Modern European

Buttery and fluffy, these red velvet cupcakes adorned with silky smooth vanilla or peppermint frosting are a fun Christmas treat.

Create a marriage made in heaven with this succulent beef baked and brushed with the flavours of sweet berry jam, port and rosemary.

The perfect accompaniment to any main meal.

Comfort in a bowl.

Indulge in something a little more decadent with your pancakes than your normal jam topping with creamy ricotta and fresh apricots.

This recipe can be prepared a day ahead. Assemble just before serving. Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Note

Not suitable to freeze. Brussels sprouts suitable to microwave. Note

Not suitable to freeze. Note

Use shallow patty pans, if preferred. Change the filling-try wilted spinach and feta, char-grilled vegetables and brie or caramelised onion and blue cheese. Note

Family favourite, kid friendly Note

A delicious spinach pie made with a filo pastry crust.

If making ahead, cover with plastic wrap and chill to prevent pastry from drying out. Note

Tina's sponge cake

This prize-winning sponge cake is featherlight and has the perfect texture for a classic sponge. Best served with lashings of whipped cream and the jam of your choice.

Sieve the dry ingredients through at least three or more times. It’s best if to use eggs that are a couple of days old to make this sponge cake. Use eggs that are at room temperature. Note

Fluffy sponge cake topped with all the indulgent joys of strawberries and cream. This one's bound to be a huge hit with the kids.

Janet's sponge cake

Hot, perfectly cooked mussels are beautiful simmered in a creamy, fragrant tomato and chill sauce. Enjoy them straight out of the pot with a glass of wine.

Some believe florentines to be an Italian creation. They're actually French. Wherever their origin, this recipe is just the ticket. Now will someone pop the kettle on?

If you're looking for a warm, comforting winter meal you will certainly enjoy this seafood soup.

Fresh and crisp, this pear and apple salsa is the perfect side for tender butterflied pork steaks.

While it's more commonly paired with apple, pear is a spectacular match for succulent pork.

Cheesy eggplant bake

Do you need something spectacular for your Christmas table? Look no further than this celebration Christmas cake. Sophisticated and elegant on the outside, it has the perfect balance of fruit and liqueur on the inside.

Chicken thighs are the perfect cut for this recipe. The meat casseroles beautifully, leaving a sweet and tender family meal favourite. Serve with a generous helping of new potatoes.

Sweet and satisfying, these little baked coconut custard tarts have the added nutty depth of both shredded and desiccated coconut, plus a dash of lemon zest.

Is there a more classic cocktail than the martini? With this recipe we've gone all 007 with a gin martini, shaken not stirred, one olive added.

Sticky, gooey, sweet and astringent in all the right measures, these baked brie and quince matchsticks are made from light, flaky puff-pastry. Fabulous finger food for a party.

Stuffed with the meat of spicy Italian sausages and slowly roasted on a bed of onions, pears and cider, this slow-cooked pork neck is rich, fragrant and absolutely full of flavour.

Delicious seafood chowder, rich with all the flavours of the ocean and spiced with hot paprika makes a deeply satisfying lunch dish. Definitely serve with crusty bread to help you wipe the platter clean.

These braised veal shanks come in their own pretty little paper packages and make a delicious winter meal. Serve with mashed potato and plenty of greens.

Try these poached eggs with truffle polenta and salsa verde for your next brunch gathering. Just the smallest amount of truffle oil adds an incredible layer of taste and sophistication to this dish.

Give your meat and three veg a facelift with this delicious and healthy plate of lamb cutlets and char-grilled vegetables. Full of colour and flavour, this dish will have the kids running to the table.

For such a tasty result, pâté is surprisingly easy to make. Try this chicken and port pâté on polenta crisps next time you have a dinner party gathering. Finished with sour cherries and chervil, they taste delicious.

Add an exotic touch to an everyday crème caramel with rosewater, cardamom and saffron. Silky soft and darkly sweet, this is a stunning dessert.

Packed full of vegetables, this chickpea and pumpkin ratatouille is perfect as an accompaniment or a meal on its own.

These barbecue prawn and chorizo skewers are so easy to prepare and assemble. The the tangy lime flavoured mustard dressing will have your guests coming back for more. Serve with a cold beer or crisp wine.

This light and crispy potato galette has a definite Spanish flavour, thanks to the chorizo, olives and paprika that tops it. A quick and easy dish that's perfect for a light summer lunch with friends.

Few people can resist the temptation of freshly cooked vegetable crisps. While potato is the commonly chosen option, consider the humble eggplant. You'll be surprised how tasty these crispy morsels can be.

Haloumi cheese is a semi-soft cheese from Cyprus that is simply perfect for grilling. The kids will love these vegetable and haloumi skewers, and the grownups can enjoy them with the zingy harissa and lemon mayo.

These delicately flavoured pear crisps make a great snack on their own, but are also excellent served on top of yoghurt and muesli, or used to decorate a pear cake or pudding.

Simple and delicious.

These frozen chocolate tiramisu bars are dead easy and terrifically impressive. Just a few moments worth of effort topped with a little sprinkle of cocoa and you'll have a grown up dessert that will satisfy the most discerning of tastes.

These eggplant and haloumi skewers with roasted tomato sauce are the perfect easy finger food to serve at your next gathering. This kind of cheese is just begs to be fried and served warm.

This tomato and capsicum soup will have you wondering why you ever bothered with the tinned stuff. The addition of the beans and the chilli give a hearty and spicy kick. Enjoy with fresh crusty bread.

If you want to serve up a healthy lunch with lots of protein and vegetables, these little vegetable and feta frittata are the way to go. They're also great as after-school snacks, and make a fab packed lunch.

You can use smoked paprika in place of sweet if you prefer a darker flavour to your lamb.

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Incredibly quick and easy to make, these pumpkin and feta pizzas are a great option for a fast mid-week dinner.

These simple white cakes make an elegant wedding cake for an all-white wedding.

Spiced with nutmeg and dressed with lemon, this spinach with mint makes a fabulously simple side dish.

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

A study in contrasts with crunchy rösti and tender prawns, mild potato and piquant aïoli, these stacks make a spectacular brunch dish or starter when entertaining.

An exquisite dish of chicken confit with spinach and pan jus from Australian Women's Weekly.

Be careful when taking the pumpkin out of the microwave as the bowl will be very hot. Note

Simple yet special, the ideal dish to serve up to friends when you're celebrating in a relaxed style.

Once fish has cooked and mussels have opened, serve topped with fennel mix and garlic croûtons. Scatter with chopped parsley in place of the fennel fronds if you like.

Perfect for a lazy lunch with friends, this spinach quiche is quick and delicious. For something rather different, you could use sorrel leaves in place of the spinach.

A great way to use up left-over cooked pasta, this chicken and asparagus pasta salad is simple, tasty and quick to make. You can use most pasta varieties.

Lemon feta toasts, feta recipe, brought to you by Australian Women's Weekly.

Fresh corn can be used instead of canned corn; you will need two cobs. Sour cream or yoghurt can be used instead of the creme fraiche. Fritters can be made the day before; top them with creme fraiche etc, an hour or so before serving. Note

Baking a leg of lamb in a salt crust means the meat is steamed as you bake it, leaving it incredibly tender and allowing the herbs to fully permeate the leg.

This plum and mascarpone tart is rich with wine and liqueur and makes a fitting end to a very special dinner.

If the handle of your frying pan is not heatproof, cover it with aluminium foil before placing it under the grill. Frittata is delicious served warm, but if you like it cold or want to take it to work, make it the evening before, keep it in the fridge overnight, then wrap it in plastic […]

Elegant, delectable and delicately spiced, these rhubarb, pear and pomegranate custard tea cakes make a wonderful dessert or afternoon tea treat. Serve warm with good quality cream.

Light and healthy röstis that are perfect for breakfast and lunch or for sharing with friends.

Rich and very chocolatey, the ground pistachios give this stylish tart a dense, moist texture.

Tender pumpkin and ribbons of zucchini are delicately flavoured with fresh sage to make this deep, layered vegetable lasagne.

A sophisticated punch that's loaded with flavour and not overly sweet, this pomegranate punch is perfect for a lunch or cocktail party.

Tart passionfruit give these rich crème caramels a fruity lift.

One taste of this rich and flavoursome antioxidant rich tomato soup and you'll never want the canned version again. Serve with plenty of crusty bread to mop up every last drop.

Soufflé must be made just before serving. Note

Soft, creamy polenta topped with mixed, grilled mushrooms makes a great meat-free dinner with a fresh, green salad on the side.

A classic ingredient in French cooking, green peppercorns add flavour and bite to plump, juicy chicken thighs.

Spiced with ginger, these dark chocolate truffles make a delectable after dinner treat with a cup of coffee or a digestif.

This pretty marbled chocolate thins are easier to make than you'd expect, marbling the chocolate can be almost therapeutic once you get the hang of it. Avoid rapid cooling and don't put the sheets in the fridge to set, you want the chocolate to be set firm but not brittle when you're ready to use the cutters.

EQUIPMENT 25cm (10-inch) round cake board You can make your own meringues for this cake and colour them any colour you like. This works well as a Christmas cake using green and white meringues. You can use butter cream instead of vanilla frosting if you like. Note

You can use 300ml carton of cream. Note

Treat yourself to this tender, seared rib-eye steak with luscious grilled mediterranean vegetables.

Lemon thyme has a delicate perfume that infuses the chicken as it slowly cooks down, creating a tender, aromatic dish.

Use an accurate candy thermometer for perfect results. They are available at selected department stores or online. Note