Note

Slice eggplant just before cooking or it will oxidize and go brown. Note

If feta pops out during cooking, push back into place when serving. Note

Try this sauce tossed through pasta to serve as a light meal, or use it as the base for casseroles and curries. The tomato sauce recipe makes approximately 3 cups. To store: Leftover sauce will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To freeze: You can freeze sauce for […]

Replace gnocchi with filled pasta, such as ravioli or tortellini; cook as packet directs. Use chopped roma tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes. Note

Use standard tomatoes cut into wedges. Cooking time may vary. N0 baby trussed tomatoes? Use cherry tomatoes. Make ahead. Cook rice a day ahead, then cover with plastic food wrap and chilli. Use chickpeas, batter beans, borlotti beans or kidney beans instead of lentiis. Try brown rice instead. Cooking time will vary. Note

Try zucchini or green beans instead of capsicum. Canned cherry tomatoes in juice are in the canned vegetables aisle; use canned diced tomatoes if unavailable. Canned beans are packed in salty brine. Always drain and rinse the beans before you use them. You can use any variety of canned beans in place of another in […]

Stir muffin mix until just combined; don’t overmix. A lumpy mixture is OK. For easy removal, always cool muffins in tray 5 minutes before turning out. Note

Nourish your insides with this warm and hearty chicken casserole, simmered with a fragrant tomato and olive sauce. Serve it up for a family dinner with a side of mashed potato or pasta.

Remove and discard any unopened mussels. Note

For maximum flavour, use juicy ripe tomatoes. Replace bacon with crumbled fetta. Note

You’ll find basil paste in the chilled part of the fresh produce section. Or use basil pesto. To keep sausages moist, don’t pierce them before cooking. Drain full-fat sausages on paper towels after cooking. Or choose lean sausages. Note

Make ahead: Prepare patties a day ahead. Cover, then refrigerate. For a ‘works’ burger, add a fried egg, crisp bacon, drained canned sliced pineapple and drained canned sliced beetroot. For quality beef, look for the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) symbol at participating butchers and supermarkets. Note

The classic Italian tomato and meat pasta sauce is loved by all, and recreated by many. This is one of our favourite bolognese recipes.

You can omit oil and use cooking oil spray on bread instead. Note

Add 50 grams shaved ham chicken. Note

Japanese eggplant is a small, slender variety. You can use regular eggplant instead Use 350g chopped, peeled pumpkin instead of eggplant. Note

Use a baking tray that has a shallow rim to catch any juice from the tomatoes. Note

The addition of creamy ricotta in this traditional Italian pasta bake adds an exceptional flavour and texture element to this lasagne. The whole family will love it!

Cook up to a day ahead. Cool. Cover, then refrigerate. Bring to room temperature to serve or reheat in an oven preheated to 180°C (160°C fan forced). Note

You can use brown onion instead of red. Make ahead: Cook soup (up to the end of Step 1, but omit coriander) up to 3 days ahead. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat, place soup in a large saucepan; cook and stir over low heat for 5 minutes or until heated. […]

Serve salsa with char-grilled or pan-fried pork steak, cutlet or chop, beef steak or fish fillet. 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

Leftover peperonata is delicious tossed through hot pasta and served with shaved parmesan and crusty bread. Note

You can use lebanese bread or lavash in place of mountain bread, if you like. Note

You can use any bought char-grilled vegetables for this recipe instead of the sun-dried tomatoes – drain them well on some paper towel. Buttermilk can be used instead of milk. Note

Always chill coated food before cooking, to ensure the coating stays intact. Note

If desired, use chilli sauce to taste in place of chilli. Omit scallops and use 500 grams prawn. Note

Makes 32 Note

To reduce fat, arrange chicken on a baking tray and spray with oil. Bake in a moderate oven, 180°C, 20-25 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. Note

To tell if an egg is raw or hard-boiled, spin it. If the egg spins easily, it is hard-boiled, but if it wobbles, it is raw. Note

Sealing the steaks first, for 2-3 minutes on each side, keeps juices in, and resting the meat lets them be reabsorbed. Note