Australian

You will need a 2.5-litre (10-cup) rice cooker for this recipe. Dried gnocchi-shaped pasta is available from the pasta section in most supermarkets. Dried gnocchi is generally shaped like a hollowed shell with a ridged surface. Fresh gnocchi usually contains potatoes, while dried gnocchi contains semolina flour and no potato. Note

Veal schnitzel is thinly sliced steak available crumbed or plain (uncrumbed); we use plain schnitzel, sometimes called escalopes. Note

Pastry cases can be made 3 days ahead; store in airtight container. Note

You could fill the cones with scoops of ice-cream instead of the cupcakes just before serving. Tint the frosting a colour to match your party theme. Note

to freeze Complete the recipe to the end of step 3. Pack into freezer-proof containers, leaving a 2.5cm (1 inch) space to allow for expansion. Seal, label and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat in a saucepan or microwave on medium power (50%) until heated through. Tomato passata is […]

This fun children's cake is great for the little ones that love playing with trains and automobiles. They'll love the taste and look of this tasty dessert!

You can use canned pink or red salmon instead of the tuna. Note

Leaving a 1cm (½ inch) border of sponge without cream will make the icing of the sides of the slice easier to do. The weight of the top layer of sponge will push the cream far enough. Note

To make the perfect soft-boiled eggs, place eggs in a small saucepan and barely cover with cold water. Cover the pan and bring to boil; then boil, uncovered, for 3 minutes, drain. Shell eggs when cool enough to handle. You can use either heirloom or cherry tomatoes, if you like. Note

Home made fish and chips is a good healthy alternative to eating greasy ones, and it tastes just as good if not better.

This apple and red capsicum chutney takes a little while to make but it's easy as pie and mostly a hands-off operation. Enjoy with cold meats and cheese.

This delicious spin on traditional bruschetta is a perfect starter for a summer barbecue.

For a variation, combine potato flesh with one finely chopped green onion and 2 tablespoons each of sour cream and sweet chilli sauce. Divide filling among potato shells and serve topped with extra green onion, sour cream and sweet chilli sauce. Note

800g canned, rinsed, drained brown lentils can be used instead of the green lentils. Add them to the salad in step 5. Note

CAKE PANS AND COOKING TIMES 20cm baba pan 40 minutes 20cm ring pan 40 minutes 14cm x 21cm loaf pan 1 hour 2 x 8cm x 26cm bar pans 35 minutes deep 20cm round cake pan 50 minutes 24 patty pans 15 minutes Note

This pie is suitable to freeze. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating. You can replace the carrots, celery, mushrooms and peas with a 400g packet of fresh diced vegetable soup mixture – this is found in the vegetable or refrigerated sections of most larger supermarkets, as well as many greengrocers. Note

Let your imagination run wild and create your own sweet menagerie with these clever little animal cupcakes by the Australian Women's Weekly. Be prepared for squeals of delight!

If liked, sprinkle the top of the damper with some extra grated cheese before baking. Replace chives with a combination of other herbs like parsley and thyme, or use some Aussie flavourings such as lemon myrtle and dried bush tomato. Note

This savoury dip is quick and easy to make and goes equally well with corn chips, crudités, or vegetable sticks. It's perfect for a gathering of family and friends, or an after-school snack.

store Recipe best made just before serving. Note

Whether you're serving is as part of a big family dinner spread or a light lunch, this super tasty plate is sure to keep you full, healthy and your tastebuds happy.

We used butter beans for this recipe, but you can use any white beans. Note

Add the peppermint essence to suit your taste. Start with what we have recommended and add more until you achieve a nice balance between the chocolate and the mint. Note

Sweet beetroot contrasts beautifully with sharp, salty feta and bitter leaves in this delicious salad. Perfect as a light lunch, or a side dish.

There's nothing more authentically Australian than serving up a classic pavlova, laden with cream and fruit, at the end of a summer's day barbecue.

After microwaving food for children, it is very important to thoroughly stir it to distribute the heat evenly. Then, you should ALWAYS test the temperature against your skin (dip in a clean finger, or place a small quantity of food on your lower lip). ­It should feel warm, not hot. Note

Piping hot, crispy and delicious.

Creamy and delicious, when it comes to side dishes this celeriac mash is a star.

Add some extra colour to the marshmallow by tinting half of it lightly with your choice of food colouring ­the range is limitless and can be added to suit the colour theme of your party. Note

pesto Note

A timeless dessert, this super sweet sticky date pudding is served with an oozy toffee sauce to create ultimate dessert perfection.

Wear rubber gloves when removing the head of the balmain bug from the tail. Note

This dessert is absolutely stunning with a beautiful rustic flare, layered eggnog pavlova could quickly become a family Christmas tradition.

Zucchini is an incredibly versatile vegetable that can be used in all sorts of soups and stews and vegetable platters. Here, we've grilled it lightly and tossed it through a pasta salad. Just a little lemon juice, zest and ricotta completes this fresh and colourful dish.

Accompany fritters with a salad for a light meal or serve them as a side dish if preferred. Fritters can be cooked a day ahead. Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Place fritters on an oven tray and reheat in a 150°C oven as required. Note

Zesty orange complements and amplifies the strawberry flavour of this delicious conserve.

The trick to making a good pavlova is to ensure that the sugar is dissolved, otherwise it will weep. To check, rub a little meringue mixture between your fingers, it should feel smooth, not gritty, otherwise continue whisking. Note

This will keep, covered, in the refrigerator for up to two days. Note

You will need to hard-boil 4 eggs for this recipe. Note

Can be made a day ahead. Cover; refrigerate until required. Note

Tall 850ml (8cm x 17cm) (3-inch x 6¾-inch) fruit juice cans make good nut roll tins. Use a can opener that cuts just below the rims to cut one end from the can. Wash and dry the can thoroughly before greasing well. Use a double-thickness of foil to cover the top of the can and […]

The classic flavours of chocolate, strawberry and hazelnut come together in this mouth-watering gateau. Just add a steaming cup of coffee and the our day is made.

Be careful to measure all the ingredients exactly, or too much or too little of some of the ingredients will affect the way the loaf rises. Note

You can buy chopped lamb for stewing from the butcher or supermarket to save time. Note

These little iced thongs are the cutest thing ever to serve up this Australia Day.

The stem of the zucchini is the baby zucchini attached to its flower. Note

With a judiciously herbed crumb crust, tender lamb, this dish is sophisticated enough to serve at a dinner party but won't take you hours to make.

Crisps can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Note

Rich, savoury beef broth makes an excellent base for other dishes, or fortified with added slivers of meat and vegetables, a light soup in its own right.

With 11 children to feed and a home-based business to support them, it’s no surprise that my husband Mick’s grandmother had one eye on economy. This recipe uses no milk or cream and hardly any butter – a couple of eggs, a couple of lemons, a handful of sugar. It costs very little to put on the table, yet it is absolutely delicious and decadent.

My mum recently handed me a real treasure – an exercise book that was used for recipes by my great-grandmother. I never knew my great-grandmother, but I certainly recognise some of her recipes from my visits to Nan’s house. It has been compiled with patience and love, and gives me an insight into a woman I never met. It is a privilege to now have her cookbook. This cake is from an era where home cooks were incredibly frugal, as everyday ingredients, such as butter, were in short supply.

A garlic and rosemary roast lamb that is sure to become your new go-to Sunday favourite.

A meal in its own right, this warm egg, potato and spinach salad with shards of crisp bacon makes a great lunch.

The dark blue pigment of blueberries is full of antioxidants, which have been shown to lower cholesterol. They are sometimes referred to as “brain berries” because they may help with brain function. Note

Chilli jam is super hot and you will find a little goes a long way. If you want to decrease the heat dramatically, remove the seeds from the chillies. The jam is best poured into small jars, it will keep indefinitely if the jars have been sterilised correctly. Store in the fridge once opened.

You can decorate the rolls at the end of step 4, by marking the tops with a flat-bladed knife in a criss-cross pattern. Note

The lime syrup will keep in the fridge for up to two months. Add a few drops of green food colouring to the syrup, if you like. Note

We might be cheating slightly here, but you can get very good quality canned soups these days and with the addition of bacon and crispy blue cheese toasts you have a dish that could pass for homemade.

You will need to buy half a medium cauliflower and about 450g broccoli for this recipe. Note

The perfect baked potato should be salty on the outside and snow white and fluffy on the inside. You can also use russet burbank or spunta potatoes for this recipe. Pierce the skin of each potato to prevent it from splitting while in the oven. Wrapping the potatoes completely in foil results in a soft […]

You can substitute scotch whiskey for the rye whiskey. Note

Change the fruit to suit your child’s taste. We’ve allowed ¼ cup of the snack per serving. Note

Strawberries can also be served with yoghurt or light sour cream in place of creme fraiche. Note