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dairy-free gluten-free wheat-free egg-free nut-free If you have any leftover granita, leave it in the pan and cover it with foil before putting it back in the freezer. You may need to scrape the mixture with a fork again when you are ready to eat it. Note

36 lollypop or paddle pop sticks are needed for this recipe. Push the sticks of the popcakes into the top of a cardboard egg carton to dry. Light or dark fruit cake is suitable, use whichever is preferred. Note

Blue cheeses are mould-treated cheeses mottled with blue veining. Varieties range from firm and crumbly stilton types to mild, creamy brie-like cheeses. Use a firm and crumbly blue cheese for this recipe. Note

These cakes are best made on the day of serving. Note

Instead of piping the cream cheese mixture onto the canapés, you can just use a teaspoon to drop small amounts on top of the mini toasts. Mini toasts are available from delis, groumet food shops and some supermarkets. Note

If salmon slices are less than 6cm wide, you can use two pieces side by side. Overlap edges of salmon then press them together gently before cutting out rounds. Note

A beautifully bright and colourful rainbow salad packed full of beetroot, asparagus, orange and avocado.

This recipe is also nut-free, gluten-free and egg-free. Note

Peach & vanilla yoghurt fools

Equipment: 35cm (14-inch) square wooden cake board Smoothing tools pasta machine 1.4cm (¾-inch) and 4.5cm (1¾-inch) perspex measures vinyl mat fine artist’s paint brush stitching tool alphabet cutters paper piping bag. Although this cake is a labour of love, it’s worth every bit of effort. The strips of icing can be made by rolling the […]

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

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

You can use any flavoured jelly you wish. 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. […]

Punch is best served very cold. Try freezing some of the berries and lemonade together in shaped ice trays and add these to the punch instead of regular ice. This way, you won’t dilute the flavour. Note

The sponge roll used for this recipe has a diameter of 10cm and a length of 16cm. Note

40cm (16-inch) round wooden cake board 30cm (12-inch) round wooden cake board 25cm (10-inch) round wooden cake board 20cm (8-inch) round wooden cake board 15cm (6-inch) round wooden cake board 12 wooden cake skewers Medium offset metal spatula We used flaked coconut labelled `coconut chipped’ found in health food stores. Instead of making the ganache […]

Bacardi or dark rum can be used, though the slightly darker rum has a stronger flavour. Note

You can buy the roast beef, already cooked and sliced, from any deli. Make the coleslaw the night before, and make the sandwich at lunch time the next day. Use whatever cabbage you like; we used red cabbage, but try the chinese variety (wombok), it’s easy to shred finely. Note

Equipment you will need to make this recipe; 30cm round wooden cake board, 15cm round wooden cake board, smoothing tools, 3 wooden skewers, 2 paper piping bags, 5-petal plunger cutter set (small, medium and large), vinyl mat, ball tool, and 2 fine artist’s paint brushes tweezers. The cherry blossom is the symbol of Japan, as […]

Wonderfully fresh and light, enjoy these beautiful salmon sashimi stacks as a light lunch, starter on canape.

This rocket and blue cheese salad is packed full of big flavours and will be an instant favourite.

Equipment 30cm (12-inch) round wooden cake board 15cm (6-inch) round wooden cake board Smoothing tools 3cm x 3.5cm (1¼-inch x 1½-inch) scalloped cutter 3 wooden skewers 2 paper piping bags Tape measure Fine artist’s paint brush 2.5cm (1-inch) perspex measure Tweezers Pale minty green and soft dusty pink blend together for a sweet old- fashioned […]

Panzanella is a traditional Italian bread salad. As a variation, cut the soft white centre of the bread into small cubes, drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil; toss until well coated. Place the bread cubes on an oven tray, sprinkle on 2 tablespoons finely grated parmesan and toast in a moderate oven for about 10 […]

You could make the combination while cooking the purées; freeze, in 1-tablespoon portions in ice-cube trays, covered, for up to 1 month. Freeze remaining creamed corn in 1-tablespoon batches in ice-cube trays, covered, for up to 1 month. Reheat frozen portions in a microwave oven on MEDIUM (50%) power until just warmed. Note

EQUIPMENT 20cm x 25cm (8-inch x 10-inch) rectangular cake board You can use a tub of strawberry frosting, if you prefer, place the frosting in a piping bag fitted with a small fluted tube to pipe the rosettes. Note

A sweet and spicy Asian-style marinade that is fantastic with beef and pork ribs.

A bright and summery salad packed full of healthy and crunchy raw vegetables.

If you don’t have an 11cm round cutter, simply use a saucer or bowl instead. Add an icing bow to the ear for a girly elephant or use a pretty ribbon. If using butter cream instead of the vanilla frosting, you will need one quantity of butter cream. You need 1 sponge cake round and […]

Macaroons are available from specialty bakery shops and select supermarkets. We used ganache to cover the cake as it will set and hold the macaroons in place. We bought 15 packets of macaroons to get the 30 pink, 6 brown, 19 vanilla and 18 light brown colours used in this cake. To save money, use […]

These pork buns are the perfect fusion of French and Vietnamese cooking.

You can use jelly beans or rainbow straps to decorate the fish. If using butter cream instead of the vanilla frosting, you will need one quantity of butter cream. Note

Can use leftover roast pork or chinese barbecued pork. Note

You can use any combination of berries you like or seasonal fruits such as mango or banana. Note

Peanuts can cause reactions in some children. They are not recommended for children under one year old. Note

Bunting can be found at most craft and party shops. Be sure to remove the toothpicks from the cake before serving. For a boy, decorate with green or yellow fruit sticks and matching bunting, or use the colours of his favourite sporting team (of course, this also can be done for girls and their favourite […]

For a citrus twist, add a little finely grated orange rind and replace the apple juice with orange juice. Replace the raspberries with blueberries and sprinkle with lightly roasted hazelnuts. Note

This recipe makes 18 cake pops. A quick way to make cake crumbs is to break up a ready-made cake bought from the supermarket. The cake pops become quite firm, and can be placed in a bowl or basket with little or no damage to the pops. Note

Equipment: 30cm (12-inch) round wooden cake board pastry brush 1 quantity sugar syrup smoothing tools stencil medium offset metal spatula 6 wooden skewers 2 x 18cm (7-inch) round wooden cake boards fine pearl-headed pins straight-sided metal scraper paper piping bag small shallow bowls 3 lengths 18-gauge floral wire wire cutters Black and white may be […]

While this frilly little cake is ideal for a baby shower or christening, it would also delight any budding prima ballerina in the family. Use shades of pink to resemble a tutu, and top with a pair of ballet slippers. The frilled strips of icing should still be slightly soft when positioned on the cake. […]

equipment 30cm (12-inch) round wooden cake board (page 208) 15cm (6-inch) round wooden cake board (page 208) smoothing tools number 3 strip cutter 7mm (¼-inch) wide 3 wooden skewers 2 paper piping bags (page 221) white florist’s tape The strip cutter, used for marking the icing on the top tier of this cake, is very […]

A delicate and exquisite fennel and apple salad packed full of big flavours.

Pop open a bottle of wine and sit back in the sunshine to enjoy your beautiful seafood platter. We've included two delicious sauces in this recipe that will complement your platter wonderfully.

Store slice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Note

The caipiroska is a classic cocktail made with vodka, sugar and muddled lime. Great for a hot summers day.

Equipment 18 x 30cm cake pop sticks; large square styrofoam block; 2 paper piping bags. Use any firm-textured cake to make cake pops ­ mud, fruit, coconut or butter cakes all work well. Leftover Christmas cake or pudding are real winners as they’re usually moist. Cake pop sticks (also sold as `lollypop candy sticks’) are […]

Sandwiches can be prepared several hours ahead. Keep wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator until required. Bread is an excellent source of energy-giving carbohydrates. Wholemeal and wholegrain breads are also a rich source of dietary fibre and other nutrients because they contain the natural goodness of the entire grain. Note

The only spider you'll ever want to drink.

Use hundreds and thousands as an alternative to the orange sprinkles. You can use cream-filled rollettes, if you prefer. If using butter cream instead of the vanilla frosting, you will need two quantities. White icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on wedding cakes). It is available in packets from the […]

You can use soft goat’s cheese in place of the feta. Note

You need to purchase a large barbecued chicken, weighing approximately 900g, for this recipe. Note