Quick & Easy

Sumac is a spice that adds a tart, lemony flavour and can be found in Middle Eastern food stores. Note

Peach & vanilla yoghurt fools

Use the freshest, sashimi-quality fish you can find. Raw fish sold as sashimi has to meet stringent guidelines regarding its handling and treatment after leaving the water. We suggest you seek advice from local authorities before eating raw seafood. Recipe not suitable to freeze. This is the perfect dish if you love sushi but haven’t […]

Harissa is a delicious spicy Moroccan paste made from dried red chillies, garlic, oil and caraway seeds.

A fragrant and simple spiced lamb dish with rice and lentil from Australian Women's Weekly.

Raid the delicatessen shop to create this exquisite French platter.

You can find both pepitas and craisins in most supermarkets. Rolled rice is available from health food stores or the health food section of your local supermarket. Note

We used hard (stir-frying) tofu; you can substitute firm tofu, if you prefer. Note

Not suitable to freeze. If you have one, try using a mandoline to cut the potatoes into paper-thin slices, otherwise, use a very sharp knife. We used a merlot-style wine in this recipe. Note

Dry sherry can be used instead of mirin. Note

recipe best made just before serving microwave not suitable Note

Roasting makes both the parsnip and garlic wonderfully sweet and mellow. When preparing the parsnips, be sure to peel thickly enough to remove all the bitter outer layer, and also to cut off any woody core. Note

Leftover roast chicken can be used in place of the lamb in this recipe. Tarragon marries beautifully with chicken, so instead of using ground cumin, add 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh tarragon to the batter. Note

Spice-rubbed lamb salad with roast capsicum, red onion and dutch carrots.

These delightful little pastry treats mean 'little tubes' and are a staple of Sicilian cuisine.

Pork cutlets like you've never seen before with the sweet and smokey flavours of maple, bourbon and pear.

Pre-baked, packaged pizza bases first appeared in supermarkets during the 1980s. They come in various sizes, some with cheese already in the mix. You need to purchase a large barbecued chicken weighing approximately 900g to get the amount of shredded meat required for this recipe. Note

Make sure to always use the freshest eggs when poaching, as the thick egg white clings tightly to the yolk. Old eggs don’t hold their shape because the whites are thin and runny, so they tend to spread out in the water. Note

Packed full of goodness, this delicious seafood stew is complemented beautifully by these tasty homemade garlic croutons. A real Winter favourite!

Refried beans are sold, canned, in most supermarkets, as are packaged flour tortillas. Made of pinto beans that are just parboiled then fried with various seasonings, refried beans are also known by their Mexican name of frijoles refritos. You will need to purchase one small iceberg lettuce for this recipe. Note

A large stainless steel fish poacher (60cm long) is needed for this recipe. Note

Neopolitan ice-cream could be used by dividing the flavours into separate bowls to soften. Only one round sponge is needed for this recipe. Note

Crispy potato wedges with a light and summery sun-dried tomato pesto.

Rich and warm, with a nice kick from the chilli.

A simple yet gourmet salad with an exquisitely sweet raspberry macadamia dressing,

A delicious side dish of spicy couscous salad packed with pine nuts, red onion, currants and harissa.

The trifle can also be served in a large glass bowl. Pavlova nests are commercially made small meringue shells sold in packages of 10 at most supermarkets. Note

A flavour-packed Provençal salad with eggplant, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, haloumi, olives and garlic croutons.

If baby zucchini are unavailable, cut small zucchini into quarters. Note

A super-fast version of the Southern-Indian madras curry that packs a chilli punch.

Crispy, fluffy and delicious potato puffs packed full of garlic, onion, bacon and gruyere.

If taking this salad to work, pack the dressing separately and add to the salad at lunch time. note Rice vermicelli is similar to bean thread noodles, only longer and made with rice flour instead of mung bean starch. It is available from supermarkets Note

If you prefer, you can make a mustard sauce for the chicken, replace marsala with dry white wine and stir in 2 teaspoons of whole grain mustard into the finished sauce. Note

Soak bamboo skewers in water for at least an hour to prevent scorching during cooking. Yoghurt, cream or milk can be used instead of the buttermilk. Note

Haloumi is a firm, sheep-milk cheese with a minty, salty flavour; it does not break down when cooked, however, it should be eaten while still warm as it becomes tough and rubbery on cooling. This recipe is perfect for cooking on the barbecue when entertaining friends or family ­ serve with a couscous salad for […]

Make your roast Mediterranean style with this delicious spiced and zesty rub.

We used Grand Marnier liqueur in this recipe; you can use any orange flavoured liqueur you like. Note

To decorate the cake in the same colours as pictured here, you need 32 of each colour. We used rainbow Mentos mints, which come in packs of three. The purple and green colours can be used in lolly bags. Decorate the cake however you like using all the colours, rather than the ones used here. […]

Soak 12 bamboo skewers in water for at least 1 hour prior to use, to prevent them from scorching and splintering. If using metal skewers, oil them first to stop the prawns from sticking. Note

If taking this meal to work, roast tomato and prosciutto the night before; store in the fridge. Reheat in a microwave oven, on HIGH (100%), about 1 minute or until heated through. Toast the bread and assemble just before serving. Note

Make your own delicious cheesy crisps for snacking or sharing with family and friends.

Micro cress and herbs are available from gourmet green grocers and some growers’ markets. If unavailable, use small coriander leaves or chopped chives. Note

Asian-style noodles and chicken with kecap manis, also known as ketjap manis, a dark, thick, sweet soy sauce.

You will need to cook about 350g pumpkin for this recipe. Note

The inspiration for this tasty salad is that famous New York deli sandwich, the Reuben, a universal favourite ever since its creation in the early 1900s.

A light and zesty Italian-style dish that is a great summery dessert.

We used flathead fillets for this recipe. You need to soak 24 bamboo skewers in water for at least an hour before using to prevent them from scorching during cooking. Note

Replace orange with apple or pear slices, if preferred. Pork does not need to be overdone. Cook until just pink in the middle to retain juices. Note

A sweet, sour, fresh and fragrant Asian-style rice noodle salad with wasabi dressing.

Exquisite and delicate smoked chicken and peach salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

Best made just before serving; prawns can be prepared 6 hours ahead. Note

Use crisp, crunchy fresh water chestnuts for this recipe if they are in season; frozen fresh water chestnuts also can be found in many Asian grocers. About 5-medium sized chesnuts are needed for this soup. Note

You can use a lamb backstrap instead of cutlets. Cook for 3-4 minutes each side and then slice thickly. If fresh broad beans are in season, you can use them instead of frozen ones. Note

Use a mandoline or V-slicer, available from kitchenware and department stores, to slice the fennel and radishes. Substitute salmon fillets for the ocean trout, if you prefer. For decoration and ease of handling either tie the rolls with kitchen string or secure them with toothpicks. Note

We used a greek feta, which crumbles well and has a sharp taste. Note

Chicken can be coated with parmesan several hours ahead. Place in a single layer on a plate and keep refrigerated. Cook chicken and prepare salad as required. Note

This is a very quick and easy cake to make that only involves hand-mixing in one bowl. It is very important to thoroughly drain the pineapple, or else the cake will be doughy and heavy. Toasting macadamias brings out the flavour. There are two ways to toast them: spread macadamias onto an oven tray, toast […]