Roquefort & witlof salad
A light salad that packs a flavourful punch through the roquefort cheese and dijon dressing.
Poached eggs with pancetta and asparagus
An light and exquisite breakfast with a smoky and delicious crunch of pancetta.
Chicken marsala
An Italian-American dish of chicken breasts, capers, parsley and Marsala wine.
Low-fat toasted muesli
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 months. Note
Pork and ginger stir-fry
Quick, easy and full of flavour - this is a great Asian stir-fry for busy midweek dinners.
Pork, broccolini and cashew stir-fry
Replace pork with sliced chicken breast or beef rump steak. You can use basil if thai basil is out of season or you could replace the basil with coriander. Broccolini can be swapped with baby corn, if you like. Note
Mushroom, potato & spinach tortilla
This terrific tortilla combines potato, spinach and mushroom for a tantalisingly soft and fluffy interior that's as satisfying as it is tasty.
Siena cake
siena cake is a perfect accompaniment for after-dinner coffee. Cut into thin wedges or slices about 1cm thick,then into small pieces Note
M’hanncha
M'hanncha, a Moroccan almond pastry, means `the snake' and this coiled sweet pastry treat certainly represents that.
Mini toffee apples
An easy way to make sure your toffee is cooked to the correct stage and will set hard, is to use a sugar thermometer. Toffee should reach 149°C (“hard crack” stage) on the thermometer. Red delicious are the best apples to use for this recipe. Note
Poached salmon and pasta salad with rocket pesto
Farfalle is a short, rather sturdy butterfly-shaped pasta that is also known as “bow-ties”. It is good for a dish such as this because the folds and crinkles of each piece help capture the pesto and hold the other ingredients. Replace the farfalle with penne or small shells if you wish. Note
Christmas snowflakes
equipment 25cm (10-inch) round wooden cake board Smoothing tools Set of 3 snowflake plunger cutters (small, medium, large) Fine artist’s paint brush Paper piping bag The sanding sugar gives the snowflakes a lovely texture, however, if you can’t find it, don’t worry, the snowflakes look divine without it. Snowflakes can be made months ahead. Store […]
Mocha liqueur sundae
Kahlúa can be substituted for Tia Maria. Note
Pork, fennel and fig sausage rolls
These pork, fennel and fig sausage rolls will be the most gourmet snack at the party.
Mud pie
Pie can be prepared a day ahead. Note
Sumac fish with couscous salad
Use any firm fish that’s in season, it’s cheaper that way. Sumac is a type of Middle Eastern spice, now available from supermarkets. The flavour is slightly tart. If you can’t find the spice, cook the fish without it. Note
Light and dark fruit cake
You need only slender small servings of this ultra-rich cake, which is why we’ve chosen to bake it in a lamington pan. The layer of marzipan in the middle keeps the cake moist as well as adding to the flavour. Buy the best marzipan (or almond paste) you can find. Note
Ragout of veal and mushrooms
A French main-dish stew with tender veal and creamy mushrooms from Australian Women's Weekly.
Pine-orange and mango ice-blocks
If you have a juice extractor, you can use it to make the pineapple and mango juice. A mouli is a stainless steel utensil used for grating or pureeing. Note
Moroccan vegetable soup with harissa
A rich and delicious Moroccan vegetable soup with a spicy hit of harissa.
Rich hazelnut fruit cake
If you want, yo u can prepare the cake with almond paste (marzipan) before covering it with ready-made icing. Note
Moroccan lamb cutlets with capsicum couscous
You can used store-bought char-grilled capsicum for this recipe, if you like. Note
Potato chocolate cake
Sometimes the strangest ingredients make the best cakes! The addition of mashed potato makes a cake that is deliciously moist.
Planter box
Equipment: 20cm x 30cm (8-inch x 12-inch) rectangular cake pan, 35cm x 40cm (14-inch x 16-inch) rectangular cake board, wooden skewer and toothpicks. Note
Pork fried rice
We’ve used brown long-grain rice in this recipe because of its lovely nutty taste, but you can replace it with white long-grain rice if you wish. You need to cook about 1⅓ cups rice for this recipe. Note
Moules marniere (sailor-style mussels)
The secret to this recipe is the amount of olive oil used. Perfect as a second course or as the main course for a light summer lunch, served with salad and crusty bread or with chips (frites). The moules in France are small and sweet. This recipe is not suitable for those large green New […]
Sticky date toffee pops
Once they are toffee-coated, don’t refrigerate the pops, as the toffee will dissolve. Serve pops within 2 hours of making. Note
Minted fruit salad
Make syrup the night before. If you can’t buy the fruits, due to seasonal availability, you can substitute with a mixture of fruits such as watermelon, kiwifruit, blueberries and strawberries; just make sure you have the same total weight of fruit. You could also use canned lychees if fresh ones aren’t in season. Note
Bubblebath
14cm x 21cm (5½-inch x 8½-inch)loaf pan 20cm x 30cm (8-inch x 12-inch) rectangular prepared cake board (page 172) Shaping bath Shaping inside of bath Making rolled edge of bath The bath tub, feet and tap (plus handles) can be completed up to two days ahead of the party. The water (fluffy frosting) is best […]
Greek-style lamb shanks
With the help of a pressure cooker, make these exquisitely spiced and flavoured Greek lamb shanks in no time.
Sticky pecan tarts
These tarts must be served warm to be enjoyed at their best. Serve with a good dollop of cream, if you like. Note
Semi-dried tomato
Semi-dried tomatoes bought by weight from a delicatessen are best for this recipe. If you use those sold packaged in oil, drain well and pat with absorbent paper before use. Also goes well with grilled sirloin steaks; grilled pork cutlets; pan-fried chicken breasts. Note
Prawn lettuce cups
To save time, buy shelled prawns from the fishmonger. Note
Prosciutto and artichoke salad with croûtes
The great thing about an antipasti selection is that you can add and subtract ingredients. Try incorporating a selection of olives ligurian, sicilian and kalamata are all good, or even a delicious selection of salami. Marinated artichokes are available from specialty delicatessens. Alternatively, use bottled artichokes in oil, available from most supermarkets. Note
Monogrammed cupcakes
artist’s fine paint brush 3.5cm (1½-inch) round cutter 12 plain white paper cases large plastic disposable piping bag The cupcakes stale quickly so it’s best to use a fruit or mud cake for the best keeping qualities. The cakes can be made and frozen for 3 months. The monograms can be prepared at least a […]
Marsala
Makes enough for four 150g servings of panfried veal scaloppine. Also goes well with grilled chicken breast fillets, barbecued pork medallions, roasted lamb cutlets. Marsala, a caramel-flavoured fortified wine, is named after the city from which it comes, and is the most popular dessert wine in Italy. Dry marsala is often served as an apéritif. […]
Spinach & cheese monster scones
Unbaked scones can be frozen for up to a month. Bake them from the freezer, adding about 10 minutes to the baking time. Note
Saffron chicken on potatoes
Saffron is obtained from the stigmas of the saffron crocus and it is famously the most expensive spice in the world. Note
Crunchy wasabi-crusted fish fillets
We used blue-eye trevalla fillets in this recipe. Note
Pets de nonne
Don’t have the oil too hot or they will brown too quickly before cooking all the way through. The oil should be between 175°C (350°F) and 190°C (400°F) for deep-frying (a small cube of bread should turn golden in about 30 seconds). You can also pipe the dough over the hot oil, using a small, […]
Spiced pork
A sweet, rich and delicious spiced pork dish from Australian Women's Weekly.
Chickpea, watercress and capsicum salad
A delicious and filling chickpea, watercress and capsicum salad from Australian Women's Weekly.
Surprise package
Patch any gaps in the top, sides and base of cake with a little icing. Brush top and sides evenly with a little jam. Note
Cheese pastries
Place pastries on trays; brush with egg, sprinkle with seeds. Bake about 15 minutes or until browned lightly. Combine ingredients in medium bowl. Parmesan cheese can be used instead of romano cheese. Pastries can be served warm or cold. Uncooked pastries are suitable to freeze. It is best to cut pastry into the 26 rounds […]
Piri piri quail
Piri piri sauce is a spicy Afro-Portuguese chilli sauce available from Middle-Eastern food stores and most major supermarkets. Note
Spiced walnut & chocolate cake with poached quince
Depending on the variety of quince used, some will turn more of a rusty red colour while others a deep crimson. Also, cooking time can vary between types, with some needing a little longer cooking to achieve a red hue. Note
Citrus cupcakes
We used green, orange and yellow paper muffin cases to match the decorations of these lovely cakes. Note
Ricotta and honey sandwiches with dried pears
You can substitute dried apricots or apple rings for the dried pears, if you like. Note
Margherita pizza
Stories vary on the true origin of the margherita pizza - but at least we can all agree that when it comes to pizza, nothing beats a classic.
Slow-cooked rabbit stew with sweet potato and sage
A subtle and delicately flavoured rabbit stew with potato and sage that will melt in your mouth.
Coconut pops
Use white Candy Melts in place of chocolate Melts for an extra-white finish. Note
Ratatouille pizzas
If you can’t buy char-grilled zucchini, you can make your own; use a mandoline or vegetable peeler to thinly slice one large zucchini lengthways, then cook the slices on a heated oiled grill plate until browned lightly and tender. Pizza bases can be bought at any regular supermarkets. Note
Piroshki
For a lower-fat version, use no-fat milk and low-fat dairy-free spread instead of the butter. Piroshki are small Russian dumplings that can have various savoury or sweet fillings but this one is among the most traditional. Baked or fried, they make excellent hors d’oeuvres. Note
Roasted spatchcock with duck money bags
Juniper berries are the dried fruit of the juniper shrub, an evergreen from the Northern Hemisphere, and are found in specialty herb or health food shops. Note
Mee krob
A sweet, zesty and crispy Thai dish that literally means 'crunchy noodles'.
Smoked eggplant and capsicum jam
Smoked eggplant and capsicum jam can be tossed through pasta, spread on pizza bases, or served as side dish to chicken, lamb or fish. Note
Spanish cocido
Suitable to freeze at the end of step 2. Note
Oops, I did it again!
EQUIPMENT 30cm x 40cm (12-inch x16-inch) rectangular cake board Wooden skewer Test kitchen tips: If using butter cream instead of the vanilla frosting, you will need one quantity of butter cream. Look for cakes with slightly domed tops, otherwise you will have to trim the cake tops to create the curved book shape. You will […]
Risotto cakes with basil sauce and pancetta
Risotto cakes came about as a way of using up left-over risotto. It is far easier to shape the cakes when the mixture is cold. It is worth lining oven trays with baking paper to stop the cakes sticking. Note
