Winter

Use a finely chopped onion if you don’t have a leek. Make croutons by toasting crestless bread and cutting into cubes. Alternatively, fry cubes of bread in a little oil or butter until golden. Note

If desired, use fresh or frozen corn kernels. “Egg flowers” can be omitted if preferred. Note

Slow-cooking the filling of this chunky pork and fennel pie brings out the natural sweetness of tender pork, and softens the aniseed flavour of the fennel.

Onion soup with mini dampers

Packing a classic savoury Japanese punch, this warming and nourishing miso udon soup by Woman's Day is head and shoulders above any other 'just add hot water' concoctions you can buy.

The slightly astringent flavour of quince is softened during the slow-poaching, drawing out its richness. The fruit is soft and syrup drenched and delicious served with crisp, sweet filo fingers.

This “cake” is both fat free and gluten free. A V-slicer or mandoline will make short work of slicing the apples thinly. Note

Individual apple and raspberry crumbles are a tartly delicious winter dessert, best served with lashings of cream or ice-cream.

Home made preserves are so very simple to make, and there's so much pleasure to be had from eating jam you made yourself.

If cooking for children, use orange juice instead of rum. Note

With the addition of apple and sultanas, this sweet beef dish is the perfect recipe to get the kids enjoying curries.

Packed full of flavour and spice, this hearty beef curry has a brilliant Vietnamese twist.

Take a trip to India with this warm soup made with tikka masala curry paste and best served with crunchy papadums.

Blood oranges are available in winter. At other times use navel oranges instead. Segment the oranges over a bowl to catch any juice; use this in the dressing. Note

Chicken, asparagus and pea casserole

Tom yum is a Lao and Thai, clear, spicy and sour soup. It is widely served in neighbouring countries such as Cambodia and Malaysia and has become popular worldwide. Just one taste of our recipe and you'll see why.

If you fancy a decadent dessert for those long cold winter nights, consider this indulgent caramel self-saucing pudding. Serve it with lashings of thickened cream or ice-cream for a truly warming end to the chilliest of evenings.

We have rhubarb. We have pear. We have custard. We have cake. Put them all together and we have rhubarb and pear custard cake. What's not to love? Not much, in our view. Serve it warm, with cream.

A marriage made in heaven, blending hearty prawns and salmon with tomatoes and a brown rice mixture coated in garlic and onion flavour. Great for a dinner party with friends or a wholesome family meal

It's worth the wait.

Stay cosy indoors this weekend with this hearty, slow-cooked beef casserole topped with dumplings. A side order of mash and greens completes the meal.

Combine this tender beef fillet with a delicious red wine sauce and a generous serving of mashed kumara for a slightly different take on the a traditional beef and vegetable fare. You'll be glad you did.

Prosciutto, pumpkin and sage are a heavenly trio in this delicious, comforting dish.

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Cavolo nero is also called tuscan cabbage. It has long, narrow, wrinkled leaves and a rich and astringent, mild cabbage flavour. It doesn’t lose its volume like silver beet or spinach when cooked. We used one bunch. Note

Apple and blackberry is the classic crumble combination and this oaty version doesn't disappoint.

Warming and nourishing, this thick, tasty tomato and fennel soup topped with crunchy fresh croutons is lovely at lunchtime, or for a quick boost late in the afternoon.

These crisp apple tarts are fuss-free, speedy to make and completely delicious.

Ask the butcher to cut the beef shank into 6 equal pieces for you, or you could use 6 x 300g (10 ounce) pieces beef osso buco. Dry red wine can be used instead of port. serving suggestion Serve shanks with risotto, mashed potato or soft polenta. Note

Lamb noisettes are lamb sirloin chops with the bone removed and the "tail" wrapped around the meaty part of the chop and secured with either string or a toothpick. Toothpicks must be removed before serving.

Just a few moments preparation in the morning and into the slow-cooker with this authentic and flavourful Mexican classic. Perfect for cold winter nights when something substantial is called for but you just don't have the time. Enjoy with rice and a glass of red.

Celebrate winter citrus with these stunning, refreshing Bavarian creams. You'll need about 8 limes for this recipe.

A delicious, hearty breakfast dish for the cooler months.

This home-made winter coleslaw is so much better than anything from the store.

Kaffir lime leaves are sold fresh, dried or frozen. The dried leaves are less potent so double the number called for in a recipe if you substitute them for fresh leaves. Note

Ginger and caramel go together beautifully in this ultimate winter dessert, especially when teamed with decadent calvados custard.

This is wonderful served with a dollop of yoghurt and some fresh raspberries.

For a delicious, warming winter meal, serve this creamy cauliflower and parsnip soup with hot rosemary bread.

Hearty and warming, ribollita is a famous Tuscan soup made with bread and vegetables. It's perfect for a cool Winter's evening.

Casserole can be made a day ahead; cover, refrigerate until required. Note

Manhattan clam chowder

This lemon-scented lamb casserole is full of the flavours of roasted winter vegetables, and is delicious served with creamy mashed potatoes.

This simple sausage and ratatouille casserole served on a bed of cheesy polenta makes a great winter evening meal.

Chicken casserole is a classic one-pot winter warmer dish. We've elevated it to 'posh' status here, with the addition of mushrooms, celeriac and juniper berries.

In Italian, osso buco means bone with a hole'. It is cut from the shin of the hind leg (shank), and is also known as knuckle. The hole is filled with rich bone marrow, also known as jelly’; stand the bones upright to cook, so you don’t lose the delicious jelly inside. This recipe is […]

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Give your regular chicken cacciatore some pizzaz by topping it with this delicious and piquant gremolata mix. Serve with crusty bread or mashed potato for a complete and hearty meal.

Served over crispy grilled polenta, this rich beef ragu is comforting and perfect for the cooler weather.

Served warm with a slather of butter, this golden loaf is perfect for the cooler months of the year.

If you have an electric pressure cooker you won’t need to reduce the heat to stabilise pressure,your cooker will automatically stabilise itself. Always check with the manufacturer’s instructions before using. Note

Brimming with flavour, this slow-cooked curry is perfect for the cooler weather.

In the English-speaking world, the hard, slightly yellow root vegetable that slightly resembles a large dried turnip is called a swede in England and Australia, a neep in Scotland and rutabaga in the United States. Because this vegetable thrives in the cold, it has always been popular in Scandinavia, especially in Sweden, hence the name. […]

Radicchio originated in Italy and is a member of the chicory family. The leaves are dark burgundy in colour and have a strong bitter flavour which makes radicchio a worthy partner to the blue cheese in this dish.

Embrace the colder weather with this beautiful pork, apple and prune casserole topped with fresh sage.

serve with soft polenta. Note

Quarter some limes and heat up a stack of corn tortilla to serve alongside this chilli chicken, tomato and corn soup. A dollop of sour cream wouldn't go astray either.

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Any type of berries can be used instead of raspberries. If you prefer, use semi-sweet dark chocolate or milk chocolate, instead of white chocolate. Note

For a slightly richer colour and flavour, brown the beef in a little oil in a frying pan before adding it to the slow cooker. 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.

The literal translation of "pot on the fire" refers to the way this old standard was originally cooked, in a huge cast-iron pot directly in the fireplace. Any combination of vegetables and meat can be used, and the French versions are as numerous as there are regions of the country.

A modern and delicious beef bourguignon pie with individual dishes filled with the traditional French beef stew and topped with puff pastry.

The sticky sweetness of these apples is a perfect accompaniment to luscious rich pork belly.

Our version of this classic takes its lead from the traditional versions of Languedoc and Castelnaudary, but we've given it an update to make it a simpler, quicker and healthier dish. Haricot, great northern, cannellini or navy beans can be used in this recipe.

Suitable to freeze. Recipe can be made a day ahead and refrigerated, covered. Note

The pancetta, stock and olives are already quite salty, so you should not need to add extra salt to this dish. Note

Goulash is a soup or stew of meat and vegetables, seasoned with a variety of spices, and invariably with paprika. It has always been a popular meal in Central Europe. We've teamed it with parsley dumplings here, to make it extra hearty.

Serve this decadent winter dessert with lashings of whipped cream.

Serve this fluffy, saucy ginger and orange pudding with big scoops of vanilla bean ice-cream.

Beef and mushroom make a delicious pair in this herby, slow-cooked stew.

Get warm and cosy with this wholesome soup, perfect served with crusty bread and a glass of red wine.

Veal schnitzels, or escalopes, are large but very thin slices of lean veal. They are tender and quick-cooking, and are often coated with breadcrumbs and pan-fried in butter to give wiener schnitzel. Note

Served with grilled pita bread, this beautiful slow-cooked lamb stew is just what you need on a cold day.

Sweet apple, pear and fig sit beneath a crispy filo pastry lid in this delicious autumnal pie.

With hints of cardamom and orange, this rustic cake is delicious for a winter afternoon tea or dessert. Cardamom is one of the world's most expensive spices; it has a distinctive aromatic, sweetly rich flavour and is widely available.

Served in the most basic of bistros to the poshest of gastro pubs, the ubiquitous sausage and mash never fails to please. We've teamed it with a hearty onion gravy here, you're going to love it.

Barley is a wonderful, healthy and tasty way to thicken a delicious soup or stew such as this one.

The stew is best made just before serving. If you want to freeze it, cook it up until the end of step 2. Add the mushrooms after reheating thawed stew. Note

For a beautiful winter dessert, serve this ruby-red quince tart with scoops of vanilla ice-cream.

This cheesy, creamy baked cauliflower is comfort food at its best.

This golden beef pie is classic comfort food; perfect for a cosy night in by the fire.