Middle eastern salad cups
Bread cups can be made a day ahead, store in an airtight container. You need 3 x 12-hole (2-tablespoon/40ml) deep flat-based patty pans, it’s fine if you only have one pan, just make the cups in batches. You also need an 8cm round cutter. Buy fresh, thin-style pitta bread. If the bread is too thick […]
Simple beef and vegetable casserole
A simple slow-cooked version of the classic beef and vegetable casserole.
Sunflower power
Watch their eyes light up for this happy, smiling flower. White icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on wedding cakes). It is available in packets from the supermarket and cake decorating shops. Note
Pine berry lassi
Vary the fruit according to your taste and what’s in season; just make sure you use the same amounts. Note
Sausages with borlotti beans
Rich and delicious Italian-style stew with crushed tomatoes and borlotti beans.
Marbled victoria sponge with chocolate butter cream
This light and delicious sponge cake is a quick and tasty treat for the whole family to enjoy.
Spinach and kumara gnocchi
You will need to buy one bunch of spinach (300g) to make this recipe. Note
Monkey business
A fun and yummy cake that's up to no good.
Mascarpone and papaya tarts
You can also make this pastry using a food processor. Process flour, icing sugar, ginger and butter until crumbly. Add egg yolk and enough of the water to make ingredients just come together. Knead gently on floured surface until smooth. You need 1 small papaya (650g) for this recipe. Note
Chocolate panna cotta with rhubarb jelly
It is fine to use just the one 300ml carton of cream for this recipe. To make chocolate shapes: melt 50g (1½ ounces) dark chocolate; place into a resealable plastic bag. Cut a tiny snip off onecorner, and pipe small shapes onto baking paper. Leave shapes to set at room temperature. Note
Slow-roasted mushrooms with creamy polenta
An exquisite and morish Mediterranean-style mushroom and polenta dish with roasted tomatoes.
Classic christmas cake
This basic fruit mix is enough to make a pudding (boiled or steamed) large enough to serve 10 people, a regular-sized cake and a dozen mince pies. Note
Spiced ham and avocado wrap
This flavour-packed recipe is perfect for an on-the-go lunch or light dinner. The combination of ham and avocado in a wholegrain wrap also makes a nutritious after school snack for kids.
Chicken and pea pilaf
The recipe is best made close to serving. Note
Moroccan eggplant and ricotta fillo snails
Crispy golden Moroccan pastry filled with spiced eggplant and ricotta and served with a colourful tomato salad.
Rocket and prosciutto frittata
Frittata can be cooked on top of the stove, in a medium lightly oiled slightly sided frying pan; cook on low heat, uncovered, until almost set, then brown frittata under a preheated grill. Frittata can be served hot or cold Note
Pumpkin and chorizo risotto
Leftover risotto makes great risotto cakes; simply shape cold risotto into patties, then pan-fry until browned lightly on both sides. Note
Sashimi tuna and wasabi salad
Instead of topping the salad with sesame seeds and green onion, try using finely shredded toasted nori. Note
Graduation cakes
Delicious little cupcakes that are the perfect treat to celebrate graduation day!
Slow-cooked lamb shank and bean ragu
From the humble baked bean to the chickpea, legumes contain healthy components linked with protection against diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart problems.
Lamb bretonne
A delicious French-style roast leg of lamb in a tomato stew with rosemary and white beans.
Passionfruit curd and coconut tarts
You will need about six passionfruit for this recipe. Remaining passionfruit curd is delicious spread on scones or used as a filling for pavlovas. These tarts are best made on the day of serving. Note
Pear and hazelnut friands
Corella pears have only a short season, if they’re not available use thinly sliced apple, red-skinned look best instead. Note
Orange pound cake with candied cumquats
As the name suggests, pound cakes originally consisted of a pound each of sugar, butter, flour and eggs, which made them very large cakes.
Prosciutto and pea tart
Do ahead The tart and dressing can be made a day ahead. Refrigerate in separate airtight containers. Don’t be concerned if the cooked tart has small cracks in the top these will be covered by the salad. Note
Easy piano birthday cake
It's 9 o'clock on a Saturday, and the party crowd's already here. They said can you play a memory...and this cake is just what you need! From The Australian Women's Weekly's famous 'Children's Birthday Cake Book' cookbook, you're sure to feel nostalgic when you see this one from your childhood.
Spinach, anchovy and olive pizza
Use frozen spinach, which has been cooked and cooled, for this recipe. Note
Slow-cooker chicken with soy & sesame
You can use ½ cup dry sherry with ½ cup water instead of the chinese cooking wine. This dish is suitable to freeze at the end of step 1. Note
Spiced beef kofta with carrot salad
Use regular mince, not lean, for a more juicy result. This starter is quite hearty and you may only require a lighter main such as a soup or salad. This would serve 4 as a main meal. Note
Pineapple wedges with palm sugar
Warn your guests that the sugar on the pineapple will be extremely hot. Note
Salami, bocconcini and pasta salad
A light and healthy pasta salad packed full of salami, bocconcini, olives and cherry tomatoes.
Mini vegie burgers
Patties can be made a day before the party, keep them covered in the fridge. The sauce can be made a week before the party, keep covered in the fridge. Assemble the burgers up to 3 hours before the party. Note
Mexican beef pizza
A quick, simple and delicious Mexican-style pizza; great for busy midweek evenings.
Lamb cutlets with preserved lemon yoghurt
To use preserved lemon, remove and discard the pulp, squeeze the juice from the rind, then rinse the rind well; chop the rind finely. If preferred, substitute 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon rind at each stage for the preserved lemon. Note
Prawn, cucumber and wakame salad
You can substitute cooked crab meat for the prawns in this salad. Note
Prawn and mango salad
If liked, use smoked salmon in place of prawns. Note
Summer olive salad
A bright and colourful summer olive salad from Australian Women's Weekly.
Glamour cake
Cake pans vary in depth, so if you have a little cake mixture left over, use it to make cupcakes. Use bought sugar flowers of your choice, available from supermarkets and cake decorating suppliers. Remove and discard skewers before cutting bottom tier. White icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on […]
Merguez and couscous salad
A small, spicy sausage  eaten throughout North Africa and Spain  merguez is traditionally made with lamb meat and is easily identified by its chilli-red colour. Merguez can be found in many butchers, delicatessens and sausage specialty stores, but any spicy sausage can be used in this recipe. Note
Pork and broad bean pilaf with pumpkin
A quick and healthy pilaf for a busy midweek dinner.
Rocket and kumara salad
Kumara slices can be baked several hours ahead. Keep covered. Assemble salad and add dressing just before serving. Note
Possums
Possums without eyes can be made up to two days ahead. Pipe eyes on the day of serving. Note
Crazy colourful straw pops
Ready-made rich chocolate fudge frosting is available in packets from the supermarket and cake decorating shops. Note
Checkerboard
The hardest part of making this cake is getting the colours right. Use good quality colourings and you’ll have no trouble. It’s been around since 300 BC… but it wasn’t until 1952 that the first checkers programme was used by a computer. Note
Chocolate & ivory hearts cake
Equipment needed: 9cm heart cutter, 20cm 18-gauge floral wire, wire cutters, 35cm round wooden cake board, 20cm round wooden cake board, 15cm round wooden cake board, smoothing tools, 6 wooden cake skewers, and a paper piping bag. The hearts can be made weeks ahead; store in an airtight container. Position them on the day of […]
Chocolate and nougat mousse
To fold the cream and egg whites into the chocolate mousse mixture, use a large flat rubber spatula. Note
Mini strawberry friands
Strawberries are jam-packed with the good health-promoting vitamins A and C. Note
Salmon with watercress salad
Brown rice vinegar, made from brown rice, has been called the eastern version of apple cider vinegar, although its mild flavour has a subtle sweetness and about half the sharpness. It is available from Asian grocery stores and some health-food stores Note
Prawn green curry
Substitute red curry paste for green curry paste if you prefer. Note
Stir-fried mexican beef
Fajita seasoning spice mix adds an authentic Mexican flavour to foods; it is a blend of herbs and spices, and may include cumin, chilli, garlic, capsicum, oregano, coriander and onion. Use a mild chilli seasoning, if you prefer. Beef eye fillet can be expensive, buy beef strips or stir-fry beef to make this a cheap […]
Peach and ginger chutney
Depending on the ripeness of the peaches, peel them using a vegetable peeler or, blanch them by cutting a small cross in the base of each peach; cover with boiling water in a heatproof bowl. Stand 5 minutes, then transfer peaches to a bowl of iced water. Using fingers or a small knife, carefully remove […]
Gruyère and smoked ham french toasties
Ghee is good to cook with as it doesn’t burn as quickly as butter. If you prefer, use 30g unsalted butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil for frying. Micro cress is a cress that has been harvested at seedling stage. It is available at speciality greengrocers and markets. Micro cress is highly perishable, so must […]
Rose petal cupcakes
Make sure the rose petals have not been treated with any chemical sprays. Note
