Ratatouille is a staple of vegetarian cooking and now, in a a tart, it's even better.

Love bruschetta but find it a bit too messy to eat for lunch? This salad is perfect for you with doughy bread pieces, balsamic vinegar and a medley of juicy tomatoes.

Sweet, sticky raspberry is beautiful topped with a crumbly, golden almond topping in this brilliant streusel slice. Enjoy a piece with a mug of tea or coffee for a mid-morning or afternoon treat.

We used a plan case from the baking aisle; you can use a frozen (thawed) flan case instead. Pie is best on day of baking. Ensure sugar is dissolved in egg white. Note

To crush sweets, place in a plastic food storage bag then pound with a rolling pin. Makes 25 Note

Leave salmon bones in; they’re a good source of calcium. Note

You can use any combination of dried fruit you like. Makes 12 Note

You could replace banana lollies with 1 cup finely chopped dried figs or raisins. Note

White Chocolate and Vanilla Macarons: Makes about 18 White Chocolate Ganache: Makes about 2/3 cup It’s important that macarons farm a crust an the base. If your oven is not fan forced, cook one tray at a time an the bottom shelf. You can make a disposable piping bag from a large plastic snap tack […]

Whip up these mini savoury tarts the next time you have a crowd over. Give the filling a toss in a little salt and pepper, or add some bacon for extra flavour, if you like.

Make ahead: Cook soup up to 2 days ahead. Cover, then refrigerate. To reheat: Place soup in a medium saucepan over low heat; stir until heated. Vegetarian: Use vegetable stock instead of chicken, and omit chorizo. Note

Combine dissolved gelatine and cream cheese mixture at the same temperature to prevent lumps from forming in cheesecake. Note

Bacon and vegetable loaf

These sticky chicken drummettes are super easy and incredibly versatile. They're great for lunchboxes, as finger food, for a protein-packed after-school snack or as a meal with rice and veges.

Make ahead: You can make pie up to 4 hours ahead. Cover, then refrigerate. Low fat: Use reduced-fat or skim milk. We used a frozen chunky vegetable mix of cauliflower, broccoli and carrot. Choose a potato variety that’s suitable for mashing. Note

Make ahead: Cook slice up to 4 days ahead. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Note

Traditionally made in autumn to coincide with the harvest, this apple custard cake is a delightful marriage between the tartness of apples and the sweetness of custard and cake.

This creamy chicken, potato, leek and bacon casserole is packed full of flavoursome, hearty ingredients to create a warming family dinner for the cooler winter evenings.

Any firm white fish like sea perch or barramundi will do for these Moroccan fish parcels by recipes+. Baking it in this way seals in all of the flavours, and saves on the washing up!

This lemon meringue pie has the more simple biscuit base, rather than the classic pastry. The tart, citrusy filling topped with lightly baked meringue is true to tradition.

Panko are Japanese dried breadcrumbs, available from the Asian food aisle of supermarkets. Use packaged dried breadcrumbs; the colour and texture will vary. Note

You can prepare silverbeet leaves up to 1 day ahead. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Bring to room temperature 10 minutes before filling. You’ll need 3/4 cup long-grain white rice to make 2 cups cooked. For a vegetarian option, omit mince and replace with 2 x 400g cans rinsed brown lentils. Note

Ensure cream cheese is at room temperature to avoid lumps in cheesecake. Note

Don’t discard the baking paper used for rolling out pastry. Use one to bake pastry blind, the other to line the tray for roasting the vegetables. Quiche is cooked when a knife inserted at centre comes out clean. Note

Makes 32 pieces Heat the blade of a large knife under hot running water before cutting slice. Note

Use pork and veal mince, beef mince or a combination of your favourites. Note

Packed full of delicious flavours and topped with an oozy cheese sauce, this macaroni and bolognese pasta bake is perfect for a hungry family. Serve straight from the pan as a warming Winter dinner.

You’ll need to cook 1 cup jasmine rice. Note

Put a healthy swing on hot chips with these beautiful home-baked kumara chips. We've used sweet potato in this recipe to lower the starch content, but maximise flavour. Enjoy!

A delicious spinach pie made with a filo pastry crust.

Replace dates with 1/2 cup chopped nuts, such as almonds, hazelnuts or walnuts; price will vary. Note

Use a vegetable peeler to peel cucumber into long, thin ribbons. Note

Cut the lemon used for grating zest into wedges, then serve with pizzas. For a tasty alteration, add canned artichoke hearts, pitted olives or semi-dried tomatoes to pizzas. Note

Celebrate the birth and naming of the newest princess born to the British Royal Family with this delicious chocolatey dessert. A fitting tribute to little Charlotte, we think!

Lightly spiced with cinnamon, this carrot cake slice is always popular. Piping the decorations is easy if you use a little sandwich bag with the corner snipped off.

No friand tray? Bake in a 12-hole (1/3-cup) muffin tray. Replace hazelnut meal with almond meal, and use leftover egg yolks in omelets and custards. Note

Make ahead – Cakes will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Greasing a muffin tray with melted dairy-free spread gives cakes a crisp golden crust You’ll need 2 lemons for zest. Note

You could use chopped unsalted peanuts instead of hazelnuts. Try goat cheese instead of feta, mixed salad instead of rocket. Price will vary. To slice onion very thinly, use a mandolin or V-shaped cutter. Note

When you have extra lemons, freeze juice in ice-cube trays for later use. You’ll need about 4 lemons. Note

You’ll need to steam or microwave about 300g peeled pumpkin for this recipe. You can also make this in a 19cm (base measurement) square pan. Note

Swap peas for corn. Try 1 tablespoon finely chopped chives with the flour. Note

Equally delicious hot or cold, these individual baked rice custards take just a few minutes to put together and are the perfect way to use up leftover rice.

3 medium mashed bananas equals 1 1/2 cups. Note

Make sure butter is well creamed before adding sugar. This incorporates air and makes for a lighter cake. Use unsalted butter at room temperature, if preferred. For a richer cake, use 185 grams unsalted butter, 3 eggs and reduce milk to 1/4 cup. Continue as directed. Note

There is little sugar in the dumplings as the sauce is very sweet. Note

Other canned fruit of choice may be used, such as peaches or cherries. Note

No carrot cake is complete without walnuts and cream cheese frosting and this one is no different.

Could your day get any better? Well yes, yes it could. Ladies and gentlemen, we present the cherry ripe slice that really is as good as it sounds. You can thank us later.

An effortless combination, tender chicken and grilled mushrooms are beautiful tossed through this creamy pea risotto dish. Serve up for dinner with a glass of wine for a warming, hearty meal.

Makes 32 Note

The glaze can be made in the microwave. If glaze becomes too thick to brush on, reheat until correct consistency. To keep leftover ham fresh and moist, cover with reserved rind. Alternatively, dip a clean tea towel or calico bag in a solution of 2 cups water and 1 tablespoon of vinegar, squeeze out the […]

Un-iced cake suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Just because you don't eat gluten doesn't mean you have to miss out on Christmas treats - try this delicious glace fruit cake.

This gorgeous macadamia filo tart is topped with sweet pineapple. Enjoy it warm or cool with a dollop of ice-cream for an indulgent dessert.

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Note

Is there anything better than a scrumptious chocolate cheesecake covered in fresh berries? The same cheesecake with no baking required is definitely one step better.

Kids will love these fun spotty chocolate cakes, ideal for a party.

These gorgeous cupcakes by Woman's Day are exquisitely delicate and absolutely perfect for a fairy themed birthday party or even an afternoon tea. Serve them on your daintiest china.

Of all the fruit and nut loaf recipes, this one by Woman's Day has to be in the top 5. Gluten-free, stuffed with your favourite dried fruits and richly sweetened with brown sugar, it's irresistible.

We used milk and water to to make the base, for a lighter result – all milk or all water can also be used. Milk is best for scones/scrolls. Note

Don’t worry that the mixture separates during cooking. It forms natural layers to give the impression of a pie crust. Note

You can never have too many Maltesers. And these cupcakes are loaded with them. Sprinkle some over the top for an extra malty chocolatey crunch.

Crush biscuits in a food processor, or in a plastic bag using a rolling pin. It is imperative to beat the softened cream cheese well, to ensure a smooth end result. Gelatine and cream-cheese mixture should be combined when they are at a similar temperature, to prevent lumps forming. Note

Drain peach slices well on paper towel before chopping. Note

If you prefer, you can, use mild pancetta or prosciutto, as well as mild creamy blue cheese in place of goat’s cheese. For a thinner crust, try mountain bread. Note

To test whether terrine is cooked, pierce with a skewer. If juices run pink, it is not cooked. Cook further until juices run clear. Drain juices from pan immediately after cooking. Use 2 x 400g cans of tomatoes, fruit or soup to weigh the terrine down. Left-over terrine can be kept, covered, in the fridge […]

Remember to discard any rhubarb leaves. Apple, pear or pineapple would also be delicious in this cake. Note

This delicious savoury pie is extremely easy to make -simply mix all ingredients together and bake. It's great enjoyed fresh out of the oven with a side salad, or cut up and chilled for school or work lunches.

Rich in both flavour and texture and delicious hot or cold, enjoy this quiche with a side salad. For a milder version, substitite the greens with English spinach.

These biscuits will still be soft when they’re cooked, but will harden on cooling. Note

If making ahead, cover with plastic wrap and chill to prevent pastry from drying out. Note

Folding in the egg whites will make sure this spinach roulade retains a light and fluffy consistency. The prosciutto and cream cheese provide a robust flavour and textural balance.

Kumara could be used in place of pumpkin, if preferred. Note

Test muffins with a skewer – if it comes out clean and dry, they are cooked. These muffins are best served warm. Note

If liked, this quiche can be made in a 23cm quiche pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Note

We used a standard muffin pan – if you use mini muffin pans the mixture will make about 24. Reduce cooking time to 15 minutes Persian fairy floss (pashmak) is available from specialty and Middle Eastern food stores. Note