Pasta with tomatoes, artichokes and olives
A hearty, flavoursome meat-free meal that can be on the table less than 30 minutes after getting home from work. Serve with crusty herb or garlic bread.
Blueberries and cream cupcakes
Celebrate any occasion with these stunning blueberry cupcakes.
Coconut banana bread
You will need about four large overripe bananas for the amount of mashed banana required. Note
Warm asian chicken salad with sesame dressing
An exquisite and exotic warm Asian chicken salad with sesame dressing from Australian Women's Weekly.
Fruit and nut trail mix
Grab a handful of this trail mix when you're hungry and after a quick healthy snack that will see you through to the next meal.
Hot-smoked salmon salad
While most of the smoked salmon we buy has been cold-smoked (cured at a low temperature for a fairly long time), hot-smoked salmon (cured at high temperatures for just a few hours) is generally more moist and not as salty; it doesn’t, however, have the same keeping properties as cold-smoked. Note
Banana fritters
Delicious banana fritters are gorgeous served warm with coconut ice-cream. If you want to be even more indulgent, add a drizzle of warm caramel sauce.
Fried lamb meatballs
The secret to round meatballs is to make a circular movement with the pan to roll the meatballs around while they cook.
Tropical fruit salad with lemon grass & ginger granita
You will need about 2 limes for this recipe. Note
Adventurous seven
Kids love to go camping. If you have a large enough grassed area at home, turn the area into a camping ground for the party. It's an easy, inexpensive party theme.
Nori, sesame and parmesan pastries
These tasty, flaky little pastries, seasoned with shards of nori, sesame and parmesan, make a great shared party platter. Use scissors to finely shred the nori.
Tomato and basil soup
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.
Coconut and passionfruit whoopie pies
You will need about 6 passionfruit for the amount of pulp in this recipe. The cakes are best made on the day of serving. Assemble pies close to serving. Note
White bean soup with polenta croutons
An easy recipe to prepare in advance, this hearty Italian inspired bean soup with crispy polenta is simply mouth-watering and perfect to cosy up with on a cold day.
Antipasto puff pastry tartlets
For best results, use a pizza tray with holes in the base; this will cook the pastry evenly. Note
Herb dip
Herb dip can be made up to a day ahead. Store, covered, in the refrigerator. Note
Thyme vinaigrette
Serve with asparagus or beef, or as a salad dressing. Note
Egg, tomato and mayonnaise sandwich
This healthy sandwich is quick and simple to make for when the midday hunger kicks in.
Beer battered john dory fillets with kumara chips
Take fish 'n chips upmarket with our beer battered john dory and sweet potato chips version. Any other firm white fish will do if you prefer. Finish the dish with slices of tangy, fresh lime.
Fairy princess
Only remove the legs of the doll if she’s too tall for the cake. Just push the doll, with legs, gently through the cake until the doll’s body is in the right position. Dolly Varden cake pans can be bought or hired from cake decorating suppliers. Note
Wholemeal apricot upside down cake
Upside down cake is a classic afternoon tea snack, but can also be presented as an impressive dessert.
Brown fried rice with omelette
You could swap the green beans with peas, if you like. Cook the rice a day ahead: spread in a thin layer on a tray to cool, then cover and place in the refrigerator. Note
Chilli con carne
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.
Egg, cheese and spinach toasties
To mix things up a little, substitute tortilla for the bread, roll it up and toast in the sandwich press. Cut them into smaller sizes for a delicious snack. Note
Baked apples and raspberries with quinoa almond crumble
The combination of tender baked apples, tart raspberries and a wonderfully crumbly quinoa and almond topping makes this healthy fruit dish perfect for dessert, brunch or a sweet snack.
Chicken and tarragon pearl barley risotto
Pearl barley adds a lovely texture and nutty flavour to this chicken and tarragon risotto.
Char-grilled steak with asian pesto
Healthy and delicious Asian-style char-grilled steak with pesto.
Noodle and vegetable rice paper rolls
These noodle and vegetable rice paper rolls are a classic Vietnamese crowd pleaser. The trick when making them is to dunk the rice paper just enough so that it is pliable enough to roll, as it will continue to gradually soften.
Pecan sour cream cake
For a delicious afternoon tea, serve thick slices of this moist pecan cake with whipped cream.
Chicken mee goreng
Mee (or mie), “noodles”, and goreng, “fried”, are the words used in Indonesia and Malaysia to describe a traditional fried noodle recipe usually containing chicken and nuts, as well as assorted other ingredients chosen by the individual cook. Note
Goat’s cheese soufflé
Soufflé must be made just before serving. Note
Zucchini, fetta and corn wedges
Delicious and perfect to share with friends and family; zucchini, fetta and corn wedges from Australian Women's Weekly.
Chicken kofta with red capsicum and walnut sauce
soak 12 bamboo skewers in water for about 30 minutes before use to prevent splintering and scorching. Note
Mixed mushrooms on creamy polenta
Soft, creamy polenta topped with mixed, grilled mushrooms makes a great meat-free dinner with a fresh, green salad on the side.
Soy and chilli squid
Tender, spicy hoods of squid, doused in soy and fried with fresh chilli, make a finger-licking starter. Serve with an Asian-style salad for a light dinner.
Brussels sprout salad with poached eggs
Shredded brussels sprouts, fragrant basil and toasted pine nuts are topped with soft poached eggs and shaved parmesan in this delicious salad.
Indonesian fried rice
Egg yolks should still be runny so they drizzle over the rice. Rice can be made a day ahead; cover, refrigerate until required. Note
Baked ricotta with char-grilled vegetables and salsa verde
Served with grilled sourdough, this colourful dish makes a stunning, summery appetiser or lunch.
Ham and brie finger sandwiches
With the addition of caramelised onion relish, these ham and cheese finger sandwiches make the tastiest afternoon snack. You can experiment with all sorts of fillings like smoked salmon with cream cheese, egg and mayo, or chicken and watercress.
Chocolate fondants with mascarpone coffee ice-cream
Warm chocolate pudding cakes with a molten chocolate core served with mascarpone coffee ice-cream make an elegant yet indulgent dessert.
Citrus fruit salad
You can use any type of fruit-flavoured yoghurt you like or plain yoghurt. Note
Braised oxtail with orange gremolata
Warm up on a cold winter's evening with this melt-in-your-mouth stew.
Baked creamed potatoes
For a lower-fat version, use low-fat dairy-free spread instead of the butter, low-fat mayonnaise, light sour cream and light cream. (per serving) 31.1g fat; 2196kJ (525 cal) We used whole-egg mayonnaise. You can also use pink-eye or sebago potatoes for this recipe. Note
Tuna, celery & dill sandwich
The spinach (or try cos lettuce) will stop the bread from turning soggy. The night before Make the filling and keep, covered, in the refrigerator. Make the sandwiches in the morning. Note
Chocolate mousse puffs
It is fine to use two 300ml (or one 600ml) cartons of cream for this recipe, so as not to waste the remaining 20ml. Note
Chinese black bean
Makes enough for four 200g servings of beef strips in a stir-fry. Also goes well with steamed crab; par-boiled green vegetables. Salted black beans, available from all Asian food stores, are soft and chewy fermented soy beans having a pungent aroma and adding a distinct flavour to food. Note
Baby rattles
Buy drinking straws in three colours if you can, and match them to their corresponding cake pops. Note
Banana blueberry cakes
These homely little cakes are so easy to make and go perfectly with a hot cup of tea.
Taller at two
Be sure to remove toothpicks from cake before cutting and serving. Note
Sicilian zucchini flowers
Crispy, salty and utterly addictive, this dish makes for a delicious starter.
Zucchini walnut loaf
This recipe is easy to make, easy to freeze, moist and delicious. A winner on all fronts.
Chicken and risoni soup
Simple and satisfying.
Frozen white chocolate mousse with espresso jelly and almond praline
If you have a coffee machine, use it to make three espresso coffees, rather than using instant coffee; you need ⅓ cup coffee. Note
Caramelised vegetables
Sweet and sticky caramelised vegetables that go perfectly with roast dinners.
Baked pasta with lamb
With hints of warm spices, mint and feta, this baked pasta dish is full of flavour and makes a wonderful family meal.
Vegetarian cigars with harissa yogurt
Like a Mediterranean version of spring rolls, these subtly spiced cigars and full of rich, zingy flavours, and make easy finger food for a dinner party.
Jaffa jelly cakes
Sponge drops are topped with orange jelly and coated in melted chocolate to make these spectacular jaffa jelly cakes.
Duck and green onion gyoza
Gyoza wrappers are thin pastry rounds made from wheat flour that the Japanese use to wrap around fillings for dumplings and pot stickers. If unavailable, substitute gow gee wrappers. Note
Honey soy wings
Wing tips can be used to make chicken stock. Note
Spicy calamari with olives
A quick and delicious spicy calamari stew with olives and fresh basil; an exquisite Italian-style midweek dinner.
Mocha almond cake
The smooth flavour of mocha in a freshly baked, moist cake is irresistible. This cake will keep for up to 2 days, but we're sure it won't last that long!
Baked duck and mandarin salad
Duck and citrus are a stunning pair in this flavour-packed salad.
Heart balloons
equipment 12-hole (½-cup/125ml) friand pan 5 strong wooden toothpicks 35cm x 40cm prepared cake board (see basic know-how number 2, pages 160-161) medium gum-leaf cutter You’ll have about 1 cup of the cake mixture left over, enough to make another four balloons. The balloons are not difficult to make, but getting the sides of the […]
Warm beef, orange and date salad
A healthy, sweet and delicious warm beef, orange and date salad from Australian Women's Weekly.
White chocolate, lime and ginger mousse tarts
These sweet little bites are a hint of zesty and a touch of creamy; a crowd pleaser and a joy to make.
Barramundi with kipflers and roasted capsicum
The perfect summer dish; barramundi with kipflers and roasted capsicum from Australian Women's Weekly.
Asparagus and coppa salad bites
Serve these moreish mini croissants at your next party and watch as they quickly disappear.
Caramel angel food cake with sugared pecans
The pan is measured at the top, not the base. It’s important to not grease the tube pan, the cake mixture needs to cling to the pan as it rises during the baking process. Tube pans are large smooth-sided ring pans with small “feet” to support the inverted pan while the cake cools. If the […]
Pumpkin tabbouleh
The addition of roasted pumpkin in this delicious tabbouleh dish adds a hearty, flavoursome note to this dish, making it filling enough to enjoy on it's own as a light lunch or as part of a big dinner spread.
Broad bean, pinenut and rocket salad
The perfect side salad for a romantic dinner.
Veal saltimbocca with roasted potatoes
Saltimbocca is a popular Italian dish that combines tender veal, proscuitto or bacon and fresh sage. We've served ours here with crispy roasted potatoes for a real flavour kick!
Blueberry pancakes with bacon
Spoil the family this weekend with these heavenly blueberry pancakes with bacon and maple syrup.
Chilli chocolate truffle pops
Undecorated truffle pops can be kept refrigerated for up to one week in an airtight container. If making ahead, melt a little extra chocolate to attach toffee. Truffle pops must be served within 2 hours of being decorated with toffee. Once decorated with toffee shards, the truffle pops cannot be refrigerated. Note
Blueberry ginger scones with custard cream
For a beautiful morning tea, serve these golden blueberry scones warm, split open with a dollop of custard cream.
Vegetable and omelette fried rice
You need to start this recipe a day ahead. Cook 1 cup (200g) white long-grain rice to make the required amount of cooked rice. You can add a couple of coarsely chopped bacon rashers to the recipe, if you like. Note
Strawberry crush
This English dessert is often called Eton Mess, taking its name from Eton College, one of Britain's most famous public schools, where it was traditionally served. The `mess' part is because it was all mixed together in one big bowl.
