Also known as floating islands, this dessert is an adaptation of a French pudding, in which a stale sponge cake, steeped in liqueur, was floated in a bowl of custard. Note

To test the conserve: when the mixture has thickened, place a saucer or a small plate in the freezer for 5 minutes or until chilled. Spoon a little of the hot conserve onto the cold saucer. Return to the freezer for 2 minutes or until chilled. Touch the conserve. Note

Use a stiff brush to scrub the mussels under cold water. Note

For a healthier option, use olive-oil spray instead of butter for pastry sheets. School prawns (shrimp) can also be used, or try crab or lobster meat. Note

A smooth and creamy pumpkin soup packed full of zest and spice and served with a dollop of cinnamon cream.

Tender pork fillet wrapped in sage and prosciutto and served with creamy potato mash and green beans.

This Asian-style dish creates the perfect lunch box for busy days.

Tzatziki is a Greek yoghurt dip made with cucumber, garlic and sometimes chopped fresh mint. You can buy tzatziki ready-made in supermarkets and delis. Note

This recipe also makes 6 texas muffins (¾-cup/180ml); bake about 40 minutes. Note

Spice up your breakfast omelette with this popular Indian recipe.

We don’t recommend that you freeze cooked vegetables as they tend to have a spongy texture and “leftover” look about them once they’ve been thawed. Mushrooms, eggplant and members of the squash family are especially freezer unfriendly. Note

A sweet, sticky and delicious Asian-style pork and plum stir-fry from Australian Women's Weekly.

Sweet and sticky maple-glazed chicken with a fresh and nutty salad; a wonderful summer dish.

A delicate and exquisite fennel and apple salad packed full of big flavours.

To make individual crumbles, use four 1½ cup (375ml) dishes and bake 15 minutes. Note

Potted prawns can be made a day before the picnic, keep well-iced during transportation. Make crostini close to departure time. Note

You can use blueberries or cranberries instead of goji, if you like. Store bars in an air-tight container for up to 1 week. Note

Canned whole baby beets can be substituted for fresh beetroot, if preferred. Potatoes, beetroot and peas can be cooked in advance and refrigerated, covered. Combine salad just before serving or beetroot will “bleed” into egg and potato Note

We used large (25cm diameter) packaged pizza bases for this recipe. Note

These crispy and crunchy chicken strips are unbeatable with pistachio and chilli crumbs.

This is often the hottest dish on a restaurant menu - you may need milk or lassi (yogurt drink) to counteract the "chilli burn".

A super fast and easy Asian-style prawn and noodle stir-fry that is great for busy evenings.

“I love making pizza at home… and this versatile and easy dough can also be used for loaves, rolls, foccacia… anything.” Cynthia Black came to the Test Kitchen in the early 1990s, and left in 1993, continuing her food career at Darling Mills, her family’s restaurant in Sydney. She has now gone into business for […]

Chilli beans can be served either hot or cold. Store beans, covered, in the refrigerator for up to three days. Keep any leftover bread in the freezer to use at a later date. Note

A Moroccan-style chicken stew packed full of almonds, raisins, ginger, cinnamon and white wine.

Pop open a bottle of wine and sit back in the sunshine to enjoy your beautiful seafood platter. We've included two delicious sauces in this recipe that will complement your platter wonderfully.

Decorate the cake pops with small bows. Note

Checkerboard cookies look and taste wonderful. These biscuits make a perfect gift. Stack the cookies, then wrap securely in cellophane to keep airtight. They will keep fresh for a week or two. Note

A quick and easy lamb stir-fry with a rich Asian-style black bean sauce.

A quick and easy dish that brings together all the best Mediterranean flavours.

You will need about 3 limes for this recipe. Nam jim can be made a day ahead; keep tightly covered in the fridge until ready to use. Note

You will get about eight mussels per serve. Mussels should be bought from a fish market where there is reliably fresh fish. They must be tightly closed when bought, indicating they are alive. Some mussels might not open after cooking. These might need help with a knife or might not have cooked as quickly as […]

The number one cake for your baby's first birthday!

Delicious and flavour-packed Asian-style dumplings with a spicy dressing.

Mini lamb and mint skewers are a delicious and pretty addition to any platter.

A healthy and delicious Moroccan lamb dish; Tfaya refers to the sweet and spicy caramelised onions and raisins.

A French-style parfait that's sure to impress.

Juicy lamb cutlets with a bright and colourful tomato and parsley salad.

Use fresh raspberries if fresh blackberries are not available. Place the unused vanilla pod in a jar of caster (superfine) sugar to make your own vanilla sugar. Note

This recipe is also gluten-free. Note

Recipe is not suitable to freeze. We used snapper in this recipe, but you can use any white firm-fleshed fish you like. Note

You could poach or fry the eggs, if you like. Note

An exotic rocket, pear & ricotta fritter salad that is packed to the brim with delicious flavours and textures.

Rösti can be eaten hot or cold. Swap sweet potato for potato, squeeze excess liquid from potato first. Note

Croissants are by far the most famous of all the French pastries and are made using a butter-rich flaky pastry. In France they usually eat them just with jam, while around the world they have become popular filled with both savoury and sweet fillings. If you prefer, you can replace the fontina with a good-quality […]

EQUIPMENT Deep 22cm (9-inch) square cake pan 35cm (14-inch) square cake board Carefully position photograph in centre of cake. You can use any photographic print you like, but remember to laminate it if you want it to remain after the cake is gone. Use a selection of your favourite lollies to decorate this cake Note

Canned tiny new potatoes are a nifty shortcut in this recipe. Tortilla can be eaten hot or cold and makes great picnic fare. Note

This recipe makes 1 cup panang curry paste. Store leftover curry paste, covered, in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze in user-friendly portions for up to 3 months. A store-bought panang curry paste can be used. Note

Delicious chicken and Greek salad wrapped in an Armenian lavash.

Patties tend to shrink when cooking, so make sure you make them about 12cm (4¾-inch) in diameter. Note

The perfect Asian starter dish; homemade spring rolls.

Chipotle chillies in adobo sauce are sold in small cans from delicatessens and specialist food stores; they have a medium-hot smoky taste. Any leftover chillies will keep with their sauce in a small screw-top jar in the fridge for up to 3 months. Substitute with a teaspoon of smoked paprika and a pinch of chilli […]

See if you can get the 6 orange strips and 2 teaspoons of rind from 1 orange, otherwise you may need to buy 2 small oranges. This recipe makes 6 ­ freeze the remaining 4 muffins for later use. Note

Spanish-style spiced meatballs with a romesco sauce; a great tapas dish or sharing platter.

Grilled chicken parcels stuffed with ham, spinach, ricotta and sun-dried tomatoes.

A quick and easy pork dish with a sweet and salty Asian coleslaw by Australian Women's Weekly.