Quick & Easy

Beautiful bite-size cakes with succulent syrup and subtle saffron flavour.

You can substitute any fruit for the strawberries and mangoes in this recipe. Mixed berries are another great option, remember frozen berries are full of flavour and are just as delicious as fresh ones, so this is a good year round alternative. Note

The chilli paste made in this recipe also tastes great rubbed over a whole chicken or fish before being roasted. Note

Don’t over stuff the chickens as this will affect the cooking time. Note

Use metal skewers to pierce through the hard core of the corn slices. Note

Potato skins can be served hot or at room temperature; use scooped out flesh in potato salad or bubble and squeak. Note

Calzones are folded pizzas or pizza turnovers filled with good things – one of the best foods ever invented for a picnic, a party or eating on the go. Note

Mexican-style chicken fajitas with pan-fried chicken and capsicum.

Sweet pastilla is traditionally served with sweetened warmed milk to reduce the crunchiness of the layered pastille. We like to use the pastilla to dip into the sweet yogurt cream. Note

Fontina is a smooth, firm Italian cow’s-milk cheese with a creamy, nutty taste and brown or red rind. It is an ideal melting or grilling cheese. You can use swiss, cheddar or gouda cheeses instead. Note

Kalonji, also known as nigella, are tiny, angular seeds, black on the outside and creamy within, having a sharp nutty flavour that can be enhanced by a brief toasting in a dry hot pan before use. Kalonji can be found in most Asian and Middle-Eastern food shops. Note

Persian fairy floss, also called Pashmak is available from delis and specialist food shops. If unavailable, ordinary fairy floss can be used. Note

Gelato flavours used for this recipe: lemon, green apple, strawberry and mango although any flavours can be used. A very firm ice-cream may be used in place of the gelato, scoop it directly onto the ice-cream cones just before serving. Make sure the oven trays and cake board fit in your freezer before starting. Note

Shichimi togarashi (also known as seven-spice mix or seven-spice blend) is a Japanese spice blend. It is available from specialist spice shops and Asian grocery stores Note

Sweet and sour quail perfectly balanced with a pine nut salad.

You need to cook about 1¾ cups of white medium-grain rice to get the amount of cooked rice required for this recipe. Note

We used scrap-booking decorations available from craft and hobby shops. This cake can be assembled directly onto a table or covered 24-inch square cake plate. Note

If red curry paste is a little too fiery for your taste buds, use a milder curry paste, or less of the red curry paste­.

You can use apple puree instead of the apple sauce in this recipe. Note

This recipe is a delicious change to cooked pasta sauces ­because this sauce is uncooked, buy the freshest ingredients you can for a big flavour hit. Note

We used car patches available from craft and sewing stores. You could use small diecast cars from toy shops. Be aware of choking hazards if using small plastic cars. If you want a daytime scene, colour the icing light blue and use a yellow jube as the sun and the sugar pearls to represent sun […]

Pho, the well-known vietnamese noodle soup, is usually eaten for breakfast, but is great to eat at any time of the day. Note

Give cereal a miss and try these prosciutto and feta baked eggs instead!

The fish can be marinated and threaded onto skewers a day ahead, store, covered, in the refrigerator. You can use any large fish fillets or steaks, such as ling, gemfish, snapper, kingfish or silver warehou, for this recipe. Soak 12 bamboo skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before using to avoid scorching or […]

Rogan josh, traditionally made with lamb, is an Indian tomato-based curry, and literally means "meat in spicy red sauce".

To save time purchase 500g shelled prawns for this recipe. Note

You’ll have about ½ cup of the cake mixture left over; make more cakes for a longer serpent, if you like Note

We used a 250ml carton of pineapple juice for this recipe. Note

Chicken puffs should not be reheated more than once. Puffs can be baked several hours ahead. Cool slightly then refrigerate. Reheat thoroughly in a 160°C preheated oven just before serving. Note

Packaged fried tofu is available from most supermarkets. Note

The combination of mashed potato, bacon, onion, cheese and sour cream in these cakes is so good you’ll find it hard to stop at one. You can also use lasoda or pink-eye potatoes for this recipe. Note

You will need approximately 1 cup (120g) pecans to make enough ground pecans for this recipe. Note

You will need 12 strong wooden toothpicks, tips broken off into 1.5cm lengths. Note

To avoid the overnight soaking, microwave the tea and fruit mixture on high (100%) power for 5 minutes, allow to cool and serve. Note

This fragrant pilaf with crunchy almonds is a great accompaniment to meat stews and curries.

Delicious little pork kofta on skewers served with mint yoghurt from Australian Women's Weekly.

We used a large (25cm diameter) thick-based packaged pizza base for this recipe. Pizza can be prepared and frozen in its unbaked form. Place frozen pizza in hot oven; allow about 10 minutes extra cooking time. Note

Shredded or flaked coconut take longer to toast than desiccated coconut. You can toast it in the oven or in a dry frying pan – either way, you have to watch it carefully. If you’re using the pan method, stir the coconut the whole time, then take it out of the pan the second it’s […]

Cake will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5 days. Note

Crispy Swiss rösti with pan-fried ham and cherry tomatoes from Australian Women's Weekly.

This delicious and simple mash can be whipped up in no time at all.

Polenta tends to become firmer as it stands; stir in a little extra boiling water if you prefer a softer texture. Note

This recipe is not suitable to freeze. Note

Goes well with rumaki crab dip Note

Chicken and anything it is marinated in needs to be fully cooked to rid it of harmful bacteria. Wash any kitchen equipment that comes in contact with raw chicken thoroughly with warm soapy water. Chicken thighs are delicious, but are often overlooked in favour of breast fillets. The thigh is full of flavour and will […]

This recipe is also nut-free and gluten-free Note

Mini versions of an old classic dessert that are perfect for individual serving.

Light and summery dish of pan-fried pork with a sweet and spicy pineapple and cucumber salsa.

A Western-influenced Japanese rice dish with prawn and fish in a creamy sauce.

This recipe is not suitable to freeze. Note

his sensuous curves are easily achieved with simple savarin pans Cut half of one cake in half at an angle without cutting through the base; reserve for the snake’s head. Position butter cream-covered cakes on cake board, with the snake’s head peeking through. Cut even-sized diamond shapes from Roll-ups using kitchen scissors. Place diamond-shaped Roll-ups […]

Granita made from the musky, fresh-grape muscat grape with figs and a sweet honey and fennel syrup

Serve the pears and syrup with thick yoghurt or whipped thickened (heavy) cream. Note

Always check the manufacturer’s instructions before using a pressure cooker. Note

Oozy and delicious Italian-style risotto packed full of pork, pine nuts, cointreau and lemon thyme.